Experienced executive assistants will be among the biggest winners when it comes to salary increases this year. They can expect an average rise in permanent salaries of 7.8 per cent, according to the recently released 2014 Robert Walters Global Salary Survey.
James Dalrymple, director of Robert Walters in Auckland, says that during the global financial crisis years several businesses were forced to make senior executive and personal assistant positions redundant, with mid-level EAs and PAs then expected to support multiple people. "We expect this will change in 2014 when senior EAs will be in demand again, as businesses come out of restructures and a period of cost control. This will drive salaries up."
Hiring is likely to increase across the board this year, but Dalrymple says that while many businesses will be looking to grow in 2014, they will continue to be mindful of managing their cost base. "Increased efficiency and productivity will be prevalent this year. Ensuring employees are motivated and appropriately skilled is essential to driving this. Many businesses have also been through restructures recently, and ensuring that those who have remained with the company are bedded down with as little disruption as possible is critical. Strong, decisive leadership and communication are also key to driving efficiency and productivity."
Dalrymple recommends employers react quickly to the highly competitive job market by implementing an efficient interview process and taking extra measures to ensure new joiners are a "cultural fit" to maximise the chance of their long-term employment. "This could mean," he says, "that team members meet candidates in an informal setting, put them at ease to allow them to show their real personality, and ask about their achievements and aspirations. Reference checking is also important to ascertain whether a candidate will be a good cultural fit."