Example of a Job Application for a Personal Assistant Position

by Nicole Vulcan

As a personal assistant, your job might involve budgeting and preparing spreadsheets one day and then flying off to coordinate a CEO's personal vacation the next. That type of personal assistant often works as the right-hand man for upper-level executives or celebrities, but people in the profession also work with people with disabilities who need help with the activities of daily living. No matter what the specific job duties, your application materials need to include a resume, cover letter and reference sheet.

Research the Prospective Employer

Knowing what to include in your resume and cover letter requires knowing the employer well first. If you're working with an executive, research her business through the company website or newspaper reports. Look her up on LinkedIn to find out about her background and goals. If you're applying for a job with a celebrity or politician, also use LinkedIn, newspapers and magazines and even gossip sites to get a feel for his lifestyle and business dealings. If you're applying to assist a person with disabilities, read up on the disability to find out what limitations the person has and what type of assistance she might need.

Tailoring the Resume

Your resume should play up the the skills and qualifications the employer wants. If you've been an executive assistant before, use the standard resume format and list your jobs in reverse chronological order. Under each job, list a few bullet points that address what the employer might want. For example, an executive in an investment firm might want to know you're proficient using portfolio management software. A celebrity employer might be interested to see you've written press releases and are comfortable working with the media. An employer with a disability might be impressed that you worked with a particular type of assistive technology. If you haven't worked as a personal assistant, use the less-traditional skills-based resume format. Near the top of the resume, create headings detailing a few of the skills the employer is looking for, and then use bullet points under each one to talk about how you've learned or used that skill.

A Cover Letter That Speaks to the Employer's Needs

Start your cover letter by naming the job for which you're applying and how you found out about it, especially if you were referred by someone the employer knows. In the second paragraph, elaborate on the experiences you included in the resume. Talk about how your use of portfolio management software helped your former employer increase his client base, or talk about how you helped your celebrity employer stay organized during a movie shoot. The cover letter should talk about your accomplishments without gushing about the potential employer. Express your awareness of the employer by, for example, mentioning that you noticed the company's stock is going up and you look forward to an opportunity to help the CEO prepare his speeches or meetings to celebrate.

References With Impact

You'll be working closely with your employer, so your personalities need to be compatible. One way the employer will peek into your personality and background is through your references. If you have positive employer references, include those people's names, email addresses and phone numbers. If you were referred by a particular person, include that person's contact information on the reference sheet. If you're applying without these assets, list people you know who work in similar professions -- or face similar challenges in the case of an employer with disabilities -- who can vouch for your character, work habits and personality.

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