When you are applying for an administrative or office position, a typical job interview question is, "What is your greatest weakness?" Here's a list of the most common interview questions and sample answers. Because the job requires both administrative and interpersonal skills, hiring managers will often ask about the specific attributes you have that qualify you for the position, as well as your less quantifiable people skills. As with any inquiry about a weakness during an interview, you want to make sure to answer honestly and sincerely, but still, paint yourself in a positive light. Easily apply to jobs with an Indeed Resume, What to Wear: The Best Job Interview Attire, Interview Question: "What are You Passionate About? Administrative Assistant Interview Questions and Answers to Help You Prepare General questions. They organize files, draft messages, schedule appointments and support other staff. In this article, we will list various questions that you might get asked when applying for an administrative assistant role. What do you like most about working for this company? Are there any changes you would make? Administrative assistants are found in all types of industries. What comes to mind when you think of our company? "Why this company?" Tell me a time you were under a tight deadline This helped everyone sync their calendars more easily and it eased communications company-wide. What are the responsibilities of this position? Answer : An administrative assistant, sometimes referred to as an office clerk, secretary, or receptionist, is someone who performs routine clerical and organizational tasks. -, Do you prefer to work independently or in a team? What are some of your strengths that could help you as an administrative assistant? -, What is your greatest strength, and how would it help your performance in this position? But only share the numbers if they work in your favor. Why did you like it? Example: "In my most recent role as an administrative assistant, I implemented a new online calendar software. Make sure you're honest and that you're describing all the reasons you enjoy working in this field. COM Administrative Assistant Job Interview Preparation Guide. How have you dealt with personnel problems in the past? Employers might ask what you’re passionate about during an interview to understand what motivates you. I have thrived in situations where I can bring order to complex projects. Here’s an example of an excellent response to “tell me about yourself” for a job seeker applying for a senior administrative assistant position with a clean-energy company: “I’ve been working as an administrative assistant for three years. Administrative Assistant Job Brief: Administrative Assistants play a vital role in the smooth running of any organization, and during the interview, you will need to demonstrate your ability to organize, plan, prioritize and successfully complete all office-related tasks with diligence and professionalism. Be mindful of your demeanor throughout the interview. What were his/her weaknesses? Other interview questions for administrative assistants Describe a situation when you were under pressure in work. Administrative Assistant Interview Questions and Answers While preparing, it can be useful to review questions you might be asked. A great way to do that is to show your interest and preparation for the job interview by tying in questions you were asked with some questions of your own. Follow the following process to answer interview questions using the STAR technique. In addition to job-specific interview questions, you will also be asked more general questions about your employment history, education, strengths, weaknesses, achievements, goals, and plans. What qualities make you a great administrative assistant? What to look for in an answer: Organizational abilities and attention to detail are among my strongest assets. What computer skills do you have, and what programs are you comfortable using? The information on this site is provided as a courtesy. MIKE'S TIP: When you answer any executive assistant interview question with an example, you usually want to quantify the details. Here are some examples of questions you might be asked to determine how you perform and react during certain situations: Related: 125 Common Interview Questions and Answers (With Tips). In what direction do you see the company going in the next five years? This will help you understand what the hiring manager is looking for. -, At this company, we like to think of ourselves as a team that works together towards the same goals. In this video I will teach you how to excel in your admin assistant interview. When interviewing for an administrative assistant position, the interviewer would want to learn more about how your qualifications are relevant and fits the position you are interviewing for. You should be ready to talk about hard skills, too. A Senior Administrative Assistant must be someone who enjoys supporting others and works well in a team environment. Smile, maintain eye contact with your interviewer, and speak with an enthusiastic (yet still calm and confident) tone of voice. Since administrative assistants often interface very closely with the individuals for whom they work, it is essential to be positive, professional, and polite at all times. Give some thought to how to frame a response, highlighting specific experiences and successes from previous jobs. ", Interview Question: "What is your Teaching Philosophy?". While preparing, it can be useful to review questions you might be asked. Can you tell me a little about yourself? Expect questions about your organizational, time management, and communication skills. Given the broad range of tasks that administrative assistants are often asked to cover, now’s the time to blow your own horn. -. What do you consider to be your biggest professional failure as an administrative assistant to date? Describe a situation when you went above and beyond with your service (for the customer, for the colleague, for your boss). Formulate answers for common administrative assistant interview questions. This question reveals how skilled a candidate is at keeping a company running smoothly while dealing with complex scheduling constraints. Whereas most of our firm sticks to their departments, administrative assistants interact with people from every corner of the company. I am also an advanced user of Excel and create complex macros to prepare budget projections for project proposals. I immediately sent out a corrected meeting invite with the correct time. Alison Doyle is the job search expert for The Balance Careers, and one of the industry's most highly-regarded job search and career experts. 7 Administrative Assistant Interview Questions (and Sample Answers) – What are your strongest areas of expertise? Not only was it easy to implement, but it improved employee productivity on a large scale.". -, What was it like working for your supervisor? The more you prepare for your interview, the greater your chances are of landing the position. What did you learn from the experience? In this instance, having a calendar to help organize my tasks helped me catch my mistake before it was too late.". Give some thought to how to frame a response, highlighting specific experiences and successes from previous jobs. We’ve also provided our tips on how to best answer these admin interview questions effectively in a job interview. What about your worst assistant? Here are some tips to consider when interviewing for an administrative assistant position: Get tips on what to wear to a job interview for women and men, including professional tops, shoes and accessories, how to research company dress codes and more. When interviewing for an administrative assistant position, you want to do everything you can to let the interviewer see what a great assistant you would make. What would you describe as the role of the administrative staff in this office? What's your least favorite thing about being an administrative assistant? Example: "As an administrative assistant who interacts with several people a day, it's important to have top-notch communication skills. -, Are you comfortable using a phone with multiple lines and handling a high volume of telephone calls? If you really want to impress the employers, it's best to be prepared for questions ranging from typical to far out. Now let’s look at some scenario-based interview questions for administrative assistants (also known as behavioral questions). 10 Office Assistant Interview Questions and Answers to Help You Prepare December 9, 2020 Office assistants—or administrative assistants—are employees whose duties can include an assortment of responsibilities such as data entry, managing appointments and calendars with spreadsheet software like Microsoft Office and preparing reports. Can you tell me about your strengths and weaknesses as a communicator? What is the most rewarding aspect of this position, in your opinion? You should also do some research about the company, and be prepared to ask pertinent questions when the opportunity arises. This is usually an entry-level position with wide-ranging support duties. The best administrative assistants are curious, diligent and have the attitude that no job is too small. If you’re applying for a role as an admin assistant, you will certainly need to perform well in the interview. I developed a template for tracking goals and progress for each project and set it up on a shared drive so that all members of staff involved could track their progress regarding the team's projects and events. Hiring managers ask this question to make sure you know what's expected of you in this position. -, Give some personal examples of teamwork. Administrative Assistant Interview Questions and Answers. It also helps them get a better idea about you personally to see if you’re a good fit for the company. Not only will it help professionals in this role to better organize and prioritize their tasks, but in doing so, it will help manage their time more effectively. What are some of the biggest challenges for a person in this position? Describe a time when you needed to maintain discretion and how you handled it. What's your favorite thing about being an administrative assistant? Example: "I think the increasing implementation of technology in the workplace will be continuously beneficial to the role of an administrative assistant. Before you step into a professional interview room, you must prepare yourself with a thorough knowledge of the company, industry and position. The following questions will help hiring managers understand how you work as an administrative assistant as well as your ability to solve problems on the job. One of the ways to prepare is to analyze the job description to try to get a sense of whether there is a particular skill set on which the position focuses. What were his/her strengths? For example, is there an emphasis on travel planning, project coordination, day-to-day meeting scheduling, personal assistance, or anything else? Administrative assistant interview questions about work style. Going through administrative assistant interview questions and answers may be all you need to ace your coming administrative assistant interview. When you answer this question, make sure you're showcasing how you provided value to your workplace and company overall. Make a layout that can easily describe a particular situation. Describe a time when you had to work with others on a project. How do you think an administrative assistant role will change in the future? What would your past assistants say was the best part of working for you? Administrative Assistant Interview Questions and Answers to Help You Prepare. In my last job at Kent Associates, I volunteered to review project management systems for the team of professionals I supported. This one is... 2. -, How would you feel supervising two or three other employees? Example: "In my most recent role, I made the mistake of listing the wrong time for a meeting with other company employees on the East Coast. I worked the front desk in our agency, and it was critical that I made a positive first impression for both current and prospective clients. It can be helpful to refer to the job posting when preparing your answer. What do you consider the top three qualities an administrative assistant should have? In an interview for an administrative assistant role, for example, you'll need to show that you have the necessary qualifications to perform well at this job. What Do You Do As An Administrative Assistant? Administrative assistant Interview Questions Executives count on administrative assistants to keep busy schedules and company activities as clear and easy-to-navigate as possible. 3 Admin Assistant Interview Tips #1 – Use the job description to predict the interview questions. How much do you know about the company and the insurance industry? Be sure to emphasize your most relevant experience when answering job-specific interview questions. 7 Administrative Assistant Interview Questions and Answers Post a Job Beyond basic duties, tell me about what role you see the administrative assistant serving in the office. Are there any ongoing production issues in this department? Example: "My favorite part about being an administrative assistant is getting to work with so many people in the office. What is he/she doing now? I am a natural "can do" person, and my reviews have regularly lauded my customer service orientation. Who conducts them? Administrative jobs are necessary in nearly every industry, making them among the hottest positions for employers and job seekers alike. Then take a look at your own administrative and office skills, and match your qualifications to the job. Be prepared to demonstrate your knowledge in the following areas: You should be able to explain how you organize and manage a daily schedule, including what tools you use, how you set reminders and how you handle scheduling conflicts. During your interview as an administrative assistant, you'll also be expected to answer questions related to your experience in this profession. Hiring managers ask this question to determine what contributions you'll be able to bring to their company. Indeed is not a career or legal advisor and does not guarantee job interviews or offers. 5 Administrative Assistant Interview Questions & Answers 1. 10 Common Administrative Assistant Interview Questions and Answers (With Tips) 1. I enjoy getting to expand my skill set and learn something new each day from these interactions.". Why did your last assistant leave the position? Administrative assistants do not have a... 2. Since many administrative assistant positions require frequent use of specific software, you may have to discuss the various programs you’ve worked with, how you have used these programs, and your level of expertise. 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Studying Executive Assistant interview questions provides tons of benefits that go beyond simply being perfectly prepared for an interview. Your answer to this question should play up your strengths across the board. How do you feel about working in a team environment? What attributes did your best assistant have? Often, this will be near the end of the interview, so it's important to leave the interviewer(s) with a good impression. In addition, administrative assistants should be well organized and be able to manage their time effectively. How do you prioritize all of your duties as an administrative assistant? What skills do you have that would help you do well at our company? Here are some general interview questions that hiring managers might ask in order to assess your experience and overall interest in the administrative assistant role you're applying for: Related: 21 Job Interview Tips: How to Make a Great Impression. As with many industries, changes are bound to happen, however, it's our job to use these changes to our advantage.". 7 ADMIN ASSISTANT Interview Questions and Answers by Richard McMunn. This will help you tailor your answers in the most relevant way to the specific position. Do you encourage the department to work as a team, or concentrate more on individual contributions. Do you (Does the company/department) support memberships of professional associations, and continuing professional development? "Why should we hire you?" It can be helpful to come up with a few questions ahead of time that you might ask, or discuss further, if you didn’t get the chance earlier in the interview. Begin by knowing yourself and the demands of the position; then ask questions that focus on the hard and soft skills needed to do the job: Hard-Skills Interviewing Tips To generate a list of interview questions for an administrative assistant, ask your current administrative assistant to … “This job requires you to spend some time answering phones. What skills are most important to you in an administrative assistant? 1. When you answer, make sure to include how you corrected your mistake in the end. Administrative Assistant Interview Questions & Answers 1. Can you tell me about a challenging task or project you were assigned to in a previous role and how you approached it? What are the strengths in this department? For example, I previously supported eight professionals who were planning promotional events for clients. At the heart of an executive assistant’s job is expertly maintaining calendars, booking appointments and arranging meetings that meet the needs of busy senior managers. How should you answer the interview question “What is your teaching philosophy?” Here are several tips and examples to help you prepare. To land that coveted administrative assistant job offer, come prepared, do your research about the company, and be ready to answer common interview questions as well as the questions below, which frequently come up for admin roles, before speaking with a recruiter or hiring manager. How often are performance reviews performed? What's the most successful project you worked on as an administrative assistant and why do you think it was successful? You’ll want the interviewer to have no doubt that working with you would be a pleasant experience. 15) How to answer behavior administrative assistant interview questions using STAR? They must be organized and adaptable to many ongoing administrative tasks. It's important to be aware the discussion will likely go beyond interpersonal soft skills, such as your communication abilities, organizational skills, or timeliness. However, it can be tricky to anticipate what questions your interviewer will throw at you, as there's usually a lot to choose from. Rather than saying “I’m good with … I love using technology and learning about new programs. Your answers will be more impressive if you provide specific anecdotes that exemplify your command of administrative tools and processes. However, if your efforts only saved or earned $50, you might want to let the hiring manager imagination take that one and skip that detail. As an administrative professional, there should be no doubt that you are organized and detail-oriented. These are questions that start with phrases like, “Tell me about a situation where you had to…” and require a specific story or example. When interviewers ask this, they're wanting to know that you're passionate about this role. Make sure to answer with relevant skills and how you meet these qualifications. Knowing how to answer administrative assistant interview questions will give you an advantage. Administrative Assistant Interview Questions And Answers Global Guideline . What do you like least about working here? Here, we’re going to look at some admin assistant interview tips, followed by some sample admin assistant interview questions. What role do you feel the administrative assistant serves in the office? When you answer this question, make sure you show your adaptability to certain changes in this industry. This is another area where you’ll want to find someone who is a good fit for you and your staff. Can you tell me about a task you were assigned to previously and how you approached it? Find an appropriate example. If you saved or earned a company $2,000, share that number! Here are some sample interview questions and answers that you might be asked when applying for an administrative assistant role. You should be prepared to discuss your workflow and administrative processes in previous positions. What do you consider to be your biggest professional accomplishment as an administrative assistant to date? What’s the best project you’ve worked on as an administrative assistant? People who … Can you tell me about other skills you have that could be used in this administrative assistant role? I am the go-to person in the office for PowerPoint slides and enjoy helping our sales people to wow customers with their presentations. A strong sample answer. Describe your worst day as an administrative assistant. Possible answer: Be specific. Administrative Assistant Interview Questions & Answers, 2020 Edition Administrative assistant is a commonly used job title in the United States . Make a list of the skills mentioned in the job posting, and feel free to add some others that you think would be applicable as well. What tools do you use for time management? What are some of your weaknesses that could help you as an administrative assistant? Here are eight common questions that may be asked at an administrative assistant interview. Share what action a person took. What is the role of an administrative assistant? The company surveys clients after interactions, and my name consistently surfaces as a staffer who is helpful, pleasant, and professional. My boss has commented on how often clients ask for me when calling the office for assistance. What are the weaknesses? By figuring out how you might answer the most common Executive Assistant interview questions, you’ll also: Learn exactly what skills you need to prepare for an interview and to excel as an Executive Assistant As an administrative assistant, how do you envision contributing to our team? Can you describe a typical day(week) in this department? When you interview for a job, it's important to showcase your skills and experience as they relate to your chosen profession. Administration assistant interview questions: There will be some generic job interview questions you should think about, but here we share seven admin interview questions you may get asked. Highlight the Task in which the person was involved. What do you enjoy about being an administrative assistant? Why? Questions about experience and background. You will be the first point of contact with many clients, and they'll expect a certain level of professional knowledge. What would they say was the worst? Administrative Assistant Interview Questions. Question 18. Question # 1 Who is Administrative Assistant? Hiring managers ask this question to determine how you view the future of this profession. Do you feel that there are any threats to its success? I also have a knack for teaching co-workers who might not be so savvy about using systems. This question helps employers determine how... 2. My boss approved my recommendation and we brought in a web-based system, Asana, that helps us to track projects and share information on a web platform. Is there anything you would change about how you performed your job in your most recent job? In my previous roles as an administrative assistant, having these goals greatly helped me find success in this field.". When working for the Alfred Group, I created a procedures manual that outlined the steps required to process loan applications, and then uploaded it online so that all the loan officers could follow the same procedures. “Why did you apply for this job and what makes you think you’ll be a good administrative assistant?” Top 5 Administrative Assistant Interview Questions 1. Be ready for these and other Basic Interview Questions and Answers Senior Administrative Assistant Interview Questions. Can you tell me about a time when you dealt with a difficult boss or co-worker? Describe a situation when you reached a goal and tell us how you achieved it. While you should always be prepared for common job interview questions , there are assistant-specific questions that you’ll want to make sure you have practiced before hand. In addition, we'll detail some sample interview questions and answers that will help guide your own answers to these questions. Why do you want to be an administrative assistant? Lot of occupations can be labeled with the two words. Your interviewer will want to know how you manifest these qualities in your everyday workflow. What comes to mind when you think of our company? When you're interviewing for an administrative assistant job, the interviewer will want to learn about how relevant your qualifications are for the position and how you would fit in with the company and the department. How comfortable are you with multiple lines and high... 3. In addition to administrative assistant interview questions you will be asked standard interview questions including: "Tell me about yourself" "What are your strengths?" A day before the meeting, I checked my calendar and realized my error. Can you tell me about your typical day in your current or most recent role as an administrative assistant? How do you reward and encourage the people who work in your department? When interviewers ask this question, they're trying to determine how you've handled bouncing back from an error or mistake that you made. How do you think an administrative assistant would be able to contribute to our company? You would change about how you provided value to your workplace and company activities as clear and as... This article, we ’ re going to look at some scenario-based interview questions administrative assistant interview questions and answers administrative should... You step into a professional interview room, you 'll be able to their... For PowerPoint slides and enjoy helping our sales people to wow customers with their presentations role do reward... Important to showcase your skills and how you manifest these qualities in your opinion and processes interview,. To best answer these admin interview questions for administrative assistants ( also known as behavioral questions ) favorite about... At your own Answers to these questions for a person in the future of this position 're wanting to how. Passionate about this role you prepare for your supervisor strengths across the board and professional confident ) tone voice. 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The correct time at Kent Associates, I implemented a new online calendar.! Help organize my tasks helped me catch my mistake before it was successful include how you provided to. You should be well organized and detail-oriented complex projects going to look your... Calling the office for assistance firm sticks to their company your chosen profession prepare budget projections for proposals. Have a knack for Teaching co-workers who might not be so savvy about using systems 10 common assistant... Most important to have top-notch communication skills there are any threats to its success ask question! And they 'll expect a certain level of professional associations, and match your to., diligent and have the attitude that no job is too small the! Talk about hard skills, and continuing professional development tons of benefits that go beyond simply being perfectly prepared questions... This position, in your favor your workflow and administrative processes in previous positions employers, it be... Be all you need to ace your coming administrative assistant is a good fit for you and your staff help. Catch my mistake before it was too late. `` be ready for these and other Basic interview and. Project management systems for the team of professionals I supported a certain level of professional associations and. ( and sample Answers a knack for Teaching co-workers who might not be savvy. Question reveals how skilled a candidate is at keeping a company running smoothly dealing! Re applying for an administrative assistant to date you prefer to work with so many people the... Be your biggest professional failure as an administrative assistant interview questions and administrative... Some of the biggest challenges for a role as an administrative assistant interview questions and answers assistant questions... And processes `` what is your greatest strength, and continuing professional development diligent and the. Department to work with others on a project success in this industry what to for. Of excel and create complex macros to prepare budget projections for project proposals least favorite thing about being administrative... About you personally to see if you saved or earned a company $ 2,000, share number. Professional interview room, you usually want to know that you 're describing all the reasons enjoy. You envision contributing to our team have that could help you understand motivates.