Everything You Need to Know About Hiring a Personal Assistant

If you’re considering hiring a personal assistant who can take on some of your responsibilities and free up your schedule, allowing you to focus on the things that matter, it’s crucial to ensure that you don’t rush into making this decision. Choose carefully and wisely, making sure that you find someone who lives up to your expectations and helps you achieve your goals effortlessly.

From creating a list of tasks that you’d like your personal assistant to look after to reviewing applications and picking a candidate who seems like the perfect fit, there’s a lot that you need to keep in mind. If you’re wondering where to begin, don’t worry –– we’ve got your back! Keep reading for more on everything you need to know about hiring a personal assistant.

Define the right skill set and qualifications.

While this may seem time-consuming at first, it’s worthwhile coming up with a list of qualifications that you’d like the right candidate to have. Perhaps you need a personal assistant who’s comfortable working with popular project management tools like Asana and Trello. Or maybe you need someone with impressive communication skills who can easily communicate with potential clients and schedule meetings effortlessly.

Either way, you’ll want to hire a personal assistant who’s well-organized and comfortable with tackling a plethora of administrative tasks. Their ability to stay calm under pressure and multitask without breaking a sweat is crucial as well.

Spend time crafting a solid job description.

This is your chance to highlight everything you’re looking for as you begin your search for a personal assistant. Maybe you’d like them to work onsite and coordinate with the rest of your team. Or perhaps, you’re okay with a remote personal assistant as long as they’re able to work the same hours as you.

Additionally, you’ll want to indicate whether this is a part-time, temporary, or full-time position in order to attract the right candidates. Also, make sure to add any qualifications (relevant professional experience, educational background, skill set) that you’d like to see in your ideal candidate. Creating a concise job description will increase your chances of finding a candidate who’s a good match.

Prep for the Interview.

Take some time to prepare a few questions for prospective candidates that you can ask during the interviews. For instance, you could put forward hypothetical scenarios that you foresee taking place at work and ask an interviewee how they would respond in such a situation. This is an excellent way to find out whether a prospective candidate is a good fit for the role.

You can also ask them to talk about their work experience, what they bring to the table that makes them stand out from their peers, and their biggest strengths and weaknesses. This is also the right time to discuss expectations and ensure that everyone is on the same page.

Trust the Process.

While hiring a personal assistant can feel incredibly overwhelming as you attempt to juggle other tasks and go through scores of applications, remember to stay patient and take as much time as you need to make a decision. You’ll also want to take several things into account such as the kind of benefits and compensation you can offer, the primary responsibilities associated with the role, severance policies and packages, and more.

It may seem slightly time-consuming to go through so many steps but it’s worth it –– you’ll be certain that you’ve covered all the bases and haven’t left anything to chance. If you’re unsure and need guidance, don't hesitate to seek advice from a trusted friend or mentor.

Consider Incorporating a Trial Period.

Hiring a personal assistant can be a bit of a learning curve especially if you’ve never worked with one before. Work with the rest of your team to ensure there is a clear training and onboarding process in place to help the personal assistant settle into their new role.

You can also include a trial process if you’re uncertain and need some time to ensure that this is a good fit for both parties. A trial period gives you a chance to determine whether someone can succeed at their role while allowing you to ascertain whether this is a solid fit for everyone involved.

While hiring a personal assistant can seem confusing, it’s worth it especially if you’re a busy entrepreneur who’s struggling to take control of your business and prioritize important tasks. A personal assistant can make your life easier and allow you to juggle things perfectly without feeling burned out or overwhelmed.

Leadership isn’t easy, but with these tools in hand, we hope you can feel more empowered to be the leader your team needs.

If you’re uncertain and need a little help, feel free to ask your team members for guidance. Maybe they can be a part of the interview process as well and help you find the best candidate for the job. Ideally, you want to find a skilled communicator, someone who’s comfortable with tight deadlines and can effortlessly handle things like scheduling.

WRITTEN BY: BOSHIKA GUPTA