Telecommunications – Executive Assistant

Position Name: Executive Assistant

Interviewer

Candidate Name

Interview Date

Introductory Questions

– Interviewer(s) share name, role, tenure, and hand business cards for thank you messages
– Share a brief overview of the company
– Give Candidate the Job Description, highlight Job Purpose, Schedule/Travel, Major Challenges & Key Decisions, and Physical Requirements

Tell us about yourself.

What do you know about our organization?

Transitional & Verification Questions

– Clarify any unclear information from resume or application
– Verify availability for work hours and schedule, start date, and other important details

Are you able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation?

Will you now or at any point in the future require via sponsorship to work for us?

Technical Questions

– Ask job related questions, based on skills and competencies needed for the role
– Ask open ended questions that allow candidates to tell a story about a specific example
– Ask 5-10 questions based on the role and how much time you have (~3-4 minutes per question)
– Listen for recent examples, details, consistency, the candidate’s role in the story, and teamwork
– Take notes and ask clarifying questions as follow-ups

How would you describe your proficiency level in [Excel as an example]?

Behavioral / Situational Questions

– Ask job related questions, based on skills and competencies needed for the role
– Ask open ended questions that allow candidates to tell a story about a specific example
– Ask 5-10 questions based on the role and how much time you have (~3-4 minutes per question)
– Listen for recent examples, details, consistency, the candidate’s role in the story, and teamwork
– Take notes and ask clarifying questions as follow-ups. Follow up questions may include:
- Tell us more about the action you took and the outcome.
- What did you say at that point?
- How did you react to that situation?
- Explain your role in more detail.
- Tell me in detail what steps you took.
- And what was the result?
- Describe the obstacles you faced in getting it done.
- What other options did you consider?
- Why do you think you reacted as you did?
- How do you think others felt about your actions at the time?
- Were you satisfied with the outcome of your actions?
- If the same or a similar situation presented itself, what would you do differently?

Describe a time when you anticipated potential problems and developed preventive measures.

Situation:

Action:

Response:

Describe a time when you overcame a major obstacle.

Situation:

Action:

Response:

Describe a situation in which you had to get started on something but didn’t know what to do.

Situation:

Action:

Response:

Describe a situation in which you had to get started on something but didn’t know what to do.

Situation:

Action:

Response:

Analytical/Detail Orientation

There are times when we inadvertently let details “slip through the cracks.” Tell me about a time when this happened to you. What was the cause? What were the results?

Situation:

Action:

Response:

Give me an example of a workflow or procedure improvement you made. Who else was involved and how did you implement it?

Situation:

Action:

Response:

Customer Focused

Describe for me a recent time when a customer request could not be satisfied. What was the situation and how did you handle it?

Situation:

Action:

Response:

Emotional Intelligence

How do you determine what information and when it is time to update upper management?

Situation:

Action:

Response:

Describe a situation when it was more difficult for you to maintain self-control.

Situation:

Action:

Response:

Planning & Organization

Describe a time when you were facing a challenging circumstance, personally or professionally. How did it affect your work? What did you do to balance the situation and stay on top of your workload?

Situation:

Action:

Response:

How do you assure that you do not get so caught up in “task” that you lose the big picture?

Situation:

Action:

Response:

Describe what your desk looks like. What is on it? Where are the current items to be addressed?

Situation:

Action:

Response:

Candidate’s Questions

– Be sure to leave time for their questions, generally 1-3
– Paint a positive but honest view of the pros and cons of the work and culture

Notes

Closing Questions

– Describe where you are in the process, next steps, and when they can expect to hear back
– Ask if they have any final remarks

What is one thing I should know about you that I haven’t asked?

Interviewer Assesment

Enter your overall assessment about the candidate’s knowledge, skills, abilities, and fit for this position.

Would you recommend this candidate advance in the process?