First-Time PA Hire – Guiding and Supporting a Start-Up Founder The Challenge

A dynamic, mind-blowingly successful Founder (aged 26) of a tech start-up approached Knightsbridge Recruitment looking for their first-ever PA. The company had grown rapidly, and the Founder was becoming overwhelmed with meetings, travel, recruitment and admin – but had no clear idea of what an EA could do to free up his time and make the company more efficient.

The initial brief was too broad, contradictory, and overly ambitious – he was looking for a paragon who would be on call 24/7 and who could also act as a PA, office manager, project coordinator, personal concierge, and sounding board ….. all rolled into one. He told us that there had already been two false starts, where PAs had left after a couple of weeks, due to the lack of clarity in the role, shifting expectations and work overload.

We recognised immediately that this was a case not just of recruitment – but of education and role definition.

• We had a meeting with the Founder and discussed his day-to-day challenges, objectives and long-term vision for the Company
• We advised on realistic expectations and the Founder agreed that he needed two people:  a PA and also an Office Manager 
• We advised on job specifications reflecting the Founder’s working style, company culture, and genuine business needs
• We then shortlisted candidates for the two roles, specifically targeting ambitious individuals who would thrive in an entrepreneurial, fast moving and every changing environment.  It was important that the candidates were flexible, proactive and keen to grow in the job as the company evolved

Within two weeks, we placed a highly capable and very bright PA who had previously supported the Founder of a fast-scaling digital agency. She was calm under pressure, unflappable, a true self starter who would proactively take ownership of both business and personal admin tasks.

Once his PA had started, we quickly found a suitable Office Manager.  We advised the Founder that it was important that his PA should be involved in the search for an Office Manager as it was essential the two of them worked as a strong partnership.