On paper, working for A–listers reeks of glitz and glamour: think flying on private jets, unprecedented access to Hollywood elites and learning the exact makings of global icons.
Landing a job for a celebrity offers a door into a world that so few are ever able to enter – and six–figure salaries to boot.
But a luxury employment agency that matches some of the wealthiest people on the planet with personal assistants, private chefs, nannies and other staff has burst the fantasy bubble to reveal what such a career is really like.
And, spoiler alert, it’s more bleak than you might expect.
Powerhouse job coaches Rachel Zaslansky Sheer and Lori Zuker Briller, who co–founded The Grapevine Agency, have laid bare the brutal realities of such a job despite the enticing pull of a ‘better’ lifestyle.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, they also revealed the crucial attributes required to be able to survive in such an environment – and not everyone is cut out for the high–pressure gigs.
‘It’s not all fun and glamorous,’ Zaslansky Sheer said.
‘We always tell candidates the reality and everything that we know about the client and the schedule and really try to paint the picture of what it’s going to look like before they sign on to it.
While working for A–listers and high–net–worth individuals might include rides on private jets, this kind of service job isn’t for everyone (stock image)
‘The last thing you want is someone to get in there and them be surprised and think it’s [going to be] all great, and then they don’t have time off.’
Catering to the client’s every demand is usually what is expected, and The Grapevine Agency’s Zaslansky Sheer and Zuker Briller have heard the good, the bad and the ugly.
They recalled one horror story when a star made their assistant drive for an hour to simply carry their suitcase up one floor to their bedroom.
Another demanded their assistant end their family vacation early to come and break down some cardboard boxes for recycling.
But Zuker Briller stresses that it’s crucial that A–list staff know how to be of service, adding that ‘saying no’ to these clients, no matter how outrageous their request is, is considered a faux pas.
‘[A–list personal assistants] really need to know how to think on their feet [and be able to] bring something quickly,’ she said.
‘If [the client] doesn’t have a certain kind of drink or certain kind of food, behind the scenes [the personal assistant needs to be] shepherding somebody down to a grocery store and making it happen.
‘You’re not going to say no to these people, so an adaptable type of person that’s going to do well in this environment [is required].’
Lori Zuker Briller and Rachel Zaslansky Sheer are the co–founders of The Grapevine Agency, which matches some of the wealthiest people on the planet with personal assistants, private chefs, nannies and more
Emotional intelligence and being able to read a room are also crucial if you want a job for an A–lister, as staff ought to know when they should be seen and when to make themselves invisible.
‘You have to read your boss and know what’s appropriate and what’s not, because you can get annoying really fast if you’re up in everyone’s business and always wanting to be seen,’ Zaslansky Sheer said. ‘It’s a very delicate dance.’
Ultimately, to be cut out for working for the rich and famous, one needs to be adaptable, as well as easy–going and discreet.
In addition, the experts explained that A–list clients, whether they’re in TV, music or film, are typically seeking help from someone who is familiar with the environment.
Knowing how to fend off paparazzi, for example, is a big plus, as well as knowing how to work alongside a security team.
The client might want their employee to ‘protect and shield children’ from photographers, Zuker Briller said.
While catering to a client’s diva demands is certainly part of the job, there is a line.
Zaslansky Sheer revealed that The Grapevine Agency just severed ties with one star, who they would not name, for ‘reasons beyond their control.’
Zaslansky Sheer and Zuker Briller launched their practical guide book Straight from the Grapevine: How to Crush Your Job Search in March
‘We just found [them] to be unethical, and so it just wasn’t a place that we felt comfortable putting our candidates in,’ she said.
Another reason they might end a working relationship is because a client is turning over staff quickly.
‘How many people do you want to go through until you realize that there’s something internally that should be shifting?’ asked Zuker Briller.
At the time of writing, an executive personal assistant role to an ultra–high–net–worth family is being advertised by The Grapevine Agency with a starting salary of $100,000.
Meanwhile, a house manager role for a high–profile household based in Atlanta could provide upwards of $155,000.
