What Makes a Good Personal Assistant Invaluable?
by There is no training course for this business occupation, and the best PAs usually don’t remain as assistants very long. The worst examples, ironically, are often the oldest and most experienced candidates.
Most business professionals employ personal assistants. Some are better than others. There is no training course for this occupation, and the best PAs usually don’t remain in the vocation very long. Ironically the worst examples are often the oldest and most experienced candidates.
The Basics
A good personal assistant is energetic, organized and efficient. These people are usually young professionals with high initiative and strong interpersonal skills. The best candidates adapt quickly to technical challenges and changing business environments.
The best applicants have above average computer skills and can make simple but effective spreadsheets, invoices and address books. The best assistants are creative problem solvers, both trustworthy and discreet. As there is always an emphasis on punctuality, my best assistants utilize instant messenger systems to communicate with each other – even on their cell phones. These people use their skills to solve problems online. They shop on eBay, buy high quality groceries on Organics.ca, and do research on niche discussion forums to harness hard-to-find experts. And they use local search software called Poynt on Microsoft® Live Messenger™ to find local solutions to everyday random problems.
Having “Poynt@Live.com” on your contact list on Microsoft® Windows Live Messenger™ or AIM® is the key to success as a personal assistant. With this free service PA’s can find things fast and look like heroes when they save the day. There’s nothing to download here, and it’s the very best way to access Yellow Pages data in Canada, and SuperPages data in the United States. When I’m in production, my assistants live on instant messenger, and my best PAs use the mileage counter on Poynt to keep track of the driving and make sure everyone has an equal share of the pick-ups and returns.
Personal Shopper – The number one job function of every PA is shopping and quite often that includes personal shopping. The best in the business world will record their client’s measurements, and be ready to purchase clothing items on short notice, for any occasion – this includes shoes and accessories. The brightest aspirants observe and record brand preferences and intuitively adopt the correct color choices.
I depend on my PAs to conduct general office services including accounts payable and receivable, manage all generic business correspondence including faxing, filing, mailings, photocopying, typing, phone calls, online research, and information gathering, and they must answer the phone when I call, no matter what.
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Post CommentCraig
On March 3, 2009 at 10:10 pm
I don’t know who wrote this posting but he or she sounds like they read it from somewhere and posted it to get credit. In fact a Personal Assistant is so much more. They are a welfund of skills and abilities and are typically bright, hands-on, fast acting people. The ones mentioned here are usually first year Personal Assistants and have jumped into the field thinking they were going to get to be best friend with a celebrity. The perks are amazing, the highs are high and the lows are painful, but knowing and learning your craft is what makes all the difference. Check out http://www.personalassistantguide.com for the real 411 on this great job!!
I need to get a book on how to be a good Personal Assistant for the Church Bishop
On April 30, 2009 at 5:47 am
Please help…
I do a lot of letter writing as well, please give advise on writing regret, responding to invitation and responding to applications…as well as advising on events
AvanTona
On May 27, 2009 at 4:20 pm
I feel there should be a set minimum wage for Personal Assistants higher than R12000 per month. They are the most under appreciated species on the job market and I feel if a personal assistant is not appreciated she / he should find something else. Sometimes the way PA’s are treated makes them change their careers often. PA’s working for smaller companies are normally mistreated and abused.
Babatunde Taylor
On May 30, 2009 at 2:21 pm
I am quite new to the job as a P.A and the challenges are there. I would really love some more helpful tips for any published literature pls could you suggest any?
ayanda
On June 1, 2009 at 6:06 am
Im new to the job,my boss think that im doing good but id love to have more tips so I can become better everyday.
Peter Advent
On July 22, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Why is this article ranked No.1 when there are more reliable things out there?
John Matheson
On August 14, 2009 at 5:24 pm
A more relevant source is timesvr.com They teach the exact principles that this girl mentioned. She might be mocking them off?
see here. How to be a good personal assistant
Elizabeth
On September 25, 2009 at 5:24 am
“Im new to the job,my boss think that im doing good but id love to have more tips so I can become better everyday.”
Ayanda
Proper use of apostrophes would be a good start.
olebogeng khubamang
On January 22, 2010 at 3:45 am
I have just been recently employed as a personaal assistant to an ex dudge who is very busy and alwys travelling internationally.please give me tips on how to make her life easy and be the best PA