Personal Assistants lead the way for job satisfaction in the South West

Personal assistants in the South West have high levels of job satisfaction and commitment to the profession, according to a national survey of PAs by Hays PA & Secretarial, the leading recruiting expert, to mark the launch of the search for the UK’s top PA through the Executive PA Magazine/Hays Awards.

The research shows that PAs in the South West enjoy their jobs and want to remain within the profession, with almost two thirds (63%) of respondents saying they are either happy in their current role or would apply for a senior PA position in the same organisation.

Three quarters (74%) of PAs believe their boss appreciates what they do, and receive their trust in return, with a third (37%) saying their boss takes their recommendations on business decisions either regularly or often.

Over nine in ten (92%) PAs think their boss couldn’t do their job without them, whilst a confident 11% think they could do their bosses job. The research also found that over half of respondents had chosen a career as a PA, with a third (33%) saying they had always wanted to be a PA, and 19% changing careers into the role.

Geoff Sims, Managing Director, Hays PA & Secretarial, and a judge for the Executive PA Magazine/Hays Awards commented: “The results of our survey demonstrate that being a PA is a fulfilling and rewarding career choice, offering the long term job satisfaction that many of us aspire to. While often stereotyped as purely secretarial role, the results prove that many personal assistants are taking on an increasingly strategic role and we look forward to recognising the very best in the profession at this year’s awards.”

Judy Willett, named PA of the Year at the 2012 Executive PA Magazine/Hays Awards comments: “It is great to hear that most PAs feel fulfilled and appreciated in their roles, half the battle of becoming a successful PA is enjoying what you do and feeling appreciated. As PA of the Year my ambition was to help show what can be achieved with hard work and commitment, I have met so many different PAs along the way all with completely different roles but culminating in the same ambition to extend their roles above purely secretarial.”

Andrew Organ publisher, Executive PA magazine commented: “Great opportunities now exist for PAs all over the world and they extend well beyond traditional concepts of ‘secretarial’. At Executive PA magazine, we’ve been using the term ‘career PA’ for some time now and these results highlight the fact that the personal (and executive) assistant role really is a long term career choice that offers, development, fulfilment and satisfaction for many people.”

These awards will recognise the: PA of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Best Organised Event (by a PA), Employer of the Year and Boss of the Year. For more information and to nominate yourself or another PA visit www.hays.co.uk/pa_secretarial

Closing date for entries is Friday 23rd August 2013 and the winners will be announced at the gala dinner on 9 October 2013. The prize for the 2013 Executive PA Magazine/Hays PA of the Year is a luxury trip to Los Angeles with two Business Premier class return flights courtesy of Air New Zealand.