Keeping everyone in the office happy understandably leaves even the most hard-core PA drained, so it is important that you pamper yourself occasionally. However, a weekend at a spa is not a luxury we can all afford, so read on for our DIY spa guide and indulge Set aside time for yourselfRelaxing at home will […]
Management assistants are often given a multitude of projects to work on at one time, as well as keeping up with their daily tasks and supporting their boss with anything that crops up unexpectedly. However, research shows that multitasking can be detrimental to a PA’s ability to work effectively. While many people claim they can […]
Most people taking part in a photo shoot want to look their best and Mark McCullum is no exception. He doesn’t normally look quite this smart though, as he usually dresses in T-shirt and jeans to cycle the 20 miles from his home in east London to his boss Gok Wan’s house in Hampstead, writes […]
PAs who look after celebrities – both past and present – have been in the papers recently, with X Factor winner James Arthur resorting to dismissing his personal assistant after his phone was allegedly used to send abusive text messages to a model. 25-year-old James denies sending lewd texts to glamour model Teddy Edwardes after […]
Travel management companies (TMCs) provide specialist advice and expert itinerary planning to make your life much easier. Here, PA Life helps you find the TMC that’s right for you What is a TMC?Formerly called business travel agencies, they largely booked and delivered air tickets. Now, a TMC will provide expert itinerary planning and exceptional buying […]
As a way of selecting the best applicants from a wide field, a number of companies resort to using personality questionnaires nowadays. Sometimes they can be a minefield to navigate but luckily help is at hand, as assessment and development consultancy Cubiks has put together a helpful Q&A, based on comments from its candidates. The […]
There are many accounts of the shocking tasks celebrity assistants have been asked to do and now a new tell-all book shows that Hollywood’s show business executives are getting in on the act too. Lydia Whitlock worked as an assistant in various sectors of the entertainment industry for five years. While none of her bosses […]
What do a forecast of business travel trends, tips for booking chauffeur-driven cars and an update on the serviced apartments sector have in common? They’re all featured inside the latest issue of PA Life. Our PA Profile for January/February talks to Katie McEwan, who works for the CEO of lingerie retailer Ann Summers; she talks […]
The Cystic Fibrosis Trust is recruiting an experienced executive assistant to support the organisation’s senior leadership team. This full-time role offers a salary of circa £25,000 and is based at the charity’s office in Bromley, Kent. This exciting role will provide administrative and executive support to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust’s senior leadership team, with particular […]
Making your boss look good is a prerequisite of being an EA par excellence, but what exactly are the essential traits that you need to cultivate in order to seriously impress senior management? Rachel Feintzeig of The Wall Street Journal has profiled a number of EAs who work at leading US companies to figure out […]
PAs are such accomplished multi-taskers, they’re often asked to take on the planning of corporate hospitality events. Organising a day at the races or a sailing event sounds like fun, but there’s a lot of hard work that goes into making sure such occasions fully meet the company’s requirements. It can be hard to know […]
Having the right kind of entertainment at your company’s function can mean a world of difference in terms of making it a memorable event, whether it’s a live band or a comedian. Here are some of PA Life’s favourite options The Vernon Sisters (pictured)Having performed more than 1,500 shows worldwide, these real-life sisters have the […]
Personal image consultant Valentina Saggese studied fashion and personal shopping at the Luxury Academy of Milan and has several years’ experience of designer show rooms and high-level clothing shops. She and her partner Alain Mehada, who has been a stylist for more than 15 years, offer their expertise in a broad range of situations for […]
One Moorgate Place is inviting PA Life readers to its Meeting of Minds 2015 networking event at 7pm on Thursday, 9 April. Enjoy some bubbles and entertainment, as well as having the chance to connect with other PAs while the team guides you through a history of the building and demonstrates the flexibility of the […]
Spending two days at Confex last week may have made some of you realise that trade shows are a bit of a black hole unless you roll up with an agenda. Marketing Manager at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre Roopi Woodall has three tips for coming away with armfuls of treats, knowledge and inspiration. • […]
Most people think of references as a rubber stamp. You simply jot down your previous employers’ contact details, they say nice things about you and it helps you get a new job. The reality is far more complex, with many HR experts warning that unless people wake up to the wide-ranging myths surrounding references, they […]
Facing a room full of people who are ready to hang on your every word is a nightmarish scenario for some, but good public speaking skills come with practice and preparation. Whether you’re presenting a report to your company’s board of directors, or sitting in an interview, here are a few helpful hints for success. […]
One of the first workplace casualties of a recession is often the staff incentive scheme. But, says incentives expert the Grass Roots Group, companies are now realising that cancelling rewards and bonus programmes to save money is a false economy. It’s a temptation for companies to see an incentive scheme as a luxury, something that […]
