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10 O ffice A ssista n tIn terv iew Q uestion s a n d
Ex a m p le A n sw ers
By Indeed Editorial Team
Updated June 22, 2022 | Published December 12, 2019
The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers,
researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed's data and
insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.
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. When going into an interview for the role of office assistant, the interviewer will most likely ask about these skills as well as other details of your background and work history. In this article, you will learn common interview questions for administrative assistants and appropriate answers to help you prepare.
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Related: Top 6 Common Interview Questions and Answers
Jenn, an Indeed Career Coach, breaks down the intentions behind employer's
questions and shares strategies for crafting strong responses.
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Common office assistant interview questions
Here are common interview questions you may encounter during your interview for an office assistant position, as well as sample answers:
1. Describe your experience as an office assistant
This is commonly the first question interviewers will ask you. While the purpose of the question is to essentially get to know you, when presented with this question, share
your past accomplishments and skills, past work experience and your present circumstances as they relate to the requirements of the administrative position. Consider highlighting any professional achievements to show that your career development is important to you. This question also allows the employer to get a better understanding of your personality and how you will fit in the role of their assistant. Example answer: “I came from a small town in Michigan where I graduated with honors from my high school. I then came to New York to attend college at NYU where I am currently completing my associate degree in business administration. I have recently completed an internship as an office assistant at a local financial firm where I feel I have really developed my organizational and data management skills as well as my customer service skills.” Read more: Interview Question: How Would You Describe Yourself? (with Examples)
2. What do you know about our company?
Before interviewing, you should have done some research into the company you applied to. You will want to be prepared for this question with knowledge of what the company provides to its customer base, its core values and some insight into how the company provides its products or services. When being presented with this question, present what you understand to be the company’s mission and show the interviewer that your values connect with the company’s. Employers like to know that their employees care about their goals and values. Example answer: “I am familiar with what Save Financial offers its clients, and I’m personally drawn to the company because I feel that the values Save Financial holds reflect my own values regarding secure financial aid for families and retirees and customer care and satisfaction.”
3. Why do you want to work as an office administrator at this company?
This is another common question that may be asked during your interview. The purpose of this question is for the interviewer to get a sense of how passionate you are about your work as well as the position. Be prepared to answer this question by connecting what the company does and why to your current or future career goals and your own core values. This will show the interviewer that not only are you passionate about your career, but you are also passionate about your career in this position, too.
also allow the employer to get a sense of how you might perform the administrative duties of keeping track of multiple schedules and appointments and whether you can complete your daily tasks competently and promptly. Example answer: “In my role as an office assistant, organization is a top priority. I start my day by first compiling a to-do list of all tasks that must be completed that day. Then I check my calendar for any meetings, appointments or other scheduled events so I am aware of them. I am constantly taking calls and checking my email for any new tasks as they come up so I can follow up with them accordingly.”
7. What kind of computer skills do you have?
Interviewers ask this question to determine what your computer skills are and whether your skill level will meet company requirements and expectations of what they are seeking in an office assistant. Additionally, this type of interview question can give employers an understanding of how you might step up to the challenge of learning new office software. In your preparation and research into the company, consider learning about what programs the company uses before going into your interview so you will have a higher chance of showcasing how your skill level matches with the position. Example answer: “I feel my computer skills are proficient in completing office administration tasks. In my last role, I not only used Microsoft Office daily, but I made weekly updates to the company website so I am familiar with using WordPress as well. When presented with learning new computer programs, I find that I can usually answer any questions I have with a quick internet search. However, I appreciate learning from my coworkers, too.”
8. How will your administrative skills contribute to our team?
Administrative assistants do not have a small role by any means. Show employers that you can make a big impact by sharing the ways you expect to contribute to or support their success. Administrative assistants have multiple responsibilities and contributing to a team of workers is of utmost importance to an employer. Show the interviewer how you plan on supporting the company’s growth and development in your answer. Example answer: “I feel confident in my ability to keep everyone organized and on schedule so we can all meet our objectives. I also feel that by taking over the majority of administrative duties, team members can delegate their time more efficiently as well as increase their work productivity.”
9. Tell me about a time when you encountered an unhappy client or
customer as an office assistant. How did you handle the situation?
An interviewer may ask this question to assess how you handle difficult or stressful situations. Be honest in your answer, and include how you felt in the situation and how you handled it. Similarly, you can answer this question with how you would handle a stressful situation if one were to occur if you have no prior experience diffusing a conflict in the workplace. Example answer: “As the office assistant at Save Financial, I once dealt with a frustrated customer on the phone. The customer was stressed and angry that a seemingly unwarranted charge had been made to their credit card. I did not interrupt the customer even though they were yelling at me, and I reminded myself how worried and anxious they must be to be acting out that way. After acknowledging the customer’s feelings, I asked the customer for their membership information and continued to explore the problem. It turned out that the customer forgot the due date for their membership. Once we solved the problem, the customer was calm and apologized to me. We ended our conversation talking about the weather and my three-month-old puppy. I always strive for patience and empathy when working with clients, as I would want my experience to be the same.” Read more: Interview Question: “How Do You Handle Stress?”
10. Do you have any questions about the office assistant position?
If this question comes up during your interview, use it to your advantage. Ask questions that will help you assess if the company would be a good fit for you, just as the interview is assessing your fit for the company. Consider the following examples of questions that you could ask the interviewer in answer. Example answers: “What more can you tell me about the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities of the office assistant job? What are your expectations of your administrative team? How do you measure achievements and success? Why did the last office assistant leave the company? Are there any continuing training or professional development opportunities offered by the company to help develop my administrative skills further?”
