Interviews made easy: what is unique about the aspiring secretary/PA?

A number of aspiring secretaries and PAs talk about the problems they face at interviews and often do not fully understand why they did not get a job. Employers are often looking for candidates with a particular skill set but also something extra; something which makes the applicant ‘stand out’ from the crowd.

It is true that a number of candidates will have undertaken the required secretarial or PA course but still not achieve at interview. Why is this? One reason is because the aspiring secretary or PA has not thought about why they, as opposed to someone with similar secretary or PA qualifications, should come first and get the job.

The question the aspiring secretary or PA needs to ask themselves is what is unique about them. If each candidate was to look back in their work history or their  education or leisure history, it is likely that they would find a connection with the company to which they are applying.

For example, a recent candidate who had just finished their secretarial course was applying to become a secretary for a national fitness centre. When asked why they  chose this particular fitness company as opposed to any other, the candidate could not answer. However, when asked by her secretary course provider if she knew anyone who was a member of the particular fitness company, she replied that her brother was a member. Instantly, the candidate has a connection with the company and can use that connection to give a credible answer to the all too familiar question: Why has the candidate applied to that particular company for a job.

In that example it was obvious but often a mere interest in or researched knowledge of the sector or company is sufficient to mark the candidate out from their competitors. For example, knowledge about the sector and who their competitors are or who their customers are instantly shows the interviewer that the candidate not only has the skills to do the job but also has the required level of knowledge and understanding to really make a difference to the company.

Often, those who deliver secretarial courses are very skilled at identifying how a particular candidate is unique, what is their greatest asset and what is their unique selling point to a perspective employer. It is essential that each candidate asks their secretarial course provider to help them identify this so that they can include reference to it in their responses to interview questions.   

Mike Connolly has written many articles on secretarial courses and the skills required to be taught as part of a secretarial course. For further details on the skills required to become a secretary look at the course outlines on the Pitman Training Hammersmith website.