Executive Assistant interview nhs

[megrob]

I have a job interview in the NHS for an Executive Assistant post. can anyone shed some light on what this role involes? What are the daytoday tasks/duties etc?

Ask when you speak to potential new employer would they accept you on secondment. Because what happens is your current employer pays you and bills your new employer for the costs. So there's a different admin process to follow re payroll reimbursement x

would you ask this question after you were offerwd the job? my reason being i went to an interview and it went perfect and at the end i said "would this fixed term role be possible to do as a secondment so im not unemployed if i wasnt kept on perm or extended" and rhey were like "yeahhh absolutely". i didnt get the job but told i came a second very close to being 1st and to reapply in future as it was reallyyy close to be offeree it" my question is, could me mentioning possibly doing it on a secondment go against me in anyway?? is it more of a problem for the new employment to have u there as a secondment financially.

i will ask this question though. just thinking is it onw to ask if offered it afterwards?

@LadyLolaRuben

also what do u think would be good examples if they asked dealing with a difficult staff member?

No requesting secondment at interview won't go against you at interview at all. It makes no odds to them whether or not you have a job to go back to or not. Its just a different payment method for your salary.

If you're already NHS I'd be asking your HR dept about whether you'd be retained (either in that role, another role or return to your old role) after the fixed term ends. You can ask if the post holder would be willing to consider secondment or loan as PP have said.

In terms of the questions about the actual role, I really think you should be asking whoever is the point of contact on the email (and ideally before you applied) - even if every EA role has similar duties they will surely differ in some ways depending on the department its in. Only the post holder will know.

I think your interview is tomorrow OP. If so, good luck x

I think you need to contact someone who is doing the interviewing for more information about the job so that you can prepare. Did the job advert mention a contact?

The fact that the job description is so vague would be a red flag to me. I used to work for the NHS in admin and the job description was nothing like the actual role I did. Sorry, not trying to put you off.

@LadyLolaRuben thank you thats very kind of you!

interview is over. it went as well as it could considering i was a bit nervous. wasnt time to ask any questions at the end and interview went a bit over. wondering if i could have answered one question in particular a bit better?

the only question i asked was if i was able to meet the team f2f properly if i got the role.

can i ask, what is the career path of a EA? what can they go on to do next or what have you known other EA to go on to do next? or isnt there one?

Hi OP, sounds like you did your best and it went as well as it could have. A lot of Exec PAs stay in those roles. Some go into project work or into Chief Executives office to do more senior Exec management. Fingers crossed for a positive outcome. Please let us know x

Hi, I got the job!!! im so happy couldnt have done it without your support. special thanks to @LadyLolaRuben . they ended up taking on me and someone else for the role as there ia enough funding to do so and a lot of work. I was told not to worry about the 9m fixed term. said that there is a lot of funding/money coming in their way that there is a high potential of being made perm.

I will get to meet the director i will be working for on monday via zoom or one day next week as a meet and greet. can you think of any questions i should b asking?

also, ahould i still discuss the possibility of a secondment??

@LadyLolaRuben are you saying EA stay in their roles because thsy are happy and dont want to move on... or are you saying there is no career path in this sort of role. its a bit of a dead end and hard to move up and out of?

Thank you again.

What great news, I'm so pleased for you. You sound very enthusiastic and motivated, so Im sure you'll be great.

Out of interest, did much of what I say help with your interview answers?

Yes I told you that there's lots of work for good PAs! So not surprised to hear how busy they are.

Yes unless they can give you a permanent contract I'd ask for a secondment but, your current employer will have to agree to it. If you don't get the secondment its a case of taking the temporary contract and seeing what happens after that.

When you meet the director, I'd ask them what days are their busiest and why? Such as back to back meetings on Wednesday. Ask what their weekly routine looks like. So admin maybe on Friday afternoon, so you know that is when is best to catch them if you need to see them. And then ask how you can help make their days easier. Ask them what particular things they need support with. For example I always need very clear directions to a venue that im going to for the first time. Ask them what preferences they have, for example, I dont like meetings before 9.30am or after 4pm. Plus I like half hour free between 12 and 1 to grab lunch. Get to know them, how they work etc.

Is this a promotion for you OP?

@LadyLolaRuben oh youv been more than amazing. in fact i think you got me the job!!!! so yes, everything you said/mentioned certainly helped thank you. it was most definitley useful!!!

also i rang the contact person on the JD on weds and they were also really helpful. so its been a bit of you both combined tbh!!! But prob you more so!! so honestly thabk you!!!

Its good to hear that if your a good PA that theres other career options to move into and not a dead end job. i read a post on here on this thread (i think or a new one i created) by someone else which i think said something along the lines of 'if its a fixed term contract with no extension then theres nowhere for a PA to move sideways or upwards"?

But in your experience of working closely currently with EA's there is?

Im glad the information i gave was of help. Im applying for a director role myself at the moment, so I hope to get the good karma back in some way!

PAs have lots of transferable skills so I wouldn't worry about future roles. Its down to the individual to decide to transfer those skills into other jobs or stick to what they know. Look at it this way, you either stayed where you were and did 9 months doing same work with same skill set. Or you go somewhere new for new experiences, increase your knowledge and expand your skill set. No brainer really x

@LadyLolaRuben A Director role - go you!!!! you will absolutely smash it!!! and it sounds truly deserved.

is it ok if we keep in touch. I value your advice, experience and knowledge of working with other EAs. id like to keep you posted on how im finding my new role as an EA when i start position and id also love to hear how you get on with your Director role your working towards. I have to give my current employer 4 weeks notice. Im waiting to receive my offer in writing before I do so will be a few weeks so will keep you posted on how i get on with my first day etc.

one thing the panelists have said is that the role as EA will develope. so im wondering is there many EAs who go onto a band 6 doing an EA role or something different? if i knew what the next step of a EA was I could kinda get my foot in early asking for additional work doing whatever role the next step up would be from the get go so when my 9m fixed term contract is up im at a bit of an advantage applying internally or externally for a 6 x

Thank you for the confidence vote. Im good at helping people into jobs but im not good at promoting myself. But I'll have a good go!

Yes keeping in touch would be nice. I access this site by my mobile phone so can't see private messages. I'll log on via Internet one day and send you my personal email address.

Band 6 roles from EA can be in a number of roles and departments. Project management - if you can show heavy support for projects while in EA role, Chief Exec office type roles and corporate governance where all board level activity is done. Helping to support any work regarding regulation can direct you into clinical governance - legal, complaints, audit, policy and document management.

See what your director's workstream ate like, how you can help and what you enjoy. Then see if there are other projects going on outside their portfolio where they're needing help. Basically I'd soak up as much info and experience as you can. But just make sure everyone is happy for you to get involved so no one feels like they're toes are being trodden on. Tbh it'll be so busy they'll be happy for the help. Just always make sure your main duties are kept on top off first so business as usual continues regardless!