Lily Shippen Recruitment | Executive Assistant Interview Questions

These Executive Assistant interview questions have been written to assist clients with the hiring of temporary or permanent Executive Assistants.

Ideally, after conducting interviews, you should feel confident that you have gained an honest insight into the candidates, their personalities, their skill sets and whether they are the right fit for your company culture. To make sure that you finish the interview process with the right candidate for the job, we recommend that you take the below approach to interviews.

Implement a CV-based discussion

When you initially read through the Executive Assistant's CV, were there specific questions you wanted to ask? If so, could you make a list or annotate the CV to prompt you when interviewing? Executive Assistant interview questions can be anything, as such:

Whom were you supporting in this role?
How big was the company/team?
What was your biggest achievement within this role?
Why did you leave that role?
What transferable skills do you feel you gained during your most recent role?

Ask the Executive Assistant interview questions relating to cultural fit and personality

How would you describe your ideal way of working as an Executive Assistant?
How would your manager describe you?
Can you talk me through your favourite role to date and why?
What has been your least favourite role to date and why?
What are the most satisfying and most frustrating aspects of your present job?
What do you like to do in your spare time?

Ask interview questions relating to cultural fit and personality

Can you give me an example of a time when you have worked with a difficult individual and how you dealt with the situation?
How do you manage a demanding executive?
Can you give me an example of how you rectified a difficult situation?
Can you give me an example of when you have successfully juggled conflicting priorities and how you managed this?

We hope that these Executive Assistant (EA) interview questions are useful. Our team are always on hand to offer our clients as much support with interviews as they require. For more information, please do get in touch.

FAQs

What is an Executive Assistant?

Oxford Languages defines an "Executive Assistant" as “a person employed to assist a high-level manager or professional with correspondence, appointments and administrative tasks”. The role has often been misrepresented, as it has here, as a purely administrative or secretarial support function, covering tasks such as diary and expense management and the typing of correspondence. In reality, however, for those businesses that truly recognise the value of their Executive Assistants, the role is much more comprehensive. It is pivotal to the success of not only the executive team but the business as a whole.
How do you recruit an Executive Assistant?
How much does it cost to recruit an Executive Assistant?

Executive Assistant salaries can range depending on location, responsibilities and the level of experience that you are looking for. In London, EA salaries range from £45,000 - £60,000 for permanent roles, with contract rates of £22 - £30 per hour. Whereas, in Manchester, permanent EA roles typically attract salaries of circa £35,000 - £40,000 with temporary rates coming in at £17 - £20 per hour.