Celebrity personal assistant jobs
Chances are that you've seen celebrities' assistants on the red-carpet holding umbrellas, fixing dresses or even holding half-eaten hamburgers. Well, as they say, "Someone's got to do it." And that someone is a celebrity personal assistant, and those jobs are now big business, and you can earn a top salary.
If you had uttered the words "celebrity PA" 20 years ago, someone might scoff and brush it off as a gopher job. Well, not anymore. Those jobs to celebrities can skyrocket a PA to their own fame and fortune -- if you're willing to put in the time and "take one for the team."
If you had uttered the words "celebrity PA" 20 years ago, someone might scoff and brush it off as a gopher job. Well, not anymore. Those jobs to celebrities can skyrocket a PA to their own fame and fortune -- if you're willing to put in the time and "take one for the team."
Should I register with a celebrity personal assistant agency?
Selena Gomez and her PA
The short answer: Yes, if they'll take you. As is true with so many other things in life, we have the classical Catch-22 scenario. You can't get a celebrity personal assistant job without experience, and how do you get experience if nobody will hire you?
When VIPs go to a personal assistant agency, they are going to be paying very big money to get "turnkey" candidates. So, if you're planning on approaching a famous recruiter and asking them to represent you without PA experience, it's going to be a complete waste of time.
Think of it this way. If an actor with no experience went to one of the top talent agencies in Los Angeles and asked them for representation, what do you think they are going to say? But don't worry, it's not hopeless and we have some insider information about how to score celebrity personal assistant jobs.
When VIPs go to a personal assistant agency, they are going to be paying very big money to get "turnkey" candidates. So, if you're planning on approaching a famous recruiter and asking them to represent you without PA experience, it's going to be a complete waste of time.
Think of it this way. If an actor with no experience went to one of the top talent agencies in Los Angeles and asked them for representation, what do you think they are going to say? But don't worry, it's not hopeless and we have some insider information about how to score celebrity personal assistant jobs.
Los Angeles, CA is the world's epicenter for assistant jobs in entertainment
There is no question that LA is a magnet if you want to be a career personal assistant. A salary for a full-time assistant to an A-list celebrity could reach over $150,000, but there are a number of factors to consider:
These are just some of many considerations. Perhaps, most importantly, can you manage stress well? When you are working as a celebrity personal assistant, your tasks can be so overwhelming that you feel like you're going to head to the funny farm. Working 12 to 14 hours a day, seven days a week is common if you're working for a major celebrity.
- How high-profile is the celebrity?
- Are you the head assistant?
- Does the celebrity have their own production company?
- Do you know how to work red-carpet events?
- What responsibilities do you have while working for the star?
- Are you willing to work long hours?
These are just some of many considerations. Perhaps, most importantly, can you manage stress well? When you are working as a celebrity personal assistant, your tasks can be so overwhelming that you feel like you're going to head to the funny farm. Working 12 to 14 hours a day, seven days a week is common if you're working for a major celebrity.
How can celebrity PAs get a start in the industry?
Reese Witherspoon and her assistant
The best news is that you can be a celebrity PA in just about any city worldwide. Celebrities are not just movie stars; they are anyone in the public eye: Book authors, professional athletes, CEOs, High-net-worth families, etc. Start by doing some research and find out who lives in your area.
It's not advised to just blast generic resumes to anyone and everyone. Follow these steps in increase your chances of success:
It's not advised to just blast generic resumes to anyone and everyone. Follow these steps in increase your chances of success:
- Decide on your personal brand. Where would you "fit in"?
- Think about scheduling. If you're not able to pull long hours, then a book author might be a better employer for you.
- Do you have public relations experience? Get a job through a PR firm and segway into an assistant job.
- Get some professional development. Brush up on Microsoft Office because you will need strong administrative support skills to thrive as a personal assistant.
How can I contact a celebrity's manager?
Without question, the best way to score celebrity personal assistant jobs is to contact their management. The high-profile employers in the entertainment industry (think Lady Gaga and the Kardashians) are going to have an army of representatives: Agents, managers, publicity reps, lawyers, etc. The one person who works closely with the stars is the management team. They handle more of the day-to-day tasks involving the stars' lives. Of course, the Catch-22 is knowing how to reach the manager of the star. You can contact our office for guidance in this area.
Once you have the star's manager on file, write a short letter offering your personal assistant services. Explain why you would be a good fit for their clients (a top manager will often manage more than one star).
We don't recommend a phone call, so a letter is best. Let them call you back on their own schedule. If you try a phone call, you're not even likely to get through. In fact, the receptionist probably won't even want to assist you.
Once you have the star's manager on file, write a short letter offering your personal assistant services. Explain why you would be a good fit for their clients (a top manager will often manage more than one star).
We don't recommend a phone call, so a letter is best. Let them call you back on their own schedule. If you try a phone call, you're not even likely to get through. In fact, the receptionist probably won't even want to assist you.
Are celebrity personal assistants likely to make $250,000?
Mariah Carey and her assistant
Honestly, the chances are against it, statistically speaking. But with some very careful planning and a little luck, many people have done it.
What kind of service will you be offering? You have to ask yourself this because if you want to work your way up, you have to know what skills you will need to be successful.
If you want to work for a Hollywood star that's also an executive in a production company, that's a great goal to have. Many personal assistants have gone on to be producing partners in a celeb's company.
Just some of those include assistants to Ashton Kutcher, Sean P Diddy Combs, Adam Sandler and Oprah Winfrey. There are many more examples, but the moral of the story is not to rest on one's laurels.
What kind of service will you be offering? You have to ask yourself this because if you want to work your way up, you have to know what skills you will need to be successful.
If you want to work for a Hollywood star that's also an executive in a production company, that's a great goal to have. Many personal assistants have gone on to be producing partners in a celeb's company.
Just some of those include assistants to Ashton Kutcher, Sean P Diddy Combs, Adam Sandler and Oprah Winfrey. There are many more examples, but the moral of the story is not to rest on one's laurels.
What resource will I need as if working in celebrity personal assistant jobs?
So glad you asked. When working in these types of roles, regardless of whether you're paid or not (or what shift you work), you will need resources and be able to solve problems very quickly. You will be assigned tasks at the last minute and will have to juggle multiple projects.
In order to accomplish all of this, you will need the world at your fingertips. The companies you work for often won't offer the kind of support that you will need. In short, you will be on your own to get it done -- or you will have to face the music if you fail.
The great thing about being a personal assistant today is that you have technology on your side. There are many personal assistant associations that you can join to have a network of other assistants that can help you solve problems -- like making a press release when you've never done it before.
In order to accomplish all of this, you will need the world at your fingertips. The companies you work for often won't offer the kind of support that you will need. In short, you will be on your own to get it done -- or you will have to face the music if you fail.
The great thing about being a personal assistant today is that you have technology on your side. There are many personal assistant associations that you can join to have a network of other assistants that can help you solve problems -- like making a press release when you've never done it before.
Do you have any more last-minute advice for elite personal assistant jobs?
Sure. Here they are in no order of importance:
Scoring a celebrity PA job isn't easy. It takes dedication and resilience to make it work. Good luck in your search for a dream job.
- Always keep things confidential when working for a VIP or high-net-worth family.
- Image is very important, so always dress like you care.
- Strong and effective communication is critical for success.
- Be flexible because your duties will be varied.
- If you work on a studio lot, don't take photos of others like you're a tourist.
- Be organized. You will need to keep track of lots of data.
- Be willing to start part time or work remote to get your foot in the door.
- Never speak with the media when you work for billionaires and high-profile families.
- Don't post anything on social media that would indicate that you're not confidential.
- Be vigilant with your job search. Look for jobs posted online and set up a job alert of any job type in the PA world. Any job board in North America will do.
- Finally, create a strong brand image for yourself as a PA so people will want to hire you.
Scoring a celebrity PA job isn't easy. It takes dedication and resilience to make it work. Good luck in your search for a dream job.
Filed under: Professional development, service heart, resources, job search, VIP clients, high-net-worth family
