Versatile Executive Assistant Hiring Roles That Are Best For Beginners

So you want to get your foot into the vast world of administrative work? It can be tough to find the right position, especially as a beginner in the field. Executive assistant hiring can prove to be a challenging process for both the employer and the employee. 

There are a lot of things to take into consideration when screening candidates. It will ultimately lead to a close relationship between the person in charge and the hiree. Some roles will be better than others when getting started, and it largely depends on the relationships formed. Let’s take a look at what goes into creating the right synergy between an employer and their executive assistant.

Executive Assistant Hiring

Let’s start out by keeping things as clear as possible. It’s a lot to take in, after all. The end goal of this process is to find a good match between the new employee and the person they’ll be answering to. It should be noted that this isn’t necessarily the same as answering to a supervisor or manager. In those positions, there is some interaction in which the employee will be asking for their tasks for the day or intermittent advice. There is a reasonable amount of space in these positions. 

The role of an executive assistant, however, is a bit more personal. An executive assistant will maintain a close relationship with their superior. They carry out various tasks that play an intrinsic role in the daily life of the executive. Specific examples might include jobs like an Executive Administrative Assistant or a Project Coordinator. Here are a few of the roles that can be expected of various executive assistant positions should they get hired:

• Calendaring
• Scheduling
• Organizing
• IT troubleshooting
• Providing strategic counsel
• Managing perks
• Implementing processes
• Managing payroll
• Designing office layouts
• Onboarding/offboarding
• Handling communications
• Coordinating travel
• Planning events

This list might seem like a lot, but it all becomes second nature over time. The main thing to keep in mind is that this is all being done for one person: the executive. 

Questions to Ask When Hiring an Executive Assistant

It’s important for the hiring process to be thorough yet open-minded. Many applicants are going to be approaching this as their first position. This means taking a chance on someone with little experience. This also means giving somebody the chance to show how great that can be. 

When finding the right questions to ask when hiring an executive assistant, think of what roles take precedence throughout a given day. Perhaps meetings are the focal point of your position, so it would be good to inquire about their communication and scheduling skills. Maybe it’s an intensive digital filing job. Maybe it’s even intercepting a large amount of phone traffic so that the executive can focus on their larger tasks. On that line, it’s also great to ask about their people skills. This doesn’t exclusively refer to how nice someone can be. There is a lot of social etiquette and room reading that goes into managing a superior’s daily doings. The best method is to try to structure the various questions you’ll ask around your own personal needs.

A Solid Starting Point for Executive Assistant Positions

Executive assistant positions can range greatly, but all require a similar set of skills. Administrative training and experience can go a long way in securing that perfect, first executive assistant job. You’re going to want to find a great place to do some research and brush up on the finer details before jumping right in, whether you're hiring or looking to be hired. The American Society of Administrative Professionals welcomes all of those who seek to expand their network and find the right assistant, or for those looking to learn some basics to get started.