Personal Assistant Jobs Overview
Busy executives often feel stretched thin—between meetings, presentations, decision-making, and handling emergencies, they often don't have time to read all their emails or organize their schedule. Personal assistants support a company's executive by taking care of administrative tasks for them, so that the C-suite can focus on strategy and execution. Personal assistant jobs can be a good fit for a high school graduate who is adept at organizing and communicating.
If you prefer a fast-paced environment where you can learn to handle a variety of different tasks from a skilled manager, you might be interested in becoming a personal assistant. You'll stay busy handling many different projects for an executive, such as answering calls, writing emails, liaising with clients, conducting research for reports, transcribing meeting notes, managing ad hoc projects, maintaining filing systems, making travel arrangements, and planning a schedule.
There are many opportunities for general service jobs on Monster, depending on your skills and experience. You can also explore specific positions such as:
Personal Assistant Training and Skills
You will need at least a high school diploma or GED, and some computer literacy at a minimum to become a personal assistant. Some colleges offer certificate programs for prospective personal assistants, while a bachelor's degree in business administration or business management can accelerate your career.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills will help set you apart as a personal assistant, as the ability to listen and interact with staff and clients professionally is key in personal assistant jobs. Experience with word processing and email programs, as well as the ability to multitask, organize, and accommodate shifting priorities will help keep an executive's work running smoothly. To learn more about the requirements, check out our sample personal assistant job description.
Update Your Personal Assistant Resume
If this is your first time creating a resume, don't panic: Check out our personal assistant resume sample to get a feel for how to format your resume and how to include your skills and qualifications. Once you've put together your resume, showcase your top attributes by writing a cover letter. A cover letter is your chance to show potential employers that you can write in a professional and clear way. Get started by reading through our wealth of cover letter samples and tips for writing cover letters.
Interviewing for a Personal Assistant Job
So, you made a good impression and now the manager wants to interview you. It can be a little stressful, but with a solid game plan, you can impress any potential employer. Monster can guide you through some of the typical personal assistant resume sample a potential employer might ask you, such as:
- Please tell me about your previous work experience.
- Are there tools you use to stay organized?
- What would a former boss say are your biggest strengths and areas for improvement?
- Please tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult boss, colleague, client, or vendor and how you managed the situation.
How Much Do Personal Assistant Jobs Pay?
Once you've aced the interview and been offered the job, how much can you expect to earn in a personal assistant job? Personal assistant salaries can vary widely across different industries and areas. While some personal assistant positions will have you on-call on evenings and weekends, others are within office hours only. The median personal assistant salary in the U.S. is $33,083 annually. To get a sense of what you might earn in your area, see our Salary Guide. Enter a job title and location to discover the median salary and a range of salaries you can expect.
Let Monster Help You Find Personal Assistant Jobs
Ready to start applying for personal assistant jobs? Don't leave before creating a profile on Monster. That way, we can match you with the right positions and keep track of your job submissions. You will also be able to see the latest openings and receive emails about new jobs and career advice.