How to Hire an Executive Assistant in Barcelona: A Founder's Guide
Hiring your first EA in Barcelona? A few things worth knowing before you post the job.
Language Is Not Optional
If you're doing business here, your EA needs working Spanish at minimum. Catalan matters more than outsiders expect, in dealings with local institutions, landlords, even some banks. An EA who only speaks English will hit a wall the first time your admin touches anything genuinely local: an appointment with Hacienda, a landlord negotiation, a supplier contract.
Local Knowledge Beats a Generic Checklist
Spanish bureaucracy has its own rhythm. Padrón registrations, NIE appointments, autónomo paperwork: none of it works quite like anywhere else. An EA based here, who has done this before, saves you the entire education curve.
What to Actually Ask in an Interview
Skip the generic "tell me about your organisational skills." Ask instead: how would you handle a landlord who won't respond to Spanish-language emails? What's your process in the first week with a new client? Have you ever had to push back on a request, and how did you handle it? The answers tell you far more than a CV.
The right EA in Barcelona isn't just organised. They're fluent in the city's paperwork as much as its language, and that's exactly the standard we hold our team to.
