Met with first cut HR guy, then with CEO and then with SVP HR. I heard the same horror stories from each of them about past assistants. Sounded like they were repeatedly hiring young and inexperienced people to support their Chief Executive. Didn't make sense to me.

I’ve received many calls about this position over the last 2 years. Despite the red flags, I decided to interview this time to make my own determinations about this situation at TH. Anyhoo - I was asked for a writing sample prior to the interview which I threw together that evening when I really had no time. I was given no guidelines as for their norm, as every company crafts these differently so I wrote one lengthy enough to adequately convey my abilities. After all, this was a task to demonstrate that I'm not a bumbling idiot (in so many words) which I found degrading at my experience level. During the 1st interview, which didn’t go as scheduled (other posters are right that the CEO is only available if you pass the recruiter’s first check), I was told my informal writing sample was going to be forwarded to their “chief grammar expert,” which I found crass. Furthermore, that’s a pretty strange focus - asking a senior-level EA for a writing sample for a “”new employee announcement” which is normally crafted by HR. I’ve personally never been asked for a writing sample in my entire career, as my resume more than reflects my qualifications. On top of that, the recruiter decided to sit in my interview with the CEO. No recruiter with experience would find that beneficial from the candidate’s perspective. I got the same horror stores the other posters received about former assistants (I also got conflicting stories about how the reception desk is tied in to this job and no EA to a CEO should be in that mix). In addition, no sophisticated EA who is expected to “serve in an executive capacity” (which the CEO mentioned he wanted in this role) should be required to run the CEO’s car around to car washes and inspections, to get meals (at a restaurant he owns so you’d expect them to deliver), and the like. They want a lower level EA coupled with a sophisticated EA to sit in on board meetings and contribute on an advanced level and be available after hours. These positions traditionally pay six figures. That said, the salary is not commensurate though he seems to think it is. He told me he was looking for someone to take the job for the job itself "not the money." O-KAY. This job would not have been an increase for me. They claim to consider the person in this role an "executive" yet they've historically hired people with no experience to meet this expectation. I was asked to return for a 2nd interview (I shouldn’t have bothered) that again lasted 3 hours instead of the 1-hr. allotted time mostly because there was no regard for my time and I had to wait 45 minutes for the HR person to see me at which time I was told I am too old for the CEO’s taste (in so many words) - that he tends to hire inexperienced people because he thinks experience means you know nothing about college dining experiences though she was trying to convince him to hire someone older with more experience – that he is focused on the wrong qualities in an EA. Ironically, this conversation was after my meeting with him when he told me he was irritated that his former EA’s didn’t contribute in meetings. Employers don’t want candidates going to interviews bashing their former employers but the ENTIRE INTERVIEW was bashing of former assistants. He had nothing much to ask about me or my experiences and he dodged my questions. I was in complete awe when he told me that his last EA caused one of his homes to be sold without his knowledge. THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE. In addition, the recruiter had told me the CEO was concerned about “how I felt about my last boss” when he asked why I left the role, which was interesting because my response was very neutral and had nothing to do with my boss! This means that his filter is off, or that he does not listen. He came off as very distrusting, cold and not really wanting to deal with filling the position. There’s something to be said in this job climate when folks constantly leave a position and the turnover is so universally known, they won’t advertise for a role; much less, when the blame is pointed to everyone else. During the interview, it was suggested that a thank you note was expected. After replaying all of this in my mind, I just couldn’t bring myself to send one– but I got no business cards anyway. They want thank you notes when they downright insult people during interviews. When people go out of their way to interview in-person, especially being tied up longer than scheduled, they deserve better. If I am “too old” for his norm, I am not sure why I was even called back in a second time. I didn’t want to have to be that person to experience the same treatment others report, but since I did, I am not hesitant to post my experience. It’s really offensive and I don’t appreciate it after taking 3 days of my time on this. I knew when I left I’d never hear back. Oh, and they are very aware of their poor ratings, yet continually choose to exercise unprofessionalism!