I wonder from a perspective of a professional services staff member :)

Think you need to be bit more specific. They might not know how to write a personal statement, or cover letter, or proposal, or CV, or they might not know where to find a PhD supervisor, or funding, or many other things.

A "professional services staff member" is likely to be someone working in the legal or accountancy professions?

N

To the original poster: Why do you ask? Are you thinking of starting up some form of business?

Professional services is what they called administration staff in universities these days, don't cha know!