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David Morel
CEO of Tiger Recruitment
As part of a global agency specialising in business support staff , David ( below ) has more than 30 years ’ experience of recruiting PAs and EAs . “ The role of the PA has changed immeasurably . Thirty years ago , PAs were judged on their typing speed and core secretarial skills . Touch typing , shorthand , and audio typing were de rigueur . At that time , the role of the PA ( or secretary ) was to type up letters and documents and schedule meetings .
Fast forward 30 years and core secretarial skills barely feature . Today ’ s PAs are typically IT literate communicators who can work at pace and plan , coordinate and manage diaries and travel across multiple time zones . They have swapped the fax machine for the latest apps , from WhatsApp to Trello , and are whizzes at using Outlook .
PAs play an increasingly important function in business and are genuine right-hands to senior executives . They work with them one-on-one , managing important projects , and sometimes hosting meetings in their absence . The PA role is also more hybrid than it has ever been . Businesses often deploy PAs strategically across various departments to consolidate existing teams , which is driving demand for individuals who combine traditional PA skills with specialist knowledge in areas such as marketing , events , and investor relations .
The PA role has risen in status over the past three decades , and salaries have increased to reflect that . Today the PA is considered a true profession with a clear career path . In the past , PAs would typically have trained at secretarial college , but today ’ s PAs and EAs are often graduates with business qualifications .”
Alper Yurder
UK manager , Witco
Hoping to employ a chief of staff soon , Alper ( above ) is responsible for helping develop the Witco application ( which helps to streamline and improve the office experience ) to meet the needs of UK and Irish audiences . “ As a start-up we don ’ t have the blessing of having an EA , but I am looking to bring in a chief of staff . An EA is not just a colleague but a companion – I would be so privileged to have one .
I ’ ve had the privilege of working with EAs in past roles . It was an amazing experience as I ’ ve had the chance to work with very smart , motivated people who saw their job as an extension of the manager role .
The pandemic has changed the roles and expectations of EAs , and many are managing change management as processes evolve around the new hybrid world of work . Coordinating around hybrid teams has provided new challenges and opportunities for EAs – knowing what should be done from home and what ’ s best saved for the office environment is a new challenge of judgement to learn .
Communication has certainly become a priority skill for those recruiting EAs as teams become more disparate , and EAs are expected to take a more active role in helping businesses evolve and adapt to change . This requires a more strategic approach and a good level of confidence .
I think many see EAs as a nicety but not a necessity in the digital age . This is wrong . The wisdom of these colleagues is indispensable and EAs will be crucial to learning how to navigate the new hybrid age . One lesson I have learnt from business is that technology exists to support the indispensable value of employees , not the other way around . There is still so much to learn and so much to try . EAs , supported with the right technology , are well placed to offer teams new opportunities to grow and evolve in step with the zeitgeist .”
20 Executive PA | Winter Issue 2022