Category: Jobs and Employment
Has anyone ever hired an assistant & if so, what type of questions did you ask to screen your assistant?
Alot has happened to me in the past 2 days, & I'm looking at going on tour (doing speaking engagements) hopefully sooner rather then later. Becoming a Certified Coach Practitioner & getting my autobiography published.
I need to find an assistant, but I'm not exactly sure how to put together an interview.
Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Michelle
I once hired an assistant through Craigslist and it worked out well. I posted pretty precise job requirements but kept the interview informal. I had my sister around for a second opinion and a visual input, how the people dressed, if they looked tidy etc. I also left a 20 dollar note around in an obvious spot to see if it disappeared (it's may be silly, I know, but just a bit of a test). I think it's not so much what questions you ask, more of what kind of feel you get for the people who show up. For me I interviewed 7 or 8 people but had a very clear choice winner at the end of the process, some people's schedule didn't work with mine, some I downright didn't like but one person met all the criteria. So just post detailed requirements and try, more than anything, to get a feel for the person. Also ask about a CV and or a resume, those who put some work into it and send you a good one are more likely to be earnest about the job.
Ok, thank you very much!! I appreciate it!
Michelle
I think having a sighted person in the room to give you input on visual clues after the interviewee leaves is an excellent idea. Body language and facial expressions tell sighted people a lot that we as blind people cannot pick up on.
Very true, thank you!!
the user that said he left 20 dollars I think thats a good idea to see if that person would taken it and to see how trust worthy they was. I'll do 5 dollars. 20 bucs is to much and if they did take it and then ran u lost 20 dollars that could been prevented by just placing a little amount. I would have a full sited person too to look at appearance and see if they looking around all over. I'll get a background check. I'll there ssn to see for crime records
Lol. Well, that's def high tech security! Nonetheless, I'll be doing all that too if I can get anyone to bite that is. So far nothing, but my ads been viewed 7 times.
Yeah, $20 is def way to much to lose!
No, it's not. People, if they are the stealing type, will be much more tempted by a big note than a small one.
I used to meet mine in a random location, then just go for coffee somewhere. Coffee shops are perfect places for seeing how an assistant will cope in a busy situation, having to multitask. I presume you want an assistant for guiding in unfamiliar areas, as well as helping with the admin. Again, a coffee shop is perfect. It's noisy, cramped, busy... All of the most challenging environments rolled into one. If they coped, or if they had the sense to ask questions to help them cope, then that was a plus for me.
I, like Wildebrew, went on gut instinct, provided they met the specific job requirements i'd posted. I kept my interviews informal (well, they have to be in a coffee shop, don't they?) and looked more at whether our personalities would be compatible over extended periods than if they could answer complex interview questions well.
Hope this helps.
FM
It does, thank you. I have a cane, so no need for guiding though.
For me, $20 is too much to lose, at this moment. If I get my job off the ground, then it wouldn't be, technically speaking. However, for me, losing money, at any time for any reason is a pain in the rear.
As long as they serve coco in coffee shops, I'll be good! Lol. Don't like coffee.