Why is it so hard to find an assistant?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are people allergic to work these days? I need an assistant. The job is to assist me in an efficient manner. Do I have to go abroad to find someone who can work without wasting time, without a bad attitude, and without thinking that typing a document is beneath them?

You need someone with a different cultural mindset and hunger to survive and get ahead. So, yes, you need to go abroad for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are people allergic to work these days? I need an assistant. The job is to assist me in an efficient manner. Do I have to go abroad to find someone who can work without wasting time, without a bad attitude, and without thinking that typing a document is beneath them?

I'm looking for work! I'll work as an assistant.

Are you a good writer?

Is answering the phone beneath you? Are you polite?

Can you put together newsletters? Do basic research? Can you manage social media accounts? Can you setup new wordpress sites or are you willing to learn? Can you make follow up calls? Can you respond to emails? Can you do so without someone breathing down your neck to make sure it gets done?

Can you understand that I am not paying you 200k to do this, but if you can work to prove your value then we can talk about moving you into a revenue generating position which would move the payscale up.

Yes? Then call me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of people make the mistake of hiring recent college grads to be assistants rather than professional secretaries. They think that 22 year-olds with degrees from decent schools would like that opportunity to get their foot in the door. The reality is that these kids just spent a lot of time and money getting their degree and don't want what is perceived to be a lowly job. Now, you can argue that they shouldn't be so entitled, esp in this economy, but it's true. You hire these kids and they just won't be happy.

I agree. I know a lot of 40+ former SAHM's like me who would love to find an administrative position. We are mature and hard-working, but a lot of places will overlook us because we don't have recent office experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of people make the mistake of hiring recent college grads to be assistants rather than professional secretaries. They think that 22 year-olds with degrees from decent schools would like that opportunity to get their foot in the door. The reality is that these kids just spent a lot of time and money getting their degree and don't want what is perceived to be a lowly job. Now, you can argue that they shouldn't be so entitled, esp in this economy, but it's true. You hire these kids and they just won't be happy.

I agree. I know a lot of 40+ former SAHM's like me who would love to find an administrative position. We are mature and hard-working, but a lot of places will overlook us because we don't have recent office experience.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband went through 3 Executive Assistants before he found the one he has retained. He wanted such things like--show up for work on time, finish the work assigned to you, no internet surfing (this is clearly specified during the interview), no headphones, answer the phone politely, be able to demonstrate the skills your resume specifies ie if you say you can use Word, you better be able to.

In exchange, he pays her very well. She is given bonuses from his personal bank account when she does thing above and beyond her job--like when she helped me buy our house and I worked with her daily to pull together all of the necessary paperwork that he had filed in his office. She is given a lot of flexibility to take time off for her personal needs. In short, he treats her like a professional.

Yuk! People who make AA's do their personal errands are the worst

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of people make the mistake of hiring recent college grads to be assistants rather than professional secretaries. They think that 22 year-olds with degrees from decent schools would like that opportunity to get their foot in the door. The reality is that these kids just spent a lot of time and money getting their degree and don't want what is perceived to be a lowly job. Now, you can argue that they shouldn't be so entitled, esp in this economy, but it's true. You hire these kids and they just won't be happy.

I agree. I know a lot of 40+ former SAHM's like me who would love to find an administrative position. We are mature and hard-working, but a lot of places will overlook us because we don't have recent office experience.

I would hire a forty plus sahm for that job over a 20 something any day of the week, except they would have to have good computer skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are people allergic to work these days? I need an assistant. The job is to assist me in an efficient manner. Do I have to go abroad to find someone who can work without wasting time, without a bad attitude, and without thinking that typing a document is beneath them?

I'm looking for work! I'll work as an assistant.

Are you a good writer?

Is answering the phone beneath you? Are you polite?

Can you put together newsletters? Do basic research? Can you manage social media accounts? Can you setup new wordpress sites or are you willing to learn? Can you make follow up calls? Can you respond to emails? Can you do so without someone breathing down your neck to make sure it gets done?

Can you understand that I am not paying you 200k to do this, but if you can work to prove your value then we can talk about moving you into a revenue generating position which would move the payscale up.

Yes? Then call me.

This is not an assistant position. This is an executive assistant position plus a communications professional position rolled into one. Your expectations may e too high.

[Anonymous]

Just so you know OP, great bosses create great assistants. Look around you and you will find that this to be true ALWAYS.

I have worked with executives who say jump and I answer how high, hell, I'm leaping before they even say jump because their managerial skills motivate me to do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are people allergic to work these days? I need an assistant. The job is to assist me in an efficient manner. Do I have to go abroad to find someone who can work without wasting time, without a bad attitude, and without thinking that typing a document is beneath them?

I'm looking for work! I'll work as an assistant.

Are you a good writer?

Is answering the phone beneath you? Are you polite?

Can you put together newsletters? Do basic research? Can you manage social media accounts? Can you setup new wordpress sites or are you willing to learn? Can you make follow up calls? Can you respond to emails? Can you do so without someone breathing down your neck to make sure it gets done?

Can you understand that I am not paying you 200k to do this, but if you can work to prove your value then we can talk about moving you into a revenue generating position which would move the payscale up.

Yes? Then call me.

This is not an assistant position. This is an executive assistant position plus a communications professional position rolled into one. Your expectations may e too high.

I agree. Even the good assistants at my company are only expected to answer the phone, manage calendars and files, handle expenses, and they have basic computer skills (light Word, no excel or PowerPoint).

Change the title of your position and you may have a more acceptable pool of people to choose from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are people allergic to work these days? I need an assistant. The job is to assist me in an efficient manner. Do I have to go abroad to find someone who can work without wasting time, without a bad attitude, and without thinking that typing a document is beneath them?

I'm looking for work! I'll work as an assistant.

Are you a good writer?

Is answering the phone beneath you? Are you polite?

Can you put together newsletters? Do basic research? Can you manage social media accounts? Can you setup new wordpress sites or are you willing to learn? Can you make follow up calls? Can you respond to emails? Can you do so without someone breathing down your neck to make sure it gets done?

Can you understand that I am not paying you 200k to do this, but if you can work to prove your value then we can talk about moving you into a revenue generating position which would move the payscale up.

Yes? Then call me.

If you're serious, I would be more than happy to send you my résumé.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are people allergic to work these days? I need an assistant. The job is to assist me in an efficient manner. Do I have to go abroad to find someone who can work without wasting time, without a bad attitude, and without thinking that typing a document is beneath them?

I'm looking for work! I'll work as an assistant.

Are you a good writer?

Is answering the phone beneath you? Are you polite?

Can you put together newsletters? Do basic research? Can you manage social media accounts? Can you setup new wordpress sites or are you willing to learn? Can you make follow up calls? Can you respond to emails? Can you do so without someone breathing down your neck to make sure it gets done?

Can you understand that I am not paying you 200k to do this, but if you can work to prove your value then we can talk about moving you into a revenue generating position which would move the payscale up.

Yes? Then call me.

This is not an assistant position. This is an executive assistant position plus a communications professional position rolled into one. Your expectations may e too high.

I do have high expectations because I don't think these tasks are that difficult, nor does it take two different roles. I know because I have done it all, plus my main responsibilities. I think the pp who said cultural differences may come into play here because I had a great assistant who only left because her husband wanted her home after she had the baby.

She was great and always looking to go the extra mile. She was not American. Americans on the other hand think that updating twitter and writing a blog post takes 40 hours per week....it does not. If I can finish my work and half of yours while you are still on the first assignment then it just won't work.

As long as you do your job then I am laid back and will leave you alone. I don't want to be on anyones back. But if you can't get things done without constant supervision then it just won't work for me. God bless America but there is a noticeable difference in work ethic in many cases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of people make the mistake of hiring recent college grads to be assistants rather than professional secretaries. They think that 22 year-olds with degrees from decent schools would like that opportunity to get their foot in the door. The reality is that these kids just spent a lot of time and money getting their degree and don't want what is perceived to be a lowly job. Now, you can argue that they shouldn't be so entitled, esp in this economy, but it's true. You hire these kids and they just won't be happy.

+1. Other professional entry level jobs can be this way too. The small company owner is really looking for a smart, industrious, educated assistant but thinks he's lucked out in finding a newly minted grad to fill both the professional and help around the office positions. That doesn't last long because the new person wants and expects more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are people allergic to work these days? I need an assistant. The job is to assist me in an efficient manner. Do I have to go abroad to find someone who can work without wasting time, without a bad attitude, and without thinking that typing a document is beneath them?

I'm looking for work! I'll work as an assistant.

Are you a good writer?

Is answering the phone beneath you? Are you polite?

Can you put together newsletters? Do basic research? Can you manage social media accounts? Can you setup new wordpress sites or are you willing to learn? Can you make follow up calls? Can you respond to emails? Can you do so without someone breathing down your neck to make sure it gets done?

Can you understand that I am not paying you 200k to do this, but if you can work to prove your value then we can talk about moving you into a revenue generating position which would move the payscale up.

Yes? Then call me.

This is not an assistant position. This is an executive assistant position plus a communications professional position rolled into one. Your expectations may e too high.

I do have high expectations because I don't think these tasks are that difficult, nor does it take two different roles. I know because I have done it all, plus my main responsibilities. I think the pp who said cultural differences may come into play here because I had a great assistant who only left because her husband wanted her home after she had the baby.

She was great and always looking to go the extra mile. She was not American. Americans on the other hand think that updating twitter and writing a blog post takes 40 hours per week....it does not. If I can finish my work and half of yours while you are still on the first assignment then it just won't work.

As long as you do your job then I am laid back and will leave you alone. I don't want to be on anyones back. But if you can't get things done without constant supervision then it just won't work for me. God bless America but there is a noticeable difference in work ethic in many cases.

Where was she from, if I may ask? China?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You get what you pay for.

exactly.
I'm looking for a high-level EA position (I have extensive experience, but want to shift more towards executive assistant vs. what I do now, and get out of gov't). People are paying SO low for these, how do they not think they're going to get fast turnover? I've worked for Members of Congress, Generals, Admirals...I won't work full time for $55k a year. Your pay should reflect the value of that position, otherwise you'll keep getting the low hanging fruit or quick turnover.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Are you a good writer?

Is answering the phone beneath you? Are you polite?

Can you put together newsletters? Do basic research? Can you manage social media accounts? Can you setup new wordpress sites or are you willing to learn? Can you make follow up calls? Can you respond to emails? Can you do so without someone breathing down your neck to make sure it gets done?

Can you understand that I am not paying you 200k to do this, but if you can work to prove your value then we can talk about moving you into a revenue generating position which would move the payscale up.

Yes? Then call me.

I'm a PP, and no - this isn't beneath me...but I have a Masters Degree and want to be treated like I have something to bring to the organization beyond a glorified secretary. Most manager can't handle that...nor do they want to pay (there's no need for $200k, but like I said, I wouldn't take $55k.

I also think that answering the phone isn't beneath anyone...until I took this job (no one else does it). I also don't want to be treated like I just graduated college, or that I have no ambition because I'm "just an assistant". This is why I'm having a very hard time finding an EA position, but I won't compromise on being treated well for excellent work. It's not hard. And I'm actually American. I show up on time. I haven't taken an actual day off in years. I am constantly on my blackberry keeping up with my contacts in order to finish tasks. So I think you're picking the wrong people.