Wow! thanks for your advice Jadgriinz! I took your advice and copied all of the emails that I received from other members of management at my present position thanking me for my support, work, time, etc...(I KNEW they would come in handy some day!) I also had a copy of a letter of recommendation from my previous employer, and I'm also going to take a copy of my transcripts showing my current GPA. I'm going to also enclose a copy of my resume on some nice stationary, (I emailed my resume as an attachment) and bind this in a leather covered book that I'm going to pick up on my lunch hour.



Gee....since your mom is so experienced at working for CEO's in financial institutions, and if I get this job, I'd LOVE to pick her brain to find out what her formula of success is in working with CEO's all of these years!



Thanks again for your advice everyone! All the responses I've received so far have been outstanding! You guys will be the FIRST to know how the interview went today, and if I get the job!



Wish me luck!

I have been actively pursuing Executive Assistant positions, and I have finally landed an interview with a financial firm and would be supporting the Board of Directors, President/CEO, and Vice Presidents. Based on a pre-interview phone conversation, the position sounds as if it is a busy one (this was important to me because the job I'm at now does not provide enough work to keep me busy throughout the day) it pays 20% more than what I'm making now, and sounds pretty promising.



I want to add that within the past 15 years, I have held only two jobs, but none of them were to support a CEO/President, and I need a creative way to turn this aspect of my resume in a positive light. This is where your advice is really needed. How do I do this? Both jobs supported Vice Presidents.



On the flip side, I just recently acquired my Associate's Degree in Business Management (I graduated with a 3.65 GPA and will continue on to my Bachelor's Degree), I have experience in both Office 2000 and graphic design software, do website development, and am very savvy at navigating the internet.



I apologize for the short notice, but I want to go as prepared as possible, and I need a list of questions that gives me a real insight into this position.



One thing I want to be able to ask, but don't know how, is what if the President/CEO decides to retire/leave, does the Executive Assistant leave when he/she does? I know that when I was in banking for 8 years, whenever there was a new CEO, the assistant left with that President. Do you think that this is a valid concern, or should I just not ask?



I look forward to your comments, I really want to make a great impression at this interview!



Thanks!

I was wondering if any of you could give me reading recommendations for books on highly effective Executive Assistants? I know there has to be some good ones out there....Thanks!

Sure, I'd like to find out the name of your recruiter! Hopefully it isn't one that I'm already working with. Email me privately at s_lees@hotmail.com, and we'll discuss! Thanks!

Thanks for everyone's feedback and viewpoints! Your great advice has me more confused than ever!



Just to let everyone know, the job is located in SE Michigan, and yes I do agree that $38,000 is a good starting salary. But as far as the location goes, the crime statistics in that area are the highest in the city, (my brother in law is a police officer, and gave me the statistics) and this is what has me concerned for my safety. No amount of money is worth it when the odds are increased 20x that I can be assaulted/robbed/car jacked. Yes, it can happen anywhere, I agree, but why put yourself in a position knowing you are 20x more likely to be a crime statistic? Doesn't make sense to me.



This is not the only job in the world with this kind of pay and benefits, there will be others, and when the time is right to change jobs and accept another position, I'll know it right away. Unfortunately, I don't have that "feeling" with this job, and I'm in no great hurry right now (knock on wood) to leave my present position.



Have a great day!











 

Well, I promised that I would report back on my interview that I went on yesterday for an Executive Assistant position that I applied for.



BACKGROUND:

The job paid 20% more than what I'm making now

I would be working for the President/CEO, Board of Directors and Vice Presidents (so I would be very busy YEAH!)

I would be working in the banking/financial field



HOW THE INTERVIEW WENT:

Well, let me just start off by saying that I kind of had an inkling that the location of this business was in a "less than desireable area" of the city, but I didn't know HOW bad it was! I mean, I'm driving through a residential area, and there are abandoned/burned out homes and cars, and what was the real kicker is I saw a party store on the corner called "Safe Haven" YIKES!!!! The location of this business was a cross between "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" and a war zone!



Not only that, I found out that I would need to attend on the average, three evening board/committee meetings a month that could last anywhere from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Which I can deal with. But, can you imagine going out to my car at 9:00 pm at night in THAT neighborhood!?  



Now, bear in mind that I want to continue my education and get my Bachelor's Degree in Business Management. I'm not going to be taking classes at the insane pace that I've been doing in order to get my Associate's Degree (I NEED that piece of paper to make my resume float to the top of the pile), but how can I pursue evening classes when there are on the average, 3 evening meetings per month at any given day of the month? I told them that up front, but they still called me in for the interview, and I was curious what the job had to offer. I won't give up pursuing my degree for ANY job.



But, I felt that the interview went VERY well, and answered all of his questions very completely and concisely as possible, thanks to everyone's advice.  What a great coaching team I have in all of you!



What was really interesting is I interviewed him, and asked questions like, "what qualities and characteristics define who the ideal Executive Assistant is for you?" He was totally thown off base, when in an interview, he expected to be the interviewer, not the other way around. I asked other questions relating to the job as well, but I don't want to bore anyone to death with details....he also said that at the second round of interviews (the semi-final stage of his selection) that he would be doing computer software/typing proficiency tests, and a writing test. I told him that this wasn't a problem for me to do (my husband and I write articles for magazines and newspapers) I asked if he want a writing sample prepared in advance for the 2nd interview, or did he want the writing sample done right there at the office by being given a few ideas and sentences and turning out a memo that completely and accurately defines what he's trying to say? He said to me, "Wow, I never thought of that! You're right, that would be better if I had the applicants do the memo at that time instead of in advance."  That made me feel kinda good.



SALARY ISSUES:

I asked if the position is an hourly or salary position (since I would be working 45-50 hours per week) and they said they "weren't sure."  Huh? You want an average of 5-10 hours of overtime a week, and you aren't sure if you will pay me overtime? I-don't-think-so! Right now, I work 37.5 hours per week and get paid for 40.



WORKING HOURS:

Because of the out-of-the-ordinary requests for admin support due to board meetings and such, the "normal" working time would be 8:30 - 5:30 pm, but could vary, depending upon whether there is a board meeting in the morning at 7:30 am, or a meeting in the evening which could run as late as 8:30 pm.



Well, with all the above being said, I've come to this conclusion about the job: PASS! The hours are crazy (I DO want a life outside of work, work is NOT my life), the location of the business is a threat to my personal safety, and if I were to work these crazy hours, I expect to be monetarily compensated for my time, or increase my annual salary to reflect that expected overtime. The job paid $38,000/year, not enough in my book, given my experience (2 jobs in 15 years) and educational background. Don't you guys agree, or am I being greedy?



However, I really did like the President/CEO, I felt confident in the way he spoke and carried himself, and felt that our personalities would have worked out well professionally, and the office that I would have worked in was really nice (all mahogany). But personality and office ambiance isn't enough to lure me to this job.



I also wanted to add, thanks for the advice about bringing a copy of my grades/transcripts and letters of recommendation that I received in the past. It really made a HUGE difference in my credibility as a candidate for the position, and plan on doing this in future interviews.



Thanks everyone again so much for your wonderful, professional and smart advice! You'll be hearing from me again for your input as I go on other interview journeys!



Have a Blessed Day!