If you've ever dreamt of working with celebrities, becoming a
personal assistant might be the perfect opportunity. Although
this might very well be a rewarding career for you, realize that
it's going to include some hard work. And perhaps, the bigger
the celebrity - the bigger the work!
Here's an article that give you the inside on becoming a
celebrity personal assistant (or just
click here
to grab your download guide):
How to Become a Celebrity Personal
Assistant
As a celebrity personal assistant you can earn up to $100,000
per year, and enjoy an incredible lifestyle that most people can
only dream about. In return for screening fan mail, answering
phones, and planning parties, celebrity personal assistants are
allowed to enter an exclusive world and live like a star.
After all, celebrities need to buy groceries and schedule
doctor's appointments just like everyone else, but unlike
everyone else they also have movie shoots, important meetings,
and volumes of phone calls to make. The personal assistant makes
sure that everything gets done, allowing the celebrity to enjoy
a semi-private life. A good celebrity personal assistant (CPA)
functions as coordinator, friend, and just about anything else
that a famous person might require. They offer organization and
peace of mind to those who need it the most.
Perks of the job may include tickets to sold out concerts,
first-class air travel, expensive gifts, and great gossip about
what other celebrities are really like. Does this sound like a
great day at work to you? If so, here are 10 steps to breaking
into this fabulous job, based on the
FabJob.com
Guide to Become a Celebrity Personal Assistant.
1. Choose a Type of Celebrity
Actors and rock stars are not the only ones who need personal
assistants. You could decide to assist a professional athlete,
politician, movie director, best-selling author, motivational
speakers, model, millionaire… basically anyone with enough money
can hire someone to be a personal assistant. It's probably best
to work for someone in a field you're interested in, because the
more you know, the more you have to offer. Potential employers
will find you more appealing as a new hire.
2. Develop Your Skills
CPAs need to know a little bit about everything, and know where
to find out more. Celebrities are currently looking for
internet-savvy, technologically competent employees who can show
them how to transfer information from their palm pilot to the
computer, send an e-greeting to Mom, or keep track of their
personal finances.
Many celebrities are also interested in your etiquette
knowledge, household management skills, and party planning or
gift buying ability. Above all, celebrities need to know that
you will not reveal their intimate secrets to the tabloids, so
make sure you practice the art of discretion as well.
3. Get Some Training
There is currently no formal long-term education program to
become a personal assistant, but you can develop many of the
necessary skills in related programs, such as computer courses,
household management courses (for butlers and household
managers) and event planning courses offered by community
colleges.
4. Get Some Experience
One great way to learn the skills of being a celebrity personal
assistant is to be a non-celebrity PA first. You may even
discover that being a personal assistant to a non-celebrity is
more your speed if you really enjoy organizing but don’t like
the stress of the celebrity lifestyle.
5. Find a Job Opening
Networking is an important first step: let everyone know that
you are a personal assistant who is looking for work. Think
about all of the people you know, family and friends alike. In
that vast network, is there anyone who is closer to a celebrity
than you are? You can also meet celebrities through
volunteering, working as a production assistant on a movie set,
and job listings.
6. Contact a Celebrity
There are many books and web sites that list addresses and
contact information for celebrities. Although you may not speak
with the celebrities themselves, you can usually get in touch
with their publicist, agent or even their current personal
assistant. Even if they aren't looking for an assistant
immediately, they may have an opening in the future or know
someone who does.
7. Avoid Common Mistakes
It would be great if you could just strike up a conversation
with someone like an agent and get an immediate referral to a
celebrity. However, most people who are starting out don’t find
it easy to say the right things off the top of their head. This
is when having a script (or outline of what you want to say) can
be a big help. To sound like a professional avoid disclosing too
much personal information about yourself, sounding too eager, or
mentioning that you are hoping to launch your own showbiz
career. Instead, focus on the skills you have to offer the
celebrity.
8. Join an Agency
Most CPAs agree that this is a great inroad into the industry. A
few employment agencies that specialize in hiring employees for
celebrities and other wealthy people. Once you’ve located an
agency, send a brief email query asking who you should contact
about becoming a CPA for one of their clients.
9. Ace the Interview
According to Jonathan Holiff, founder of the Association of
Celebrity Personal Assistants, "Assuming you have the skills and
the temperament, it really comes down to a personality match."
You will more than likely have to go through a number of
interviews before you get to meet your celebrity. Don’t let it
faze you; just be honest and direct with everyone you meet. And
when you meet your celebrity? Don't gush. Concentrate on being
professional and establishing an immediate rapport with them.
10. Join Professional Organizations
There are professional organizations that assist celebrity
personal assistants with their career development. Once you
start working as a CPA, you will be able to join these
organizations and they will become an invaluable source of
support and information.
Based on the
FabJob.com
Guide to Become a Celebrity Personal Assistant, by John C.
Havens and Tag Goulet. The complete guide offers detailed
information about how you can break into this exciting career
and get hired as a celebrity personal assistant. The guide is
available online at
FabJob.
