People in personal assistant jobs are responsible for completing an array of tasks for the manager or executive they are assigned to and they need to be able to consistently and reliably perform to that individual's expectations.
The personal assistant's main purpose is to give their boss the opportunity to focus on the specific roles and responsibilities for which they are being paid, free from the distractions of general administrative tasks.
What is a cover letter for a personal assistant job?
Most job adverts require a neat, formal and professional covering letter to be submitted along with a CV. The purpose of this letter is to introduce the candidate to the employer and provide a brief overview of what information is contained within the CV.
The covering letter is usually the first piece of information a recruiter views when choosing which candidates will proceed to the interview stage. It is therefore essential for individuals to make as positive a first impression as they can with the letter.
A poor covering letter can be the end of the line for a job application; preventing an employer from ever viewing the candidate's CV. Care and consideration needs to be put into the task and candidates need to understand that cutting corners is a potentially risky tactic.
What should a good cover letter for a personal assistant have?
In general, they should be around 300 words long and formatted formally. Both the candidate's and the employer's addresses should be included at the top of the page, followed by the date and formal salutation, preferably using the intended recipient's name.
The first paragraph is used to introduce who the candidate is, what role they are applying for and to specify where exactly the position was advertised. The next paragraph is where the candidate can go into some detail concerning the specific skills and experiences they have, which are relevant to the position.
A final paragraph can then be used to thank the recipient for reading the letter and considering them for the role, detailing exactly why the individual is so passionate about the position and making a formal request for an interview.
Specific points to mention.
Personal assistants, in particular, need to take extra care over the presentation and wording of their covering letter. Many personal assistant jobs require individuals to be proficient at written communication, because a major part of their daily responsibilities is drafting letters and emails in the names of managers or executives.
Evidence of a rushed or unprofessional covering letter will immediately indicate that the individual is unlikely to have the skills or commitment required for the position. Instead, personal assistant candidates should view the covering letter as an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to write clearly, effectively and engagingly.
Candidates should always aim to back up any claims they make with evidence and examples from their career. Skills such as an ability to work with confidential and sensitive information and strong organisational abilities are particularly important in PA jobs, so should be included in the body of the letter.
