Prepare for a Personal Assistant interview

i just want to know what kind of question i am going to found if i have been selected to come ot an interview.

role and skills

As a Personal Assistant to the President/COO of a national tradw organiziation I can hoestly say there is no given "kind" of question you can expect when interviewing for such a position. Of course there are the standared questions that one will be askes during any interview: how would you consider your organizational skills, are you an effective communicatio...These types of questions are usually and often answered from/by your work experience. However and moreover, you should be prepared to answer questions that concern personal relationships and/or situations that may occur in every day life, again these are typicaly standard questions: when presented with a particualar situation how did you respond. The best and most honest reaponse I can offer you is be prepared for a myriad of questions. Often it is best to find general answers that can fit most situations and/or, from the cuff, be able to tailor a general response to fit the situation/scenario/question. Remember to always be diplomatic, honest, forthright and sincere. The afore mentioned will show through any blunder, incorrect response or shortcomming.

A good habit to form when acting as a Personal Assistant is to never second guess yourself. If you have made the wrong decision, and you will quickly learn if you have, often you will be find praise in responding quickly to any given situation - shortly after discovering you have made the wrong decision. In addition, these situations will only help and enforece the anticipation of your employers needs.

Feel free to contact me w/ any feedback or questions you might have.

Best Regards,
David

David in Troy, New York said:
Feel free to contact me w/ any feedback or questions you might have.

Best Regards,
David

Nice to meet you, David!

As an experienced administrative assistant who often works closely with C-level Executives in a large Healthcare company, I'd love to pursue a career as a Personal Assistant and hope to relocate to New York City. Have you any advice about getting my foot in the door?

Best regards,
Michelle

Hi David,

I'm going for an interview as a Personal Assistant and I want to know what kind of questions I could be asked at the interview and how to answer them.

I'll appreciate it if you could reply me asap. The interview is tomorrow 26th Nov. 2008.

Thanks and best regards.

Sheila

HI DAVID IM GOING TO AN INTERVIEW FOR PA ON THURSDAY WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE QUESTIONS I CAN EXPECT IN THERE THE INTERVIEW IS AT KOMATILAND IN BELFAST

I would like to thank you so much for registering yourself on the web as an experienced and qualified administration assistant.I hope you will take many people up the ladder who are interested in this position to be personal assistants in future like me.I am only a receptionist and also would like to be a PA in near future as I am already in the same field. I hope you can also help me with this interview tips,questions and answers.

Hi David,
I am interested in making a career change from being in the cosmetics industry for 10+ years in the areas of management, trainer/educator, makeupartist/esthetician to personal assistant. I am extremely organized, detail oriented, great attention to detail and I really like helping others keep things in order.
What advice can you give me regarding how to adjust my resume so that I may have a chance in being called.
Thanks, Yvonne

Yvonne,
The fist thing that comes to mind while reading your question: use a biography style resume instead of a chronological resume. A biography will amplify your skills over a standard resume and you can structure it to fit any industry.

Secondly, the scope of a Personal Assistant is very large and can be used in many industries. Narrow the scope of what type of PA you would like to be by matching your skills w/ professionals in what ever industry you would like to work. This way you are working from former experiences instead of working toward experiences. My Personal Assistant skills stem from over 15 years experience in office and business management..

There are many different Personal Assistants around. Some are nanny’s being called PA’s as they help the “House Wife” take care of personal belongings: children, laundry and pets. Some PA’s pick up the dry cleaning, deliver paper work and pick out gifts. The sort of PA you imply interest in is a Professional Personal Assistant.

Congratulations, you have picked the more difficult of the PA roles. And with that, the most rewarding as you will find yourself working autonomously for an individual or company rather then doing someone else’s work for them A Personal Assistant is hired because they have the brains, experience, tenacity, know how, and verve to accomplish the task at hand w/ out being directed or managed.

In addition to restructuring your resume, start making a list of all the contacts you have within an industry you are familiar like cosmetics. The cosmetics industry is huge. Start randomly by jotting down names contacts and their position at the company they work for/at. Next, make a list of what parts of the cosmetic industry interest you most. Third, make a list of your skills, as they come to mind. Lastly, take each randomly noted list and place them into some order.

continued

Perhaps order of interest or order of skills you posses, or by order of what you know least about the industry. Where you start is your decision. I would do two things: 1) Choose the road you least know and would like to learn more about. 2) Choose the road you know the most about and would like to share w/ others. Either way, you are bound to find a starting point for contacting companies

continued
When you have completed those lists, make some more. Make a list of people who you admire, who are successful in their chosen fields, or who you would choose for someone in your family to aspire to, and make contact. Discover how you can reach these people and pose a letter w/ the same question you have asked me and/or ask the person how it is they arrived to their current position. Do not be deterred if you receive no response as those people are likely to have a Personal Assistant to handle such matters. However, do not despair if you receive no feedback. Make another list of people in your community who you believe to be leaders. People who are effective in their chosen field and have impressed you or those close to you and reach out to them. Once you have a bite and someone shows interest in your determination to succeed and make them your mentor

Yvonne, I am glad, sincerely, that you have asked me this question; it is the first that is not “I’m going to be a PA – where do I buy baby diapers”.

Here are some helpful tips to remember.

Never be afraid to do something for free!!! Do you know a friend opening a new business or has a project that you can lend skills to? If so, do so!! Look for small community based organizations or business groups in your area and become involved. If there is no such group, create one. The point here is to get any experience you can, however you can.

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You referenced management experience. No matter the industry of the management, across the board, management is management. I was hit with a brick wall constantly after four years of retail management when entering the “business” side of the professional world. When applying for jobs I would often get, “Well, you have no experience in managing a ….” Or, “David, your degree is Medical Administration and you have four years of retail management, what make you think you can manage a Pest Control business”. My response was always the same, “I’m sorry, management is management. It does not matter if one is the manager of a shoe store or the manger of an office. Budgets are still set and expected to be met. Payroll is processed the same for four people or forty people. Customer service skills apply to all industry across the board and I think my experiences and skills, although acquired in a different industry then yours, are no different then the qualifications necessary to fit the bill”. Verbatim; no, but you get the point. ALL SKILLS ARE USEFUL IN ALL INDUSTRIES.

continued
Again, it is my opinion you should stay in the field of cosmetics if that is where the majority of your experiences are. The president of May Kay has a PA of one fashion or another. The same goes for the corporate officers of Estee Lauder and Mac Cosmetics.

On the same note, the skills you acquired in the cosmetic industry can cross over to any area of fashion. Everyone from the editor of …to the model in the advertisement has a PA of one kind or another. And as you have noted your gift to be organized and enjoy helping others keep things in order; calendaring, scheduling, and I would suspect, event planning are right up your alley.

I wish you much luck and have enjoyed attempting to answer your question, as broad in scope as it was.

continued
I am launching a facebook professional page for young business people, no matter the industry. Although the page is still in the concept stages it might be of advantage to you. Please query a facebook search: David R. Twiss, Jr. read my bio on the information wall. The bio itself will be of help to you if you are interested in restructuring your resume. In addition to the bio, there are other PA’s that I have some contact with there which could be a resource to you. I also have been posting “no brainers” in form of suggestions or experiences for basic business functions/operations. Feel free to post feedback as it is encouraged and after reading my first comment “Day 1” you will understand the pages concept and hopefully participate.

If I have not answered your question thoroughly or have gotten off base feel free to contact me @ davidrtwissjr@yahoo.com

CONTINUED AND IMPORTANT
Once more thing, as if I have not been wordy enough, POST, POST, POST everywhere your intentions of being a PA. POST, POST, POST anywhere you can: your skills, experiences, and nuances of what makes you an effective PA – as you have personally assisted others in the natural order of life. POST, POST, POST, in community bulletins (that are free), classified ads or on web sites that you are looking to fill a position as a PA in whatever industry you decide.

Yvonne, please keep me posted to what events conspire in your determination to succeed. Best regards and best of luck.

Regards, Michelle. Guess what, your foot is already in the door!! Having experience as an Administrative Assistant is the first key experience you will need and use as a PA.

The only advise I can give you is in relation to the mentality of those you will be a PA to in or around NYC. Unfortunately, but true, pretense is a big part of the game no matter the industry. Pretense is simply a realism of the NYC area. While opening an office in Albany, NY, the wallet being opened from our Manhattan office, I received a telephone call from the PA of the business owner asking why I had purchased a specific item from a specific store. "In consideration of budget" was the answer. I was told "I'm not sure how things are done in Albany but here in NY we have an image to ..." I'm sure you can figure out the rest of that conversation. I, in turn, went to the President and COO, to who I was the PA and Office Manager and explained to him that our humble means were not up to measure w/ the Manhattan office and we were to spend more money as "image is important to Mr...".

Of course that mindset is not the world over, least of all, not the final mid set of New Yorkers or even the City Dwellers but it does come into play more often then not.

If you are asking what steps you can take to begin the process of looking for a position as a PA then please read the other comments posted herein. Especially pay attention to what I conveyed to Ms. Yvonne. Feel free to contact me with specifics @ davidrtwissjr@yahoo.com or ck out my page on facebook: David R. Twiss, Jr and read bio on the info wall.

Michelle in Boston, Massachusetts said: Nice to meet you, David!

As an experienced administrative assistant who often works closely with C-level Executives in a large Healthcare company, I'd love to pursue a career as a Personal Assistant and hope to relocate to New York City. Have you any advice about getting my foot in the door?

Best regards,
Michelle

Regards, Michelle. Guess what, your foot is already in the door!! Having experience as an Administrative Assistant is the first key experience you will need and use as a PA.

The only advise I can give you is in relation to the mentality of those you will be a PA to in or around NYC. Unfortunately, but true, pretense is a big part of the game no matter the industry. Pretense is simply a realism of the NYC area. While opening an office in Albany, NY, the wallet being opened from our Manhattan office, I received a telephone call from the PA of the business owner asking why I had purchased a specific item from a specific store. "In consideration of budget" was the answer. I was told "I'm not sure how things are done in Albany but here in NY we have an image to ..." I'm sure you can figure out the rest of that conversation. I, in turn, went to the President and COO, to who I was the PA and Office Manager and explained to him that our humble means were not up to measure w/ the Manhattan office and we were to spend more money as "image is important to Mr...".

Of course that mindset is not the world over, least of all, not the final mid set of New Yorkers or even the City Dwellers but it does come into play more often then not.

If you are asking what steps you can take to begin the process of looking for a position as a PA then please read the other comments posted herein. Especially pay attention to what I conveyed to Ms. Yvonne. Feel free to contact me with specifics @ davidrtwissjr@yahoo.com or ck out my page on facebook: David R. Twiss, Jr and read bio on the info wall.

sheila in Ghana said: Hi David,

I'm going for an interview as a Personal Assistant and I want to know what kind of questions I could be asked at the interview and how to answer them.

I'll appreciate it if you could reply me asap. The interview is tomorrow 26th Nov. 2008.

Thanks and best regards.

Sheila

Shelia, I'm sorry for not having been able to ck my emails concerning Indeed. Please make me aware of what took place during your interview. As I was not able to be of assistance to you for the first part of the interviewing process, perhaps I can be of assistance to you for the next step or for the rest of your journey. davidrtwissjr@yahoo.com my professional bio can be found at facebook: David R. Twiss, Jr or search: business person.

To answer your question: It is impossible to determine w/ out much more information what kind of questions you will be asked. I can, and always do, advise that you answer each questions w/ thoughtful and considered words. Always speak honestly and if you have no answer to cannot find an answer to any question, ALWAYS ask the relevancy of the question. Preempt your questions w/ a simple statement like "I'm sorry I have no answer for you, perhaps I'm not understanding what you are asking, please explain the relevancy of the question". Not only does this cause the interviewer to take a step back, to consider what is being asked and how it is being asked but also it gives the interviewer the impression of intelligence.

Shelia, Not knowing an answer to a question or not knowing how to answer a question is not as important as what one can do with the question. And remember, if it is a technical question or a question related to something in your education a good reply is "that information is in referenced materials I use...". Answering a question w/ the "I don't know but I know how to find the answer quickly" lets the interviewer know that you can handle reference materials, which are key to any industry.

mabitarom@yahoo.com in Tarawa, Kiribati said: Well, screening for PA post have been done, I've been selected to join the screening test. Please would you help me what kind of test/questions I can expect during that test.

Expect your reply please,

Meere

Meree, good luck on the screening test. You can expect all of the following or none at all, I'll explain why later:

drug screening, background check, bonding or if bendable, securtiy clearance by local authority and as high as the FBI, general Q & A's, moral questions, industry information, specific company information, standardized testing, typing, scheduling, filing (alpha & numeric), 10-key, etc. or you can be asked none of the above.

The "I'll explain later"; there is no way to judge what questions can be asked. That question should have been made to the human resources department or to those who made you aware of being included in the next process. Or, better yet, discover what the process will be on your own. As a PA you will be expected to handle "discovery" and if you are unable to discover what you need to, how are you going to be able to handle "discovery" for someone else. It is not my intent to be harsh; I'm simply being honest.

Let me know what has occurred, what the corporation/business is, what department you will be PA to/for = any detailed information will help. davidrtwissjr@yahoo.com, for best and timely responses. Best regards! See my professional profile/biography on facebook, search: David R. Twiss, Jr or search: business person - this is in conceptual stages and is intended to be a "go-to-group" for professionals like me and you.

masefako jane ramoshai in Pretoria, South Africa said: i just want to know what kind of question i am going to found if i have been selected to come ot an interview.

role and skills

Please read the answers provided for other participants at Indeed.com. = www.indeed.com/forum/job/personal-assistant/Prepare-Personal-Assistant-interview

As there are no specific questions asked for any industry other then the obvious: your education, work experience...etc. I've been asked how it is I prepare my eggs...have I ever considered modeling...where I bought my shoes. And once I was asked if I shopped at Macy's. With that said, if you would like to share what the company is, what type of PA the positions is (are you walking the dog and picking up the dry cleaning or are you scheduling, calendaring, emailing, reviewing, receiving and directing information...)narrow the scope of your question by identifying the specifics of your scenario. Contact me @ davidrtwissjr@yahoo.com or see my professional page (conceptualized) on facebook: David R. Twiss, Jr. or search within facebook for: professional person. See my bio/profile on the "info" wall. Best regards and I hope we can reach a more positive tone when you provide more information.

LNHamukwaya in Walvis Bay, Namibia said: I would like to thank you so much for registering yourself on the web as an experienced and qualified administration assistant.I hope you will take many people up the ladder who are interested in this position to be personal assistants in future like me.I am only a receptionist and also would like to be a PA in near future as I am already in the same field. I hope you can also help me with this interview tips,questions and answers.

Please direct any questions to my professional page on facebook, David R. Twiss, Jr. or search within facebook: business person and find me. or email me @ davidrtwissjr@yahoo.com.

I would love to answer any specific questions on my professional page and I think the concept of the page will interest you.

I look forward to your questions.

Regards,
David