Securing a position as an Executive Assistant requires more than a polished CV and years of experience. Interviews are opportunities to demonstrate your professionalism, discretion, and capacity to support leaders effectively. However, even seasoned professionals can fall into avoidable traps during the interview process. Below, Lindsay Taylor from Your Excellency Limited outlines the most common interview mistakes Executive Assistants makeโand how to avoid them with confidence and credibility.
Most common interview mistakes Executive Assistants make
1. Failing to articulate the EA value proposition
Mistake: Many candidates default to listing tasks (โdiary management, travel bookingโ) without demonstrating the true strategic value they add.
Solution: Detail your experience in terms of outcomes and impact. Use language like, โI enabled the CEO to reclaim 10 hours a week by redesigning calendar workflows,โ or โI improved board meeting efficiency by introducing a digital briefing pack.โ
2. Overlooking the importance of company knowledge
Mistake: Going into an interview with only a surface-level understanding of the company.
Solution: Research the companyโs mission, leadership, industry challenges, and recent news. Then, tailor your responses to align with their goals. For example, โI noticed your organisation is expanding into the Asia-Pacific regionโmy experience in coordinating international stakeholder meetings would be directly relevant.โ
3. Undervaluing soft skills
Mistake: Overemphasising technical competence and underplaying communication, adaptability, and emotional intelligence.
Solution: Demonstrate emotional intelligence through examplesโsuch as mediating between stakeholders, handling sensitive information discreetly, or anticipating an executiveโs unspoken needs.
4. Providing generic answers
Mistake: Offering vague or templated answers that could apply to any EA.
Solution: Customise your examples and highlight specifics. Instead of saying, โIโm highly organised,โ say, โI implemented a colour-coded project tracking system that helped our leadership team prioritise effectively during a merger.โ
5. Not asking insightful questions
Mistake: Failing to ask questions or sticking to safe ones like, โWhatโs the team culture like?โ
Solution: Prepare thoughtful questions that show commercial awareness and strategic thinking. Ask, โWhat are the key objectives for the executive this quarter, and how can the EA best support those priorities?โ or โWhat internal systems or technologies are most integral to executive workflows?โ.
6. Neglecting the unspoken interview: first impressions
Mistake: Overlooking the impact of punctuality, attire, body language, and tone.
Solution: Aim to project calm professionalism from the moment you step in (or log on). Dress appropriately for the company’s culture, maintain eye contact, and be punctualโideally arriving 5โ10 minutes early for in-person or virtual interviews.
7. Not demonstrating confidentiality and discretion
Mistake: Sharing too much detail about previous employers or sensitive projects.
Solution: Speak in general terms when referencing sensitive situations. Focus on your role and approach, rather than the specifics of confidential content.
8. Underselling leadership support experience
Mistake: Minimising experience with C-suite or board-level stakeholders, either through modesty or unclear articulation.
Solution: Be confident and specific. State, โI supported the CFO directly, preparing investor briefings and managing high-level communications,โ or โI served as the point of contact between the executive and external stakeholders, ensuring consistent and aligned messaging.โ
Final thoughts on the common interview mistakes Executive Assistants make
An interview for an Executive Assistant role is a chance to demonstrate that you are not just a capable organiser, but a strategic partner. Avoiding these common mistakesโand preparing with intentionโwill set you apart in a competitive market. Remember: clarity, professionalism, and preparation are your strongest assets.
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