Don't Try to Hire a Swiss Army Knife on a Butter Knife Budget

So, I stumbled upon this job listing the other day; I'm not on the hunt, but I like to keep an eye out, and it also helps me understand what the industry looks like as I coach others. It looked interesting at first: a mix of executive assistant, personal assistant, and project manager all rolled into one. But then, bam! The pay they offered didn't match the laundry list of roles they wanted—a classic case of casting the net too wide.

We executive assistants are like Swiss Army knives—we can juggle a lot. But here's the thing: you have to define the role upfront. You can't expect a one-size-fits-all solution. Just like you wouldn't hire a CFO to handle your day-to-day bookkeeping, you shouldn't turn an executive assistant into a jack-of-all-trades without paying them what they're worth.

It's all about knowing what you need, hiring spot-on, and paying to match expectations. Trust me, you'll get way more bang for your buck. Don't just throw a bunch of titles in the air and see what sticks—be specific, hire smart, and watch your team thrive.