Ways to Advertise for a Personal Assistant

Finding the right Personal Assistant (PA) can sometimes take time. There are lots of different ways to advertise for potential Personal Assistants, and what works well for one person or in one area may not work as well somewhere else.

You do not need to rely on just one method. It can be helpful to try a few different approaches at the same time – for example, advertising online while also asking around locally and sharing the opportunity through your own networks.

If one method does not bring applications straight away, that does not necessarily mean there is nobody suitable out there. Try widening where you are looking and think about how you can reach people who may have the right qualities but have never previously thought about working as a PA.

You do not have to do everything on your own. There are organisations across Scotland that support people who employ PAs. You can search for organisations in your area using the Find Help search tool.

Through your local Independent Support Organisation

Depending on where you live, your local organisation may be able to help you advertise your vacancy, share it through their networks or put you in touch with potential PAs.

Some local support organisations also advertise PA vacancies on their own websites. This can be useful because people visiting these websites may already know about PA work and be actively looking for a PA job.

My Job Scotland

My Job Scotland has a dedicated section for Personal Assistant vacancies from across Scotland.

PA vacancies can be posted on their website for free, although vacancies need to be posted on behalf of PA employers by an Independent Support Organisation that supports PA employers, so speak to your local support organisation if you would like to use this option.

Online recruitment websites

You can also advertise on general recruitment websites such as Indeed.

Unlike My Job Scotland, websites such as Indeed can be used by you or an organisation on your behalf. Depending on the site, there may be options to pay to promote your vacancy so that it is seen by more people. Some of those websites, however, may charge fees for posting job adverts on them.

Using a general recruitment website can help you reach people who are looking for a new job, but who may not previously have considered becoming a PA. These sites can be visited by a lot of potential applicants. However, the more people that visit a general job site, might mean that you are more likely to get irrelevant applications, compared to specifically targeting more specialist groups or websites.

Facebook and local community groups

Facebook can be particularly useful for finding PAs locally.

As well as sharing your vacancy through your own networks, look for Facebook groups covering your town, village or neighbourhood. Many areas have active community groups or groups specifically for local jobs. There are also Facebook groups dedicated to PA vacancies, including those run by Personal Assistant Network Scotland.

Sharing your vacancy in local groups can help you reach people who are not actively searching recruitment websites. They might see the opportunity themselves or share it with somebody they know.

You can also pay to advertise on Facebook and target an advert towards people in a particular geographical area.

Other social media platforms

Other social media platforms can be useful, particularly if you already have a good network of people following or connected with you.

LinkedIn may be worth trying if you have an established network there. It could be particularly useful if you are offering a small number of PA hours that somebody might be able to fit around another job.

Instagram or TikTok can also help you spread the word. They may be more useful for sharing an opportunity through your existing networks than as your main recruitment method.

Word of mouth

Word of mouth can be one of the most effective ways of finding potential PAs. You could speak to:

• friends and family
• your existing PAs, if you have any
• other PA employers
• neighbours and people in your community
• people you know through local groups, clubs or activities.

Ask whether they know somebody who might be interested in PA work.

This approach can be particularly useful when finding somebody with similar interests is important to you. For example, if you enjoy crafts, gardening, sport or going to concerts, think about the people and groups you already know through those interests. Somebody in those networks might make a great PA – even if they have never considered PA work before.

Posters

Although lots of recruitment now happens online, posters can still be useful when you are looking for somebody who lives nearby.

Think about places where people in your community are likely to see them. These could include:

• supermarkets and local shops
• post offices
• community centres
• places of worship
• GP practices
• schools and after-school clubs.

This approach may be particularly helpful if you are looking for somebody for a smaller number of hours each week. A local person might be interested in PA work that they can fit around another job, studying, family life or other commitments.

Remember to ask permission before putting a poster up.

Local recruitment and information events

Recruitment fairs and local information events can give you another way to meet people who are looking for work or interested in finding out more about becoming a PA.

Events can be particularly helpful in reaching people who have not heard of PA work before. Your local Independent Support Organisation, council, Health and Social Care Partnership, or Jobcentre may know about events taking place in your area.

Job Centre

Jobcentres support people who are looking for work and can help employers reach potential candidates.

Vacancies can be advertised through the UK Government’s Find a job service. Some Job Centres also organise local recruitment events, including events focused on social care support.

Your local Independent Support Organisation may already have links with the Job Centre and may be able to help you explore this option.

Local PA networks or PA banks

Sometimes it can help to think beyond recruitment websites.

If you are struggling to reach potential applicants, consider local groups and organisations whose members might be interested in the opportunity. Depending on who you are trying to reach, these might include community groups, Men’s Sheds, parent groups, faith groups, Deaf groups, LGBTQ+ groups or groups for autistic people.

The aim is not necessarily to find somebody who already works as a PA. People who have never worked in social care support before may still have the personal qualities, interests and values that would make them a good PA.

Local groups may be willing to share information about your vacancy through their own networks.