The Unrealistic EA Job Spec

An international company approached Knightsbridge Recruitment.  Their Managing Director was looking for a first-class PA/EA with:

• 10 years’ board-level experience
• Fluency in English, French and Norwegian
• Proven experience working in both formal private households and fast-paced business environments
• A high level of emotional intelligence, flexibility, composure under pressure and absolute discretion

The client had used two London based recruitment agencies, but during the three months they had worked on the brief, they had only introduced three candidates, none of whom had impressed at interview or been the right ‘fit’.  The client was unimpressed.

From the outset, we recognised the client’s frustration – she had invested three months with two established agencies yet had seen only three unsuitable candidates. We approached the brief with a consultative mindset.

We immediately recognised that the ideal candidate profile – particularly the combination of languages required, along with 10 years’ board-level experience and experience in both private households and corporate environments – was exceptionally rare and therefore unlikely to be found.

Following a 45 minute in-person meeting with the Managing Director, we gained a clear understanding of her priorities and what was genuinely essential versus ‘desirable’ for the EA role.  As a result, the brief was redefined: Norwegian was no longer required, and it was agreed that 5 years’ board level experience was sufficient as long as the candidate ‘fit’ was right.

Within 3 days, we presented five exceptional candidates. One stood out: a bilingual English/French EA with a career spanning FTSE 100 boardrooms and private estates in London and the South of France. Her warmth, intelligence, and intuition instantly resonated with the client.

She was offered and accepted the role after her second interview.