Personal Assistant / Executive Assistant Jobs
- Where can personal assistant / executive assistant roles be found in the UK?
- Who do personal assistants / executive assistants work for in the UK?
- What type of work is available for personal assistant / executive assistant roles in the UK?
- What qualifications and experiences are needed for personal assistant / executive assistant roles in the UK?
- How much do personal assistants / executive assistants earn in the UK?
- What is the best way to deal with personal assistant agencies in the UK?
- How should you prepare your CV for the UK?
Where can personal assistant / executive assistant roles be found in the UK?
Personal assistant / executive assistant roles exist all across the UK, however the greatest number of opportunities exist in the largest commercial centres. The biggest example of this is in London, where personal assistant agencies have a strong demand for experienced candidates. To get in touch with a personal assistant agency, check out the WORKgateways network of office and administration recruiters.
Areas just outside of London also have a strong demand for employees in secretarial jobs. Within the wider area of South East England, Personal Assistant and Executive Assistant jobs may be found in such places as:
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Other areas throughout the UK which you might consider, include:
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Tip: If you have a particular desire to live and work in a specific UK location, then make this intention clear to your recruitment agent from the outset.
Who do personal assistants / executive assistants work for in the UK?
The majority of personal assistant job openings exist in the private sector and are particularly common within large corporate organisations in the areas of:
- Banking and finance
- Insurance
- Media
Although less common, it is possible to pursue your personal assistant career within the public sector as well as the UK's large not–for–profit sector.
What type of work is available for personal assistant / executive assistant roles in the UK?
Most personal assistant / executive assistant jobs in the UK are of a permanent nature. This can be slightly more challenging if you are you are on a Working Holiday Visa, as you are limited to a period of 12 months employment.
PA temporary employment is also quite rare as personal assistant / executive assistant roles may require specific and ongoing knowledge about a particular person (or group of people) within a particular organisation.
If you are on a Working Holiday Visa you should focus on applying for longer fixed–term contracts (such as maternity leave cover). This type of employment is quite common in the UK and a PA employment agency can certainly help you in your search.
Check out the WORKgateways network of office and administration recruiters now!
What qualifications and experiences are needed for personal assistant / executive assistant roles in the UK?
Personal assistant / executive assistants with 2+ years experience should not have any trouble finding work in the UK.
Formal personal assistant qualifications generally aren't required. Some industry specific certifications may be seen as advantageous but are not usually given more weight than industry-based experience. Sector-specific knowledge is often required.
Personal assistants / executive assistants in the UK must be able to demonstrate experience of the following:
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal management skills.
- Advanced knowledge of office-suite software packages such as MS Office.
- Good clerical and administrative skills.
- Excellent organisational skills.
- The ability to work to tight deadlines and under their own initiative.
Additionally, having the ability to speak a foreign language, can be an extremely valuable skill to have. The most commonly required foreign languages are French, Spanish and German.
How much do personal assistants / executive assistants earn in the UK?
Personal assistants / executive assistants working in London can expect to earn £25 — £35 K per annum.
Personal assistants / executive assistants based elsewhere in the UK can expect to earn £15 — £25 K per annum.
Jobs based in London almost always pay more than those based in other parts of the UK. This is due to the associated costs of living in London, as well as the fact that many larger (and richer) organisations are based in London.
Other factors which will effect your pay packet include:
- The size of the organisation you work for.
- The amount of responsibility you have in your role.
- The amount of previous experience you possess.
Different sectors pay differently, for example, media and not-for-profit organisations tend to offer lesser salaries than banking and financial institutions. Also UK experience of any type does add value to your CV.
What is the best way to deal with personal assistant agencies in the UK?
Whether you are applying for a specific job or simply looking for anything which matches your skills and experience, your first point of contact will probably be a personal assistant recruitment agency.
Recruitment agencies are heavily involved in the UK job market - it is their business to find quality candidates for employers while simultaneously helping candidates to develop and progress their careers.
WORKgateways manages a network of the best office and administration recruiters to help you reach your potential.
Register with recruitment agencies up to 2 months before your arrival in the UK. Your recruitment consultant will then begin the process of finding you a suitable position, giving you a great head start to your working life in the UK.
If your travel plans or arrival date changes, make sure you inform your recruitment consultant immediately.
Learn how to get the most out of your WORKgateways UK job search in our FAQs.
How should you prepare your CV for the UK?
Your CV for the UK should be short — no more than 3 pages. Recruiters and employers see hundreds of CVs at a time, so it's important to make sure that the important information on your CV is immediately obvious.
Your CV should include a list of your employment history along with your responsibilities for each role. Be sure to list your experience in reverse-chronological order (i.e. most recent experience first).
Use lists and bullet points to enable the reader to quickly scan and understand your experience and abilities.
Example
| Mar 2006 — Present | Company Name, Country Personal Assistant |
| Responsibilities: |
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