The Best Interview Questions for Personal Assistants

woman with snack board in kitchen

At Pepper’s Personal Assistants, we will listen to your specific needs and work hard to match you perfectly with the ideal personal assistant (PA). While we are confident in our recruiting process, you may have additional questions. Feel confident in your decision by asking the best interview questions for personal assistants.

Here’s how it works.

Our HR Director will do a deep dive into your preferences and seek out a dedicated personal assistant to provide you with recurring household support. Then, we will facilitate a meeting between you and a potential PA where we will discuss Pepper’s Personal Assistants’ policies and guidelines, and you can bring up any concerns you might have.

Before deciding to go forward with your matched assistant, you may want to consider asking the following questions so that you can feel confident everyone is on the same page.

[Related: 6 Signs You Need a Personal Assistant]

Why Are You a Personal Assistant and What Do You Enjoy About Your Role?

Before venturing into more detailed questions, asking why this PA candidate has pursued this job path and what they enjoy about being a personal assistant can help you get to know their goals and what type of person they are. It’s also a great open-ended icebreaker question.

What Are Some of Your Hobbies and Interests Outside of Work?

Asking the candidate about their hobbies and interests outside of work can also help you get to know them. Someone who has similar interests and hobbies might be more of a great fit for you since they can relate to your daily life. Their special interests could also potentially benefit your working relationship. 

For example, if the candidate loves the outdoors and you are just beginning to embark on camping trips, they might be able to provide specialized insight on camping packing and to-do lists, best places to hike, and local businesses they recommend supporting.

[Related: Do Successful People Outsource? The Answer is Yes.]

What Specific Skills or Strengths Set You Apart?

Find out if the candidate has any special skills or strengths that set them apart from other candidates. Who knows? Your potential PA could be extremely skilled at something that could benefit you through minimizing your mental load and decreasing your stress level. 

If Your Client Needs to Go on a Last Minute Trip, How Would You Support Them?

The answer to this interview question can reveal a lot about a potential PA. Asking the candidate how they would support you during this kind of last-minute situation (i.e. booking flights, rental cars, finding a hotel room, and making sure everything runs smoothly at home) can give you insight into if they’d be a good match..

[Related: Will More Free Time Bring You Joy?]

How Do You Deal with a Stressful Situation?

You should feel confident that your PA can handle stressful situations efficiently and in a way that complements your needs. Asking someone how they manage stress themselves is especially important when finding the best personal assistant fit.

What Are You Most Proud of in Regards to Your Past Experiences Supporting Others?

Allow the candidate to take time to shine. Find out what they’re most proud of accomplishing in their past roles. This can help you get an idea of what they might be able to accomplish for your household as well.

[Related: Our Advice for Getting Started with Your Personal Assistant]

Find the Best-Fitting PA for Your Needs with Pepper’s Personal Assistants

Pepper’s Personal Assistants are ready to listen to your particular needs and find you an assistant that will make your daily life easier, and give you more time to focus on the things that matter. 

Asking the best interview questions for personal assistants is just one part of the personal assistant journey. Do you want to learn more about the process of hiring a PA through Pepper’s Personal Assistants? Curious about The Pepper’s Way? Check out our services and get started today

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Pepper’s Personal Assistant Reviews

See what it’s really like to work with a Pepper’s personal assistant!

A True Game-Changer

“Having Mary as my personal assistant has been a game-changer. I don’t have to think about laundry or the cat litter—she handles all those daily tasks I’d rather not do. She’s proactive, assertive in all the right ways, and totally in control of every detail. I’d rate her a 5 out of 5, no question!”

Brian T.

Proactive, Reliable, Caring Support

“Sarah has been such a reliable support—always proactive, spotting things that need to be done before I even ask, and taking care of them. She has such a positive attitude and is constantly looking for ways to add value and make things easier. And I love how much happier and more spoiled my dogs are thanks to her care. I barely have to think about her day-to-day, and I mean that in the best way possible!”

K.W.

Exceptional Home Management

“Bernice is simply amazing—I just can’t say enough good things about her. She excels at physical tasks and knows my habits so well that she can anticipate my needs without me even saying anything. As a house manager, she’s exceptional; she takes care of all those little things that I wouldn’t even think of. Over time, we’ve developed a wonderful rhythm, and it’s such a relief to have someone who just knows what needs to be done and does it effortlessly.”

J.H.

Exceeding Expectations Every Day

“My PA has truly exceeded my expectations. I really enjoy coming home now because everything in my home is something I know and love. She’s helped me with tasks I didn’t even know where to begin, and her ability to do the background work and present options has been invaluable. She has made it possible for me to manage things without feeling overwhelmed, and it’s been a game changer for me!”

W.W.

Bringing Joy and Efficiency

“My PA Tess is proactive and handles everything beautifully, from small tasks that bring joy to big projects like planning trips. She balances recurring tasks with high-priority work, and everything gets done perfectly. I didn’t realize how much joy small things like making the bed could bring until Tess started doing them. She has truly made a difference in our home, bringing both efficiency and a level of organization and joy we didn’t realize we needed.”

K.H.

Support That Makes a Difference

“Having Missa as a PA has taken me from daily treading water to swimming to the shore. I’ve gone from never quite keeping up with things to actually having extra energy to do more. She has been a tremendous help, reducing my stress and allowing me to rest and recover. The support I receive is perfect; Missa is a 5 out of 5 in meeting all my needs. I’ve already recommended Pepper’s to a few friends because having extra help makes all the difference.”

Kathy M.

Back-to-School Unmatched Support

“Having Jay as my personal assistant has been fantastic. She helps me tackle projects that were just looming over my head and has built a great rapport with my teenage son. She’s helped my son pick out his back-to-school wardrobe and coached him through decisions — I couldn’t ask for better support. I sometimes think about when I could handle everything on my own, but now I can’t imagine doing it without Jay’s help.”

R.B.

PA to the Rescue

“I am very satisfied with my personal assistant. The biggest relief is knowing that when things get hectic with work my PA is there to help us from lighting on fire, especially when one of us is traveling.”

Ana V.

Dream PA Experience

“I am very satisfied; My PA has everything dialed in and the schedule works really well and is flexible when needed. Honestly: My PA and I click very well, I love it, it’s a dream!”

Jodi K.

Stress-Free Travel

“One of the massive benefits of having a PA is during travel disruptions. When flights are delayed, the kids are upset, and you’re stuck in customs, coming home to a stocked fridge and a prepared meal eliminates the need for a late-night milk run. You don’t realize the stress these tasks add until you have someone to handle them for you.”

A.S.

11/10!

“My PA is incredible—an 11 out of 10—really thoughtful, thorough, intuitive. She is professional but friendly; she has just been great. A couple of times because of things going on with her calendar, Kandis has been flexible—coming 15 minutes later to drop the dog off at puppy play. She has been really great.”

Libby

Thoughtful and Detail-Oriented

“My PA is a thoughtful and discerning assistant. She pays attention to details in our home and makes great suggestions for how to improve and optimize our lives. We trust her judgment, and she communicates proactively and frequently. She is always on-site on time and patient with my unpredictable schedule. We communicate frequently, but she’s also very efficient in how we communicate. Great work!”

Client

Super Happy!

“[I] really do think Kandis is setting the bar! Having a new person come into your house can go either way. [I’m] very grateful for the time and energy and people that Pepper’s has. It’s a big step; no suggestions around onboarding. [I’m] really happy that we were able to board Kandis quickly; super happy for the West Seattle support.”

Libby

Organizing Superhero

“My PA is really good at organizing; it’s one of her superpowers. Some of the simple reorganizing things that she has done have made a big impact. She organized all the cat stuff in the garage and took the initiative on her own. She’s bright and cheery—no moaning, whining. Very great.”

Emma

One of the Best Decisions I’ve Made

“I just wanted to take a few minutes to tell you how much I have appreciated working with all of the Pepper’s staff. My assistant is so generous and thoughtful — she brings value to every interaction. I can’t remember a time when I’ve hired anyone with such a professional and high standard of customer service. Working with you all has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in a very long time!”

Libby

10/10 for Sure!

“Missa is a 10/10 for sure! She has been wonderful, and we check in regularly. I’m comfortable communicating with her about questions or requests, and she’s always been very responsive and also seems comfortable checking in if she has any questions for me. [The] biggest help remains pet care and household chores support, plus the help with one-off projects that come up. Missa has all kinds of skills she brings, (e.g., she’s currently putting together a ‘cat highway’ for the living room rafters).”

Homeowner

My Quality of Life Has Improved

“I used to spend every weekend and every evening doing chores and running errands. Now, I’m able to spend the time that I need to on my business, and then I get to enjoy my home and my life and the precious unstructured time that I have. The truth is, my quality of life has improved by having a Pepper’s household assistant here.”

Libby

Takes Initiative

“I want to mention what a fantastic personal assistant Billie is to me. We were on vacation last week, and she managed my household and vendors flawlessly. I even had her redecorate my office, and I gave her very little direction other than just to make it nice and functional, and, my goodness, did she ever! She takes initiative in my house in so many other ways but does not overstep or overspend. To strike that balance is really something unique and special. I feel really lucky to have her.”

Anura

I’m Blown Away

“[I’m] blown away by how much better the house looks already :)”

Graham

Kind, Caring, and Proactive

“My PA is a very caring person. I was incredibly ill last year, and my PA connected the dots that the washing machine had a lot of mold and thought the black specs on my clothes were from that. On her own time, my PA sent me an article about the impact of mold/washing machines. It was so kind of her.”

Emma

Goes Above and Beyond

“My PA has gone above and beyond. She’s organized my laundry room while keeping on top of laundry, which made it much easier to stay on top of stuff. She’s always ready to jump in and tackle items. It made this holiday season way less stressful.”

Andrea