PA & Admin Articles

15 Diary Management Tips For Busy PAs

Personal assistant diary management is a huge task. In this article, we share our very best diary management tips for PAs.

How to Write a PA Cover Letter + Free Templates

Your cover letter is the first impression an employer will have of you, and it can be the difference maker between being shortlisted and being ignored.

In my years of recruiting high-level PAs, I’ve seen countless applications fall flat simply because the cover letter was rushed or generic. 

The best ones, however, stand out immediately. They are tailored to the role, concise in delivery and strike the right balance between showcasing professional competence and letting personality shine through.

If you want to write a winning PA cover letter that gets you noticed, keep reading to find out how...

How to Know When You Need a Personal Assistant

This comprehensive guide will explore the key benefits of employing a PA and the telltale signs that it's time to bring one on board.

What Is The Average Cost Of Hiring A PA In The UK?

If you’re considering hiring a PA, you may be wondering about a personal assistant’s hourly rate of pay. Read on to know the hourly rate of a PA in the UK.

What Does A Private Personal Assistant Do?

Typically, a private personal assistant is a person who helps an individual manage a private household and personal-related tasks. Learn more here.

31 Personal Assistant Interview Questions & Answers

Here are the ideal PA interview questions to ask candidates interviewing for a PA role, plus some ideal sample answers to the questions.

What are the key differences between a PA and an EA?

Learn the key differences between a PA role and an EA, including how to apply and move into these careers.

How To Become A Private PA

Discover the essential steps to becoming a successful private PA. Learn about the role's responsibilities, required skills, networking strategies, and more.

PA Salary Goals - Aiming High As A UK Personal Assistant

PA roles are highly sought after in the UK, and it’s easy to see why. In this article, we’ll take a whistle-stop tour of personal assistant salaries in different parts of the UK.

How to Be a Good PA - Insights from Top Executives

Discover how to be a good PA with real insights from top execs on the traits that make assistants exceptional - from trust to initiative and communication.

PA Skills & Qualifications That Employers Look For

Want to know how to excel as a PA? Learn which key PA skills employers look for when hiring a PA to help you stand out in the crowd!

Office Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Ensure that you are prepared for your Office Manager interview with these six most common questions and answers that will help you get the job.

What Is It Really Like to Be A Personal Assistant?

Wondering what a day in the life of a personal assistant entails? We’ve got you covered. Find out what it is really like to be a personal assistant here.

9 Best Expat Jobs in Saudi Arabia for British Citizens

Explore top jobs in Saudi Arabia for expats, including executive assistants, healthcare, IT, and finance roles, with competitive salaries and benefits.

How To Become a Celebrity Assistant

Interested in starting a celebrity PA career? Explore the details of celebrity personal assistant jobs. PLUS, learn the top tips for getting started.

What is a Family Office & How To Know If You Need One

Discover the types of family office, how they work, the services they provide, how to decide if you need one, how to set one up & much more!

The Best Family Office Service Providers in the UK

This guide highlights how each provider helps families preserve their wealth, values, and goals through personalised financial strategies.

Family Office Salaries - What Makes Competitive Compensation?

Drawing on our extensive experience recruiting for hundreds of family office roles, we’re sharing unique salary insights to help you stay competitive in the market.

Travelling PAs - What Makes a Competitive Salary?

This guide reveals the typical salary range for a travelling PA and explores the key factors influencing what a competitive offer looks like for such a unique role.

What is a Family PA? & What Do They Do?

Discover how a family PA streamlines home life, managing everything from schedules to household tasks, ensuring your household runs smoothly.

Best Software For Family Offices

Discover top software for family offices to streamline finances and boost investments. Explore cutting-edge tools for efficient wealth management.

Average Executive Assistant Salaries in the UK

Find out what the average executive assistant salary is in the UK by region, industry and experience, plus what common perks EAs can expect. Learn more!

Best Productivity Tools for PAs, EAs and VAs

This article unveils the top tools designed specifically for personal assistants, virtual assistants, and executive assistants looking to be even more productive in their roles.

Season 2 of The PA Podcast Now Live

We are proud to announce the release of Season 2 of The PA Podcast.

6 Admin Assistant Interview Questions & Answers To Prepare

Looking to prepare for an admin assistant interview? Read our sample admin assistant interview questions and answers to help you put your best foot forward.

Top 7 Office Manager Skills To Look For When Hiring

Are you interested in hiring an office manager? Read more about the skills to look for to find the perfect employee.

The Best Calendar Apps For Businesses

Having a completely integrated calendar for your business is key to great organisation and communication between your employees.

5 Marketing Assistant Interview Questions and Answers

Are you interviewing for marketing assistant positions and want to ace the interview? This article will tell you the common interview QNAs.

What does an Executive Assistant do? Everything You Need to Know

Hiring an executive assistant? Here are the top 10 skills to look out for when recruiting for your ideal EA.

The Best Video Conferencing Apps for Your Business

Video conferencing platforms have exploded in popularity since the pandemic. Learn which are the best video conferencing apps for business collaboration.

Best Corporate Events Venues and Hotels

Read this guide on the best corporate event venues and hotels to inspire you to choose the right one for you.

Receptionist Interview Questions and Answers to Prepare

Here we will give you some samples of receptionist job interview questions, sample answers, and tips to prepare for a receptionist interview.

Best Employee Scheduling Software

Employee scheduling software is effective for employers and businesses to make work life easier. Here is a list of the best employee scheduling software.

What Are The Duties of A Chief of Staff?

Learn more about what role a Chief of Staff fulfils and why they’re essential in every business. Our guide outlines CoS’s duties and responsibilities.

How To Become An HR Assistant

An HR Assistant is a junior-level support role, assisting the HR function of a business. It is a great position to gain administrative experience with a clear career path.

How To Write A Job Offer Letter + Free Template

The experience of communicating with HR through the job application process also shapes applicants' perceptions of a company and influences their decision to accept or decline a job offer.

How To Conduct A Background Check On An Employee

When hiring a new employee, a screening process verifies that their background is suitable for the role. Learn how to conduct an employee background check.

How To Write A Job Description

Writing a job description that attracts well-suited candidates requires some time and thought. Learn how to write a full job description here.

10 Tasks to Delegate to a Temporary Assistant

Here we explore how to use a temporary assistant effectively and the tasks you can delegate. Learn how to use an administrative assistant effectively.

14 Skills To Look For When Hiring A Virtual Assistant

Looking for a virtual assistant to help you stay on top of tasks? Check this list of the top skills to look for when recruiting for a VA.

How to Get an Admin Job with Zero Experience

An admin assistant role is a key part of any business. Read on to discover how to be an administrative assistant with no experience.

Your Guide to Becoming a Legal Secretary or Legal PA

Interested in learning how to be a legal secretary? This article covers everything you need to know, from qualifications to qualities you need to possess.

Where To Buy The Best Christmas Decorations For The Office

Looking for a place to buy classy Christmas decorations to breathe festive joy into your office this season? Explore our list of favourite retailers here.

A VA's Guide To Improving Your Home Office Set Up

If you’re looking for ways to improve your home office set-up, look no further. This article covers the best ways to improve your working from home experience.

How & Why to Hire a Virtual EA

Hiring a VA gives you time to focus on your responsibilities so you can work smarter. Learn what a virtual EAs main duties are and how to hire a virtual EA.

Receptionist Skills & Duties

A receptionist is a key role for any business. Here we delve into the skills and qualities to look for when hiring a receptionist for your business.

What Are The Duties & Responsibilities Of An Office Manager?

An office manager is responsible for the smooth running of an office. Here we list out the key office manager duties and responsibilities.

11 Career Progression Opportunities for an Office Manager

Ever wondered what office manager career track to take? Here we cover all of the career progression opportunities an office manager should explore.

Essential PA's List of UK Business Couriers & Delivery Firms

If you’re looking for commercial courier services that are quick and reliable, check out our comprehensive list of UK business couriers and delivery companies.

The Ultimate Office Manager Covid-19 Checklist

Get to grips with what tasks are expected of you as an office manager in light of Covid-19 with our handy office manager daily checklist.

10 Top Skills to Look for In an HR Assistant

Here, we reveal the top key skills to look for when hiring HR assistants, as well as summarising the role of an HR assistant.

What Are The Key Duties & Responsibilities Of A Receptionist?

This article will cover the key receptionist duties and responsibilities, plus the key skills of a receptionist.

6 Top Skills To Look For In An Admin Assistant

It is important to know what to look for when interviewing prospective candidates. Here, we'll discuss the skills that are needed for an admin assistant.

The Best Office Removals & Relocation Companies

Moving your office to a new location can be stressful. In this article, we’ve listed some of the best removal companies to reduce your stress.

8 Top Tips & Advice On How To Become A Great Secretary

Perfecting any role takes time and focus, and becoming a great secretary is no different. Read on to know the tips and tricks to become the best secretary.

How To Stay Motivated Working From Home (18 Simple Tips)

Maintaining your work from home motivation is often a challenge. In this article, we’re sharing top work from home tips to keep productivity levels high.

How Admin Assistants & PAs Can Work From Home Effectively

Working from home, you may be wondering how you can undertake remote work effectively. Here, we'll know the best tips for working effectively from home.

The Ultimate List of Catering Companies

To help take the guesswork out of your catering decisions, we have compiled a list of the top catering companies around.

The Ultimate List of Corporate Venues

A perfect corporate venue holds an important part in holding a company's image. Here we’ve compiled a list of the best corporate venues from across the UK.

A PA’s Guide to Perfect Travel Planning

Often a big part of any personal assistant or executive assistant’s role is to arrange travel for their boss. This can be domestic or international travel and for some, it may mean frequently working across multiple time zones.

The Ultimate List of Corporate Fundraising Charities

If your company is looking for a charity to fundraise for this year, then look no further. We’ve compiled a list of the most worthwhile causes making a real difference to people’s lives.

The Ultimate List of Corporate Gifting Ideas

Whether you’re looking for gifts for your clients, your partners or your employees, we’ve got you covered. We’ve rounded up some of the best corporate gifting ideas.

THE PA DIARIES - LUCY

This month we talk to Lucy, who is a PA working in the property sector. We asked Lucy some questions to find out what she enjoys the most about her role and how she got to where she is today.

The Ultimate List of Office & Co-Working Spaces

Deciding where to work from is really important, as studies show the average person spends one third of their life at work. Luckily, there are some great workspace providers.

The Ultimate List of PA Tools

PA tools can save departments a lot of time and money, enabling personal assistants to work in a more streamlined and efficient way. Compare PA tools on our ultimate list of innovative PA tool software companies in order to find the perfect tool for you.

The Ultimate List of PA & VA Resources

Personal Assistants can help you manage your diary, organize meetings or appointments, book transportation, travel, and accommodation.

The Ultimate List of Concierge Services

Personal concierge services help individuals to gain back time in their busy lives by taking control of numerous tasks.

The Ultimate List Of EAs, PAs, VAs & Secretary Courses

Use our ultimate list of PA and VA courses in order to compare and review training courses designed for both junior and established secretaries.

The PA Diaries - Victoria

This month we speak with Victoria who is a senior EA at a large energy company. We asked Victoria some questions to find out what she enjoys the most about her role and how she got to where she is today.

The Ultimate List of HR Tools

HR tools can save departments a lot of time and money, enabling HR teams to work in a more streamlined and efficient way.

How To Become A Personal Assistant in a Competitive Climate

A personal assistant (PA) is someone who assists a specific person in an organisation with their daily tasks, acting as their first point of call.

The Ultimate List of Recruitment Tools

Recruitment software tools can save HR departments a lot of time and money, enabling recruitment teams to work in a more streamlined and efficient way.

How to Become a Virtual Assistant and Thrive in the Role

If you’re one of the growing number of office support professionals looking to forge a career as a virtual assistant, this guide is for you.

The advantages of co-working

At Oriel Partners we are based in a co-working space called Central Working, a fabulous, dog friendly space near Victoria station in London.

Choosing an Admin Recruitment Agency

Making sure your business is getting the best administration talent can be time consuming, expensive and frustrating.