It’s episode 19 of Life in Private Staffing, and today we’re speaking to Desmond Cawley, Palace & Hotel Director. Desmond has been both a client of Silver Swan and a candidate. He’s had a fascinating career spanning multiple countries. He started working in ski resorts, moved on to hotels, and finally started working in the private sector. Currently, he’s living in Dubai and looking for his next position. Host Phillippa Smith and Desmond discuss everything from his personal experiences in the industry to what he looks for when recruiting staff. Listen to the full episode for wonderful insights and personal anecdotes.

Welcome to episode 18 of Life in Private Staffing. Today, our host Philippa Smith talks to long-time PA Tim Fitzgerald. Tim has spent more than two decades sharpening his skills as a Private Assistant. In this episode, Tim gives valuable advice on life as a PA. Tim recently started offering an incredibly popular PA masterclass where he helps PAs make the most of their careers, giving them his top tips and even supplying them with his black book of names. Listen to the full episode for Tim’s valuable insights.

In episode 17 of the Life in Private Staffing podcast, our host, Philippa Smith, talks to Jonny Ireson, a professional House Manager based in London. Jonny Ireson talks us through his professional experience as a professional House Manager. Jonny has worked for a number of different families, across different sizes of property and different styles of household, and one thing he enjoys is that no two days are the same. They also talk about the knock-on effect of lockdown and hiring freezes and what it has meant for households that have been running on skeleton staff and that the entire industry has been on hold. If you are interested in private staffing and would like to learn more about luxury lifestyle management, or if you need any advice on where to start, this episode is not one to miss.

In episode 16 of the Life in Private Staffing podcast, our host, Philippa Smith, speaks with Latricia Friend, a Luxury Lifestyle Manager based in New York. Latricia talks us through her professional experience, and how she offers her services to candidates within the private sector, with examples including a CV writing service for prospective private staffing employees. Having started her career in 2007, Latricia explains how she immediately began in a permanent position, working for one family for a number of years. From there, she learned key skills to succeed in her position and began to acquire the knowledge needed to make sure her employers were always satisfied with her work. Although Latricia admits the industry is demanding, she thrives in her role, telling us that working at a desk for eight hours a day really isn’t for her. If you are interested in private staffing and would like to learn more about luxury lifestyle management, or if you need any advice on where to start, this episode is not one to miss.

In episode 15 of Life in Private Staffing, we speak with Ioana Pirtac, a successful House Manager working in London. Our host Phillipa Smith, Founder and MD of Silver Swan Recruitment, virtually sits down with Ioana to discuss her impressive career and lets our listeners know exactly how she got there. From CV advice and interview tips, to insightful information about what she looks for in an employee, you won’t want to miss this episode if you’re looking to follow a career path in the private staffing sector. Learn about the steps Ioana has taken to get where she is today. For more information about what we can do for you, contact Silver Swan Recruitment.

In the 14th episode of Life in Private Staffing, we’re joined by Peter Van Ryder from Estate Management Solutions. For the past 10 years, Peter has been providing staffing solutions to HNW individuals in the Texas area, in addition to training the next generation of private service professionals. Alongside host Philippa Smith, Founder and MD of Silver Swan Recruitment, Peter shares his advice on mental health, education, networking, writing a CV, and making it in the private service industry. Listen to the full episode to hear Peter’s top tips and insights - a must-listen for employers and employees alike.

In the 13th episode of Life in Private Staffing, we welcome Rachel Stallard, an Estate and Property Manager with over 25 years of industry experience. Rachel’s impressive career has seen her travel the world, working with a number of private households and extensive staff teams. Alongside host Philippa Smith, Founder and MD of Silver Swan Recruitment, Rachel shares her advice on making the right connections, positioning applications and CVs for success, and presenting a great first impression. Listen to the full episode to hear Rachel’s top tips and insights - an essential installment for candidates and employers alike.

Episode 12 of Life in Private Staffing is a little bit different.   This time we’re not talking to someone working within the private sector themselves, but another recruitment agency within the space.  Elaine Braid from Poppy Lane Placements joins us to chat about all things recruitment in a post-pandemic world. We go over everything that she’s done to ensure her company adapts to the new normal as much as possible, from work-life balance to vaccinations.   Aside from pandemic conversations, we also speak about the topic of partnership. Elaine discusses her thoughts on teaming up with other agencies to find the answer you didn’t realise you needed: collaboration.   There’s no need to be afraid of working with other recruitment companies in the private staffing sector. After all, it’s always nice to have someone to call during a Saturday night panic!   To gain more insight on the recruitment side of the private staffing industry, listen to the full episode!

In the latest episode of Life in Private Staffing, we chatted to Cate Heaphy, the founder of The Online Assistants.  Once Kate finished studying, she decided to take a break and go island hopping. When she returned, the rest was history. Cate and her business partner, Kerry Robinson, founded The Online Assistants in 2017. Find out how she went from studying for a completely unrelated degree to entering the private sector and starting her own business and pursuing a career in the private sector – and while at it, making a massive success of her business! 

Sometimes the job we think we want isn't always the one we’re destined to do. That’s how it was for private tutor Jemma Zoe Smith. As a biochemistry graduate at Oxford, she dreamed of becoming a forensic scientist. But as Jemma’s degree rolled on, she realised it wasn’t the right job for her. CSI looked cool on TV, but in reality, a career in biochemistry was no longer where she saw herself. Listen to the latest episode of Life In Private Staffing, and learn how Jemma finally found her calling as a tutor, and how she took her skills and transformed them into a successful career in private staffing.