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The Top Qualities of Top Assistants
What to Look for When Hiring an Assistant
Your business has grown by leaps and bounds, and to continue on that upward spiral, you realize
the need for a personal assistant. Or, the one you've depended upon for so many years just gave
notice, forcing you to replace the seemingly irreplaceable. Keep in mind that your new hire will
become as vital as your right arm – if you choose wisely. There are several key qualities to look
for during the interview process.
Professional recruiters at Hudson Global Resources & Human Capital Solutions, a worldwide
office staffing service, surveyed several hundred of their clients in April 2004, from small
companies to mid-size and large corporations. They sought to identify those traits which
employers deemed most important.
Nearly 50% of the respondents noted that the role of the personal assistant has changed
drastically in the past five years, especially regarding the level of responsibility.
First and foremost, the personal assistant is now viewed as a "key member of the team" whose
input has merit. Some of those employee's suggestions can make a boss shine if taken seriously,
or at least serve as a springboard for brainstorming sessions. Thus today's informed employers
realize that skilled, intelligent personal assistants add value to the business.
Personality and cultural fit: Believe it or not, employers weighted these characteristics as highly
important aspects that they look for in new hires. They want someone with a positive attitude that
helps build morale in the workplace, not quite a cheerleader, but someone who spreads
enthusiasm rather than doom and gloom. And, they want someone suited to the work
environment who can effectively take on a leadership role.
Experience: Ideally, candidates hired to support executives and senior management should
possess a minimum of six to 10 years of related work experience in order to take charge of their
new position with a running start. Of course, there are always exceptions. Aptitude and attitude
both count. Though there is a need for business sense and some experience, remember that
technical skills can be learned by eager and willing employees. So, never by-pass a superior
prospect who doesn't know some computer program such as Microsoft PowerPoint that is easy to
learn. Carefully evaluate all the individual's qualifications.
Urgency – The rule of now or never: Does the prospective hire understand the phrase, "I need
it yesterday" and can he or she deliver? Deadlines must be met. Missed deadlines can result in
lost business.
Initiative: A true asset to any boss is the employee who can assess a situation, think on his or
her feet and require little to no guidance when following through on a project. Executives and
managers who can rely on their assistants to handle all the finite details are free to go out and
grow their business with the reassurance that they left the office in capable hands.
Don’t delay your search for top talent. The hiring process can be a gamble, a toss of the dice.
Stack the odds in your favor by identifying the employee traits that best suit your needs. Like the
Kenny Rogers tune, "The Gambler" says, you've got to "know when to hold and know when to
fold." In conducting your search for a top assistant, heed that advice.
Stay tuned for more Business Boosters coming your way!