‘Don’t be shy about selling yourself. It’s an increasingly competitive market and employers want the best people for their roles. They need to know what you can bring to their organisation, how you
can add value, and why not hiring you would be detrimental to their business.
‘Never assume the interviewer knows what you do. You must sell yourself by detailing your skills and abilities, your role and what sets you apart from other PAs. This will ensure you stand out from the crowd and the interviewer remembers you over the other PAs.’
Gabrielle Drake, director of Crone Corkill
‘Creating a better work/life balance is key for everyone’s health and happiness, and with more managers trying to reduce their working week to four days rather than five, the PA’s role has never been as strong. With more responsibility and heavier workloads, PAs are evolving into business assistants. To achieve a four-day week, managers need the total support of the PA to keep the plates spinning and to run the business seamlessly. I predict that the future of the dedicated PA is very bright.’
Denise West, Willemena
‘According to the Office of National Statistics, there are currently about 326,000 PAs in the UK. Last year, we saw almost 230,000 vacancies for administrative staff and we’ve noticed an increase in the number of vacancies for these types of roles, compared to the beginning of 2010. In recent years, the duties of a PA have extended far beyond a secretarial role. Valuable additional skills may involve elements of HR, marketing and project management, including preparing reports and presentations, managing budgets, organising events and training staff. We expect to see this trend continuing throughout 2011, and beyond.’
David Clubb, (pictured) MD of Office Angels
‘This year we expect the demand for PAs in the private sector will continue to grow as employer confidence picks up, particularly in financial services, energy and insurance sectors. The public sector is waiting to hear the next round of cuts, but it’s likely that demand for PA positions will drop off as budgets inevitably become squeezed further.
‘There’s been an increase in the number of graduate vacancies; no experience is required, but candidates need to show that they can effectively manage projects. Directors, particularly at small and medium-sized companies, are looking for PAs that will attend meetings and events with them and then use their own initiative, taking action without prompting. This means that PAs will do more than just organise calendars; they’ll also work on projects alongside directors in partnership. For larger organisations, more traditional PA roles still exist as there tends to be more systems and processes that need to be adhered to.’
Jane Firth, senior business manager at Hays PA & Secretarial
‘Our forecast for the job market is one of cautious optimism, particularly for London and the South-east. The huge uncertainties of the financial crisis are receding. Many companies cut costs over the last couple of years and are now in a relatively strong position, both profits and balance sheet-wise. The job market remains competitive but there are opportunities out there, and a good demand for talent.
‘The caution, however, comes from a multitude of different sources: the UK economy is still in trouble and resumption of growth isn’t assured for all sorts of reasons. The US still hasn’t sorted out its public debts or its banking system; the eurozone remains a worry; Arab revolutions threaten oil supplies – and shocks such as the Japanese earthquake don’t help. Inevitably, companies aren’t 100% in the mood to go flat-out for growth, and if any one of these potential disasters happens then the job market may well tighten rapidly.’
Richard Grace, joint MD, Gordon Yates
‘SecsintheCity has had a 38% increase across all job types and a 40% increase in PA jobs since January and we anticipate that the market will continue to grow throughout the year.’
Sarah EL-Doori, marketing director, SecsintheCity
‘An efficient recruitment process will be key in 2011. Moreover, as much as candidates are expected to make themselves attractive to potential employers with the return to a more candidate-driven market, companies must also consider how they can appeal to applicants. We envisage salaries increasing within the PA market, following very little movement in the last few years.’
Melanie Bramwell, director, Angela Mortimer
‘Overall, Tate has seen an increase in high-level PA and EA roles over the past six months. This is mainly due to client growth and changes in high-level management, rather than replacing a candidate who’s left the company. The most significant change we’ve noticed is in the job function of the PA/EA, which has been accelerated by the recession. Employers are increasingly looking for their staff to add value and have moved the PA/EA role away from more traditional duties to taking on extra responsibilities, such as marketing or advanced Excel to assist with financial projects or health and safety. Employers are becoming more cautious and many want candidates to attend up to three interviews before offers are made.’
Christine Carey, London area manager, Tate
If you do just one thing… The recruiters offer their advice
‘We’d advise PAs to be open minded and flexible when considering new opportunities. As the role of the PA continues to evolve and move away from the traditional one to more of a support role, PAs should be open to the idea of supporting more than one person and taking on more projects or additional responsibilities in their role.’
Lee Wragg, divisional leader, Angela Mortimer
‘For those looking for work, the one piece of advice I would give, if possible, is meet your boss before accepting a role to find out their style of working. PAs typically work very closely with their bosses and the surrounding team, so you need to make sure that you get on with everyone and like the working atmosphere.
‘Visiting the organisation and meeting the team you’ll be working for can give you first-hand insight as to whether an office is quiet or bustling and what environment you would prefer to work in. Like the saying “never judge a book by its cover”, rather than just relying on a job description to give you the details it’s always worth attending an interview either way as it may just pleasantly surprise you as to what is on offer.’
Jane Firth, senior business manager at Hays PA & Secretarial
‘To succeed through the interview stage, job seekers should ensure their CV highlights any value-adding skills, that they apply for only suitable roles and treat every interview like it’s their first. However, not restricting your job search to one industry or sector can obviously open up more opportunities. Attending a number of interviews will provide choice, creating a feeling of confidence and assurance that you’ve made the right career move in the long run.’
Christine Carey, London area manager, Tate
‘Be proactive and follow up on applications – this will show that you’ll also be proactive in the role. Before uploading your CV,