Everyone knows that interviews are stressful enough. Now consider the added stress that remote interviews can cause – a poor internet connection, your roommate walking in on you mid-interview, or the dog barking non-stop messing with your train of thought. While some of these things are unavoidable and understandable, there are a few things you can do to prepare yourself for a better interview. Show
These practices can apply to most job interviews; however, we are going to apply them specifically to executive assistant job interviews for this blog. So, why not take the time to learn the best practices to nail your next interview, executive assistant style or not.
4 steps to prepare for an Executive Assistant interviewAccording to Ben Laker, Will Godley, Selin Kudret, and Rita Trehan, Harvard Business Review contributors, there are 4 things that you can do to have a successful remote interview: 1 Organize a space for the interviewEnsuring that you have an organized, quiet space for your interview is essential. As an executive assistant, you will be responsible for helping the executive stay organized with day-to-day things. So, it’s crucial to present yourself as an organized individual.
2 Prepare for any situationLaker, Godley, Kudret, and Trehan also suggest mastering the video conferencing tool you’re using prior to the interview. This will ensure that you’re on time and limit technical difficulties that may occur. They also suggest doing a speed test to ensure that your connection is okay. If you experience connection issues, this will give you time to plan an alternative solution – such as moving spaces or enabling your data.
Show up prepared.Be prepared for your interview and have notes, questions, and answers all in one place in Fellow streams. 3 Practice before the interviewPractice makes perfect! Now don’t roll your eyes because, in all seriousness, this corny saying is true. According to the same Harvard Business Review article,
Thus, practicing a mock interview with a friend will help you show up confident and ready. Or, if you are unable to practice with another person, try recording yourself on your computer camera and watching it back to evaluate how you can improve. 4 Spark conversation (& avoid preparing a monologue)Laker, Godley, Kudret, and Trehan also suggest keeping the conversation flowing by avoiding monologues and sounding robot-like.
50 Executive Assistant interview questions
1 General questionsRather than starting off with challenging, thought-provoking questions, break the ice and make both parties feel less nervous with general questions. General questions also allow interviewees to get a feel for the type of questions they will answer. Here are 10 general sample questions:
2 Questions about soft skillsSoft skills are the skills relating to your personality and work ethic. These skills are vital because they give the interviewer an idea of the kind of person and worker you are. Here are 10 sample questions about soft skills:
3 Questions about hard skillsAs an executive assistant, there are specific hard skills that you will be required to know. These skills relate to more technical abilities such as software skills and administrative skills. Here are 10 sample questions about hard skills:
4 Questions about experienceDifferent jobs require different experiences. While understanding an employee’s experience is essential, it is also important to remember everyone starts somewhere. Thus, you should decide whether skills or experience are more valuable for your desired candidate. Here are 10 sample questions about an employees experience:
5 Behavioural questionsHow an employee behaves at the workplace is very important. To foster a healthy work environment, you want an employee that aligns with your company’s values. Here are 10 sample questions about an employees behaviour:
5 Executive Assistant sample responsesGeneral:According to John Lees, Career Strategist, interviewees should approach general questions like an audition,
Thus, when you are asked to tell the interviewer about yourself, use this opportunity to make an excellent first impression rather than reiterating the stuff on your resume and LinkedIn page. This will give the interviewer an idea of the type of person you are off-paper. For example, when asked, “Tell me about yourself”, say something like: “As somebody with X years of experience as an executive assistant [or another job that helped you learn the skills to become an executive assistant], I understand the values of [list a few skills that you believe are valuable]. My [list skills – for example, determination] results from [an example/experience that made you learn determination, for example].” Soft skills:Soft skills are skills that likely already appear on your resume. Thus, it’s your job to expand on the simple one-word answer that the interviewer can read off a piece of paper and showcase these skills. For example, when asked, “In group projects, are you more of a leader or a follower?”, say something like: “In a group setting, I can be both a leader and a follower. Depending on the situation, I decide which role benefits the company and me most and then take it upon myself to excel in this role. [Then provide an example from a time when you were a leader and another time when you were a follower, and how it helped].” Hard skills:Like soft skills, hard skills will also likely be on your resume. However, these skills are fundamental because they are the skills that allow you to do the job of an executive assistant and stand out among other applicants. For example, when asked, “How proficient are you on the computer?”, say something like: “On a scale from 1-10, I would rate my computer proficiency a [rating from 1-10]. On the computer, I can [list computer skills] and use [list softwares]. I also have X years of experience using this software. Additionally, I am a fast learner and pick up on new computer skills and software quickly.” Experience:Talking about your experiences requires expanding upon what is already on your resume. Your resume will likely list any important experiences that you want the employer to know about, so use this opportunity to expand on what you have learned from these experiences. For example, when asked, “What past experiences have given you the skills to be an executive assistant?”, say something like: “As a [job title that gave you the skills to be an executive assistant], I learned [list specific skills] that will help/helped me become an executive assistant. These skills helped/will help me because [explain why].” Behavioural skills:Behaviour skills are not typically on your resume, so questions about these skills are essential. This is your opportunity to showcase the type of personality you have and how you would react in different situations. For example, when asked, “How would you handle an unhappy customer/client?”, say something like: “If a customer/client were unhappy, I would do everything in my power to remedy the situation. This may be [provide examples of what you would do to resolve the situation]. For example, [provide an example of a time when you resolved an issue at work promptly and effectively].” Parting adviceRemember that it is completely normal to have pre-interview jitters and butterflies in your stomach. If you practice these questions and rehearse your responses, you will be prepared! Pro-tip, try recording yourself and watching it back to see how you sound from another perspective. Practice answering the above 50 questions while keeping in mind our advice, and you will do great. Good luck! What are good questions to ask a CEO in an interview?Best Questions To Ask a CEO in an Interview. Introduction. ... . What's the first change you'd make in this company and why? ... . The company's supply chain has been disrupted – what would you do during the first week? ... . What do you think is our customer's biggest problem and how would you tackle it?. What does a CEO look for in an executive assistant?As a result, strong attention-to-detail, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and a high level of discretion are all integral to helping the executive achieve their goals and make a strong impression on key contacts.
What questions should an EA ask in an interview?6 Executive Assistant Interview Questions to Ask the Employer. 6 executive assistant interview questions to ask. ... . What qualities would a person in this position need to be successful? ... . What is the biggest challenge you are facing? ... . Do you offer any career development opportunities?. What are the top 3 skills of an executive assistant?The top three skills of an executive assistant are adaptability, people skills, and organization.
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