What does a Personal Assistant do?
A Personal Assistant’s job duties often include administrative, organization and technical duties that provide far-ranging support to a busy individual. Many Personal Assistants fulfill personal and professional needs, such as booking business travel, communicating with key clients and scheduling appointments.
Personal Assistants may work in the same office as their employer or as an Independent Contractor, working remotely and using digital tools to communicate about job duties. They generally help employers become more organized, efficient and productive.
Personal Assistant skills and qualifications
Personal Assistants can assist with completing simple errands or corresponding with clients. A successful Personal Assistant typically possesses soft skills, such as verbal communication, technical ability and knowledge of the employer’s field or industry.
Personal Assistant skills and qualifications may include:
- Discretion to maintain confidentiality
- Ability to practice active listening and pay attention to details
- Proactive approach to problem-solving to manage responsibilities with minimal oversight
- Experience with popular office software, including Calendly, Dropbox or Expensify
- Strong time-management and organizational skills to manage the employer’s schedule, including meetings and travel arrangements
- Ability to adapt to scheduling changes
- Capable of handling sensitive information and maintaining confidentiality
- Familiarity with digital tools, including search engines, travel booking platforms and email interfaces
Personal Assistant experience requirements
Entry-level Personal Assistants may not need prior experience. For more advanced positions, employers may look for candidates with experience in an administrative role, such as Administrative Assistant, Office Manager or Receptionist. Experience in related fields, such as event planning or project management, may also be beneficial.
In some cases, employers may prioritize applicants with experience in a discipline related to the employer’s field. For instance, a Physician may recruit a Personal Assistant who’s knowledgeable about HIPAA, medical terminology and healthcare practice administration.
Personal Assistant education and training requirements
There are no formal education requirements for a Personal Assistant. Instead, you may consider using skills-first hiring to attract qualified candidates. Instead of requiring formal education in your Personal Assistant job description, you can mention important skills such as organizational ability and proficiency with software, such as Trello or Asana, to document tasks.
Personal Assistant salary expectations
According to Indeed, the average salary for a Personal Assistant is $50,697 per year. Salary may vary depending on the employer, candidate experience, location, travel requirements and job scope and responsibilities.
Personal Assistant salary expectations
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Common salary:
17.73 HOURLY -
Typical salaries range from
7.25 -46.85 HOURLY - Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data –
Job description samples for similar positions
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Personal Assistant job description FAQs
Who do Personal Assistants report to?
Personal Assistants typically report directly to the individual they support, such as a senior executive, manager or private employer. Their role is to provide personalized administrative support, so their reporting line is usually one-on-one rather than through a larger team structure.
What’s the difference between a Personal Assistant and an Executive Assistant?
A Personal Assistant typically supports an individual with both personal and professional tasks, such as managing schedules, booking travel, running errands or handling household appointments. A Executive Assistant focuses more on high-level administrative support within a business setting, often managing calendars, coordinating meetings, preparing reports and acting as a liaison between executives and other departments.
What are the top three skills needed for a successful Personal Assistant?
A successful Personal Assistant generally has exceptional interpersonal skills. They also tend to be organized and able to multitask efficiently without compromising on the quality of work.
*Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your recruiting or legal advisor, we are not responsible for the content of your job descriptions, and none of the information provided herein guarantees performance.
