Creative Hiring: How to Find Great Admin or Executive Assistant Talent (When Job Boards Fail You)
I was the hire that looked crappy on paper.
My experience? Pretty much Waffle House. (Thanks to my mom who made me get a job in high school to pay for my car insurance.)
Side note: you learn a lot about life and ambition working at a Waffle House.
Second side note: I’m from the South, y’all — so sweet tea, greasy food, and waffles will forever have a special place in my heart.
In any case, my resume back then read something like this:
Waffle House
A medical discharge from the Army National Guard
A few restaurant gigs
And some college classes
That’s it.
When I walked into a staffing office, I wasn’t looking for a “career.” I just wanted to break out of the service industry.
Luckily, an amazing recruiter saw something in me that most hiring managers wouldn’t have. She looked past my resume and saw potential.
I was 18 — determined, a little scrappy, and eager to prove myself. She gave me my first shot in an office.
I started as an administrative assistant, covered the front desk when the office manager was out, and eventually worked my way into recruiting and personnel supervision.
That opportunity changed the entire trajectory of my career.
Why This Story Matters
I don’t share this story to say, “Look at me, I made it!” (Although… I kinda did, and I’m proud of that.)
I share it because there are incredible hires hiding in unexpected places — if you bother to look.
If you’re struggling to find your perfect fit, maybe it’s not that the talent doesn’t exist. Maybe it’s that you’re looking in the wrong places.
Getting Creative With Hiring
Sometimes, your next great assistant or operations hire isn’t sitting on LinkedIn polishing their resume. They might be:
A barista who has memorized her regulars by order and by name
A teacher who’s tired of the classroom but thrives on organization
A PTA parent who’s basically been running a nonprofit for free (side note: our favorite VA's have been the seasoned moms, nothing phases them!)
A restaurant lead who knows how to juggle 12 requests at once with a smile
If you’re hiring and feeling stuck, ask yourself: What traits do I actually need for this role — and where else might those traits already exist?
Because the best hire for your business might not have the “right” experience… but they might have exactly the right instincts.
If this week’s Quickcast hit a little too close to home — and you’re realizing your “perfect hire” might not come from the obvious places — then The Hiring Kit is where you should start.
It’s the exact framework we use inside Auxo to help clients define what they actually need, screen candidates effectively, and make confident hiring decisions (without getting lost in endless interviews or resume fluff).
Inside, you’ll get:
Our proven job description templates
A full set of interview questions that reveal how people think, not just what they’ve done
Hiring checklists and scoring guides so decisions don’t rely on gut feelings
The same step-by-step process we follow internally to find assistants and managers who stick
If you’re tired of guessing — or ready to stop hiring based on who “feels” right — this kit will give you the structure and sanity you’ve been missing.