Starting a new career, or setting out in the world of work as a school leaver is exciting but it also has its challenges.
Being a personal assistant is a great career that offers variety and the chance to learn many new skills, however, breaking into the industry can be difficult.
Many job listings will state that previous personal assistant experience is required, however, if you’re determined, and put the work in, you can find and secure entry level personal assistant jobs.
But, the competition for this type of work is high. There are likely to be many other applicants, all vying for the job. How do you make your application stand out from the crowd?
Gain any experience you can for your resume
If you have no experience at all, it’s time to get out there and gain some!
There is a wealth of opportunities out there that you can grasp, to make your resume appear more impressive.
Any office or administrative work will put you in good stead as a personal assistant.
This could be part-time, a volunteer position, or helping out a friend or family member with their business. Any general office experience will help you build your skillset to become a great personal assistant.
Of course, you should never overlook the skills you’ve built up in seemingly unrelated jobs too. Perhaps you worked in a busy kitchen; as a career, it’s worlds away, but when it comes to the skills you’ve gained, some are readily transferable.
You’re no doubt great under pressure and you’re sure to be an excellent multitasker. Be sure to mention these key skills in your resume!
Write the perfect cover letter
Cover letters can make or break a job application.
Ensure that your letter is concise and filled with valuable information but not too lengthy.
Read it over several times before you send it, and better still, get someone else to proofread it too.
One of the prerequisites of a personal assistant is meticulous attention to detail, so sending in a cover letter that contains a spelling error or grammatical mistake is a huge no-no that is likely to get your application consigned to the trash can before it’s even been properly considered.
We’ve got a great guide about writing the perfect personal assistant cover letter.
Learn new skills and take relevant courses
There are many aspects to working as a personal assistant. This means you can give your skillset a boost quite easily by learning something new or improving the skills you already possess.
Being familiar with the most commonly used office equipment and software is a must, but why not take it to the next level and become an expert in the intricacies of spreadsheets or learn how to troubleshoot computer problems?
Look into taking courses, particularly ones that lead to a certification such as the Personal Assistant Certification we offer here at the Personal Assistant Institute.
With so many skills being beneficial to a personal assistant, you’re sure to find plenty of options. You could complete a selection of shorter courses to more quickly fill up your resume.
Consider courses in business administration, data entry, communications, accounting or management.
Explore all avenues
If you want to get entry level personal assistant jobs, it can pay to seek out any and all job opportunities anywhere you can.
Signing up for one of the most popular employment websites is a great place to start, but that’s where everyone else will be searching for work too.
The key is to look absolutely everywhere.
Register with several job sites, don’t just stick with one.
Ask around, perhaps a family member will know someone who is looking for a personal assistant or a friend may have heard of a vacancy coming up at their place of work. The more people you talk to about your job search and your aspiration to become a personal assistant, the more chance you have of succeeding in that goal.
You could also consider part-time positions as a freelance personal assistant working with several clients at once.
There are many people out there who don’t require a full-time personal assistant or simply can’t afford to hire one, but who would be happy to make use of your skills for one day a week, or a couple of hours a day.
While at first glance a job like this might seem insufficient when you’ve got rent and bills to pay, nothing is stopping you from taking on several such opportunities.
This eliminates the issue of having all your eggs in one basket, if you lose one client, you’re not totally out of a job, you just have time to then take on another client, and it also ensures your work is varied and interesting.
Look for positions that take advantage of your previous roles
If you want to get the edge on the other applicants when you’re applying for entry level personal assistant jobs, it can certainly pay to seek out positions that relate to a previous role, so your current skills give you an advantage.
For example, if you’ve worked in childcare, your resume would stand out to a headteacher hiring a personal assistant.
If your previous work experience includes caring or nursing, then a role as a personal assistant for a doctor or surgeon would be one well worth applying for.
Finding a niche position that takes advantage of the experience you already have can compensate for a lack of direct experience as a personal assistant.
Look and act the part at interview
So your resume and cover letter have got you to the next stage of the process. Well done!
But now the hard work really starts.
Now you have to show your potential employers that you’re the best choice for the job.
Unlike a cover letter, which you can write and rewrite, and give to your friend to proofread and edit for you, you have one shot at succeeding at interview level, and it’s all down to you.
As a personal assistant, you could be accompanying your boss to meetings and events, or be the first point of contact for their visitors, so appearance is important.
Ensure you are spotless and smart for your interview and pay attention to detail.
Having a button undone, or dirty shoes will portray an image of half-heartedness and a lack of care, qualities that should never be associated with a personal assistant.
You need to portray yourself as confident and competent, so get practicing.
Research interview questions to ensure you can answer anything that is thrown at you, quickly and with a clear, high-quality response. You don’t want to be left blank and speechless when they ask where you see yourself in five years!
