In 2025, many businesses still underestimate the strategic value of hiring the right business support professionals. These individuals play a critical role in streamlining operations, maintaining company culture and supporting senior leadership, yet recruitment for these roles is often treated as an afterthought. The result is a hiring process that defaults to convenience over specialism, leading to short-term fixes rather than long-term value.
It is important to recognise that there is absolutely a place for both generalist and specialist recruitment agencies. Generalist recruiters can provide value across a wide range of industries and functions, especially for high-volume or entry-level roles. However, when it comes to hiring Executive Assistants, Personal Assistants, Office Managers or Chiefs of Staff, a specialist approach is often more effective. In the current market, recruiters must do more than simply label themselves as specialists. The proof is in the results.
At Lily Shippen, we do not just talk about being experts in business support recruitment. We actively demonstrate it. One of the ways we do this is through our free EA and PA mentoring programme, which has supported over 200 professionals since it launched in 2024. This programme reflects the investment we make back into the profession, the community we are building and the long-term approach we take to supporting both our clients and candidates. We are not here solely to help you fill a vacancy or find a role. We are here to elevate the profession and provide real value across every stage of the journey.
The difference between a generalist and a specialist becomes most obvious in the detail. I remember speaking to a recruiter in my network who, when asked how they were finding CVs for an Executive Assistant role, simply replied, “I’ve got CVs that can do diary management.” While diary management remains an important part of many EA and PA roles, the remark was telling. It revealed a lack of understanding about what truly makes a successful placement in this space.
Hiring the right business support professional requires much more than matching a CV to a job description. It involves aligning the right personality, pace, communication style and commercial understanding with the needs of the individual leader and wider team. These professionals are often the right hand to senior leadership and play a central role in influencing workflow, driving culture and enabling strategic progress.
There are clear ways to identify whether you are working with the right recruiter. Start by asking questions. A specialist should be able to provide a clear view on salary benchmarking, market expectations and what top candidates are looking for. They should also be able to articulate how they source talent and what makes a great hire in this space. These are the basics. If a recruiter cannot provide these insights, it is a sign they may not have the depth of knowledge required.
One of the biggest challenges we continue to see is how value is assessed. Too often, recruitment decisions are made based solely on price. While it is natural to consider cost, choosing a recruitment partner purely on the basis of fee can lead to poor hires, quick turnover and ultimately, a much higher cost to the business in the long term. A strong EA or Chief of Staff has the potential to transform how a leadership team operates, adding immediate and lasting value to the business. This type of hire is an investment, not a transaction.
As demand for top-tier business support professionals continues to grow, those businesses that approach these hires with intention and insight will see stronger outcomes. The recruitment market in 2025 is clear. When hiring for critical support roles, expertise matters. The most successful companies are those that work with recruitment partners who truly understand the space and are able to deliver long-term results.
If you are reviewing your hiring strategy for Executive Assistants, Personal Assistants, Office Managers or Chiefs of Staff, and want advice tailored to your business, our team would be delighted to help. At Lily Shippen, we provide a consultative, specialist approach to recruitment and are proud to be raising the standard within the business support space.
