Demand for top-tier personal assistants in the UK has surged in recent years, and employers are now willing to pay up to £50,000 for a PA worth their weight in gold. As the co-founder of a PA recruitment agency, I've seen firsthand what sets exceptional candidates apart.
In this guide, I’ll break down the essential PA skills you need to thrive - whether you're just starting out or looking to progress in your career.
What does a personal assistant do?
A Personal Assistant (PA) is the backbone of a busy executive’s professional and, sometimes, personal life. The role requires exceptional organisation, discretion and adaptability to support high-level individuals in managing their schedules, communications and daily tasks. No two days are the same, and the best PAs thrive in fast-paced, ever-changing environments.
Typical PA responsibilities include:
- Managing diaries, scheduling meetings and handling travel arrangements.
- Acting as a gatekeeper - screening calls, emails and visitors.
- Preparing reports, presentations and correspondence.
- Organising events, coordinating logistics and overseeing project timelines.
- Handling confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
- Liaising with internal teams and external stakeholders on behalf of the executive.
While the role varies depending on the industry and employer, one thing remains constant - PAs are problem-solvers who keep everything running smoothly.
For a more detailed breakdown of the PA role, see our Personal Assistant Job Description template here.
Top skills needed to be a PA
A great PA doesn’t just keep the wheels turning - they anticipate needs, solve problems before they arise and create order in the midst of chaos. Through my work as a PA recruiter, I’ve seen that the most successful candidates master a combination of hard skills (technical abilities) and soft skills (interpersonal and professional traits). Here’s a breakdown of what truly makes a top-tier PA:
Top skills needed to be a PA
A great PA doesn’t just keep the wheels turning - they anticipate needs, solve problems before they arise and create order in the midst of chaos.
Through my work as a PA recruiter, I’ve seen that the most successful candidates master a combination of hard skills (technical abilities) and soft skills (interpersonal and professional traits).
Here’s a breakdown of what truly makes a top-tier PA:
Ideal Hard Skills for a PA
1. Meeting Planning
Meetings can be a huge drain on an executive’s time - unless they’re meticulously planned. A skilled PA ensures that every meeting runs smoothly by setting the agenda, preparing reports, taking minutes and following up on action points.
It’s common for executives to be almost constantly double-booked. A great PA will implement and take charge of a structured meeting process, allowing their exec to focus on strategic decisions rather than chasing updates.
2. Organisation & Time Management
With a jam-packed diary, last-minute changes, and an inbox overflowing with requests, executives rely on their PAs to bring order to the chaos. Great PAs create efficient systems, ensuring that deadlines are met and nothing slips through the cracks.
A PA I worked with once described her role as "playing Tetris with time" - she juggled board meetings, travel arrangements and last-minute client calls, all while making sure her executive never felt rushed or overwhelmed.
3. Savvy with Technology & Tools
From managing workflow software to troubleshooting a dodgy Wi-Fi connection five minutes before an important video call, PAs need to be tech-savvy. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, task management tools, and even basic IT troubleshooting can save an executive precious time.
Often, the PAs I speak to have a knack for fixing small tech issues. When an executive’s laptop fails before a big presentation, for example, a PA will troubleshoot calmly, connecting the phone to the projector and ensuring the meeting goes ahead without a hitch.
4. Attention to Detail
A small mistake - such as booking the wrong flight time or missing a crucial contract detail - can have huge consequences. Top PAs double-check everything! From travel itineraries to financial reports, they always make sure their executive is prepared.
I once worked with a PA who caught an error in an event schedule that would have resulted in a CEO missing his keynote speech! Her meticulous attention to detail saved the day.
5. Project Management
Executives often juggle multiple projects, but they don’t always have time to manage the moving parts. PAs play a critical role in overseeing deadlines, liaising with stakeholders and ensuring that nothing falls behind schedule.
It’s not unheard of for a PA to take on important operational and logistical responsibilities, freeing up their executive’s time to work on bigger priorities. For example, I remember a PA who managed the entire logistics for a company rebrand while her executive focused on securing funding. Without her, the rebrand would have been a disorganised mess!
6. Research Skills
Whether summarising industry trends or finding the best venue for a corporate retreat, research skills are invaluable. Executives don’t always have time to sift through pages of information - that’s where a PA steps in.
As a PA, you might be given just an hour to find a last-minute replacement venue for a high-profile dinner. It’s times like this when you’ll need to be quick thinking and resourceful to ensure events go ahead seamlessly.
Ideal Soft Skills for a PA
7. Stakeholder Management
A PA interacts with high-profile executives, demanding clients, and internal teams - all with different personalities and priorities, and let’s be honest, sometimes difficult characters! The ability to manage relationships and get things done, even with challenging individuals, is crucial.
PAs are often expected to attend meetings on behalf of their executive, ensuring that decisions are made and relationships maintained - even when their boss is unavailable.
8. Problem-Solving & Initiative
A great PA doesn’t just wait for instructions - they think two steps ahead to anticipate problems and solve them before they escalate.
I once met a PA who prepared two versions of a keynote speech for her executive: one long and one short. When the schedule changed last minute, her boss simply switched to the shorter version without stress because she had already planned for the possibility.
9. Time Management
A PA’s to-do list is never-ending. Managing priorities effectively ensures that deadlines are met and important tasks aren’t forgotten.
One PA let me in on her secret! She didn’t just manage her executive’s time; she managed her own just as rigorously, ensuring she could handle the demands of the role without burning out.
10. Communication & Interpersonal Skills
Whether drafting emails, handling delicate conversations, or preparing executive reports, communication skills are non-negotiable. A PA must be articulate, professional, and tactful at all times, with the ability to strike the right tone for every situation.
It’s not uncommon for a PA to reword a blunt client email from their executive into a more diplomatic version to avoid potential conflict and to ensure relationships remain intact.
11. Assertiveness
A PA is a gatekeeper, the first line of defence against unnecessary interruptions. Saying "no" (diplomatically) and setting boundaries is a key part of the job.
One PA I know had to deal with persistent requests from a client who wanted instant access to her executive. She firmly but professionally managed expectations, ensuring her boss wasn’t constantly interrupted.
12. Emotional Intelligence
The best PAs anticipate their executive’s needs before they even ask. One executive even told me their PA has an uncanny ability to understand his unspoken needs. This requires keen observation, empathy and strong intuition.
For example, an exceptional PA might make sure to always have a coffee ready before their boss arrives for a meeting. It sounds small, but those little touches can make a personal assistant indispensable.
13. Honesty & Integrity
Trust is everything, and executives rely on their PAs with highly confidential information. Discretion, trustworthiness, and the ability to own up to mistakes are non-negotiable. As is the confidence to flag when there are issues.
Mistakes do happen, and say a PA accidentally double-books a critical meeting, instead of covering it up, the best PAs will find a solution and inform the executive, which in the long run earns even more trust.
14. Influence & Negotiation
I’ve admired how a top PA will know how to get things done, even the seemingly impossible! From securing a last-minute booking at an exclusive restaurant to convincing a colleague to prioritise an urgent report, persuasion is a vital skill.
As a PA, you might need to rework an executive’s diary to fit in an essential client meeting that seemed impossible to schedule - simply by negotiating effectively with other teams.
15. Adaptability
PAs are experts at handling the unexpected. In the world of high-level executives, things change at a moment’s notice, and PAs need to stay calm and adapt quickly.
One PA I know had to rearrange international travel plans in under an hour when her boss’s flight was cancelled. Thanks to her quick thinking, he still managed to arrive at his meeting on time.
16. Self-Motivation & Reliability
A great PA becomes an indispensable right-hand person that executives can rely on 100%.. This is why PAs often follow their executives when they move companies! A PA shouldn’t need constant supervision, they should be able to take initiative and get things done without being asked.
One of the highest compliments I’ve heard from an executive about their PA? "I don’t even have to ask - I just know it’s already handled."
To make sure you are well-prepared for an upcoming PA interview, check out our blog on PA interview questions and answers.
Qualifications needed to be a successful PA
At a minimum, most of our PA roles have an expectation that candidates are:
- Educated to A-Level
- Competent with Microsoft Office packages
- Experienced in administration
- Able to demonstrate at least GCSE’s in English and Maths.
Some clients do prefer graduate calibre candidates, whereas others see greater value in proven previous experience.
Degree
Some degrees have a more obvious crossover with a personal assistant role, such as Business Administration, Business and Management, or Marketing and Events. However, an academic degree from a top university is still very valuable and will be impressive to future employers.
What you have actually studied is often less of a concern to a future employer. The grade you achieved and the institution you attended give a measurable level of academic achievement. Graduating from a university shows a level of commitment. It will often involve other skills such as teamwork, problem solving and communication, all of which are valuable to a PA role.
When interviewing, be ready to discuss what you learned from your studies. You don’t have to focus solely on the academic element; soft skills are equally important and can be good talking points.
PA or Business Diploma
Another option that can be just as valuable is a specific PA diploma or diploma in Business Administration. This will teach the specific skills required for a PA role.
An example of this is Pitman Training. It can be completed part-time and via long-distance learning, so it should be flexible to complete around other commitments. Therefore, if you were unable to go to university, you can still enhance your skills alongside working.
Perhaps you could even ask your employer to pay for the additional training courses. Most companies have a budget set aside for personal development. See if you can make a business case that the skills you develop will be valuable in your current role. See this comprehensive list of PA & VA courses that will help you further develop your skills.
Apprenticeship
Some candidates do apprenticeships to gain work experience in their chosen career path. This gives them workplace training rather than doing higher education. Others will do additional qualifications part-time alongside their studies to build up their CV. See here for advice on writing your PA CV.
There are many different avenues to prepare you to become a great personal assistant. A degree is not always necessary. The more you can add to your CV to show commitment to the PA career and demonstrate your skills and experience, the more attractive you become as an employee.
Looking To Be a Personal Assistant in London? Oriel Partners Can Assist You!
Managing and scheduling tasks on behalf of an executive is a responsible job. Applying for such a position requires complete knowledge of roles and requirements. Moreover, one must prepare to meet the organisation's goals with the necessary PA skills.
If you are looking for a job as a personal assistant, Oriel Partners is here to help. We are a boutique PA and administrative recruitment agency in London. Many job opportunities are available, so head to our PA Jobs page to learn more.
