10 Steps to a FabJob as a Celebrity Personal Assistant
By John C. Havens
Free Sample: Working with a Celebrity
As a celebrity personal assistant (CPA), you can earn up to $100,000 per year, and enjoy an incredible lifestyle that most people can only dream about. In return for screening fan mail, answering phones, and planning parties, celebrity personal assistants are allowed to enter an exclusive world and live like a star.
After all, celebrities need to buy groceries and schedule doctor's appointments just like everyone else, but unlike everyone else they also have movie shoots, important meetings, and volumes of phone calls to make. The personal assistant makes sure that everything gets done, allowing the celebrity to enjoy a semi-private life. A good "CPA" functions as coordinator, accountant, and just about anything else that a famous person might require. They offer organization and peace of mind to those who need it the most.
CPA perks often include tickets to sold out concerts, first-class air travel, expensive gifts, and great gossip about what other celebrities are really like. Does this sound like a great day at work to you? If so, here are 10 steps to breaking into this growing field of employment, based on the FabJob Guide to Become a Celebrity Personal Assistant.
1. Choose a Type of Celebrity
Actors and rock stars are not the only ones who need personal assistants. You could decide to assist professional athletes, politicians, directors, bestselling authors, wealthy families, motivational speakers, dot-com millionaires… basically anyone with enough money can hire someone to be a personal assistant. It's probably best to work for someone in a field you're interested in, because the more you know, the more you have to offer. Potential employers will find you more appealing as a new hire.
2. Develop Your Skills
CPAs need to know a little bit about everything, and know where to find out more. Celebrities
are currently looking for internet-savvy, technologically competent employees
who can show them how to transfer information from their palm pilot to
the computer, send an e-greeting to Mom, or keep track of their personal
finances.
Most celebrities are also interested in your typing skills, etiquette knowledge, and party
planning or gift buying ability. Above all, celebrities need to know that
you will not reveal their intimate secrets to the National Enquirer,
so make sure you get used to practicing the art of discretion as well.
3. Get Some Training
There is currently no formal long-term education program to become a personal assistant, but
you can develop many of the necessary skills in related programs, such
as computer courses, household management courses (for butlers and household
managers) and event planning courses offered by community colleges.
4. Get Some Experience
One great way to learn the skills of being a celebrity personal assistant is to be a
non-celebrity PA first. You may even discover that being a personal assistant
to a non-celebrity is more your speed if you really enjoy organizing but
don’t like the stress of the celebrity lifestyle.
5. Find a Job Opening
Networking is an important first step: let everyone know that you are a CPA who is looking
for work. Think about all of the people you know, family and friends alike.
In that vast network, is there anyone who is closer to a celebrity than
you are? You can also meet celebrities through volunteering, working as
a production assistant on a movie set, and job listings.
6. Contact a Celebrity
Although you may not speak with the celebrities themselves, you can usually get in touch
with their publicist, agent or even their current personal assistant. Even
if they aren't looking for an assistant immediately, they may have an opening
in the future or know someone who does. There are many books and websites
available that list addresses and contact information for celebrities.
7. Avoid Common Mistakes
It would be great if you could just strike up a conversation with someone like an agent and
get an immediate referral to a celebrity. However, most people who are
starting out don’t find it easy to say the right things off the top of
their head. This is when having a script can be a tremendous help. A script
is simply an outline of what you want to say. To sound like a professional
avoid disclosing too much personal information about yourself, sounding
too eager, or mentioning that you are hoping to launch your own showbiz
career. Instead, focus on what you have to offer the celebrity.
8. Join an Agency
Most CPAs agree that this is a great inroad into the industry. Once you’ve located one
(more than a dozen agencies are listed in the FabJob Guide to Become a Celebrity Personal Assistant), send a brief
email query asking who you should contact about becoming a CPA for one
of their clients. Sign up with as many agencies as possible.
9. Ace the Interview
According to Jonathan Holiff, former personal assistant to several celebrities, "Assuming you
have the skills and the temperament, it really comes down to a personality
match." You will more than likely have to go through a number of interviews
before you get to meet your celebrity. Don’t let it faze you; just be honest
and direct with everyone you meet. And when you meet your celebrity? Don't
gush. Concentrate on being professional and establishing an immediate rapport
with them.
10. Join Professional Organizations
There are professional organizations that assist celebrity personal assistants with their career
development. Once you start working as a CPA, you will be able to join
these organizations and they will become an invaluable source of support
and information.
John C. Havens is the author of the FabJob Guide to Become a Celebrity Personal Assistant. The complete guide offers detailed information about how you can break into this career and get hired as a celebrity personal assistant. Visit FabJob.com for information.
John C. Havens is an actor and writer living in New York City. As an actor, he most recently appeared as a featured performer opposite Rene Russo and
Denis Leary in The Thomas Crown Affair. Coming soon he’ll be featured in the film Prisonsong, produced by Robert De Niro. He has appeared
on television in Third Watch, Law & Order, Spin City, and Disney Channel, among others. He interviewed more than a dozen personal assistants
to celebrities, including several Academy Award winners, and shares his advice on how to get hired to work with a star in the FabJob Guide to Become a Celebrity Personal Assistant.
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