HELP! I have an interview today!

[chilover]

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!

[countrigal]

Wish I had something susbstantial to offer, but may I lend some positive vibes your way while our other members come up with some helpful hints?...



Good luck....~~~~~~~~~~~positive vibes~~~~~~~~~

[jadegrniiz]

Chilover:  Welcome to TAA!  It's always wonderful to see new members.



You ask a terriffic question, and it sounds to me like you have a definate edge on the situation.



My experience in supporting a President/CEO is a bit different. The Pres was actually an Executive Director of a Non-profit organization. But, my mother supports a Bank CEO/Pres and has done so for, gosh, almost 20 years now.



I'm not sure I would sugar-coat a lack of experience working for Presidents. I would, however, highlight your education and skills, you might consider bringing samples of  desktop publishing/graphic design work, bring your education credentials (proving that WONDERFUL GPA) and other things you might have handy to show all you've got. If you have any letters of recommendation... have copies of those ready to give out.



As for the EA who goes down with the ship... not necessarily so. My mother started working for a bank prez, and when he moved to Miami a few years later, she stayed and supported the new prez. When THAT prez retired 10 years later, she still stayed. Eventually, a bank buyout gave her the option to move with her boss to some far away destination, or settle with a severence package to die for. She took the package, and got a job working as an EA to yet another bank prez.



I wish you the best of luck today at the interview. Knock em dead!



Lori

[winkiebear]

Welcome to TAA!



I would take the perspective of partnering with your boss (CEO) as well as supporting.  When put in this light, you can add your business knowledge, your accomplishment of the Associate's and ambition towards the Bachelor's, the previous positions that supported VPs, etc.  



I think you can 'spin' this to your advantage, instead of making it look like you're lacking in something, make that vulnerability look like a plus, where you can be molded into what the CEO is looking for.



I hope this makes sense, I'm kind of out of it today.  But good luck!

 winkie

[chilover]

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!

[whitesatin]

Again, a hearty welcome to TAA chilover.  It sounds to me like you already have the makings to be a fantastic executive assistant.  I believe it was in your second paragraph of your first post that you enumerated your accomplishments and skills.  I would memorize that paragraph and say it during the interview. I know I was very impressed when I read that paragraph. Best wishes for a wonderful, successful interview. Let us know how it goes. Sending positive vibes your way~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^^^^^^^^^^^^^~~~~~~~~~



WhiteSatin

[chris68]

chilover,





Looks to me like you've gotten some great advice here already this morning.





I'd like to ad my welcome to TAA and positive vibes for your interview.



I'm sure you'll do fine...go get em!



Chris68