The role of the Personal Assistant has changed enormously over the past decade or two. At the end of the 20th Century, the job titles ‘PA’ and ‘Secretary’ were often used interchangeably, and there was little difference in the public’s perception of the roles. Now, with advances in technology and a computer on pretty much every desktop, except in specialised areas such as legal and medical, the position of ‘secretary’ has largely disappeared, and gone are the days when a room full of ladies spent their days typing, making tea and answering the telephone.
Before looking at how the role of a PA has changed, what has stayed the same?
Last century and now, the PA was and is the right hand man or woman, always there to provide crucial support so the manager or business owner can focus on strategic objectives. They may still manage the diary and juggle meetings, but rarely now will it be using pencil and paper. While PAs may in the past have held a small budget, they may now be in charge of much larger sums and conduct negotiations with suppliers. Rather than arranging the office party, a PA may now be arranging events with hundreds of attendees, or co-ordinating an office move.