The importance of a stellar executive assistant can often be overlooked. As a leader, having a great executive assistant can relieve you of many tedious administrative tasks and in turn improve your overall productivity. Executive Assistants aren’t just assistants, they become your partners and are there to do what it takes to make you look good. Because this position requires a certain amount of trust and chemistry, it can be difficult to find the perfect executive assistant. If you’re in the market for a great assistant, check out this guide that has all you need to make a great hire:

Take the time to clearly define what the role will entail and all the responsibilities that the assistant will have. Once you have the role defined, it will be easier to find the candidate that has the type of experience you require. Make an honest list of everything you expect the assistant to supervise and be responsible for. Along with an accurate job description, create an attractive job posting that will catch the eye of the top candidates.

Very closely related to the job description, is the careful consideration of the skills that you require in a candidate. There are basic computer skills, organizational skills, and communication skills that you expect from an assistant, but you also might have some specialized skills in mind. Depending on what industry you’re in, you might require certain skills and experience so the candidate can hit the ground running. One skill or trait that you should always be looking for is the ability to learn and adapt. If the candidate can learn on the job, you’ll have a superstar executive assistant on your hands.

You’ve already decided what skills you want from an assistant but there is something just as important, if not even more important: culture fit. Even if the assistant has years of experience at the top level, if they aren’t a good fit for your company’s culture or even more importantly a good fit for you personally, it won’t be a good hire. Get to know what motivates them, what they are passionate about, what they do in their free time, or their ability to work in a team.

It’s tempting to rush into making an offer for a top candidate. Don’t rush it though, check their references first. Many candidates turn on their “interview mode” and can say all the right things to convince you that they are the right person for the job. That’s why it vital to get the opinion of their references, particularly their past employers. Take the time to call their references and you won’t be sorry.

You’re busy and finding the best candidate can take time. It’s worth it to get a recruiting specialist on your team. Not only do recruiting firms have an extensive network of top talent, they also dedicate their full attention to finding every specific skill or requirement that you want in a candidate. At Recruiting Connection, we act like an extension of your company and of you and our goal is to get you the best fit for your specific needs. If you’re ready to get the best executive assistant on your team, contact us now.