Interview preparation for assistants: the questions we hear most, and how to answer them
Candid, practical preparation for PA, EA and household interviews, from a team that has sat on both sides of the table.
Support-role interviews are different from most. The hiring manager is often the person you will support, and they are assessing chemistry as much as competence. Here is how we prepare our candidates.
Before the interview
- Research the principal, not just the company. Their background, how they communicate publicly, what their last year looked like. You are being hired to understand them.
- Re-read the brief and your own CV. Interviewers will pick specific points from both. Be ready to expand on every line.
- Prepare three stories. A crisis you handled, a process you improved, a relationship you managed. Keep each under two minutes.
- Plan logistics generously. For in-person interviews in London or Dubai, arrive early and wait nearby. Punctuality is not a soft skill in this profession.
The questions that come up most
“Tell me about a time a day fell apart.” They want to hear calm, sequence and judgement: what you prioritised, who you told, what you fixed first.
“How do you handle confidential information?” Give a concrete example of a boundary you kept, without disclosing anything that identifies a previous employer.
“What did you dislike about your last role?” Answer honestly and briefly, then move to what you are looking for. Never criticise a former principal.
“How do you manage someone who does not want to be managed?” This is really a question about diary discipline. Describe how you create structure without friction.
“Why do you want to work for me?” The only bad answer is a generic one. Reference something specific about their business, their pace or the scope of the role.
Questions worth asking them
- What does a good week look like, and what does a bad one look like?
- How do you prefer to communicate during the day: messages, calls, a morning briefing?
- What did the last person in the role do particularly well?
- How are decisions made when you are travelling?
- What would success look like after six months?
Afterwards
Send a short, well-written note the same day. Then call your consultant. We will give you the client’s feedback honestly, and we will represent your interest in the role accurately. If you would like a practice interview before the real one, ask; we do it for every candidate we put forward for a senior role.