Macquarie Group Executive Assistant Interview Questions
& Process

I want to share my thoughts on my recent recruiting experience for the Executive Assistant job. The early parts of the process felt pretty solid. I had an initial chat with the recruiter, then moved on to a first-round interview with a really involved panel, and after that, I did a 1.5-hour assessment. After that, I had a second interview on-site. But then, nothing for about two months. The recruiter eventually got back to me, saying I was still being considered and that I'd get more info the next week. I figured that was a good sign and kept participating. But then, instead of hearing anything directly, I got an automated email to do a candidate experience survey. When I checked my application, I saw my status was updated to 'unsuccessful' with no direct word. Considering I spent over ten hours commuting for two on-site interviews, plus getting ready for the assessment, this way of ending things felt really off, especially for a company like Macquarie. Being upfront and keeping candidates in the loop is super important for a good experience, and not doing that reflects badly on the whole process. I'm sharing this hoping it helps make communication better and ensures people are told directly and quickly, which would make the experience way better and align with the company's values.

So I decided to look for a new job and as a mother of a 10-month-old, I had some specific criteria. After talking to consultants, I got an interview call directly from Macquarie Group HR. In all rounds, aside from technical questions, I was asked how I'd manage work and my child. I patiently answered, even counter-questions. We discussed WFH, and HR/interviewers assured me it's available on a need basis. I cleared all rounds and got a verbal offer, but no letter yet as the signatory was unavailable. A week later, HR called, saying a third director needed to discuss the role before the offer letter. I agreed, and a call was set up with a senior female employee. The main discussion point was my ability to handle the hectic job schedule with a baby. I assumed it was a general chat and replied I had help, my husband/father would support me, and I could WFH if needed. After that, HR called (or I called him) saying the director had concerns and doubted my ability to cope with the hectic work environment. I got annoyed and embarrassed, telling him I didn't understand the process and refused further discussion, which he accepted. This was 1.5-2 months ago. Initially, I felt uneasy that my capabilities were judged based on being a mother. They could have said they found a better candidate, but instead, they specifically mentioned I couldn't handle the schedule. It's been bothering me, but I decided to share.

Robert Walters Recruitment contacted me about this Executive Assistant role after I had applied for a previous one; they thought my resume was a good fit. I interviewed, and they called me back the same day to let me know about the offer. I asked Robert Walters to negotiate salary for me, but Macquarie wasn't able to. I accepted the offer anyway and started the next week.