While it’s good to expect general interview questions — such as “What’s your biggest strength and weakness?” or “Why are you a good fit for this job?” — it’s more important to be prepared for questions a hiring manager may ask that delve further into the skills sets and personality traits required for the administrative jobs you’re applying for.
Robert Half is here to help with a list of administrative interview questions you may be asked if you’re a serious contender for an office support job.
Admin interview questions to expect
- What appeals to you about administrative jobs?
- What do you find most challenging about office support jobs in general?
- Why do you think you would be the best fit for this administrative position?
- What technologies have you used in your past office support jobs? Which ones are you most comfortable with?
- What type of documents or reports have you worked with or been asked to produce?
- What steps do you take to ensure the materials you produce are accurate and error-free?
Don’t forget that the interview is also your chance to ask the potential employer questions about the job and work environment. Find out how you can evaluate organizational culture.
- What type of work environment brings out your best performance?
- Do you have experience working remotely? If so, how did you ensure you continued to provide the level of necessary support while working outside the office?
- What would your previous boss say is your greatest strength as an administrative professional?
- What was the reporting structure in your previous administrative jobs?
- Have you ever reported to multiple supervisors simultaneously? If so, how did you juggle each manager’s priorities?
- What, if any, regular interaction did you have with colleagues in other departments? With other levels of management?
- Tell me about your experience working with clients, vendors and the public.
- Tell me about the most demanding customer — either internal or external — you have ever encountered. How did you ensure this person’s needs were met?
- Have you ever had conflict with a more-senior member of the team in past administrative jobs? If so, please tell me how you handled it.
- How do you feel about managing other employees?
- How do you feel about delegating work to colleagues when you do not have direct supervisory authority over them?
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- Tell me about a complex project you were asked to complete. How did you organize it and manage your time?
- Given the fast, often unpredictable, pace of office support jobs, how do you prioritize tasks during the average workday?
- Tell me about an administrative project you completed that you are particularly proud of.
- Tell me about an administrative project you managed where the deadline or deliverable changed suddenly. How did you handle the situation?
- Can you give me any examples of measures you took in previous office support jobs to reduce costs, increase revenues or create efficiencies?
- Describe a time when you exceeded expectations and provided superior customer service.
- What have you done in the last year to develop your skills or knowledge of the administrative profession?
- What traits or qualities do you feel are necessary for success in administrative jobs?
More resources
- How to Answer, ‘Why Do You Want to Work Here?’
- How to Talk About Your Weaknesses in a Job Interview
- How to Write Thank-You Emails After Interviews
