The different titles for personal assistants

In this brave new world, job titles have become controversial in some respect, and that is exceptionally true in the world of private service. No ten people could agree on what a personal assistant, estate manager or butler do; but they all "assist" the person they work for. 

Just some of the alternative titles for assistance in private service include: aide, confidant, advisor, associate, personal attendant, valet, right-hand, body man, majordomo and personal secretary. 

What job title should I give my assistant?

The short answer: You decide. The most important thing, we think, is that the assistant you hire should be respected and paid a salary that's reasonable for the level of work that they are responsible for. Here are some considerations to think about:

• The number of hours to be worked each week
• How much education and special training does the assistant possess?
• The number of estates to be managed
• How many domestic staff will they be in charge of?
• The overall level of responsibility (depth and breadth) 

Job titles and salary vary wildly in the domestic staffing world; but if you want to keep the assistant long term, then paying them fairly and giving them a title they can be proud of makes a difference. 

Alternative assistant titles in the corporate world

As assistants get more responsibilities in the corporate world, the titles are morphing into ones like strategic business partner, administrative partner, administrative lead or coordinator, business project manager and management associate. Again, employers simply have to do some soul searching and find a happy middle to get the right candidate.