Prepare for interview questions that relate specifically to the administrative assistant role with the questions and answers we’ve gathered for you.
1) Administrative assistants play a major part in organizations, so how do you see yourself adding to our team as an administrative assistant? Share with potential employers how you hope to help them succeed and demonstrate your ability to make a significant difference.
I think I can help everyone reach their goals and objectives more successfully by keeping the team organized and on schedule. In addition, by relieving them of administrative tasks, they will be able to spend their time more wisely and be more productive at work.
2) In order to get a sense of the type of work you enjoy doing as an administrative assistant, interviewers will frequently ask you to share specific examples of your work history. If this question or a similar one comes up, walk them through a project you worked on, why it was important, and why you enjoyed it. What is the best project you have worked on as an administrative assistant? Why did you like it?
I enjoyed helping schedule and write the messages because it exposed me to a new area of business—marketing—and it allowed me to exercise my attention to detail and communication skills, which impressed my teammates. Our marketing team needed assistance executing their social media plan to attract and engage customers.
3) In your opinion, how has the administrative assistant function evolved or will it change going forward? Let employers know that you are able to look beyond the immediate situation and anticipate changes in the industry. Then, use your experience or skill set to demonstrate to them how you have already adjusted to such changes in the past.
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While some believe that technology will replace administrative assistants, I would actually argue that technology will enhance them. Technology cannot do everything on its own; people who create and maintain it are what make it effective. Administrative assistants who are able to adapt to new technological advancements will only be able to better support their executives and teammates. For this reason, in previous positions, I concentrated on honing my Microsoft Outlook and Excel skills.
4) Describe all of the administrative assistant skills you possess and were listed on the job listing to let employers know that you have what it takes to be a successful assistant. In your opinion, what are the most important skills that a good administrative assistant should have? This question is a great opportunity to map your own strengths to the requirements listed in the job description.
First and foremost, I think that in order to help coordinate the team, an administrative assistant needs to be well organized. They also need to have excellent time management skills in order to help with scheduling meetings and staying on task. Finally, I think that communication and computer skills are important for those tasks, so I feel that having these skills would make me a successful assistant here.
5) Administrative assistants do not always have a single boss or supervisor; frequently, they support several executives or team leaders who are all in higher positions. It is critical that administrative assistants are able to manage instructions from various parties without compromising productivity. Have you ever had to manage multiple supervisors as an administrative assistant? If so, how did you handle it?
Yes, I have. I worked as the executive assistant for three members of our executive team. I made sure to dedicate a certain amount of my workday to each executive in order to keep up with assigned tasks and provide them with enough support. This way, every executive had a sense of care and support throughout the day. General Job Interview Questions: Regardless of the position you are applying for, there are some general interview questions that employers love to ask. Next, we will walk you through some common job interview questions and how to answer them.
6) I am from a small town in Wisconsin, but I attended college here in the Twin Cities. After receiving my associate’s degree in business administration, I worked as an administrative assistant at a local law firm. There, I really honed my organizational and time management skills, which I feel make me a great candidate for this role.
Tell me about myself. This is the most important question, as it is usually the first one asked by interviewers. When sharing your story, showcase your past accomplishments, strengths, and past work experience while also relating your story back to the requirements listed in the job description. Employers want to get a sense of your personality.
7) I was immediately drawn to this position because your company values the local community and giving back. I have not had that in a workplace before, and I think it would be really rewarding to work for such a generous business. This role also plays to my strengths as an extremely organized and helpful professional. I think I could really make a difference here. In short, employers want to work with people who want to be there and have good reasons behind their interest.
This question is your chance to provide them with those answers and show that this opportunity is one you really want.
8) I am seeking a slightly more challenging role that will allow me to learn new things and advance in my career. I believe this role will provide the growth I am looking for.
Why did you leave your last job? This can be a difficult question to answer because there could be a number of reasons you left your previous job, some of which might give a less than stellar impression of your previous employer. The best approach to this question is to be honest and take the high road. Do not paint your previous employer in a negative light.
9) I once made the mistake of forgetting to include an attendee on a meeting request. Fortunately, I had set up reminders at the end of each day to double-check my work and caught the mistake the day it happened. After catching the mistake, I added the attendee to the invite without anyone realizing there was an error.
This behavioral interview question can be tricky because it makes you focus on a time you failed. To answer this question successfully, show how you were able to bounce back and correct the mistake.