- 1). Interview a large number of candidates. While conducting interview after interview is few people's idea of a good time, doing so is necessary to find the perfect assistant. Determining the quality of a candidate based upon a paper resume alone is next to impossible. To truly evaluate a candidate, you must meet face to face with him. As you sit through interview after interview, help yourself stay motivated to keep up the hunt by continually reminding yourself what a difference having a great assistant will ultimately make once you have found your winning candidate.
- 2). Seek a candidate with experience. Though inexperienced candidates could still prove great executive assistants, picking an individual who doesn't have experience to recommend her could be a risky proposition. If possible, choose someone who has proven herself competent in a previous position.
- 3). Ask the candidates to demonstrate a skill that will be necessary when serving as your assistant. Consider what you will ask the candidate to do most often, and ask him to show his skill in completing this task. For example, if you will often call upon your assistant to type, have him complete a short typing test or other assessment of his skills so you can see first hand whether he has the skill necessary to complete the task in question.
- 4). Check references. Many individuals request references from potential job candidates but fail to follow up on them. Instead of allowing this potential wealth of knowledge to go untapped, after whittling down your list of candidates to two or three, call each candidate's references to see what they have to say. This information could prove useful as you try to make your final choice.
- 5). Seek someone with whom you have a rapport. Some people you will just naturally connect with more than others. Because you will likely be working in close proximity to your administrative assistant, selecting someone with whom you naturally jive is a smart choice and may make the work environment a more enjoyable place to be.
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