Personal Assistant Job Description Template

4 steps to creating a personal assistant job description that fits your needs 

Before you write your personal assistant job description, it’s essential to be precise in determining the personal assistant duties you will need fulfilled. Be thorough, clear, and concise when constructing your job post. Include keywords associated with the primary task in your post title. Include a list of all tasks they’ll be performing, skills and traits they should have, and physical and digital tools required. Give an estimate of the time needed, along with the hourly rate or fixed price for the contract. Below are some factors to consider when crafting a job description for your personal assistant role or project. 

1. Determine what type of personal assistant you need

Personal assistants are capable of providing services to various employers or individuals/families, including executives, entrepreneurs, entertainers, attorneys, and more. Each employer brings unique requirements when considering personal assistant duties. While some assistants work full-time and are well equipped to address more complex challenges, others work part-time and may handle a specific task or basic organizational tasks and errands. Your personal assistant’s experience and skillset, including soft skills, will be essential to ensure a good fit.

2. Independent contractor vs. agency vs. employee

Personal assistants could be contracted as independent talent or through an agency for limited engagements, or they can be hired permanently full-time or part-time. A personal assistant could have a wide range of qualifications from basic office skills to problem-solving or serving as the point of contact to their client. An independent contractor might be hired for a project or specific task in which they excel. Worker classification can be tricky, so check out our compliance services resources page for more information.

3. Experience

The more experienced a personal assistant is, the more complex administrative duties and other tasks they’ll be able to perform. Many independent professionals have various skills and could be contracted to perform specific tasks or help with a short-term project. An entry-level personal assistant might make and answer phone calls, schedule appointments, schedule meetings with external clients, book basic travel arrangements, or run errands. Alternatively, a personal assistant with years of experience might be more equipped to help with administrative tasks such as handling data or setting up a filing system, conducting research, managing social media accounts, or handling sensitive correspondence with partners or other constituents. The scope of your needs will determine the type of experience required for the job.

4. Industry 

Personal assistants work in many industries. While it may be more common to hear of celebrity personal assistants working for entertainers or athletes, they are also employed by busy entrepreneurs and small business owners. It can be helpful to find a personal assistant with experience in your line of work. Clients can often find a personal assistant capable of providing services that make their daily routines more manageable, no matter their industry.

Next steps

Take our personal assistant job description sample and tailor it to your specific needs to create an effective job description. Then check out Upwork’s top independent talent. Each profile outlines an independent professional’s qualifications and experience, project success rates, and feedback from previous clients, so you can get a feel for whether the personal assistant matches your job needs.

Upwork is not affiliated with and does not sponsor or endorse any of the tools or services discussed in this section. These tools and services are provided only as potential options, and each reader and company should take the time needed to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.