Finding the right executive assistant can be an uphill battle. If you’re a busy founder or executive, you certainly don’t have the time to vet, screen, and onboard your assistant; you’d need a knowledgable recruiter to take on those responsibilities.
That said, there are many EA staffing agencies out there with eligible candidates already in their network. These are the experts who know the right tricks and strategies to hire top-skilled executive personnel. Thus, we’ve compiled the expert-recommended strategies for executive assistant staffing in San Francisco in this study.
Here, we’ll show you exactly what recruiters look for in an EA, how they interview, and what to expect from the staffing process.
Essentials of Hiring Skilled Executive Assistants
An executive assistant is a personal assistant. But, the position is designed for senior managers and executives. It assists individuals, such as CEOs, founders, directors, and or any other Senior Executives to prioritize major strategic choices.
The EAs provide screening of those who would like to speak to the executive; otherwise, they ensure order. Executive assistants do a lot. Those are the professional men who control schedules, arrange trips, and work with personal data.
However, when executive assistant staffing in San Francisco, one must remember that the EAs must be able to manage many tasks on time and make sure meetings run smoothly. They also categorize emails properly.
When employers are seeking suitable employees to become executive assistants, they seek employees with the necessary skills. The employees who are most suited to the company’s culture are also vital. Moreover, there are some other skills of an executive assistant, which are as follows:
● Technical Skills
What made us switch to the fact that technology has changed the game of EAs now? Are you aware of those heaps of paper that used to clutter your working space? It is gone! Now, digital tools manage such issues as appointments and transportation.
They reduce EA’s work to be more like helpers for the giant authorities in helping them to make difficult choices. EAs must also know about technology. They must have grounding skills in different items, such as Excel and PowerPoint. However, these days, such applications as Slack, Calendly, and TravelPerk are inevitable.
Yes, EAs still type, take meeting notes, and file. However, there are newer apps that have made everything easier. At times, EAs have to be IT support because CEOs do not know how to deal with this new technology.
● Problem-Solving Ability
For EAs, staying calm when things get tough and thinking fast is super important. An executive assistant needs to be like a problem-solver, always ready with a backup plan and a cool head. If your assistant loses their cool when you do, you are in for a rough time.
Interviews are a great way to see who can keep their cool under pressure because interviews are stressful! It is the perfect chance to see how quickly someone can think of solutions to problems. Recruiters must pay attention to how fast they answer your questions. This will tell you a lot about how they will work with you.
● Time Management
An executive assistant job is all about time. Getting things done on time is super essential for success. Executive assistants have to do multiple tasks and can get behind if they do not utilize time. Therefore, the key is knowing what is most critical and how much time to spend on each task.
They need to know when to ask for help or give work to someone else. Good executive assistants can set boundaries and work efficiently. If they do not manage their time well, they might work too much or be late.
Good time-management skills can help them be more productive, meet deadlines, and have a better work-life balance. To avoid burnout, an executive assistant should focus on work during the day, take breaks, and only handle emergencies outside work hours.
Conclusion
An executive assistant will talk to almost everyone in your company. They will be like a representative of you. Therefore, it is so significant for them to be professional. An EA faces many situations that do not have easy answers.
They might think creatively and use everything they have to solve problems. Hence, before executive assistant staffing in San Francisco, recruiters must carefully analyze all the essential traits mentioned in the article.
