If your attention is distracted by menial and unavoidable chores, and if this is affecting your focus, then it is time to get a personal assistant. Once you decide to hire help, though, how exactly should you go about the task?

Here is how you should proceed:

a. Create a job profile for the helper. The phrase \’personal assistant\’ is too vague and encompasses all possible interpretations.

A person will apply for a job only if he or she understands what the job is all about. The job profile will help remove all doubts as it clearly lays down the duties and responsibilities involved.

b. Post your ad in newspapers, on the company website, on job sites. Place an announcement for the position up on the company bulletin board and in your newsletter and / or ezine if you want to give insiders a chance before searching outside the company. Invite resumes and have them delivered to your workplace email.

c. Prepare a list of eligible candidates. Sort through the applications, reject the unsuitable candidates and prepare of a shortlist of candidates to be invited for an interview.

d. Do not focus on experience alone. Fresh graduates or college students can be trained a lot faster, as they do not have any past experiences to confuse them.

e. Inform the candidates about their selection for the interview. Inform them about the date, time and venue of the interview. Then conduct an initial screening to weed out the unsuitable persons.

Finally prepare a short list of five to ten suitable candidates. Personally conduct the interview of the short listed persons.

f. Interview the candidates and determine whether any one satisfies your requirements. Consider the skill set, the expected remuneration and other such factors to select the best candidate.

g. Once you feel you have found the best candidate, negotiate all other matters to finalize the appointment. If you wish, conduct a short test to determine the proficiency of the candidate in computer programs.

h. Finalize the appointment and inform the successful candidate to report to work. Convey your regrets to those who did not succeed.

i. Treat the first three months as the trial period. Use the three months to verify whether you have made the right choice or not.

Follow the steps and you should quickly find the person you are looking for. The above procedure can be best described as a guideline. You may be required to make changes to the procedure depending upon the signature on the ground.

If you come to realize that the person appointed as your personal assistant is not the right person for the job, do not make the mistake of firing the person and beginning the search all over again.

Rather, begin the search and find a replacement before firing your personal assistant, if possible. Hint: never throw away information on all applicants who were found suitable for the job until after a suitable amount of time has passed. This can help you locate a replacement in a short period of time.

Do keep in mind that the job of a personal assistant is not as easy as it sounds. Nine times out of ten, you may have to patiently wait for the person to learn the ropes. A patient approach will help your personal assistant overcome the initial jitters and settle down on the job.

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Category: Business Management
Keywords: computer programs,college students,ezine,job profile,personal assistant