Executive Assistant Behaviour Statement Examples

Complete AO and EO Civil Service behaviour examples for Executive Assistant and Diary Manager applications

Executive support roles can be assessed against several Civil Service behaviours. The strongest example is the one that proves the behaviour while still sounding like real executive support work.

Return to the Civil Service Executive Assistant Applications hub for the role overview and links to personal statement, CV and interview guidance.

Behaviours that commonly fit Executive Assistant work

The advert decides which behaviours are assessed. Diary and executive support roles often lend themselves well to Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing and Working Together. Other behaviours can appear depending on the post.

• Managing a Quality Service: reliable diaries, accurate papers, clear processes and support that works for the senior office and its stakeholders.
• Delivering at Pace: controlling urgent changes, prioritising deadlines and keeping essential work moving.
• Communicating and Influencing: clarifying requests, negotiating diary changes and adapting messages for different stakeholders.
• Working Together: coordinating across private offices, directorates and support teams to deliver a shared outcome.

How AO and EO evidence differs

AO examples should show reliable delivery, accurate work and appropriate escalation. EO examples should show more independent judgement, negotiation and ownership of the support service.

Common behaviour mistakes

• Using a diary example where the only action is moving meetings.
• Explaining that the office was busy without showing how priorities were decided.
• Using senior stakeholders as decoration instead of showing a real communication challenge.
• Writing a result that only says the meeting happened successfully.
• For EO, leaving every important decision to the manager.
• For AO, overstating authority instead of showing good judgement within the role.