However, Ireland has changed considerably over the years, and as more and more companies set up in Ireland (coupled with the growth of many indigenous firms), the role of the PA within these enterprises has evolved accordingly.

The job of the PA is generally associated with two contradictory images. The first is that it is an easy, fun and glamorous position which grants access to the luxurious lifestyle associated with celebrities and high-powered executives. The other perception is that PAs are merely unskilled 'gophers' who perform menial and degrading tasks. Both images are inaccurate.

The growth of the business environment in Ireland has generated the requirement for more responsibilities in many office related roles. In such an environment the responsibilities of the PA are changing too. Most companies offer secretarial PA positions to include basic assistant services like research, scheduling appointments and travel arrangements. However as the company profile grows, so do the duties of the PA. Top executives live busy lives and generally don't have the time to organise their day to day activities. Paperwork mounts and appointments build, and such busy schedules often require more than a secretary to maintain them. A high powered executive needs an organised, reliable and trustworthy PA to keep things in order, leading to a situation where some the most important decisions being made within the company are dependent on your organisational skills.

In fact, the PA of today in Ireland must possess not only good organisational skills but also tact, diplomacy, effective communication skills, have the ability to multi-task and have excellent judgment in order to be successful. It requires many personality traits too such as patience, being organised, methodical and friendly. Such skills and personality traits in effect describe many of the same which are required for other professional roles such as management, public relations, and high-level administrative assistance. Taking on the challenging and changing role of a PA today is excellent preparation for many further steps up the career ladder.

To be a PA you must embrace a life of uncertainty.

After all, you have become the keeper of another and so you are effectively on-call 24/7. No longer does a PA work the standard nine to five, even though it may say that on the job description. As a PA, you hold in your filofax the in-depth details of the professional, and perhaps personal, life of an important executive and so if he or she is suddenly called away on business, so are you.

The life of Ann Hathaway's character portrayed in 'The Devil Wears Prada' is not so fictional. Her character played the junior PA to Anna Winters and saw her own life quickly disappear as the ever persistent needs of Winters demanded to be attended to.

We can even see the changing role of the PA portrayed in the media today. Many reality shows have recently found their way to our television screens desperately seeking for the perfect PA to fix the life of a celebrity. These shows depict the down and out celebrity as desperate and in need of saving, a job that only a PA can do. This recent addition to the reality TV family only further reflects how much more crucial the role of the PA has become. Such shows portray the job as a high profiled highly desirable career.

With such a high pressured and time consuming job, there are, of course, benefits too. Many PAs gain the opportunity to travel, all expenses paid, and attend upscale business functions of a social nature. Not to mention the fact that it's a good way to prove your professional potential to your boss as he/she can witness your skills and abilities first hand.

Furthermore the business networking that you will attend with your boss will provide the opportunity to interact with high-level executives thus leaving the door open to promotions.

The role of the PA is dependent on not only the company but the industry too. When considering a career as a PA it is a good idea to look for a job within a company that interests you. It should be noted that certain employers prefer to recruit their PAs from within the company.

This is understandable, considering the level of access the PA will have to both the personal and professional life of the employer, and so hiring a person who is already known and trusted within the organisation is preferable to many employers. It is also imperative to get along with your boss as being the PA to someone you find it difficult to be around cannot work long term.

The role of the PA in Ireland has come a long way from knowing how many sugars your boss takes. Now it is a well respected, high powered career that comes with ample benefits and opportunities. The standards have changed too, many companies require candidates to have all the above mentioned skills and personality traits as well as the academic qualifications to match. However, once these high standards are met, you will find yourself with a promising and exciting career dealing in a variety of activities and departments to keep you stimulated and motivated.