Job Seekers' Frequently Asked Questions
Are you a traditional employment agency?
Jobseeker's FAQ
No, absolutely not. We are headhunters who start from scratch with each job placement that we do. We are retained search, which is exceptionally rare in this industry. Because employers pay us upfront, we don't have "tire kickers" with employers who are just looking at new candidates half-heartedly. Clients that come to us are certain they are going to make a placement and they only hire us.
In this industry, it's common for some employers to hire 3 to 5 agencies at the same time, and that makes recruiters rush to submit candidates in hopes of scoring a commission. In short, it's a race because many of the same candidates are registered with multiple agencies. This "race" that most staffing agencies participate in dramatically reduces the quality of the placement process.
In this industry, it's common for some employers to hire 3 to 5 agencies at the same time, and that makes recruiters rush to submit candidates in hopes of scoring a commission. In short, it's a race because many of the same candidates are registered with multiple agencies. This "race" that most staffing agencies participate in dramatically reduces the quality of the placement process.
What kinds of jobs do you place?
As far as we know, we are the world's only company dedicated specifically to elite assistant jobs. We place executive/personal assistants in estates, family offices, and corporate environments. Although we specialize in EA and PA jobs, we also recruit for Estate Managers, too, because those positions are often hybrid with many of our clients. We have also partnered with some very-well-respected agencies to place other domestic staffing roles: housekeepers, butlers, nannies, security personnel, etc.
Where do you place personal assistants?
We place worldwide. We focus primarily on major U.S. cities like Los Angeles, New York City, Washington DC, Miami, Chicago, and San Francisco. But we also place assistants in small cities, too. There are more than 700 billionaires in the USA, for example, and many of them live outside of metropolitan areas. Additionally, there are 50,000 households in the United States with net worth between $50MM and $500MM. Many of our clients fall into these categories. We also place globally and have a network of candidates in major cities.
I have never been a traditional assistant before, is that alright?
Yes, certainly. Depending on the employer, very specific skill sets are required and not all traditional assistants can fill those roles. For starters, being very organized and proficient with Microsoft Office is what many employers look for. So, for example, if your background is in accounting and you wanted to be an executive/personal assistant for a finance guru in his private family office/home office, we place roles like that. Candidates, mainly, just have to go outside of their comfort zones when leaving a corporate environment and be willing to do some tasks that would traditionally be done by exclusive personal assistants.
These are known as "hybrid positions". In the old-school days, these positions were separate; but over the past 10 years, we have seen more and more employers blend positions together. Even the ultra-high net worth families are trying to be more efficient, so it's not just about saving money. This hybrid model is especially useful in our new Covid world.
So, for example, it wouldn't be unheard of for a client to ask us to get an assistant who can be a driver and do the traditional PA duties. Many families would rather have one person do those roles instead of having to hire a driver and a PA (and pay two commissions to agencies). In short, diversity is key in this new age of working with the UHNW. Of course, we do place roles that are exclusively for an EA or PA, but hybrids are becoming more common.
These are known as "hybrid positions". In the old-school days, these positions were separate; but over the past 10 years, we have seen more and more employers blend positions together. Even the ultra-high net worth families are trying to be more efficient, so it's not just about saving money. This hybrid model is especially useful in our new Covid world.
So, for example, it wouldn't be unheard of for a client to ask us to get an assistant who can be a driver and do the traditional PA duties. Many families would rather have one person do those roles instead of having to hire a driver and a PA (and pay two commissions to agencies). In short, diversity is key in this new age of working with the UHNW. Of course, we do place roles that are exclusively for an EA or PA, but hybrids are becoming more common.
I sent my resume to you but never heard back. Why?
Firstly, we would like to thank you for your interest. Please be advised that we receive many hundreds of emails a month from assistants, private employers, HR managers, recruiters, private jet companies, hotel concierges, travel companies, wedding planners, etc.
We can't respond to every message, and we thank you greatly for your understanding. If you sent a resume, it will be put on file and if we feel there is a match in the future, then we will reach out for an interview. Signing up for our newsletter is also a very good way to be notified of future positions.
In the past, we actually used to send an email to every candidate who sent us a resume. But then we were consumed with questions like "Why can't you get me a job right now?" or "How can I become more qualified?" Thousands of job seekers reach out to us every year for help, and that is why we have put so much information on the site for your reference. We know it's frustrating not to hear back but hang in there. We will usually contact you within 24 hours if we think that we can place you for a client who has an immediate need.
Brian Daniel has also stopped charging for his Personal Assistant Book, so you have free access to help you secure your next position. Additionally, our Sitemap has hundreds of pages of free resources for job seekers as well.
We can't respond to every message, and we thank you greatly for your understanding. If you sent a resume, it will be put on file and if we feel there is a match in the future, then we will reach out for an interview. Signing up for our newsletter is also a very good way to be notified of future positions.
In the past, we actually used to send an email to every candidate who sent us a resume. But then we were consumed with questions like "Why can't you get me a job right now?" or "How can I become more qualified?" Thousands of job seekers reach out to us every year for help, and that is why we have put so much information on the site for your reference. We know it's frustrating not to hear back but hang in there. We will usually contact you within 24 hours if we think that we can place you for a client who has an immediate need.
Brian Daniel has also stopped charging for his Personal Assistant Book, so you have free access to help you secure your next position. Additionally, our Sitemap has hundreds of pages of free resources for job seekers as well.
What advice can you give me about working for high-net-worth families and celebrities?
Brian Daniel wrote a book, which is available for free HERE. You can also get some career coaching HERE.
How much do assistants placed through your firm make?
The short answer: $80,000 to $100,000 is the average for our mid-range placements. The longer answer is that a number of considerations are important for deciding: market factors, region, overall level of responsibility, experience, education, employer, etc. We have several high-range assistants that are in the $150,000 to $250,000 arena. For a complete breakdown on salary range, visit HERE.
Generally speaking, how does the placement process with your company work?
- Candidates submit a resume: If we feel there is a possibility we could place you, we will usually reach out within 24 hours for a quick exploratory interview. The main purpose at that point is to find out your career goals.
- For candidates that we feel could be a fit for a client, we start rounds of interviews. This can take many hours.
- If we think you are a match for a client after the initial interviews, then the next stage would be to verify your former employment and do background checks, etc. (assuming the candidate still wants to move forward).
- After that, interviews with the client start. That can take days or weeks, depending on matching schedules and availability. The clients can do anywhere from one to six interviews.
Do I need to apply for every job I see posted on your site?
Please feel free to submit each time for different jobs, but please don't repeatedly submit yourself for the same job. We are aware that some candidates think they are a "perfect fit" for a certain position, but please be advised that there is a much longer job description that we have not posted. Sometimes it's like trying to "line up the planets" with these positions, and there are considerations that the candidates are not aware of. Thanks for your patience and understanding.
If the job is still posted, does that mean it's still open?
Yes, technically. We send resumes to the client in "rounds." Round 1 has the closest match. Usually, the client will choose one of these candidates. There could be anywhere between 2 and 5 candidates to choose from. If, by chance, the client wants to see more candidates, we will move to Round 2. Usually that will close it. Very rarely do we move to a Round 3.
The length of time to fill a role does depend, though, on the "degree of difficultly." If the client is looking in a very narrow set of circumstances -- like the candidate needs to have a master's degree and speak two specific languages -- then it can take up to three months or more to find someone like that.
The length of time to fill a role does depend, though, on the "degree of difficultly." If the client is looking in a very narrow set of circumstances -- like the candidate needs to have a master's degree and speak two specific languages -- then it can take up to three months or more to find someone like that.
Do I have to put my current employer's name? I don't want anyone to know I'm looking for a new job.
The short answer: no, you don't (in the beginning). Just put "Confidential A-list actor" or whatever would be appropriate for your situation. Eventually, though, you will need to disclose your current employer if you do want to move forward with a new job through our agency.
Please be advised that if you put "Confidential Employer" for all of your past employers, then you won't hear from us because there is no way for us to gauge whether or not your past experience is suited for any of our current clients. We also need to know if any possible conflicts exist.
Please be advised that if you put "Confidential Employer" for all of your past employers, then you won't hear from us because there is no way for us to gauge whether or not your past experience is suited for any of our current clients. We also need to know if any possible conflicts exist.
What kind of recommendations will I need from former employers?
This is a sticky and sometimes controversial topic in our industry. The short answer is that every single one of your employers needs to be verified in some way. If you were working, say, for an A-list celebrity for three years and they were paying you cash (no pay slips) and you don't have a verifiable letter confirming your employment, we likely won't be able to represent you. Brian Daniel has made a detailed post about "the gold standard" for recommendation letters HERE.
What are the chances you can get me a job?
It's a great question. There are many factors that make up the equation. In a very rare case, we got a PA a job with a world-famous CEO in a week; but that is certainly the exception, not the rule. Consider this:
The very best example is like A-list celebrities in Hollywood. Take the "Wonder Woman" movie, for example. When a movie studio is going to make a film, the Hollywood movie stars are no longer competing with the top-notch talent in Los Angeles, they are now competing on a worldwide scale. If you didn't know, the new Wonder Woman actress, Gal Gadot, is from Israel. She "beat" hundreds (maybe thousands) of other actresses from around the world that were competing for the same role.
Having said that, most of the time you will only be competing with the talent in the same country, but not always the same city. There is no doubt that the Client certainly prefers to choose a candidate close to his/her home, but what they are sometimes looking for is "lightning in a bottle." They are hiring in hopes to keep someone for five to 10 years because they don't want to have to hire, retrain, and share secrets with new assistants every other year.
So, honestly (statistically speaking) the numbers are against you. Suppose we get an order for a job in Los Angeles. At the very minimum, you will be up against about 100 other qualified candidates (passive and active job seekers). Most of them are passive seekers in our Network that have been waiting for the "perfect opportunity."
Now, having said all of that, if you are one of the three to five candidates that we submit to the Client, the chances are very strong that one of those three to five will get the job because that means you are a very close match. Additionally, because we are a retained-search firm, the Client is very serious about hiring because they have already paid us money (a retainer) upfront. And we can also assume that the Client has only hired our firm, so you usually won't be competing with other firms -- but that isn't always the case.
We were even in a situation once where we got a "dream job" for a candidate that was in our computer for seven years. The lesson: This business is all about longevity and cultivating professional relationships.
All of the parties involved in the process of making a placement (the agent, job seeker and the client) need to be very humble; but this is especially true for the candidates. Sometimes we get resumes from candidates who have worked for the UHNW and celebrities, and they start making a lot of assumptions, can be aggressive, or are sometimes even demanding. There is no place for that when working with an agency. Just because a candidate worked for one billionaire doesn't mean s/he will be good for another high-net-worth individual.
The role of an agent is to fulfil what the client wants; and it's often a very "tall order" if they are coming to us. So, considering that you will be up against dozens of other equally qualified candidates means that being humble and polite is a very important part of the process.
We have found, after doing this for 16 years, that if the candidate can't remain composed and patient with the agency, then the candidate won't be able to "jump through all of the hoops" during the placement process either. Simply put, it's a game. It really is, and candidates have to understand that and know how to play that game very well.
So, after that very longwinded answer: the short version is that using an agency is only one, small part of your journey for scoring your dream job. About 85% of the best of the best jobs exist in the "hidden job market" and some individuals never use agencies to fill those jobs. In other words, networking is a critical component to scoring the best jobs.
- We are about quality, not quantity
- We make placements worldwide
- You are competing against world-class talent
The very best example is like A-list celebrities in Hollywood. Take the "Wonder Woman" movie, for example. When a movie studio is going to make a film, the Hollywood movie stars are no longer competing with the top-notch talent in Los Angeles, they are now competing on a worldwide scale. If you didn't know, the new Wonder Woman actress, Gal Gadot, is from Israel. She "beat" hundreds (maybe thousands) of other actresses from around the world that were competing for the same role.
Having said that, most of the time you will only be competing with the talent in the same country, but not always the same city. There is no doubt that the Client certainly prefers to choose a candidate close to his/her home, but what they are sometimes looking for is "lightning in a bottle." They are hiring in hopes to keep someone for five to 10 years because they don't want to have to hire, retrain, and share secrets with new assistants every other year.
So, honestly (statistically speaking) the numbers are against you. Suppose we get an order for a job in Los Angeles. At the very minimum, you will be up against about 100 other qualified candidates (passive and active job seekers). Most of them are passive seekers in our Network that have been waiting for the "perfect opportunity."
Now, having said all of that, if you are one of the three to five candidates that we submit to the Client, the chances are very strong that one of those three to five will get the job because that means you are a very close match. Additionally, because we are a retained-search firm, the Client is very serious about hiring because they have already paid us money (a retainer) upfront. And we can also assume that the Client has only hired our firm, so you usually won't be competing with other firms -- but that isn't always the case.
We were even in a situation once where we got a "dream job" for a candidate that was in our computer for seven years. The lesson: This business is all about longevity and cultivating professional relationships.
All of the parties involved in the process of making a placement (the agent, job seeker and the client) need to be very humble; but this is especially true for the candidates. Sometimes we get resumes from candidates who have worked for the UHNW and celebrities, and they start making a lot of assumptions, can be aggressive, or are sometimes even demanding. There is no place for that when working with an agency. Just because a candidate worked for one billionaire doesn't mean s/he will be good for another high-net-worth individual.
The role of an agent is to fulfil what the client wants; and it's often a very "tall order" if they are coming to us. So, considering that you will be up against dozens of other equally qualified candidates means that being humble and polite is a very important part of the process.
We have found, after doing this for 16 years, that if the candidate can't remain composed and patient with the agency, then the candidate won't be able to "jump through all of the hoops" during the placement process either. Simply put, it's a game. It really is, and candidates have to understand that and know how to play that game very well.
So, after that very longwinded answer: the short version is that using an agency is only one, small part of your journey for scoring your dream job. About 85% of the best of the best jobs exist in the "hidden job market" and some individuals never use agencies to fill those jobs. In other words, networking is a critical component to scoring the best jobs.
Can we jump on a quick call?
Please be advised that hundreds of candidates a month from all over the world send us emails asking if we can jump on a "quick call" to answer some questions that they have. Most of the time, we can't. Simply put, there's just not enough time in the day. Those "quick calls" often turn into 30-minute sessions.
Between speaking with clients and interviewing candidates for jobs that we are currently placing, there's very little or no time left in the day to answer questions from job seekers. Otherwise, the entire day would be spent speaking to curious job seekers, real estate agents, wedding planners, and other types of businesses that contact us.
Between speaking with clients and interviewing candidates for jobs that we are currently placing, there's very little or no time left in the day to answer questions from job seekers. Otherwise, the entire day would be spent speaking to curious job seekers, real estate agents, wedding planners, and other types of businesses that contact us.
What are the third-party "verified" job ads I see on your website?
Sometimes we feature jobs from third-party employers on our site. We are very selective about who appears on our site, so when visitors do see an ad that we aren't placing ourselves, we have verified the employer and feel that the ad meets quality standards. We are not involved in those third-party employer's placement process, so we don't return emails when candidates ask for help regarding those jobs.
What other information can you give me about learning how your establishment works?
For your convenience, we have placed as much information on our site as possible. Please take the time to review all of the webpages and read Brian Daniel's book, which is free. Understandably, assistants that call us can spend hours asking questions, but most of that information is available right here on the website.
Please be advised that Brian Daniel has reviewed the websites of many other employment agencies worldwide. It's very rare to have in-depth explanations of the placement process as we do. We are trying to be "game changers" in this industry, and we offer unprecedented transparency to both candidates and employers. We do this because we are all about honesty and want to establish strong, professional, long-lasting business relationships in the communities we serve.
We strongly advise job seekers to also review the Employer FAQ page to learn some more in-depth information about how the placement process works and visiting the Sitemap will also give you some information that is not directly listed on our main navigation bar.
Finally, to learn why Brian Daniel is like "a real-life Jerry Maguire," read HERE:
We thank you for your interest in The Celebrity Personal Assistant Network and wish you the best in 2023!
Please be advised that Brian Daniel has reviewed the websites of many other employment agencies worldwide. It's very rare to have in-depth explanations of the placement process as we do. We are trying to be "game changers" in this industry, and we offer unprecedented transparency to both candidates and employers. We do this because we are all about honesty and want to establish strong, professional, long-lasting business relationships in the communities we serve.
We strongly advise job seekers to also review the Employer FAQ page to learn some more in-depth information about how the placement process works and visiting the Sitemap will also give you some information that is not directly listed on our main navigation bar.
Finally, to learn why Brian Daniel is like "a real-life Jerry Maguire," read HERE:
We thank you for your interest in The Celebrity Personal Assistant Network and wish you the best in 2023!
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