Hi! What are some of the most unique questions you've been asked during an interview? What are some of the most common? Can you list one or two of each (unique and common)?
I'm curious to know what kinds of questions my fellow exec and admin assistants are being asked when interviewing for positions. Thank you!
Submitted by: Anonymous
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If you could be any animal, what would you be?
Why are manhole covers round?
What would you have liked me to ask you that I did not?
What are you glad I did not ask you about?
What do you think a CEO does?
As an EA, how will you add value?
Harvard Business Review (hbr.org) has an article, "The Case for Executive Assistants," by Melba J. Duncan. It shows how to calculate return-on-investment for an EA. Wish I had cited the article as it is difficult to quantify how you'll add value.
The example was about an Executive who makes $1 Million annually who works with an assistant who makes $80,000. To break even, the assistant would need to make the individual 8% more effective, or save the executive about 5 hours in a 60 hour week. Great way to look at it and it would be easy to use a % in an interview.
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Anonymous on
1/9/2013 7:49:43 PM
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My current employer asked "If I had an extremely important meeting at 8:00 a.m. that had taken months to organize that involved people attending from overseas, some by video conference, others in person and it so happened that you finally got the appointment at Johns Hopkins Hospital that you had been waiting for months to get and it was also scheduled for 8:00 a.m. that day, which appointment would you keep?
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Heather Campbell on
8/8/2012 9:18:48 AM
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I have been asked many questions in promotional interviews over the years. A few that stick out in my mind are:
1) Describe one of your most challenging assignments and why was it so challenging?
2) What is the most stressful job you have had and how did you relieve the stress of this work?
3) What was your most accomplished work assignment and why?
I hope these questions help you find whatever it is you are searching. Good luck!
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Deborah Garitson on
8/2/2012 12:28:30 PM
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Tell me about two suggestions you made to your supervisor in the past year. How did you come up with the ideas? How did you feel about the way things went?
If I were your manager what qualities should I possess to be a successful manager in your eyes? How would I get the best out of you? How would you get the best out of me?
What type(s) of rewards make you feel adequately recognized for your contributions?
In your life --What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of? What did it teach you? In life - what is one of your greatest disappointments? What id it teach you?
On a scale of 0 to 10 (10 excellent) - how would you rate your writing skills? Phone skills? Team player? Your ability to adapt and learn new skills? and give examples why you rated your self as you did.
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Shari Smith Walters on
8/2/2012 12:23:10 PM
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The questions posed to me during my last interview process dealt mainly with my work style, i.e., how I keep organized. A somewhat unique question was, "How do you think the company is organized?" Luckily I had gone online and previewed a org chart (onlyl memorized titles not names) and knocked that one out of the ball park.
Also, when I was online, I memorized key words they used for when they spoke of their goals and desires and incorporated those words and phrases into my language for the interview. This put me on the same thought level as they were already at.
Needless to say, I was offered the job and accepted.
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Susan Stebbing on
8/2/2012 12:19:06 PM
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