PA to the Director - how much can I ask them to do?

[22]

How much can I expect a PA to do? Is the job description entirely of my making?

As with many small businesses, one person (me) runs everything behind the scenes. All employees are operational.

I've looked for office help to take the edge off my workload, perhaps a couple/few hours a day and know how to run things if I'm tied up. I had a girl on the kickstart scheme who wasn't great, but when I advertise for part-time office help the candidates are pretty poor. Maybe a couple of hours a day isn't enough to attract decent candidates - I was looking for someone who had perhaps previously run a family business and was looking for some part-time hours - but I seem to get youngsters applying with no experience. I could do with someone who can half hit the ground running.

The only way I can really make the days longer is to find someone who can do a school run for me (8am) - then works in the office with admin etc until PM school run, and finishes after that (~3:40pm). A longer day, but part-taxi service (teenage kids) and part office help!

Does anyone employ someone similarly? Feels like I need a sanity check but I definitely need some help.

[boyse7en]

advertise outside your kids' school.
Lots of people looking for jobs that fit in around school drop off and collect times.

[deebs]

Someone who works part time, a few hours a day, but can't have kids of their own who need school run because they are needed to do yours, and who has run a business before so they can hit the ground running or run things while you are tied up.

Tough job spec

[Castrol for a knave]

If you want a professional PA, then you should be able to find one who can work say 3 days a week. Older PA's who may not want 5 days a week looking after toddlers, sorry, Directors, but who still want to earn, keep their skills and enjoy working.

I wouldn't expect a PA to be dropping off and picking up kids.

A good PA is part CEO, part client whisperer and HR, part regimental sergeant major and part velociraptor.

[StevieBee]

This is who you need:



Joking aside, I think that such a person is normally drawn from your personal networks; a friend's friend's wife, that type of thing.

Don't be presumptive on the gender either. I had a retired copper work on a project for me a while back who, had he lived closer, would have been a brilliant right-hand-man-of-all-things.

[sinbaddio]

Someone who has kids at the same school? Can combine the school runs and work in between. Put and ad in the next school update/magazine etc

[Jockinthebox]

Not sure where in the country you are, but have come across the role/job you describe often.

I’d recommend contacting a local private household staffing agency, they will be able to help you with job description ect.


Good luck.

[Panamax]

If you're getting your PA to run kids to school that has nothing whatsoever to do with their "employment". As such, you're simply putting one past the tax-man by claiming personal stuff as if it's a business activity. This is plum centre in "taxable benefit" territory.

If any company I worked for ever asked me to do personal stuff for my superiors as part of the job I'd be straight out looking for a better job.

[Takemeaway]

I'd be looking for a part time office manager. This could open up your options for the role and responsibilities

[craigjm]

Don’t mix business needs with personal needs

How old are these teenage kids? Do they really need taking to and picking up from school?

[MustangGT]

What does your other half do? Seems like a perfect role for them.

[loskie]

or maybe the school bus driver

[22]

thanks all.

We moved house so daughter schools across county borders. My son now walks to school (move was better for him). I thought the lack of office help applicants may be as not enough hours - hence the suggested longer days with school runs. I'd get daughter a taxi if there was a properly reliable one (plus you have to park up early PM to get a space so half hour waiting about).

Mrs 22 has been poorly (although currently well) and one day I will need to have ducks in a row as I will care for her as long as needed. I love my job but it falls quickly out of my priorities at times. That's not fair on the workers who completely rely on me.

[OMITN]

I recall a former boss - managing director of a well known technology company - calling her new PA on a Sunday lunchtime to request the PA stop what she was doing (having lunch with her family) and drive across London to Heathrow to pick up a package.

The PA don’t return on Monday.

[48k]

I'd be looking for a retired person who wants to top up their income / get out of the house / keep their brain active.

[ZedLeg]

craigjm said:

Don’t mix business needs with personal needs

That, it looks like you're looking for a PA and an Au Pair. They definitely shouldn't be the same person.

[Castrol for a knave]

22 said:

thanks all.

We moved house so daughter schools across county borders. My son now walks to school (move was better for him). I thought the lack of office help applicants may be as not enough hours - hence the suggested longer days with school runs. I'd get daughter a taxi if there was a properly reliable one (plus you have to park up early PM to get a space so half hour waiting about).

Mrs 22 has been poorly (although currently well) and one day I will need to have ducks in a row as I will care for her as long as needed. I love my job but it falls quickly out of my priorities at times. That's not fair on the workers who completely rely on me.

Sounds like you need a general assistant and I agree, someone of retirement age who can help with the kids, given the circumstances and also pick up more general admin. Could be a perfect job for someone.

PA's are notoriously defensive of their role. Quickest way to piss one off is call them admin. I know, I am married to one. She formidable in her work ethic and her character. Worked as PA to several FTSE 100 CEO's for 30 years and it gets her riled (and makes my nose bleed) every time I call her a typist.

[Panamax]

Castrol for a knave said:

someone of retirement age who can help with the kids

It's supposed to be a "business employment", not "helping with the kids".

As someone mentioned above, there's a significant difference between a "Personal Assistant" and an "Au Pair".

[vaud]

Define the functions and support that you need.

Then map them to what is probably two roles.

[22]

It sounds like 2 separate things for sure. I actually really enjoy the school runs, my daughter is an amazing person. Ultimately though, I'd like to know it's something taken care of when I need to look after her mum.

The idea of adding school runs to a 'job' was simply to pad out the hours and hopefully attract some decent/better candidates - something that's just not happening at really low hours.

I've had a couple of awesome people approach me offering/asking about work - but I can't make it enough hours for them (I also need work to consume me as I'm easily distracted). The Kickstart scheme was 25 hours a week and that was probably a bit much - struggled to fill days and that was someone without many existing skills.

Annoyingly, I thought about this a while back and had some really strong candidates apply - then had my head turned by the Kickstart Scheme and now applicants are a world apart. I've just emailed one of the old ones back today (varied CV inc PA to MD of national house builder, landlady, breast cancer volunteer).

Thanks all.