Many people are drawn to the idea of being a personal assistant to a celebrity. You’re close to someone rich and famous, and a particular glamour comes with the position.
What many people don’t realize is how demanding of a job it is. Being a celebrity personal assistant means you’re responsible for administrative tasks and event planning, among other roles. You also have to balance being an employee and a friend to your employer.
Some of your days will involve grueling tasks and hard work, but there’s no denying the perks of serving as a celebrity’s assistant. You’ll likely get free stuff and discounts. You’ll also work for a famous person, earn a lucrative salary, and make valuable connections.
This occupation best suits highly organized, extroverted, and self-starters individuals. Below, Pocketbook Agency shows you the ins and outs of how to become a celebrity personal assistant.
Celebrity assistants are people who help celebrities in virtually every aspect of their daily lives. Also referred to as an “executive personal assistant” or simply a “personal assistant,” a celebrity assistant is responsible for managing schedules and many other roles related to coordinating their client’s professional life.
Celebrity assistants and their clients often develop personal relationships, and the assistants become the go-to person for many clients’ needs.
So, what are the responsibilities of being a celebrity personal assistant? First, you must always be available, meaning you’re on call for whatever your client may need — whenever they need it. Much of your job will consist of creating and maintaining your client’s daily schedule, including informing your client of the day’s activities while being nimble enough to change plans and reschedule.
You’ll likely coordinate or perform a variety of personal errands, such as doing household shopping, picking up laundry, arranging childcare and pet care, etc. Many celebrity assistants also spend much time listening to and advising their clients. And don’t be surprised if you get asked to manage your client’s social media accounts and make appointments between your client and other industry professionals.
Moreover, many celebrities travel heavily for their jobs. You would probably need to accompany your client on most (if not all) trips while managing all the travel details (e.g., booking accommodations, coordinating schedules, arranging baggage transport, etc.).
Event planning is another fundamental role of being a celebrity personal assistant. Whether it’s press appearances, vacations, or house parties, you’ll need the skills to select and book venues, manage invitations, and coordinate with photographers, entertainers, and other professionals.
Finally, celebrity personal assistants are often responsible for handling communications on behalf of their clients. You’ll need to know how to represent your client to the media, professionals, the public, and other concerned parties.
Your celebrity’s brand and reputation must be a top priority, and you may need to manage their voicemails, emails, text messages, etc. You might even need to control who has access to your celebrity.
– Build Your Digital Literacy
– Sharpen Your Organizing and Planning Skills
– Devise a Plan
– Figure Out Your Personal Life
– Start Gaining Relevant Experience
– Think About the Type of Celebrity You Want to Look For
– Grow Your Professional Network
– Position Yourself to Flourish
So, you have an idea of your future role as a celebrity personal assistant. Let’s jump into some simple tips for starting and building your career:
Remember that your client may expect you to manage their social media, personal calendar, emails, phone calls, and other communications. That means you’ll need to have top-notch digital literacy.
You’ll want to show that you have more than enough tech skills to do the job. And it’s a bonus if you can manage their website, lifestyle blog, and other mediums. Developing your website or blog is an excellent way to prove that you know your way around the digital world.
Planning events is a fundamental celebrity assistant job requirement. You must know how to stay calm under pressure and ensure events go smoothly with limited time for preparations. You also need to be adept at and comfortable finding solutions to unexpected problems.
Becoming a professional event planner is one way to get the necessary experience. But you could always offer to organize weddings, workplace events at your current job, or even parties for friends and family.
Chances are your celebrity client will have a hectic life and high expectations from others. You need a long-term strategy for landing your first job as a celebrity personal assistant and doing the job well.
Making a plan to become a celebrity assistant will involve many of the aspects discussed below. But you can get off to an excellent start by thinking about your long-term career goals and what kinds of celebrities you want to work for. And it’s always a good idea to study how other celebrity assistants have built their careers so you can devise a plan centered around their strategies.
No matter what type of celebrity you work for, you’ll likely need to travel regularly. And your entire job may even revolve around traveling. Be sure to consider that before committing to the profession.
You might not be able to see family and friends as often as you’d like, and you may be required to move to a major city. Plus, you can expect to work long hours and live a hectic, stressful schedule. Make sure you’re prepared for that lifestyle and that everyone in your life knows what to expect.
It’s doubtful you will land a job as a celebrity personal assistant without some kind of relevant work experience. The good news is that there are many areas you can work to gain expertise, including:
– Public relations
– Customer service
– Communications
– Sales
– Hospitality
– Administrative
Another option is to pursue a career as a personal assistant working for non-celebrities, even if they’re not in the entertainment industry. The key is to focus on the core responsibilities of your job and how they can help prepare you to be a top-notch celebrity assistant.
The more interested you are in your field, the more you will have to offer your client. Ideally, you’ll be passionate about your celebrity’s work. After all, you’ll probably spend a lot of time talking about it!
For example, if you’re interested in the film industry, you might thrive working with a director or an actor. If you love the music industry or literary world, you might be better suited to be a personal assistant to a professional musician or best-selling author. You can also pursue a career in sports or many other industries.
As in any profession, networking will be crucial to your career as a celebrity personal assistant. As soon as you know which field you’ll pursue, start talking to anyone around you who works in the industry. Explain that you’re looking to be a personal assistant to a celebrity, and ask them to connect you with anyone who could help.
Celebrities typically choose personal assistants when through inside connections. Work hard at developing your professional network, and remain patient yet proactive on your journey.
Lastly, take any necessary steps to set the stage for success when finding a job. Learn strategies to ace your interviews. Remember to practice discretion. And prove yourself reliable to your client while respecting their privacy.
Further, consider joining a professional association after landing your first job. Such organizations can provide professional support and help you navigate the challenges of being a celebrity personal assistant.
The tips above can help you get off to a strong start if you hope to build a flourishing career as a celebrity personal assistant. While growing your professional network, look for a successful modern recruitment firm to connect you with potential clients.
Pocketbook Agency thrives on creating and fostering productive, fulfilling long-term placements. We regularly work with A-list celebrities, highly-accomplished founders, Fortune 500 leaders, and a range of ultra-high-net-worth individuals and companies. And we would love to work with you!
Sources:
Personal Assistant Resume Sample and Skills List | The Balance Careers