Hiring a Personal Assistant for the First Time? Start Here
Written by Gracie Lane
We all know some of the most classic interview questions: What’s your greatest strength? Why do you want to work here? What was a time you failed? Or, maybe you’ve heard about (or experienced) an out-of-the-box question, one that is designed to see how a candidate thinks about a problem (a particularly notable one: You’ve been given an elephant. You can’t give it away or sell it. What would you do with the elephant?).
These questions can feel like the ‘right’ or ‘smart’ thing to ask… but are they?
When a client receives their custom candidates for a part time personal assistant from The Middle, they move to the interview stage, which is (critically!) run by the client themselves, so they can rightfully determine their own best fit from the list of the candidates. While some clients may have experience in a hiring process, many are conducting an interview for the first time, and it's all too easy to default to generic hiring questions that don't actually fit this particular kind of role.
But don’t worry: The Middle is there to support clients every step of the way, even for the interview stage where they aren’t in the room.
Why This Interview Isn't Like a Typical Job Interview
Most interviews are aimed to test competence and skill of a candidate— but fortunately for our clients, those characteristics have already been screened and reviewed by The Middle! This interview stage with the client is much more about finding the right, unique fit than it is about finding someone who is capable of doing particular tasks. Since the candidate is already vetted for skill, the time in the interview can be used to evaluate things like communication style, judgment, and trust. Since the resume has already been checked, focusing on a particular set of questions to help with these more intangible characteristics can make the hour far more useful!
10 Questions to Ask in Personal Assistant Interview
Ready to roll? Here’s what to ask!
1. How do you prioritize when a few urgent things land at once?
2. What does a typical day look like when you're supporting someone part-time?
3. Tell me about a time you had to use discretion with sensitive information.
4. How do you like to receive tasks: written, verbal, or through a tool?
5. What would you do if you weren't sure how I'd want something handled?
6. How do you stay organized across a few ongoing responsibilities at once?
7. What does your availability look like, and how do you handle heavier or lighter weeks?
8. Have you worked part-time or as a contractor before, and what did you take from it?
9. What would help you catch something before I even have to ask?
10. What questions do you have about how I like to work?
What to Notice Beyond the Given Answers
What the candidate says in their response is obviously important, but also take note of how they give their response. What is their confidence level, and what specifics or details do they provide? Do they ask follow up questions? Do they give concrete examples instead of generic or hypothetical ones? Do they seem genuinely curious about the client’s world and work? The candidates who show specific and active investment in the interview process tend to be stronger long-term fits!
How The Middle Sets You Up For Success Before You Even Ask a Single Question
The goal of The Middle is to set both the client and candidate up for success. Our job is to find the right match for each of you, but we know we can’t be the ultimate decision maker on who fits not just with the client’s needs, but also their personality and work style. We ensure that the parts of the process that must or should be left to the client are the only parts left to the client– we’ll do the rest!
By the time you reach the interview stage of the hiring process, every single curated candidate will have been pre-screened for competence and the requested skills, so the client can focus on determining the best fit instead of overall capabilities. The Middle also handles all scheduling and coordination of the interview stage, so the client can maximize their time without getting bogged down in admin (which we know is why you want a personal assistant in the first place!).
A good interview isn’t about grilling a candidate or arriving with skepticism; it’s about a dynamic and honest conversation that illuminates fit.
Ready to get started yourself? Check our Client Questionnaire to find your own part time personal assistant through The Middle!
FAQ
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The Middle typically provides between 3 and 6 personally-reviewed candidates to the client for the interview process. The client may choose to interview all, some, or none of the candidates provided upon their own review.
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While we’ll be supporting from afar (and available for any technical troubleshooting), we do not actively join client-candidate interviews, as this is a time for both client and candidate to gauge interpersonal dynamics and discuss nuances and details to the role. For additional guidance, see our Interview Tips.
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That’s okay! Sometimes it’s just not quite the right fit. If none of your matches feel like a good fit after you’ve interviewed them, there is no obligation to hire. The Middle will continue screening candidates with your position in mind, and we’ll follow up when additional matches are found.
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If you feel confident about a choice immediately, you can move forward and hire that candidate immediately! We do recommend taking at least one night to sleep on the decision, but we also recommend moving forward within a few days once you’ve determined a candidate is the right fit. Because The Middle cannot guarantee how long candidates remain available before hire, they may no longer be available if a client takes an extended period of time to make a decision after interviews.
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Yes! The Middle is happy to coordinate follow up interviews to ensure clients feel comfortable and confident in their hiring decision.
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This is an exciting step— you’ve selected your personal assistant! Once you’ve made your choice and notified The Middle, we’ll confirm acceptance with the candidate and then connect you directly with your PA. The Middle’s services end up upon their hire, and you’ll manage their employment and pay their hourly wages directly.
As The Middle is not involved in day-to-day management between the client and candidate, we encourage both clients and candidates and assistants to communicate directly and clearly, document key expectations, and address feedback or questions early.
For more information on working together as client and assistant, see our FAQ and our Guide to the First 30 Days of Working Together.
