Written by Ellen Marie Hawkins, Relate Contributing Writer

Imagine going behind the scenes at film and video shoots…

Traveling to exotic locations and house sitting luxurious mansions…

Getting tickets to sold out concerts…

Sound wonderful? Now imagine getting paid almost $100,000 to do so. Think it’s too good to be true? If you’re interested in becoming a celebrity assistant, all these perks could be part of your everyday life.

The responsibilities of a celebrity assistant vary, but any girl interested in becoming one must be organized. Celebrity assistants not only take care of a household but they screen incoming calls and messages, run errands like grocery shopping, schedule appointments, coordinate transportation and travel arrangements. You must be able and willing to do those everyday tasks that the average person does for herself that the celebrity doesn’t have time to do. And that can mean any number of things, even the unexpected, so anyone interested in being a PA must be able to handle pressure and many tasks at once.

If all this sounds like something you might be interested in pursuing and you’re asking what you can do now to get a job as a celebrity assistant, develop essential computer skills such as typing and word processing. Consider working as a secretary and work your way up to assist top level management. An entry-level position can not only be a stepping stone, but going through these experiences will tell you whether or not you would even enjoy being an assistant to a celebrity, as many of the responsibilities are the same. Take etiquette classes, learn how to plan parties and volunteer to help friends and family with gift buying because those responsibilities are often passed on to assistants.

Also, choose the type of celebrity you would like to be an assistant for. If you have an interest in writing, consider working for someone in that field because the more you know, the better.

To find the job opening you are interested in, you must learn to network. Work for a public relations firm, a talent agency or a celebrity’s manager, lawyer, accountant or production company. A quick search on the Internet can help you find agencies and professional organizations that will help you find that job you want.

Most of all, a celebrity assistant must be discreet and someone a celebrity can trust because you will learn all about his or her daily life, including personal secrets. Do you think you could handle the pressure? Assistants really do get to see how the other half lives, but along with the opportunities and good times come a lot of responsibilities!!

Tags: careers, celebrity assistant, celebrity lifestyle, job market, working for a celebrity