Executive Secretary

This is a question that makes most people go weak in the knees during an interview. Interviewers commonly employ this question for a number of reasons:

To see how well you think on your feet

To detect any negativism about yourself or former employers.

This is also a way for the interviewer to obtain your honest appraisal of your abilities. There is a very simple and easy way to handle this question: candidly and honestly. While you should not throw caution to the wind when you give your answer, your interview preparation session will have given you ample opportunity to develop a terrific response. No one is perfect; we all have strengths and weaknesses.

When I looked into how to become an executive assistant, I thought my skill set was a great fit for the position. If I had to pick my greatest strength, it would be my interpersonal skills. I am a true people person. It will be beneficial in this position because great customer service is essential. Initially, I started off as a secretary in my last position, but was promoted to executive assistant because my strength translated into the ability to win clients over.

I would assess the amount of work involved for each task and begin with the tasks that require the most effort. I have a quick turnaround time with my work so quickly approaching deadlines do not intimidate me. If necessary, I am open to staying late in the office in order to complete an urgent task.

Now is the time for you to brag a little! Tell the interviewer about situations in which you did well and events that relate to the position for which you are applying. In order to brag effectively, do the following during the interview: 1. State the problem 2. Explain how you handled it 3. Describe the results (i.e., cost savings, automation, increased sales, etc.)

We will cover behavioral interviewing in a future article, but the advice here follows the S.A.R. guideline that is taught to hiring managers and other interviewers so that they can understand how you behaved in certain situations.

When seeking a new role it is a good idea to further your training. If you are not already doing so enrol on some courses to help improve your typing skills or IT skills. You could also use books or the Internet to learn new skills. Explain what you are doing and why you have done it.

A crucial quality to have as an executive assistant is the ability to communicate effectively. Since my role requires communicating on behalf of the company via telephone, email and face to face interaction, it's important that information is relayed correctly and in a professional and timely manner. In addition to communication skills, organizational skills are just as important. It's vital that I stay on top of things and maintain order not only for myself, but the executives I work with as well.

Again, do your research and know what the company does. Also, you should go into the interview with a clear idea of the role of the manager you will be PA for.

Focus on three or four strengths that refer directly to the secretarial job requirements. Potential examples include organizing and planning, adaptability, information management, attention to detail, problem-solving, reliability, initiative , discretion, multi-tasking, prioritizing, good judgment and communication and interpersonal skills.

As an executive secretary, organization is the basis of my work. I make sure that I make lists and schedules for myself and I do not let myself waver from them. Using technology to self-remind about appointments and tasks also helps.

For a long time I really enjoyed working for my current employee and I have felt that I learnt a lot from the role and also from my manager. However, the job is limited and doesn’t provide me with much room to grow (you can expand this for whatever reason fits your circumstances). I feel that this position will give me the opportunity to expand my skill set and also move forward in my career.

For a PA, this is a hard one to answer. Really the best answer you can give is to say that your goal, for now, is to be able to provide the best assistance possible in your next role and that you do not currently have any career aspirations outside of PA because you really enjoy this work.

I’m very organised, I don’t get stressed out easily and can deal with most situations. I’m also very intuitive and can juggle lots of different tasks

Here you should just speak honestly about your experience. If you do not have much direct experience speak about any related work you have done, such as with voluntary groups or helping to organise events.