Executive Secretary Question:

This question is designed to find out how adaptable you are. The idea is to show that people are different and that you’re most effective if you treat people in a way that’s appropriate for them. Your answer could go something like this: “Well, first is your spouse and anybody else you want me to put through right away. Another important group is your direct reports. They’ll be trying to impress you, so it’s important for me to know who’s who so that I can sort things out. Another group consists of executives at the same level as you. This one is very much about politics. There’s a lot of jostling going on at that level to see who’s next in line for succession. There is also a lot of political maneuvering to see who’s on whose side. Finally, there are the customers. I need to know how you relate to customers so that I’ll know how to handle those calls when you get them.”