14 General Office Assistant Interview Questions (With Example Answers)
It's important to prepare for an interview in order to improve your chances of getting the job. Researching questions beforehand can help you give better answers during the interview. Most interviews will include questions about your personality, qualifications, experience and how well you would fit the job. In this article, we review examples of various general office assistant interview questions and sample answers to some of the most common questions.
Common General Office Assistant Interview Questions
- How do you prioritize your work?
- What is your experience with customer service?
- Tell me about a time when you had to handle a difficult situation.
- How do you handle stress while working?
- What is your experience with office equipment?
- Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer or client.
- What is your experience with filing and organizing paperwork?
- Tell me about a time when you had to multitask and how you handled it.
- What is your experience with handling confidential information?
- Tell me about a time when you made a mistake at work and how you handled it.
- How do you handle being interrupted while working on a task?
- What are your thoughts on working overtime?
- Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a challenging co-worker.
- Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond your job duties.
How do you prioritize your work?
An interviewer would ask "How do you prioritize your work?" to a General Office Assistant to get a sense of how the candidate organizes and prioritizes their tasks on a daily basis. This is important because it can give the interviewer insight into how the candidate would handle multiple tasks at once and how they would prioritize their work if they were given a project with multiple deadlines.
Example: “There are a few different ways that I prioritize my work. The first way is by looking at what is due first and what has the closest deadline. I also look at what tasks are going to take the longest to complete and start with those. I also prioritize based on importance. For example, if a task is going to have a big impact or is time-sensitive, I will prioritize that over a task that is less important.”
What is your experience with customer service?
One of the duties of a general office assistant is to provide customer service. This may include answering customer questions, resolving customer complaints, and providing general information about the company's products or services. It is important for the interviewer to know what kind of experience the candidate has with customer service in order to gauge whether or not they would be successful in this role.
Example: “I have worked in customer service for over 10 years. I have experience dealing with customers in person, on the phone, and via email. I am able to handle difficult situations and provide excellent customer service. I am also familiar with various customer service software programs and have used them to successfully resolve customer issues.”
Tell me about a time when you had to handle a difficult situation.
An interviewer might ask "Tell me about a time when you had to handle a difficult situation" to a/an General Office Assistant in order to gauge the individual's ability to handle difficult situations. This is important because the ability to handle difficult situations is important for a General Office Assistant.
Example: “I was working as a general office assistant at a small company when one of the employees came to me in a panic. She had accidentally deleted an important file and didn't know how to get it back. I calmly explained the process of retrieving the file from the recycle bin and she was able to get it back with no problem.”
How do you handle stress while working?
There are a few reasons why an interviewer might ask this question to a General Office Assistant. First, they want to know if the candidate is able to handle stress in a professional setting. Second, they want to know how the candidate copes with stress while working. This is important because it can give the interviewer insight into the candidate's work ethic and how they would handle difficult situations.
Example: “There are a few ways that I handle stress while working. First, I try to stay organized and keep on top of my work so that it doesn't pile up and become overwhelming. I also take breaks when I feel myself getting tense or frazzled, and I make sure to eat healthy and exercise regularly to keep my energy and focus up. Finally, I know when to ask for help from my colleagues or supervisor if I'm feeling overwhelmed.”
What is your experience with office equipment?
The interviewer is asking this question to gauge the level of experience the candidate has with office equipment. This is important because the General Office Assistant will likely be responsible for using and maintaining office equipment on a daily basis.
Example: “I have experience with a variety of office equipment, including printers, scanners, fax machines, and copiers. I am familiar with how to troubleshoot and maintain these machines, as well as how to use them properly. I am also experienced in using office software such as Microsoft Office and Google Docs.”
Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer or client.
An interviewer would ask "Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer or client" to a/an General Office Assistant in order to gauge their ability to handle difficult situations and to see how they interact with customers or clients. This is important because it can give the interviewer insight into whether or not the candidate would be a good fit for the company.
Example: “I had a customer who was very unhappy with the product they had purchased. They called me several times to complain and were very rude. I did my best to calm them down and explain the situation, but they were not satisfied. I finally offered to refund their purchase, and they accepted.”
What is your experience with filing and organizing paperwork?
The interviewer is likely asking this question to gauge the level of experience the General Office Assistant has with filing and organizing paperwork. This is important because it can give the interviewer a sense of how well the candidate would be able to perform in this role. If the candidate has a lot of experience with filing and organizing paperwork, it is likely that they would be able to perform the duties of a General Office Assistant effectively.
Example: “I have experience with both filing and organizing paperwork. I am familiar with a variety of filing systems and can easily adapt to new ones. I am also experienced in creating new filing systems when necessary. I have a good eye for detail and can usually spot errors or discrepancies in paperwork. When it comes to organizing paperwork, I am very efficient and always take the time to ensure that everything is in its proper place.”
Tell me about a time when you had to multitask and how you handled it.
An interviewer would ask "Tell me about a time when you had to multitask and how you handled it" to a General Office Assistant in order to gauge the office assistant's ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. This is important because the role of a General Office Assistant often requires handling multiple tasks at once.
Example: “I was working as a general office assistant in a busy office environment and often had to multitask. I would typically have to answer phones, take messages, type up documents, file paperwork, and perform other various administrative tasks. I learned to handle this by staying organized and keeping a list of tasks that needed to be completed. I would prioritize the most important tasks and make sure to complete them first. I also learned to take breaks when needed so that I wouldn't get overwhelmed.”
What is your experience with handling confidential information?
An interviewer would ask "What is your experience with handling confidential information?" to a/an General Office Assistant in order to gauge whether or not the candidate is capable of handling sensitive information discreetly and securely. This is important because if the candidate is not able to handle confidential information appropriately, it could lead to serious consequences such as data breaches or leaks.
Example: “I have experience handling confidential information in my previous role as an administrative assistant. I was responsible for maintaining confidentiality in all aspects of the job, including but not limited to: handling sensitive documents, keeping client information confidential, and ensuring that all confidential information was disposed of properly. I am comfortable working with confidential information and take the necessary precautions to ensure that it is kept safe and secure.”
Tell me about a time when you made a mistake at work and how you handled it.
The interviewer is asking this question to assess the candidate's ability to handle difficult situations and learn from their mistakes. This is important because the ability to handle difficult situations and learn from mistakes is essential for any employee, especially in a fast-paced office environment. By asking this question, the interviewer can get a sense of how the candidate would handle a mistake if they were to make one in the office.
Example: “I made a mistake at work recently when I failed to properly file some important documents. I immediately took responsibility for my mistake and corrected it. I then spoke with my supervisor to apologize and to prevent the mistake from happening again in the future.”
How do you handle being interrupted while working on a task?
The interviewer is trying to gauge how the office assistant would handle being interrupted while working on a task. This is important because it is a common occurrence in an office setting, and the interviewer wants to ensure that the office assistant would be able to handle it in a professional manner.
Example: “I usually try to stay focused on the task at hand and not get interrupted, but if something comes up that I need to attend to, I will politely excuse myself and attend to the matter. If it is something that can wait, I will let the person know that I am busy with something else and ask if they can come back later.”
What are your thoughts on working overtime?
An interviewer would ask "What are your thoughts on working overtime?" to a/an General Office Assistant in order to gauge the individual's work ethic and to see if they are willing to put in extra hours when needed. This is important because it can be a key indicator of how dedicated an employee is to their job and whether or not they are able to handle additional workloads.
Example: “I don't mind working overtime if it's necessary to get the job done. I understand that sometimes projects or deadlines require extra time, and I'm willing to put in the extra effort when needed. I also don't mind picking up occasional shifts if someone else is unable to work.”
Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a challenging co-worker.
The interviewer is trying to gauge the applicant's ability to deal with difficult people and challenging situations. This is important because the ability to handle conflict in a constructive and professional manner is a key component of successful teamwork.
Example: “I had a co-worker who was constantly challenging me and testing my patience. She would nitpick everything I did and try to find fault in my work. It was extremely frustrating, but I tried to remain calm and professional. I spoke to her privately about my concerns and asked her to please stop. Unfortunately, that didn't work, so I ended up having to go to my boss. He had a talk with her and things improved for a while, but eventually she went back to her old ways. In the end, I just had to learn to deal with it and not let it get to me.”
Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond your job duties.
The interviewer is trying to gauge the applicant's level of dedication and work ethic. It is important to be able to go above and beyond your job duties when necessary in order to be a successful employee.
Example: “I was working as a general office assistant at a small company. One day, the receptionist called out sick, and I was asked to fill in for her. I was happy to help out, but I quickly realized that the receptionist's job was a lot more complicated than I thought. Not only did I have to answer phone calls and direct visitors, but I also had to manage the company's mail and keep track of important documents. I ended up working overtime that day, but I was happy to help out my team.”