Sample Job Interview Questions for Administration, Secretarial and Receptionist Jobs
By Annette Lewis
Jobs in the Administration and Clerical sector require a unique and broad set of skills. Value is placed on organisation and communication skills to mention just two and in the interview, questions will be targeted at discovering just how competent you are.
This article contains a sample of the types of questions you will encounter in Administration and Clerical jobs and for positions from:
- Secretary
- Receptionist
- PA Administrator
- Office Manager
- Facilities Manager
- Head of Administration
What to Expect in Administration, Secretarial and Receptionist Job Interviews
The interview questions asked in these types of jobs will vary depending on the employer, the level of job you are applying for, the amount of experience you have.
The recruiting policy and the personal preference of the interviewer will also determine the format and types of questions, however you should expect questions exploring the core competencies.
Core competencies required in Administration, Secretary and Receptionist jobs include:
- Excellent communication skills
- Planning and Organising
- Time Management
- Ability to achieve results
- Problem Solving
- Computer Literacy
For senior Administration positions, you should expect questions exploring:
- your ability to motivate and develop a team
- your ability to build relationships
- to manage a large department
- to manage a building or property
- to plan and develop strategy
For each of the above you should expect 3-4 questions along with standard questions exploring your Training and Qualifications, Skills and Experience, and Personality and Motivation.
Sample Interview Questions For Administration and Clerical Jobs Include
How would you answer these questions?
Interview Question 2: 'How do you manage your own time and objectives?'
Interview Question 3: 'Describe for me a situation where you were required to gather a large amount of data, to analyse it objectively and to make a decision or a recommendation based on the results.'
Interview Question 4: 'Describe a time when you had to work exceptionally hard to provide great service to a customer or client. What did you do and what was the outcome.'
Interview Question 5: 'Give me an example of the different approaches you have used when persuading your team, colleagues or manager to agree with your views.'
Interview Question 6: 'Describe a time when you had to build a collaborative relationship either within your department or outside in order to achieve a particular goal. What steps did you take to ensure this was a success.'
* Questions taken from the InterviewGOLD™ Interview System. Click here for more.
How to Succeed in your Administration and Clerical Interview
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About the Author
Annette Lewis is an accredited interviewer and has recruited for many organisations
within Healthcare, Education, Customer Services and Banking.
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To help you succeed in Administration and Clerical Interviews, I recommend the Online InterviewGOLD™ Interview System.
- Arrive Fully Prepared, calm and confident
- Know Exactly What to Expect
- Communicate Easily and Fluidly
- Answer Tough Questions Easily
- Avoid Common Mistakes
- Sell Yourself Effectively and Win
