Guide provides a snapshot of the PA profession

Executive assistance is the third-hardest area to find qualified employees for and strong communication skills are most in demand when it comes to hiring admin staff. The findings come from a Salary Guide produced by recruitment specialist OfficeTeam, which also shows that administrative hiring in the UK is gaining strength year on year.

Candidates with between three and five years’ experience are most in demand, as companies seek the ideal balance of experience and potential to advance. In terms of the attributes found among admin staff that employers rate most highly, communication skills tops the chart at 63%, followed by those who are results-focused or goal-oriented; development potential, having an adaptable background and being “persuasive” also feature on the list.

The comprehensive report breaks down by function the areas where employers find it most difficult to recruit skilled candidates in the field of admin/office support, with project admin proving to be the trickiest at 33%, followed by office management at 31% and executive/personal assistance at 26%.

In terms of retaining admin and support staff, employers are most likely to offer benefits in the form of flexible hours or the option of working from home (41% of SMEs), additional pay or bonuses (25%), mentoring programmes (23%), subsidised training (23%), or private healthcare schemes (20%).

The report provides a national salary scale, with regional variances, for a variety of positions, including Senior Executive Assistant, Office Manager and Legal Secretary.

OfficeTeam is a division of Robert Half, which was founded in 1948. Today it is a leading staffing service, specialising in the placement of office and administrative support professionals on both a temporary and permanent basis. To access the full Salary Guide 2014, simply follow this link: officeteamuk.com/salary-guide?cid=otuk:palife:edm:ot_salary_guide