How to Evaluate Executive Support & Operations Professionals: Communication, Systems, Reliability
Evaluating Executive Support & Operations talent requires precision. MENA professionals in Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Lebanon bring strong communication capabilities, structured operational habits, and the ability to manage workflows with minimal oversight. To select the right hire, founders must assess three core areas: communication clarity, systems thinking, and reliability.
This guide outlines a practical, competency-based evaluation framework for US startups hiring EA/Ops talent from MENA.
Why EA/Ops Evaluation Must Focus on Real-World Capabilities
The role blends communication and operations
Hybrid EA/Ops talent handles a mix of:
- Calendar + inbox
- Documentation
- Reporting
- Process execution
- Vendor coordination
- Meeting preparation
- Operational workflows
Traditional admin tests miss critical skills
Founders need to evaluate structure, clarity, prioritization, and accountability not trivia or generic admin tasks.
This approach is consistent with the capability-first role definitions outlined in Building an Effective Executive Support & Operations Hiring Pipeline in MENA (Founder Edition).
Competency Area 1: Communication Clarity
MENA talent is known for strong business English and structured writing. Evaluate:
Writing
Ask candidates to rewrite an email or summarize a meeting note.
Prioritization through communication
Strong EAs/Ops professionals show judgment in deciding what’s important to communicate.
Message structure
Evaluate tone, coherence, and conciseness.
Competency Area 2: Systems Thinking & Operational Competence
SOP creation
Have candidates write a simple Standard Operating Procedure.
Look for:
- Logical step order
- Clarity
- Formatting
- Error-proofing
Workflow planning
Give them a scenario with multiple tasks and ask for a structured plan.
Reporting discipline
Ask for a mock weekly summary or status report.
These assessments complement the salary insights in Executive Support & Operations Salaries in MENA: What US Companies Should Expect, which show that candidates with strong systems skills earn higher compensation.
Competency Area : Reliability & Ownership
Responsiveness
Reliable candidates communicate quickly and predictably.
Follow-through
Ask behavioral questions that reveal ownership:
- “Describe a time you fixed a recurring operational issue.”
- “Explain how you ensured daily logistics stayed on track.”
Independent execution
EA/Ops roles require consistency without micromanagement.
Practical EA/Ops Evaluation Exercises
1. Communication Rewrite
Provide a messy email and ask the candidate to polish it.
2. Documentation Task
Ask for a one-page SOP or process description.
3. Prioritization Exercise
Design a scenario with urgent, ambiguous, and routine tasks.
4. Calendar & Inbox Scenario
Test judgment and time-management instincts.
5. Tool Fluency Check
Evaluate proficiency in:
- Google Workspace
- Notion
- Slack
- Asana or ClickUp
- CRM platforms
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Behavioral Interview Questions to Reveal Work Patterns
Role clarity
“How do you keep an executive aligned on priorities?”
Escalation skills
“How do you differentiate urgent vs. important?”
Operations oversight
“Explain how you maintain task and deadline accuracy.”
Communication approach
“How do you summarize complex information clearly?”
Red Flags During EA/Ops Evaluation
- Vague or overly short answers
- Poor writing samples
- Weak documentation skills
- Over-explaining without structure
- Unclear availability or inconsistent communication
- Limited experience with core tools
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FAQ
Q1: Which skills matter most when evaluating EA/Ops roles?
Communication clarity, systems thinking, documentation capability, and reliability.
Q2: Are practical tests necessary?
Yes — they reveal real-world performance much better than standard interviews.
Q3: Should candidates already know US tools?
Ideally yes. Most strong MENA candidates have experience with Notion, Google Workspace, Slack, and Asana.
Q4: How do you test for ownership?
Use behavioral questions combined with reliability-focused exercises.
