The role of a PA is now seen as an aspirational career path for graduates, writes Ken Mann

As the prospect of an algorithm-actuated machine-based labour force nears, taking over the workplace with impressive levels of predictive forethought, there is one job tipped to outlast the rest – and with more than a degree of confidence.

You may be familiar with the "C-suite" of corporate life. It has long been home to the hierarchy of top posts the titles of which, logically enough, begin with the letter C. Functions like Chief Executive, Chief Investment Officer and similar. Dynamic stuff. But most post holders agree they can’t do everything. Enter the newly evolved Personal Assistant (PA), and Executive Assistant (EA).

When correctly described, both titles now embrace the role of trusted advisor, a moniker hitherto reserved for – or sometimes simply by – the retained external consultant community.

In the case of consultants it may variously represent anything from incisive technical expertise to little more than conveniently imagined, commercially skewed self-portrait. In this application, however, it comes with statistical evidence of accuracy, gathered by the global recruitment specialists Hays.

Its report, What Makes a Successful PA?, concludes that a PA/EA is regarded as an indispensable aide. The detail finds that PAs/EAs believed they could never be replaced by cyber assistants and clever apps. Roddy Adair, Director for Hays PA & Secretarial division in Scotland, underlines that more than nine in 10 (93 per cent) of PAs say their boss couldn’t do their role without them.

Of course it left me first to wonder whether the remaining seven per cent already feel threatened by an invasion of robots, and of more immediate interest, whether executives were of broadly aligned view.

Adair delivers a solid reply. He also upends "outdated" impressions held by some that these titles are just modern alternative labels for "administrator" or "secretary". Today, they are more in the style of business partner than business support.

Hays’ research shows 63 per cent of PAs surveyed regard themselves as a "trusted advisor" who gets on well with their manager. Importantly, 55 per cent of managers said the same of their PAs. The inescapable fact is that public perceptions of the remit for PA or EA are little better understood than those of quantum physicist. Hays reckons many employers consider the task akin to the contribution of a manager grade, and sometimes director grade.

"The role of a PA is now seen as an aspirational career path for graduates,"Adair confirms. "They can command competitive salaries, managing their own teams of staff and projects."

It is clear from the available data crunching that there are problems in finding a consistent definition for these tasks. A PA or EA role can be many different things. Location plays a part, particularly in the international sense.

PAs who work at middle-management level usually work for one individual and might earn a salary of between £25k and £28k, Hays suggests. EAs tend to work for a group of people, often a board, and can earn between £28k and £35k.

I’ve heard of EAs enjoying salaries well north of that range. Admittedly they tend to be highly experienced people who may also include a coveted professional qualification on their CV. And usually they work in blue chip London headquarters or in key positions in higher education. The art of considered diplomacy and successfully navigating to a pre-planned conversational outcome comes naturally.

Adair counters with additional caveat: "In the UK, an EA is classed as someone who works with the C-suite executives in a large corporation. These EAs are decision-makers who can command top salaries and often have their own assistants.

"Many experienced EAs from the UK also go to work for families in the Middle East, where they might be looking after entire households, including managing private jets, staffing and travel arrangements. The vetting process for this kind of recruitment is thorough. For example, a representative from the family might visit the UK for several days to recruit the people they need, often spending a day or more with a prospective EA before employing them overseas."

On the topic of qualifications more are joining the career with diplomas (37 per cent of the survey) and degrees (33 per cent). According to the recruiter, nearly half of employers describe having such qualifications as "important", with 19 per cent citing them as "very important" and six per cent regarding them as "essential".

Experience is highly prized. Only four per cent of employers in the survey sample would seek to employ a PA with less than a year’s experience.

"A lot of the skills that a senior PA or EA requires can’t be taught," Adair explains. "For example, the art of diplomacy and how to respond or behave in certain situations needs common sense and experience. Even things like being able to remember people’s names is important, and being the eyes and ears of an organisation is greatly valued.

"There’s no doubt that senior level PAs and EAs can be seen as sounding boards and ambassadors for their employers."

But indispensable? I suppose even artificially intelligent robots will have limitations.

 Nominations are now open for the Scottish PA of the Year Award. The ceremony will be held in
Glasgow in May and the 2015 winner, Kelly McAulay will be among the judges. Full details available at scottishpanetwork.com