5. Please tell me more about your current role and daily responsibilities.

 
I am not currently employed. I moved to the U.S. last year from Armenia. I recently received my U.S.
Residency and Employment Authorization IDs, and I am now eligible to work legally in the U.S. My last role
was as the executive assistant to the owner and president of one of the largest holding companies in
Armenia. I was responsible for all international travel arrangements as well as managing his calendar. In
addition to my administrative duties, I reviewed important company data (mainly related to ongoing projects)
on his behalf and was responsible for providing accurate and insightful status reports to the CEO and board
members. Furthermore, I effectively transcribed meeting minutes and delivered high-level assistance to
support senior management teams

6. How many emails do you receive a day? How do you stay on top of your email and not drop anything? 
I would receive 30+ emails a day. As the main liaison between the president and the rest of the organization,
I had the responsibility to prioritize emails and respond accordingly. With a hawkish attention to detail and
familiarity with my boss' needs, I successfully managed this aspect of my job. 

10. What percentage of your day is spent calendaring? Do meetings change often or are they recurring
meetings that are never rescheduled?
About 30% of my day was spent calendaring. Meetings would often change, in some cases at the last
minute. My role was to smooth things out by finding the best rescheduling solutions/alternatives.

12. What is your method for managing competing priority meetings? 

I would rank competing priority meetings based on my boss' current needs and level of urgency. I used
Trello to simplify scheduling, using this tool to sort and adjust meetings based on their importance, length,
and urgency. I had a clear understanding of priorities each day that allowed me to better manage my
workload and juggle multiple tasks without missing deadlines. Since I was involved in all key company
projects, I would already know which meetings needed to take precedence.

14. What was the most complex travel itinerary you have had to put together?
 I have arranged many complex trips for my boss (and his family), both personal and business. The more
challenging trips usually involved his attendance at a big fair, such as Baselworld (the world's premiere
annual luxury watch and jewelry fair). In addition to travel arrangements and event registration, I needed to
schedule meetings with global business partners, book high-end restaurant reservations, etc. Flight delays
and cancellations would be particularly challenging since there are few direct flights from/to Yerevan,
Armenia. 

15. What is your experience with event coordination and managing? 

At events I helped vendors set-up, arranging supplies, decorations, and other details, and coordinating with
responsible parties to ensure successfull program execution.

18. What is your method for organization?

 My varied responsiblities required that I be a good multitasker. This, in turn, necessitated a reliably system
for prioritization of tasks. I created road maps and action plans to track my progress and set timelines for
deliverables. Each day I began by reviewing my Trello board to help set my goals, and this allowed me to
operate at my most optimal level.

I will appreciate if you keep in mind for any future openings that fit my background

Following up on my last email, I am sure you have a lot going on, but I ‘d love to get together…..
I moved to the US I am currently looking to get back into my field where I can apply my skills and have a positive
impact in the community
Where do you see yoyrself in 5 years
I would like to gorw together with the company,

My priority is to get back into my field especially in the organization like …. According to some research MY
Understanding is that market rate for the position in Austin is between 65-75000 $. I would be willing to negotiate
according to the budgeted salary for this position

What are this position’s biggest challenges?

What’s your favorite part about working here?
What’s; the team like to work with?
How would my performance be evaluated?

Thank you note after the interview

For LinkedIn connection:

Hi Stephanie,
Pleasure to connect with you, I hope you’re doing well.
I’m interested in the role you posted: Executive Administrative Assistant. Based on my experience as an Executive
Assistant I believe I could be a good fit. Could you please let me know if you still have such position open?
Anush

Describe, in detail, your experience in executive assistant support. What aspects of the Executive Assistant role excite you?  *

My 10 years of experience in business administration management, along with my strong communication

and computer skills, make me an excellent candidate for this position.
My last role was as the executive assistant to the owner and president of one of the largest holding
companies in Armenia. I was responsible for all international travel arrangements as well as managing his
calendar. In addition to my administrative duties, I reviewed important company data (mainly related to
ongoing projects) on his behalf and was responsible for providing accurate and insightful status reports to
the CEO and board members. Furthermore, I effectively transcribed meeting minutes and delivered high-
level assistance to support senior management teams.

What I enjoy most about executive assistant role is being a key person who makes sure everything in the
office runs smoothly, working with everyone in the company, facing challenges and solving puzzles. But the
most important for me in the role is to make sure you make the day of your director better, easier and more
comfortable so that he/she could concentrate on the core business and responsibilities. I love being able to
help people and make a positive impact on their lives.

Describe your experience with managing calendars. What considerations do you take when managing someone else’s time?  *

About 50% of my day was spent calendaring. Meetings would often change, in some cases at the last
minute. My role was to smooth things out by finding the best rescheduling solutions/alternatives.
First, I would ask for assistance in prioritizing the tasks with my boss.
I would rank competing priority meetings based on my boss' current needs and level of urgency. I used
Trello to simplify scheduling, using this tool to sort and adjust meetings based on their importance, length,
and urgency. I would create a routine for my boss. This way, when the boss wake’s up in the morning —
they know exactly what tasks and meetings to expect, and they’ll be prepared.
I would also block out time for specific tasks, his personal ones related to the family, like picking up the kids
form the school, having coffee at 8 am, etc. I would also use the color coding in calendar to make it easier
for them to view and understand it. And finally, i would give them a breather- to have time for lunch,
meditation, exercise, etc. -again based on my boss's preference.

After reading the job description, why do you want to work with this Principal? What excites you about this role?  
When i read the job description, i realized that i can be a great fit for this position. It describes me in my
professional career: being proactive, feeling confident in a fast pacing environment, growing together and
being in a step with the company, analyze and anticipate the Principal's needs, being a multitasker and a
good team player- I want to bring value to the organization through all these skills and many others, and
contribute to its success through my positive attitude and strong teamwork abilities

Example: "I chose to become an executive assistant because

I have vast experience in this field, having worked in several companies before. I think my skill set
would be a great fit for the position. I am a great believer in your companies management style and
would like to use my expertise and year of experience to contribute to its success of the company.
 I enjoy organizing, setting up events or meetings and aiding those who need my help. I also knew that I
could learn many different things by becoming an executive assistant because each day is different as
new challenges present themselves. I hope to continue applying my skills to this important position
supporting one of your executives."

How do you prioritize your workday tasks?

"I prioritize tasks using an electronic to-do list and calendar. I evaluate my
deadlines and complete the most pressing or challenging tasks first. I am
also able to adapt quickly when new tasks or projects present themselves."

How would you rate your computer proficiency?

"I would rate my computer skills as highly proficient. I have worked with a
variety of software and I know how to troubleshoot minor computer issues
on my own. I know how to make spreadsheets, use word processors and
scheduling software."

How do you handle challenging personalities at work?

I understand that some personalities I will come across in this position may
be difficult. I have the patience and communication skills to effectively
handle difficult personalities with ease without becoming personally
offended."

Have you supervised other office staff members before?

"I have supervised a small group of 3 team members, including

administrative assistant, household manager, and the security
How do you handle stress and pressure?

I am well-equipped to work in a fast-paced and stressful environment.

I have worked well within strict deadlines, and I am willing to put in
the work to complete the necessary tasks correctly and on time. I
make sure I balance my work with my personal life to avoid burnout,
therefore I am continuously refreshed and ready to perform."

 Provide an example of collaborating with a team to solve an issue

Example: "I worked with a team of five to compile and condense many

pages of important data for an executive. Our goal was to make the data
more readable and actionable so the executive could make a sound
decision for the company based on the data. We split our work up into five
parts and met daily to discuss progress. Each person contributed, and I
compiled the final report with the condensed data and successfully turned
in the assignment on time."

Have You Worked in Confidential Situations Before?

Confident information is private. I’ve never shared confidential information with

someone before, and I’m not starting today. Anytime I discuss sensitive information
in the office, I would ensure no one could hear me. And I would never throw away
confidential documents without shredding them first.”

What Is Your Greatest Achievement as an Assistant?

I came up with the idea to integrate a new software tool for the company main depts.
Trello is the visual tool that empowers your team to manage any type of project,
workflow, or task tracking. Add files, checklists, or even automation: Customize it
all for how your team works best. This integration increased the efficiency of the
teams making easier to track the work process
Have You Ever Disagreed With a Manager or Colleague? And How Did You Respond?

I had a serious disagreement with a colleague at my last job. I needed more information on the project
we were working on, and the individual never seemed to have the time to help me. In my mind, they
were blowing me off. But instead of keeping a bad attitude, I respectfully and directly asked the person
if they were intentionally ignoring me. It became a productive conversation, and we’re friends today.”
Executive assistants can dramatically improve your productivity. They take on
many of your low-level tasks and responsibilities so that you can focus on high-
value work. They can also help you manage time better, lower your stress levels,
and ensure that important projects or calls are prioritized.

I was supporting a PM team WITH the construction project once.

We had a bidding process with different vendors for the equipment needed for the project. When the
project manager presented the file to the stakeholders it was overbudgeted for this part. I asked the {M
to give me a week to work and try to find better alternatives. Based on my good communication skills I
was able to find another vendor who gave me a nice discount for the same equipment. In a week I
introduced the vendor’s company to the PM team that was later selected as our main vendor.

What was challenging ?

During my last role the main problem were clients and vendors, who would get angry every time the find the
executive absent. I listened to them calmly before apologizing, taking their message and assuring I would
deliver it to the executive as fast as possible. I also paired them with people who would help them out in the
absence of the executive.

What gives you motivation?

I love my job. This passion gives me the strength to move on regardless of the challenges that I face. I am
also focused on achieving results and beating deadlines. I also love to learn new things which gives me
motivation to work harder and deliver great results. Finally I want to bring value to the organization through
my skills and contribute to its success through my positive attitude and strong teamwork abilities.

Ticket travel fail

This experience taught me to be thorough in the job and never leave anything to chance.

I am not currently employed. I moved to the U.S. last year from Armenia. I recently received my U.S.
Residency and Employment Authorization IDs, and I am now eligible to work legally. My 10 years of
experience in business administration management, along with my strong communication and computer
skills, make me an excellent candidate for the position of the Executive Assistant and Project Coordinator.
My last role was as the executive assistant to the president of one of the largest holding companies in
Armenia. I was responsible for all international travel arrangements as well as managing his calendar. In
addition to my administrative duties, I reviewed important company data (mainly related to ongoing projects)
on his behalf and was responsible for providing accurate and insightful status reports to the CEO and board
members. One of my greatest strengths is the ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently. In fact, this
ability helped me to become a project coordinator within two years to work on a startup project with a team
of four.