XP Video Style Guide

Your path to an exciting and fulfilling career

Hello, aspiring Athenean!
We’re inviting you to create your Executive Partner video so we can
give you feedback during your upcoming interview.

Your video will tell us how ready you are to become an Executive
Partner to one of our clients– whether they are a CEO, Founder, or a
global executive on the other side of the world.

To help you get started, here are some tips and tricks to set you up
for success. We’re looking forward to receiving your video within our
application process before your interview schedule.

All the best!

Athena Recruitment Team

Let’s practice by filling in the blanks
Making a Good First Impression Sharing Your Experience and How Your Ending with Confidence and Shared
Personality and Skills Fit the Role Success Through Partnership

Hi, my name is _____________ and I’m My purpose at Athena is to help you Overall, I am confident that with my
excited to be your next Executive Assistant. ____________. In my past role, I was __________ skills, I can support you and
My background is in ____________. What described as___________. Through my achieve more success together. Thank you for
that means is ___________. experience, I have demonstrated my ability to taking time to review my application.
_______. When not at work, my hobby is
_________.

Hi, I am ____________. I used to work as a I am a stand out executive assistant because Ultimately, my goal is to become your partner
____________ and my typical day was all __________. If asked, my former colleagues in achieving your goals. In being your
about ____________. would definitely say I am ____________. A executive assistant, I look forward to
fun fact about me is __________. _____________ and speaking to you soon.

Hello, __________ here. My most recent Every time I am given a problem to solve, I If given the chance to work with you, I am
work experience was in ____________. I was think to myself ___________. The last time I excited to help you achieve
measured in terms of goals such as faced a challenge at work, the situation was _________________. This quote really
__________. In fact, I achieved__________. ____________. I did __________ and the speaks to me: _________________. Thank
result was _________. On a personal note, I you for taking time to review my application.
am also a _______
Let’s try making it your own
Now, you don’t want to sound like everybody else. So the way to make your video truly one of a kind is to share your own thoughts and
experiences. Here are some questions you can answer to prepare for your recording. You may also see this article for more information on how to
approach sharing your experience and skills.

1. What experience do you have that makes you an ideal executive assistant?
2. How have you supported executives in the past and what were the results?
3. Can you give an example of a time when you demonstrated your problem-solving skills in
a high-pressure situation?
4. How do you prioritize your tasks and manage your time effectively?
5. Can you share a specific accomplishment you achieved in a previous role, and how you
measured its success?
6. How do you communicate with executives and other team members to ensure success in
your role?
7. How do you approach handling confidential information and maintaining discretion? I.e.,
how can the client ensure that you are trustworthy?
8. Can you give an example of how you have demonstrated initiative in a previous role and
objectively discuss the result?
9. How do you stay organized and manage multiple projects or tasks simultaneously?
10. How do you approach collaborating with others, both within and outside of your team?
Here’s one last example of a script
"Hello! My name is Cris, and I am excited to be your next executive assistant!

With 5 years of experience supporting high-level executives, I am confident that I have the skills and expertise necessary to support you in achieving your goals.

Through my past experience, I have demonstrated my ability to effectively communicate with executives and team members, prioritize tasks and manage my time
effectively, and approach problem-solving with a creative and proactive mindset. For example, in my previous role as a project management associate at XYZ Company, I
successfully implemented a new CRM system, resulting in increased efficiency and improved customer satisfaction. By effectively communicating with executives and team
members, prioritizing tasks, and adopting a proactive and creative approach, I accomplished the implementation within the projected timeframe and budget. Through thorough
research and collaboration with stakeholders, I identified the most suitable CRM solution and led a cross-functional team throughout the process. By providing comprehensive
user training and closely monitoring performance metrics, we achieved a 35% reduction in response time and a 20% improvement in customer satisfaction scores. The
centralized customer data enabled personalized and efficient service, leading to increased customer loyalty and repeat business.

Additionally, I have a demonstrated track record of maintaining confidentiality and discretion while taking initiative and collaborating effectively with others. For
instance, in my previous position as an executive assistant at ABC Corporation, I was entrusted with handling sensitive and confidential information, such as
executive-level discussions, financial data, and strategic plans. I consistently ensured the security and confidentiality of these materials, implementing robust
information management systems and adhering to strict protocols. Furthermore, I actively participated in cross-functional teams, fostering open communication,
sharing insights, and contributing to the successful completion of projects. My commitment to confidentiality, initiative, and collaborative approach allowed me to build
trust with both executives and colleagues, facilitating efficient and effective workflows.

Overall, I am confident that I have the skills and experience necessary to be a successful executive assistant for your organization. Thank you for considering my
application, and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss further how I can support you."
Need one last look? Check out this video from a
successful XP candidate.
DOs and DON’Ts
● Do explain your achievements through specific numbers. For example, “In my
previous role, I filed sales reports each week that reduced waiting time by 3
business days. This led to an increase in revenue by 15% monthly.”

● Do share what you are good at, not what you are bad at.

● Do connect your personality to specific outcomes. For example, “My high

attention to detail helped me to catch more errors in the paper work, and I was
commended by my boss in front of my peers.”

● Do not use words that don’t help you stand out as an Executive Partner. Words
such as “work-life balance,” “fur parent,” "financial security” and “I hope to
serve you as an assistant” are discouraged.

● Do not let yourself down by starting your sentences with words such as “While
I am not the best, I try really hard to do ________.” Or “I know I still need to
improve but so far _________.”
Some reminders before you press record
(Just in case!)
Clean The Lenses (whether it’s on your laptop or your phone)
To ensure your video is crisp and crystal clear, clean the lenses of your
phone beforehand. Use a soft cloth to wipe off any smudge, dust, or
fingerprints.

Set The Focus

To keep your shot focused on you, tap your screen on where your face is.
Your phone should re-focus on the area you selected.

Shoot At A Well Lighted Location

To get the best video, shoot at a location with ample lighting (preferably
with natural light, but artificial is also viable, especially for indoor shoots).
Areas with low lighting conditions tend to be grainy and blurred.

Use Landscape Mode (same as the image here) with a Phone Stand
One common problem for shooting with a phone is camera shake. Use a
tripod or phone stand to capture your video in a stable manner. Don’t
forget to look at the camera when you are speaking!
Let’s now make your video
Have you read these tips?

You can have post-it notes ● Use ZOOM to

close to your camera so you Check that your camera lens record your video
can follow your script. Make is clean and is capturing ● Make sure you do
sure not to cover your your video. You should see a not exceed 2
camera lens. light indicating that the minutes on your
camera is recording. entire video
Check that you’re seen on
● Use a plain-colored
the frame.
or non-distracting
background
Have a separate microphone ● Record your video
if possible for a clearer in a place that is
sound. quiet
A ring light will do the job if
● Stay in the center
you want to look sharp,
of the frame
professional and video-ready.
● Wear clothes you
Place your phone on silent If you have no ring light,
would wear to a job
mode if you want it near you. you can also increase your
interview
You can also put it on a screen brightness.
phone stand to read some
bullet points.
Make sure you can navigate the
Earphones are great, noise cancelling
Zoom screen with a mouse.
ones are even better.
Press record when ready!
You did it! Well done.

Make sure to your video is uploaded through

Fountain before your scheduled interview. We
look forward to meeting you.