University of Minnesota Executive Assistant Interview Questions & Reviews

Interviewed Jun 2009 in Minneapolis, MN (took a day)

The University only allows online submissions though its HR portal, so this was how I applied. From knowing people who work at the University, I must say that this process is ridiculous. If you miss mentioning one single task that is required for the position (like not putting down that you know how to answer a phone, even though you've been a secretary for ten years), your application is rejected.

I was called for an interview for a union-represented executive assistant position in the Office of the Vice President for Research, so the interview had to go completely according to the union mandates. There were three people present during the interview and the questions were stock questions that asked about my general skills. After the interview, I was offered the position but was appalled at the amount of pay they offered. They said that the union stipulated what pay could be earned, but I did some investigating on pay, which is made public, and found that the union excuse was a load of bull. I've since learned from employees that low-balling in the pay negotiation phase is rampant and that its not unheard of at all to find out that a gullible supervisor with 10 years experience isn't earning as much as a new hire working for them. It's all a lot of lies apparently.