4.9

Hire a Personal Assistant in 24 Hours

Pre-vetted candidates from our exclusive network. No upfront fees.

1,500+ Successful Placements
No Upfront Fees
Replacement Guarantee
1,500+
Successful Placements
500+
Satisfied Clients
20+
Years Experience
24h
First Candidates

Why Clients Choose Us for Personal Assistant Recruitment

24 Hour Shortlist

Receive qualified candidates within 1 business day

Replacement Guarantee

Peace of mind with our satisfaction guarantee

Pre-Vetted Candidates

Background checked and reference verified

At Lighthouse Careers, we have spent over two decades connecting discerning private clients with exceptional Personal Assistants worldwide. We understand that finding a PA who combines impeccable organizational skills with absolute discretion is critical for principals who demand seamless support. Our proven recruitment process delivers pre-vetted candidates within 24-48 hours, backed by our replacement guarantee and success-fee model that ensures you only pay when you hire.

About the Personal Assistant Role

Understanding the Private Personal Assistant Role

The Private Personal Assistant position represents one of the most trusted roles in a principal's inner circle, serving as the essential coordinator of professional and personal life for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, executives, and prominent families. In today's fast-paced environment, a Private PA is far more than an administrator—they are strategic partners, problem-solvers, and confidants who ensure principals can focus on what matters most.

What Distinguishes an Exceptional Personal Assistant

An exceptional Personal Assistant possesses a rare combination of organizational excellence and emotional intelligence. They demonstrate anticipatory thinking—solving problems before they arise—while maintaining absolute discretion and adaptability. The best PAs seamlessly transition between managing complex travel logistics and handling sensitive personal matters, adapting their approach to match the principal's rhythm and preferences.

Beyond technical skills, exceptional PAs exhibit the confidence to make independent decisions while knowing precisely when to seek guidance. They possess the diplomacy to manage relationships with family members, household staff, and external contacts with equal finesse.

The Impact on Principal Operations

A skilled Personal Assistant transforms daily operations from reactive to proactive management. They establish systems that prevent scheduling conflicts, create protocols for handling communications, and build relationships with key contacts that deliver exceptional service. Their presence allows principals to focus entirely on their priorities, confident that every aspect of their personal and professional life runs flawlessly.

Common Hiring Challenges

Employers frequently struggle with several challenges when recruiting PAs independently. The most qualified candidates are rarely actively seeking positions, instead moving discreetly through trusted networks. Verifying genuine experience versus embellished credentials requires industry connections. Additionally, assessing cultural fit and discretion levels through traditional interviews proves inadequate for a role requiring such intimate access to a principal's life.

Why Specialized Recruitment Matters

Personal Assistant recruitment demands specialized expertise because the stakes are exceptionally high. These professionals gain access to financial information, personal relationships, and confidential business matters. A poor hiring decision impacts not just efficiency but potentially security and reputation. Our specialized approach leverages deep industry knowledge, established candidate networks, and rigorous vetting processes that general recruitment agencies cannot replicate.

Key Responsibilities

Core Personal Assistant Responsibilities

Calendar and Schedule Management

A PA primary responsibility centers on managing complex, often conflicting schedules. This includes coordinating appointments across multiple time zones, managing recurring commitments, handling last-minute changes with diplomacy, and ensuring principals are always prepared for upcoming engagements.

Travel Coordination

Personal Assistants manage all aspects of travel, from booking private jets and commercial flights to coordinating ground transportation, accommodation, and dining reservations. They prepare detailed itineraries, handle visa and documentation requirements, and solve problems when travel plans change.

Communication Management

PAs serve as gatekeepers for all communications, screening calls, managing email correspondence, and drafting responses on behalf of principals. They prioritize incoming requests, maintain contact databases, and ensure important messages never fall through the cracks.

Personal Errands and Lifestyle Support

From sourcing rare items to managing household vendors, PAs handle the personal errands that enable principals to focus on priorities. This includes coordinating with household staff, managing subscriptions and memberships, and overseeing vehicle maintenance.

Project Management

Personal Assistants frequently manage significant projects such as property renovations, event planning, or family relocations. They coordinate multiple vendors, track budgets, ensure timelines are met, and provide principals with regular updates.

Qualifications & Skills

Essential Personal Assistant Qualifications and Skills

Experience Requirements by Level

Entry Level (2-4 years): Previous experience in executive assistance, luxury hospitality, or corporate environments. Demonstrates strong organizational fundamentals, attention to detail, and eagerness to develop PA-specific skills.

Mid-Level (4-8 years): Proven PA experience with private individuals or C-suite executives, demonstrating independent problem-solving, travel coordination expertise, and communication management skills.

Senior Level (8+ years): Extensive experience managing complex, multi-property operations for ultra-high-net-worth principals. Demonstrates strategic thinking, team management when applicable, and ability to handle highly sensitive matters with impeccable judgment.

Critical Soft Skills

Discretion remains the paramount soft skill—PAs must demonstrate impeccable judgment about confidentiality through specific examples. Emotional intelligence enables reading situations accurately. Flexibility and adaptability allow PAs to transition seamlessly between urgent crises and routine tasks.

Technical Competencies

Modern PAs require proficiency in productivity software, booking platforms, and communication tools. They should demonstrate capability with calendar systems, expense management, travel booking platforms, and digital security practices. Languages beyond English add significant value for international principals.

Salary Overview

Personal Assistant Salary Guide and Compensation Packages

Global Salary Ranges

Personal Assistant compensation varies significantly based on location, experience, and complexity of role. In major markets like London and New York, entry-level PAs typically earn £35,000-£50,000 or $50,000-$70,000 annually. Mid-level professionals with 4-8 years experience command £50,000-£80,000 or $70,000-$110,000. Senior PAs managing complex operations can expect £80,000-£150,000 or $110,000-$200,000.

Factors Affecting Compensation

Role complexity significantly impacts salary levels—managing travel across multiple properties, handling business and personal matters, or supervising junior staff commands premium compensation. Specialized skills like languages, technical expertise, or industry knowledge add 15-25% to base salaries.

Comprehensive Benefits Packages

Beyond base salary, PA packages commonly include health insurance, pension contributions, mobile phone and technology provisions, and travel allowances. Additional benefits often encompass paid vacation (25-30 days), professional development budgets, and performance bonuses typically ranging from 10-20% of base salary.

Our Hiring Process

The Lighthouse PA Recruitment Process

Step 1: Initial Consultation (15-30 minutes)

Your Personal Assistant search begins with a focused consultation with one of our specialist recruiters. During this conversation, we explore your lifestyle, working style preferences, and specific requirements.

Step 2: Search Activation

Within hours of our consultation, we activate our search across multiple channels. Our database contains thousands of pre-vetted PA professionals, many currently employed and only accessible through our established relationships.

Step 3: Shortlist Delivery (24-48 hours)

You receive a curated shortlist of 3-5 candidates within 24-48 hours, each accompanied by detailed profiles highlighting relevant experience, verification status, and specific strengths aligned with your requirements.

Step 4: Interview Coordination

We manage all interview logistics, arranging video interviews for initial screenings and coordinating in-person meetings. We brief candidates on expectations while maintaining appropriate confidentiality.

Step 5: Comprehensive Vetting

Our seven-step vetting process intensifies for final candidates, including enhanced background checks, in-depth reference verifications with at least three previous employers, and document verification.

Step 6: Offer and Onboarding Support

We facilitate offer negotiations and provide contract guidance. We maintain regular contact during the first 90 days, addressing any adjustment challenges and ensuring successful integration.

Why Choose Lighthouse

Why Leading Principals Choose Lighthouse for PA Recruitment

Unmatched Specialization in Private Staff

Unlike generalist agencies that occasionally place PAs, Lighthouse Careers exclusively focuses on private household and personal staff recruitment. Our recruiters understand the subtle differences between a PA who excels in corporate-style environments versus relaxed family settings.

Success-Fee Model Aligned with Your Success

Our confidence in delivering exceptional candidates allows us to operate on a pure success-fee basis—you pay nothing until you hire. No retainers, no upfront search fees, no hidden costs.

Replacement Guarantee for Peace of Mind

Despite our rigorous vetting, we acknowledge that perfect prediction remains impossible. Our replacement guarantee provides security during the critical integration period. If a placement does not succeed within the guarantee period, we replace them at no additional cost.

Access to Hidden Talent Networks

The best Personal Assistants rarely post on job boards. They move discreetly between positions through trusted intermediaries. Over 20 years, we have built relationships with thousands of these exceptional professionals.

Proven Results

Our results speak for themselves: 500+ satisfied clients who return when expanding their teams, 300+ successful placements annually, and a 94% placement success rate beyond one year.

How It Works

Our streamlined process gets you qualified Personal Assistant candidates fast.

01

Share Your Requirements

Tell us about your household or yacht, the role you need filled, and your specific requirements.

02

Receive Matched Candidates

We search our network and present a shortlist of pre-vetted candidates within 24 hours.

03

Interview & Hire

Meet your candidates, conduct interviews, and make your selection with our full support.

100+ Locations

Hire a Personal Assistant Near You

We place Personal Assistant professionals across 14 countries worldwide

Personal Assistant Resources

Learn More About Hiring a Personal Assistant

Comprehensive guides and resources to help you make the right hire

4.9★
Client Rating
500+
Satisfied Clients
1,500+
Successful Placements
20+
Years Experience

Trusted by Industry Leaders

Hear from clients and professionals who've worked with us

I wanted to say a few words of thanks for your all your time and efforts over the past few years. You and your team has always been a massive help in trying to help find us the right candidate for the right job in this ever expanding and delicate industry.
Tom Filby
Tom Filby
Captain M/Y Axioma
I've had the pleasure of knowing Milica, and using her recruitment services for many years. Her attention to what I'm looking for in a crew member, fast response and flexibility and understanding of feedback has always impressed me.
Carl Westerlund
Carl Westerlund
Captain 101m M/Y
Milica is always my first call when looking for new crew. She helped me get my first command 3 years ago and ever since has supplied me with great candidates for all positions onboard.
Mark Sinnatt
Mark Sinnatt
Captain M/Y GLOBAL
Working with Lighthouse has been a game-changer for our estate staffing. Their understanding of the unique requirements for private household positions is unmatched.
PC
Private Client
Family Office, London
The team at Lighthouse found us an exceptional House Manager who has transformed how our properties operate. Their vetting process gave us complete confidence in our hire.
EO
Estate Owner
Multi-property Portfolio
Professional, discreet, and incredibly efficient. Lighthouse understood exactly what we needed and delivered outstanding candidates within days.
MC
Management Company
Yacht Management

Trusted by Leading Yacht Owners & Management Companies

FY
B
C&N
HR
Y.CO
N&J

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about hiring a Personal Assistant

1What is included in your recruitment service?

Our comprehensive recruitment service includes an initial consultation to understand your exact requirements, access to our exclusive network of pre-vetted PA candidates, shortlist delivery within 24-48 hours, interview coordination and logistics support, thorough background checks and reference verification, offer negotiation assistance, and ongoing support through the onboarding period. We operate on a success-fee basis—you only pay when your new PA starts work.

2How long does the hiring process take?

Our typical PA placement timeline runs 2-3 weeks from initial consultation to start date, though we can accommodate both urgent needs and extended searches. You will receive your first shortlist of 3-5 vetted candidates within 24-48 hours. Interview rounds typically occur within the first week, followed by final vetting and reference checks in week two.

3What qualifications should a Personal Assistant have?

Essential PA qualifications include proven experience in private or executive assistance (minimum 2-4 years for entry-level, 8+ for senior positions), excellent organizational and communication skills, and demonstrated discretion. Additional valuable qualifications include language skills for international principals, advanced technology proficiency, and experience in specific industries.

4What is your replacement guarantee?

Our replacement guarantee provides security during the critical early months of employment. If a PA placement does not work out within the guarantee period (typically 3-6 months depending on the position), we will find a replacement at no additional fee. Over 94% of our placements succeed beyond the guarantee period.

5How do you vet PA candidates?

Our seven-step vetting process ensures only exceptional candidates reach you. We conduct behavioral interviews exploring organizational philosophy and discretion, complete enhanced background checks, verify at least three references with detailed performance discussions, assess skills through practical evaluations, administer personality profiling for cultural fit prediction, and verify all documents and work authorization.

6What salary should I expect to pay a Personal Assistant?

PA compensation varies significantly based on experience level, responsibilities, location, and specific requirements. Entry-level PAs in major markets typically earn £35,000-£50,000 or $50,000-$70,000, while senior PAs can command £80,000-£150,000 or $110,000-$200,000. During our initial consultation, we provide detailed salary benchmarking tailored to your specific situation.

7Do you help with visa and work permits?

Yes, we guide clients through immigration requirements when hiring international PA candidates. While we are not immigration lawyers, our extensive experience helps navigate the process efficiently. We identify candidates with existing work authorization when possible and connect you with specialist immigration attorneys for complex cases.

8Can you find PA candidates for specific locations?

Our PA network spans globally, with particularly strong coverage in major wealth centers like London, New York, Los Angeles, Monaco, Dubai, and the French Riviera. For remote or unique locations, we leverage our international partnerships and conduct targeted searches.

9What if I need to hire a PA urgently?

Urgent PA requirements receive immediate priority activation across our network. We can deliver vetted candidates within 24 hours for critical situations. Our emergency placement process maintains essential vetting steps while streamlining interview rounds and accelerating decision timelines.

10How do I get started with hiring a PA?

Starting your PA search is simple—contact us via our confidential phone line or secure online form to schedule a 15-30 minute consultation. During this call, we will discuss your needs, preferences, and specific requirements. Within hours, we will activate our search and you will receive your first candidate shortlist within 24-48 hours.

Our Placement Guarantee

We're so confident in our matching process that we offer a replacement guarantee. If your placed Personal Assistant doesn't meet expectations within the guarantee period, we'll find a replacement at no additional cost.

No upfront fees
Replacement guarantee
Ongoing support

Start Your Personal Assistant Search Today

See matching candidates instantly with our AI-powered search. No commitment required.