Professional Office Coordinator Interview Preparation Guide

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You should do your research prior to the interview. Look into background history of the company, this will help you stick out. Learn about main people, have they been in the news lately? The interviewer doesn’t expect you to know dates and certain people, but showing that you have enough interest to research the company is a positive impression.

This question will help you understand where you can potentially go so you can see if it fits in your career objective.

Don’t worry about being right or wrong. What matters is a thoughtful answer based on experience. For example, you might begin by saying that people skills are very important, since a coordinator interacts and communicates with employees all the time. But add that this alone is not enough, because a coordinator must also be able to understand the company’s business plan, internal structure, budget, etc.

Candidates can go into great detail about their past experience and educational background, but they sometimes miss something. Asking hiring managers if there is any needed clarification displays a keen eye for detail.

This question allows you to brag on yourself, but keep in mind that the interviewer wants strengths relative to the position. For example, being a problem solver, a motivator, and being able to perform under pressure, positive attitude and loyal. You will also need examples that back your answers up for illustration of the skill.

As someone who is organized by nature, possess great communication skills, can handle adversity, and likes meeting new people, working at the front desk made great sense to me, as I get to do the work that I am best prepared for.

This will display an interest in who manages the employee(s) in the position and what style of management is entailed.

I have been working with computers since 2001. I also have a degree in network support/computer repair. I have built my last 3 computers, have work with Dell as an employee. So I have around 15 years experience working with computers.

Regardless of what profession you are a part of, motivation is the driving force behind your success. This is a personal question that only you can answer. Motivating examples are: challenge, achievement and recognition. Examples: “I have always been motivated by both the challenge of finishing my projects on time and by managing my team towards achieving our goals.” OR “I want to be successful in my job, for my own personal satisfaction as well as for my employer and our customers.”

Reveals candidate’s job expectations.

Use this as a guide to develop your own office manager interview answer.

"Typically the office manager is responsible for ensuring the efficient functioning of office operations which includes planning and organizing work demands, efficient resource management, supporting and monitoring staff performance, coordinating data requirements, implementing and overseeing best practices and providing executive support to ensure the achievement of organizational objectives"

Demonstrates job knowledge.

If one wants to work as a front office assistant, the primary skill one should have is the ability to communicate well with people from all walks of life. Furthermore, it is important to be organized as one has a lot of information to deal with, and possess the ability to handle several tasks at the same time. Additionally, it is important to be highly motivated, possess knowledge of core front desk operations, including PABX handling, and manage customer complaints efficiently.

Answers to office manager interview questions about how you manage people should focus on your ability to adapt your management style to different employees and situations.

"I have learned that it is most effective to select my management style according to the individual and the specific situation."

"With more inexperienced employees I provide a higher level of task direction and closer support and supervision so the employee feels secure in what they must achieve. With more experienced employees I delegate the task, ensure they have the right resources to complete it, and tell them to ask for help if they need it.

If an experienced employee is given a new task then I consult with her on how to go about completing it and provide any support that is required before handing over the responsibility to her."

I hope to train as an executive coordinator soon, allowing me to use the diverse skills that I have in this capacity, in a more profound manner.

This question needs to be carefully answered as it is your opportunity to stick out from the rest of the applicants. You should focus on skills that you have, including those not yet mentioned. Simply responding “because I’m really good” or “I really need a job” isn’t going to work. You shouldn’t assume the skills of other applicants or their strengths, focus on yourself. Tell the interviewer why you are a good fit for the position, what makes you a good employee, and what you can provide the company. Keep it brief while highlighting achievements.

This displays a genuine interest in the exact details of day-to-day responsibilities and will signal hiring managers that you are trying to imagine being in the position. You also get an idea of what a workday would include to see if it is a good fit.

The work in itself is satisfactory. When all that I have done during the day brings the workday to a positive end, it makes me feel that the job is indeed worthwhile. If I haven’t met all my goals by the end of the day, I work harder the next day to make sure that the work remains worth my while!

Administrative employee-related tasks might be managing employee turnover, motivation and recognition, absenteeism, work ethics, and interpersonal employee communication. HR coordinators usually cooperate with HR managers on these issues.

In my previous role as a front office assistance, I was responsible for greeting customers and visitors, providing them with required information, directing them to correct departments and / or personnel, servicing telephone calls, handling inventory of office supplies and creating and maintaining vendor liaison.

While billing work is not something that I have done extensively, I have worked in a medical facility setting where handling copays and calculating costs was part of my work.

Shows accountability.

This shows what the company is like and whether or not this will be a fit for you.

This question is asked in virtually every job interview and is designed to determine your critical thinking and self-awareness skills. Be prepared to answer this question as it is designed to be an eliminator question, weeding out those candidates that don’t deal well under pressure. Try to provide a weakness that everyone can relate to and never use an example that shows inappropriateness in your job. Give an honest, confident answer and always show how you have resolved these issues, either partly or wholly. Example: “I tend to be a perfectionist, therefore it has been difficult for me to delegate to others. But I have found out that in order to develop the organization, as well as my team, everyone in the company must be experienced with many tasks.” What not to say: “I am a perfectionist and therefore, I rarely believe in anyone who can work as well as me. As a result, I avoid delegating important tasks to others.”

☛ What computer skills do you have and what programs are you comfortable using?
☛ Are you comfortable using a phone with multiple lines and handling a high volume of telephone calls?
☛ At this company, we like to think of ourselves as a team that works together towards the same goals. How do you feel about working in a team environment?
☛ How would you feel supervising two or three other employees?
☛ What is your greatest strength and how will it help your performance in this position?
☛ What is your greatest weakness?
☛ How do you handle stress and pressure?
☛ What was it like working for your supervisor?
☛ What do you expect from a supervisor?
☛ Do you prefer to work independently or on a team?
☛ Do you work well with people?
☛ Give some examples of teamwork.