Beating Applicants More Qualified Than You Are
Perhaps the most fulfilling part of your journey is to get the job over others who are more experienced than you are. It seems like an impossible task to go up against someone who has worked for several celebrities, especially if you haven’t worked for any.
If there is one thing that has surprised me most about the personal assistant business, it’s that beating-out more experienced candidates happens more often than you might think.
As I said before, navigating your way through the entire interview process requires that you hit a series of homeruns. If you want it bad enough, you will always keep your eye on the prize and not cut any corners.
While it is impossible to cover every single aspect of the process, here is a list of important things to keep in mind. Some of these points are a recap of things we’ve already covered, and they aren’t in any particular order of importance. Everything is important because you don’t know what missed point may sink you. Murphy’s Law: it will probably be the one thing you did not do.
Remember that it's all of the small things that will make a big difference.
If there is one thing that has surprised me most about the personal assistant business, it’s that beating-out more experienced candidates happens more often than you might think.
As I said before, navigating your way through the entire interview process requires that you hit a series of homeruns. If you want it bad enough, you will always keep your eye on the prize and not cut any corners.
While it is impossible to cover every single aspect of the process, here is a list of important things to keep in mind. Some of these points are a recap of things we’ve already covered, and they aren’t in any particular order of importance. Everything is important because you don’t know what missed point may sink you. Murphy’s Law: it will probably be the one thing you did not do.
- Always use good resume paper for your submissions (white linen or cotton).
- Always arrive on time or early to the interview (Not too early: 10 min. is good).
- Never talk on your phone while waiting in the lobby.
- Don’t talk to other candidates in the lobby. They will try and mess with your mind and talk negatively to you (actors in Hollywood are famous for this).
- Dress smart and in conservative colors.
- Know exactly where your interview is. Drive there the day before and check out the parking situation. You never want to be late because you couldn’t find a parking spot.
- Remember to keep an upbeat attitude.
- Rehearse your interview answers at home with a friend.
- Study your resume one last time before you go to the interview.
- Make sure you eat healthy before your interview so that you have energy.
- Don’t forget to send a thank you note (A paper note is better than an email).
- Don’t forget to bring a copy of your resume and recommendation letters on the day.
- Don’t talk negatively about any of your past jobs.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions in the interview and be straight with them.
- Be sure to drop the occasional fact to let them know you’ve done your homework.
- Let them know you are available to travel and that your passport is current. If you don’t have a passport, get one right away. This can be done at your local post office.
- Let them know you’re not afraid to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty. In other words, let them know you’re not a complainer and that you have a “can-do” attitude.
Remember that it's all of the small things that will make a big difference.
