What is a household personal assistant?
Depending on the household, hiring someone that assists you can take many forms and titles: estate manager, family assistant, household manager, or personal assistant. Because no two households could ever be alike, duties and responsibilities vary. Here is a general introduction to the profession of being a household personal assistant.
How can I get a job as a household personal assistant?
Hire a household personal assistant
Breaking into the hidden job market and getting a referral from a friend is a great idea. Many celebrities and high-net-worth families don't often take out job ads for household assistants, but sometimes it does happen.
Going to a domestic staffing agency that places household personal assistants is another route. Be advised, though, that you will usually need prior experience when dealing with a recruitment agency because when billionaires go to headhunters, they want very experienced household assistants with many years of experience. The VIPs are paying hefty commissions because they want "turnkey" candidates that don't need any training.
Going to a domestic staffing agency that places household personal assistants is another route. Be advised, though, that you will usually need prior experience when dealing with a recruitment agency because when billionaires go to headhunters, they want very experienced household assistants with many years of experience. The VIPs are paying hefty commissions because they want "turnkey" candidates that don't need any training.
What are the duties and responsibilities of a household personal assistant?
The bigger the household, the more responsibilities the assistant will have. For households with many family members, especially estates that have over 10,000 square feet, there may be more than one household assistant employed. Here is a short list of what you can expect your household assistant to do:
This list is by no means exhaustive, but it gives you a general sense of what might occur at a busy estate. For ultra-high net worth families and billionaires, a Chief of Staff would be employed in households with over 20,000 square feet, and private jet management would likely be needed as well.
- Manage domestic staff: nannies, housekeepers, gardeners, security guards, etc.
- Calendar management: personal and professional, domestic and international
- Vendor management: pool cleaner, landscaper, HVAC, phone tech, and security system engineer
- Construction management: oversee repairs, maintenance, and restoration
- Vacation planning: domestic and international travel plans
- Errands: grocery shopping, pet sitting, and personal shopping for clients
- Event management: holiday parties, birthday planning, family get-togethers
This list is by no means exhaustive, but it gives you a general sense of what might occur at a busy estate. For ultra-high net worth families and billionaires, a Chief of Staff would be employed in households with over 20,000 square feet, and private jet management would likely be needed as well.
Filed Under: personal assistant private household, staffing for affluent families, estate management
