Personal assistant

A personal assistant or personal aide (PA) is someone who assists in daily business and personal tasks. In design PDA or personal design assistant is common.

For example, a businessman or businesswoman may have a personal assistant to help with time and diary management, scheduling of meetings, correspondence and note taking. The title of a business personal assistant is often shortened as "PA". There are also personal assistants who work specifically for disabled people, and whose salaries may be paid by an individual or by social services on an individual's behalf. Families in which both parents work may also employ personal assistants, often referred to as household managers. The role of a personal assistant can be varied, and in many cases is quite similar to a role which would have been described as secretary 20 years ago.

Personal Assistants in Business-Related Phenomena

People who cannot afford to hire their own personal assistants to run errands or answer phone calls full-time can hire a personal concierge or a part-time assistant. Most companies offer secretarial personal assistance as well as basic assistant services like research, scheduling, travel arrangements, and more. Costs of a part-time employee can end up exceeding the amount it would have cost to hire a full-time employee. Other companies charge a flat monthly fee for personal assistant services, based upon the number of requests expected to be placed each month. In addition to the personal assistant services that are provided with the membership, other incentives such as local discounts, concierge services, dining recommendations and overall knowledge and expertise may even outperform the skills of a regular personal assistant staff member.

Smaller companies, especially start-up and real estate development companies, may desire the services of a Personal Assistant to "manage" an individual executive or to assist in the office as the new company goes about setting up their new business. These Personal Assistants may develop great skills at the "birth" of a new company and have opportunities for advancement. Other Personal Assistants will have garnered valuable knowledge and experience if they choose to move into other positions.

Career development

Some business personal assistant jobs may "morph" into other positions within the organization. Some business PAs are asked to consider full-time positions elsewhere in the company, depending on the level of ambition and education required/desired. Some employers will not see the potential for a Personal Assistant immediately and thus the Personal Assistant will remain in that position until other positions become vacant.

In more recent years, the Celebrity Personal Assistant has been thrust into the spotlight. Many celeb assistants have used their exposure to create their own companies, like Madonna's former assistant.

Medical

See also

Au pair

Body man, U.S. political jargon for a personal assistant to a politician or political candidate

See Gofer or Assistant, as in Man Friday, Boy Friday or Girl Friday, a personal assistant or servant, especially one who is particularly competent or loyal.

Category:Office and administrative support occupations