An executive assistant manages the professional life of a C-suite leader — calendaring, travel logistics, board prep, and acting as a filter for everything that lands in the executive's inbox. They often report directly to a CEO, CFO, or Managing Director and work in fast-paced environments where plans change hourly. A typical week might involve booking a last-minute flight to Frankfurt, drafting a board presentation, and coordinating a client dinner, all at the same time. Financial services, consulting, media, and tech companies are among the biggest hirers.
Sarah Patterson
Executive Assistant
📍 London, UK✉️ sarah.patterson@email.com
Summary
Discreet and highly capable Executive Assistant with 7 years of experience supporting C-suite executives in investment banking. Expert at managing complex schedules, confidential documentation, and high-profile events.
Work Experience
Executive Assistant to Managing Director at Goldman SachsJan 2021 — Present
Provide comprehensive support to Managing Director and 3 Vice Presidents across investment banking division
Manage complex international travel schedules across 15+ countries with seamless logistics
Senior Executive Assistant at JP MorganApr 2018 — Dec 2020
Supported 2 Executive Directors managing over £500M in client assets
Streamlined expense reporting process reducing approval turnaround from 5 days to 24 hours
Executive Assistant CVs must convey discretion, capability, and the ability to operate at the highest levels of an organisation. Recruiters want to see the seniority of executives you supported and the complexity of work handled.
The biggest mistake is underselling the role. Supporting a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs is not the same as general admin. Be specific about the level you operated at and the confidentiality of the work.
Formatting Tips
One to two pages. Use a conservative, elegant template consistent with the corporate environments you have worked in. Put the names of organisations prominently.
Average Salary — Executive Assistant
United States
$65,000 – $105,000
United Kingdom
$45,000 – $75,000
Germany
$40,000 – $62,000
UAE / Dubai
$50,000 – $85,000
Canada
$55,000 – $85,000
Australia
$60,000 – $90,000
Figures in USD. Ranges reflect mid-level experience (3–7 years). Senior roles and major metro areas typically sit at the top of these bands.
Top 5 Interview Questions — Executive Assistant
1Describe a situation where you had to handle a sensitive or confidential matter with discretion.
Don't reveal specifics — that's actually the point. Describe the type of situation and the principle you used to navigate it. Interviewers are testing whether you understand confidentiality instinctively.
2How do you manage a calendar when three urgent requests all arrive at the same time?
Walk through your actual triage logic. Talk about how you assess urgency versus importance, when you go back to the executive for guidance, and what tools you use to stay on top of it.
3What's your process for preparing a senior leader for an important external meeting?
Cover briefing docs, attendee research, pre-read materials, and any logistics. Show you anticipate what the executive needs to know — not just what they asked for.
4How proficient are you with Microsoft Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint? Can you give examples?
Be specific — describe formatting board decks, using delegate mailbox access, or setting up complex recurring meetings across time zones. Vague answers here hurt you.
5Tell me about a time you proactively solved a problem before your executive even knew it existed.
This is the question that separates reactive EAs from exceptional ones. Pick an example that shows foresight, initiative, and the ability to think like the person you support.
How to Tailor Your CV
McKinsey, JPMorgan, Netflix, Apple, and major law firms like Freshfields all hire experienced EAs at premium salaries. At consulting firms, expect to support multiple partners and manage complex multi-timezone travel. Investment banks want near-perfect attention to detail and experience with expense reporting systems like Concur. Tech companies often look for EAs who are comfortable with Slack, Notion, and Google Workspace at an advanced level, not just basic scheduling.