When starting a business and you need help, what do you look
for in a personal assistant? Well, there are many things that
you will want to consider when hiring or considering someone for
a PA. The main difference in a personal assistant and a normal
9-5 position is they are a jack of all trades when it comes to
the business. When it comes down to it, they are able to work
all factions of a business to keep it flowing and optimize
performance and yet still allow you, the business owner, to have
more time to do the things that really need done.
A personal assistant will need to have a flexible schedule for
the performance that might be required. Your assistant might
need to work on weekends, nights, or even attend social
activities. So keep in mind when you hire someone that this will
be a requirement.
Someone who is rigid and doesn't adapt well is not a good
choice because of the demands of the job. Keeping a positive
outlook and easy-going is the best choice for a personal
assistant. Multi-tasking is a very important part of a personal
assistant and so someone who is able to keep cheery and able to
do the things that need done all at once.
Learning also comes into play with a PA. You don't want someone
who is not able in the field of office workings, this includes
any programs that might be needed on a computer, or knowledge of
procedures to use. With this, you will also want someone who
learns quickly. If someone is not knowledge in these areas, it
can be a detriment to your company or you may become
dissatisfied.
Work history can also be important. If someone was not on time
or had a lot of off days in a previous job that can also happen
to you. So making sure that someone is dependable is of vital
importance. Judgment while you are not around is another concern
that falls within this area. Does your personal assistant have
good judgment? Or do you need to hover over them all day, making
sure they are doing what you hired them to do?
Leadership and self confidence are areas you will want to
consider. If your PA can function and instruct others to do what
is needed on the job then you can feel confident that if
something comes up when you are out on a business trip, you can
count on them to get the job done and deal with any
dissatisfactions or problems that come along.
Probably the main factor a personal assistant considers and
will expect from you, though, is going to be a fair pay. If you
expect someone to be around you all day and have the fortitude
to get the job done no matter what, you would want to pay them
for this. After all, they are more then just an employee, they
are the backbone that is making sure your business thrives. With
this in mind, you should pay them as much as you can while still
staying in budget.
David Ledoux: Is an author, speaker ,
trainer
and mentor to entrepreneurs. His newest report, The Small
Business Death Sentence can be downloading for free at http://bigmoneyfreetime.com.
