The Personal Assistant - A Growing Career Field that's not just
for the Rich and Famous
What started as a service to the rich and famous, specifically
those of celebrity status, is becoming a career field based on
white and blue collar workers who are finding they have less and
less free time.
The rising costs of living have created dual income families,
leaving little time to respond to the everyday errands and
crises that inevitably occur. Personal Assistant services take
the edge off these demands and can make life much simpler for
career driven families. With both adults holding full time jobs,
the need for help becomes more than a luxury, it almost becomes
a necessity. Someone must plan meals, run errands, and care for
the home. With the total number of overall hours worked
increasing, the pressures to manage both work and home is
becoming more difficult.
Becoming a Personal Assistant can be a rewarding career, not
just financially, but in the gratification of seeing the
positive impacts your efforts have on their client. In today's
fast paced world, the need for time saving methods are
invaluable. This is where you will excel. However, it is not
just saving time for the client that you will provide. There are
many aspects of a customer's routine requiring special knowledge
and often-rigorous undertakings. You may be required to choose a
menu when the boss is coming to dinner or even take the family
dog on a run. There is no end to the services you can offer and
no end to what may be expected. Keep in mind, the more
difficult, or more knowledge specific the job is the higher the
fee.
You may find yourself specializing in your services and or
clients. You may find your forte in working for businessmen or
women who need someone to run errands or deliver confidential
documents. Or you may be more orientated towards the domestic
environment and enjoy managing households for duel income
families. There are tremendous opportunities available for these
services.
An advantage to making your career as a Personal Assistant is
the ability to work from home. The need for an office is
negligible and reduces overhead costs to manageable amounts. A
good computer, telephone, and answering system are required
equipment, as is dependable transportation. The computer is an
absolute necessity. Aside from keeping tracks of income and
expenses, the Internet gives you instant access to information
when needed to impress or satisfy a client.
You may even specialize in working strictly for a celebrity.
Personal Assistants for celebrities may get higher pay, but the
hours, travel and responsibilities can be challenging. As an
independent assistant, you will enjoy a certain freedom when
working for families and business people. You have a choice in
who you work for, and in the hours in which you work.
In the final analysis, becoming a personal assistant seems like
a growth career field. Those who can help families create the
kind of balance they seek in our ever accelerating society are
likely to be in high demand.