National Citizens Advice Executive Assistant Interview Questions
& Process

We started by discussing what I could bring to the organisation. Then we talked about my commitment to volunteering and my previous experience. I had worked in Oldham for CAB some years previously so they asked about that experience. They asked if I could bleed a radiator when I was a bit tipsy after a couple of sherries. It was just about me basically and my ability to work in a team, my ability to be non judgmental and impartial.

After submitting a long online application, I got invited for a two-part interview a week later. The email communication to set it up was super nice, but the interview itself was terrible. I was so disappointed I felt I had to give feedback for the first time ever. They clearly hadn't read my application because they asked the same questions that were in it, even the initial screening ones! Like others have said about CAB interviews, the interviewers were unresponsive and really cold. They mostly read from paper and didn't look at the camera. After each answer, they just went to the next question without saying anything or asking follow-ups, making it seem like they weren't listening. It's supposed to be a two-way chat, especially for an organization that works with people. It's no wonder people, including myself, seemed to zone out.

The interview process was very detailed and thorough, requiring lots of real-world examples. The first interview was online with two people, followed by an in-person meeting with the section leader. It felt interesting and thorough. They were very interested in how my real-life experiences could help others, not just focused on exam qualifications.