CEO: We require the services of a good Executive Assistant. Can you please find one for us?

Me: Good morning Sir, What’s the budget for the role? (The last time we recruited for this organisation, the budget for the role was NG100,000 per month, and we internally outsourced to another recruitment agency while maintaining the client interface).

CEO: I find that question unneccessary, impossible to answer and, in the main, unhelpful. I find it more useful to provide that we get the best candidates, interview them, determine their potential value from that and from earnings in past jobs held. We then go from there. Good morning.

ME: Ok. I am sorry you deem it unnecessary or unhelpful to ask for the budget. We have worked with your firm on this role before so already have background information on the role.

The question on budget is a standard question that helps us answer whether we can help you or not.

Budgets determine your candidate pool. It helps us streamline the qualifications, quality of experience, and what industry the candidate is most likely to come from.

Budgets are important for efficiency, so we don’t waste any parties time; Client, candidate or our time. Everyone needs to be clear on the budget. Candidates want to know before going through the process. The client needs to interview candidates they can clearly afford, and we want to advise the client on the feasibility of their budget.

We know of Executive Assistants earning NGN 100k and we have hired some earning in excess of NGN1m a month. The only thing similar is their job title. The qualifications and quality of experience differ, hence the pay disparity.

Our minimum fee is NGN450k per role or 15% of gross salary, whichever is higher.

If you are seeking someone earning less than NGN250k a month, it may not make financial sense to work with us, but if our minimum fee is acceptable to you, we can proceed.

I hope this clarifies your understanding.

CEO: Mute

6 months later…

CEO: We started to discuss on the role of an Executive Assistant a while ago, I have been overseas, and will like to resume the discussions.

Me: Good Morning, good to hear from you and welcome back.

Our minimum fee is NGN450k per role or 15% of gross salary, whichever is higher. If you are seeking someone earning less than NGN250k a month, it may not make financial sense to work with us, but if our minimum fee is acceptable to you, we can proceed.

I am also happy to refer you to a recruitment agency who work on lower budget roles. Do let me know how you would like to proceed?

CEO: Thank you. Please refer us to the other Agency. We do not pay our EAs N250k per month.

Me: Alright. Do let them know Adora referred.

What do you think of the dialogue?

Ps: My kids…I have loads of pictures like this in my gallery.