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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is not how it should work

76 replies

Believeinunicorns · 06/04/2023 19:46

My current PA is leaving so work are recruiting me a new one. But apparently I have no say in the process and no say in who my new PA is. In the past when I’ve had company’s recruit PA’s for me I’ve always had a say in the process. Aibu to think this is not how it should work and that I should get a say in who my new PA will be?

OP posts:
fellrunner85 · 06/04/2023 21:04

If I was a prospective candidate I'd run a mile from this one.

I'd suspect HR deliberately hadn't put the relevant director on the panel as they are a nightmare to work for and would put the most sought-after candidates off.

FawnFrenchieMum · 06/04/2023 21:04

lipikar · 06/04/2023 20:52

'Admin'
'Boss'

No thanks to working for you

Show quote history

Exactly what I was thinking!

blueshoes · 06/04/2023 21:07

Do other people (erm, careful not to say 'boss') in your position have a say in recruiting their PAs?

thecatsthecats · 06/04/2023 21:16

Is there any chance your current PA has discussed you negatively in their exit interview?

That might explain their resistance to your involvement.

Original poster
Believeinunicorns · 06/04/2023 21:24

I’ll speak to my employer again tomorrow and request again to be involved with the process.

OP posts:
GeneHuntsCowboyBoots · 06/04/2023 21:25

Could it be they already know who they want? Some form of nepotism from their side?

Equalitea · 06/04/2023 21:34

I find some places do, do this. They recruit someone that they want for the company. The PAs loyalty then tends to lie with them and not with the person who’s PA they are.

Original poster
Believeinunicorns · 06/04/2023 21:49

GeneHuntsCowboyBoots · 06/04/2023 21:25

Could it be they already know who they want? Some form of nepotism from their side?

I guess it could be but I genuinely don’t know why

OP posts:
blueshoes · 06/04/2023 21:53

Equalitea · 06/04/2023 21:34

I find some places do, do this. They recruit someone that they want for the company. The PAs loyalty then tends to lie with them and not with the person who’s PA they are.

I see this as well. In these places, the PAs report to the same line manager, who is not the 'boss'. Usually these PAs work for more than one 'boss' so it makes sense. Not sure in the OP's case because she is the only 'boss'.

Original poster
Believeinunicorns · 07/04/2023 08:26

I am going to try and book a meeting with the recruitment team to sit down and discuss it properly with them

OP posts:
User764337 · 07/04/2023 08:50

OP you come across as a bit spoilt and entitled. You are not the employer so you don’t choose the candidate, it’s that simple.

KatherineJaneway · 07/04/2023 11:19

User764337 · 07/04/2023 08:50

OP you come across as a bit spoilt and entitled. You are not the employer so you don’t choose the candidate, it’s that simple.

It isn't that simple. Myself and my colleagues had to put up with a stinker of a PA that was recruited by someone not connected to us. For such close day to day contact, it is smart for both candidate and manager to meet to see if they can work together.

KimberleyClark · 07/04/2023 11:35

That’s very strange. You know what you want and the sort of person you would gel with. Someone can be a brilliant PA but if there is a personality clash…….

diflasu · 07/04/2023 11:36

Different area but DH was once asked at a conference by a department head why people with his background weren't apply to his university department. DH told him they were - he had and many of his peers had and hadn't been asked to interview.

He got back in touch months late to thank DH - turns out HR had screen out some seriously good candidates based on their own criteria - and he'd fished a few out the bin approached them and finally filled the jobs he had.

If this PA is going to be working closely with the OP seems sensible that she have some input and it may be a red flag to those being interviewed if she not part of the process.

CementTrucker · 07/04/2023 11:40

User764337 · 07/04/2023 08:50

OP you come across as a bit spoilt and entitled. You are not the employer so you don’t choose the candidate, it’s that simple.

Who do you think the ‘employer’ is? Most probably an inanimate legal entity like a limited company, so interviews will be conducted by appropriate people acting on behalf of the employer.

You may mean that op isn’t the decision maker, and that sounds correct as she isn’t insisting it’s her decision, just that she should have some input. Which sounds right to me. Every interview I’ve attended and conducted has been by the line manager plus members of the team and/or others you’d be closely working with. HR are sometimes present too. Not all of those people will have the right to make the decision, but involving them is a good idea for everyone. It gives candidates more of an insight into who they’ll be working with and it means hiring managers have someone knowledgeable to discuss the candidates with.

I really don’t understand the comments that seem to think op shouldn’t be involved. Who would you expect to meet at interview?

Original poster
Believeinunicorns · 07/04/2023 15:00

I’ve sent an email again today asking for a meeting with recruitment and HR to discuss again involving me in the process. No reply yet though.

OP posts:
Tribollite · 07/04/2023 15:13

A PA dedicated to just one person is really rare these days. What country are you in OP?

blueshoes · 07/04/2023 15:58

Believeinunicorns · 07/04/2023 15:00

I’ve sent an email again today asking for a meeting with recruitment and HR to discuss again involving me in the process. No reply yet though.

Are you in the UK? Could be because it is Good Friday bank holiday today.

Original poster
Believeinunicorns · 07/04/2023 17:07

I’m in the UK. I didn’t expect them to reply today, was just stating that I hadn’t heard back yet

OP posts:
blueshoes · 07/04/2023 17:15

Ok, well that is the reason you have not heard back. I hope you don't expect people to reply back on a weekend or bank holiday.

All work emails I send out from today are timed to go out on Tuesday morning. No PA or HR or recruitment is going to be happy getting emails over a long weekend and even less happy about needing to reply. I am sure you know that.

GodSaveTheClean · 07/04/2023 17:22

If you are so thrown by this it doesn’t sound like you are very experienced in either management or recruitment. Consider it that HR are doing the ‘pre interviews’ for you if that helps your ego

RattlewhenIwalk · 07/04/2023 17:26

There are PAs and then there are PAs, so it really depends on what the working relationship is going to be. If the person is your PA in name but in reality a team resource then no.

W0tnow · 07/04/2023 17:33

lipikar · 06/04/2023 20:16

As a former EA, I can already tell I wouldn't like working for the OP

As a former HR manager, I can say I wouldn’t recruit an EA the involvement of their future boss. It’s a partnership of sorts and therefore advantageous to both parties to know who they’d be working for.

Original poster
Believeinunicorns · 11/04/2023 12:43

I’ve had a response from HR and recruitment, they are still saying that i can’t be involved.

OP posts:
KatherineJaneway · 11/04/2023 12:58

Believeinunicorns · 11/04/2023 12:43

I’ve had a response from HR and recruitment, they are still saying that i can’t be involved.

That's ridiculous. I wouldn't accept a job if I had not met the person I was working for in such a one to one role.

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