Evaluating Executive Assistants: Communication, Reliability & Productivity Skills
Evaluating Executive Assistants requires more than reviewing résumés or basic admin tests. For US startups hiring in Southeast Asia and India, the most successful EAs demonstrate strong communication, structured documentation, proactive ownership, and the ability to support executives across fast-moving environments. This guide provides an analytical evaluation framework that ensures founders select reliable, high-performing EAs.
Why EA Evaluation Must Go Beyond Traditional Admin Tests
EA responsibilities have expanded
Modern EAs handle complex workflows:
- Calendar ownership
- Inbox triage
- Meeting preparation
- Research & reporting
- Project coordination
- Communication drafting
Real-world performance matters more than theoretical skill
The strongest EAs show judgment, clarity, and reliability traits shaped by real experience in supporting executives.
Evaluation frameworks described in Building Effective EA Hiring Pipelines in Southeast Asia & India (Founder Edition) emphasize capability over task checklists.
Core Competencies to Evaluate in Executive Assistants
1. Communication Clarity
EAs should demonstrate excellence in:
- Written communication
- Email drafting
- Professional tone
- Summarization
- Note-taking
A simple test rewriting an email or summarizing a meeting — reveals 90% of communication quality.
2. Reliability & Responsiveness
Indicators include:
- Fast response patterns
- Accuracy under time pressure
- Strong follow-through
- Proactive task management
Reliable EAs typically have experience supporting US executives or managing high-volume admin workflows.
3. Productivity & Tool Proficiency
Modern EAs must be fluent in:
- Google Workspace
- Notion
- Slack
- Asana / ClickUp
- CRM systems
Tool competency strongly influences salary expectations outlined in Executive Assistant Salaries in Southeast Asia & India: What US Companies Should Expect.
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Practical Evaluation Exercises for EA Candidates
Communication Test
Goal: Evaluate clarity, tone, and structure
Task: Rewrite a poorly-written email or summarize a 3-paragraph memo.
Prioritization Test
Goal: Measure judgment
Task: Present a chaotic executive schedule or inbox and ask how they would prioritize.
Documentation Test
Goal: Assess structure and detail
Task: Create a short SOP for a simple recurring process (e.g., “weekly planning routine”).
Research Test
Goal: Assess analytical ability
Task: Compile a brief with sources, summaries, and a proposed action plan.
Behavioral Questions That Reveal EA Thinking
- “Describe how you handled a time conflict between two executives.”
- “Explain your approach to prioritizing a founder’s inbox.”
- “Walk me through your daily workflow when supporting an executive.”
- “How do you prepare for a high-stakes meeting?”
Look for structure, problem-solving, and ownership.
How to Evaluate Cultural & Work-Style Fit
Working with US executives
Candidates should understand:
- Direct communication norms
- Async vs real-time collaboration
- Standard reporting expectations
Personal work habits
Great EAs maintain:
- Consistent daily rituals
- Strong documentation habits
- Proactive communication
- Clear escalation patterns
Red Flags During EA Evaluation
Task completion without context
EAs must explain why they made decisions, not just what they did.
Poor task documentation
Incomplete or unstructured SOPs indicate organizational gaps.
Low communication density
Short, vague messages can lead to recurring misunderstandings.
Improper time-zone expectations
Strong EAs clearly communicate their schedule fit with US-time coverage.
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FAQ
Q1: How much testing is appropriate for EA hiring?
Two to three practical exercises are sufficient for evaluating key competencies.
Q2: Should EAs be assessed differently by region?
Not significantly — though Philippines EAs tend to excel at communication-heavy tasks, and India EAs often excel at research and documentation.
Q3: How important is tool proficiency?
Critical — especially for Notion, Google Workspace, Slack, and project tools.
Q4: Do communication tests reveal long-term fit?
Yes — clarity in writing is highly predictive of ongoing performance.
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