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Administrative Assistant interview questions and answers

This Administrative Assistant interview profile brings together a snapshot of what to look for in candidates with a balanced sample of suitable interview questions. Similar job titles include Admin Assistant.

Christine Del Castillo
Christine Del Castillo

Former Community Manager at Workable specialized in employee experience, talent brands and our event series, Workable Ideas.

administrative assistant interview questions

10 good administrative assistant interview questions

  1. What interests you about working in an administrative position at this company?
  2. What kinds of administrative projects do you like to work on?
  3. How would you rate your computer skills?
  4. Describe your experience with calendar management.
  5. What is your experience with data entry?
  6. How do you ensure accuracy in routine tasks such as processing expenses and preparing reports?
  7. If you support multiple people at one company, how do you decide which projects to work on first?
  8. Describe a time you worked with a team to meet a common goal. What was your role?
  9. What does “managing up” mean to you? In what ways have you done that?
  10. Some of this work can be repetitive. What motivates you to excel in this role?

Here are 10 essential interview questions and sample answers to help identify the best candidates for this role.

1. What interests you about working in an administrative position at this company?

This question gauges the candidate’s motivation and understanding of the company’s values and mission.

Sample answer:

“I’ve always admired your company’s commitment to innovation and customer service. I believe my skills as an administrative assistant can contribute to these values and help streamline operations.”

2. What kinds of administrative projects do you like to work on?

This helps understand the candidate’s preferences and strengths in administrative tasks.

Sample answer:

“I enjoy tasks that require problem-solving and organization, such as event planning or creating efficient filing systems.”

3. How would you rate your computer skills?

Assessing technical proficiency is essential for this role.

Sample answer:

“I’d rate myself 9 out of 10. I’m proficient in MS Office, Google Workspace, and have basic knowledge of CRM software.”

4. Describe your experience with calendar management.

Calendar management is a common responsibility for administrative assistants.

Sample answer:

“In my previous role, I managed calendars for three executives, ensuring they were prepared for meetings and avoiding scheduling conflicts.”

5. What is your experience with data entry?

Data entry accuracy is crucial for many administrative tasks.

Sample answer:

“I’ve spent two years in roles that required regular data entry. I always double-check my work to ensure accuracy.”

6. How do you ensure accuracy in routine tasks such as processing expenses and preparing reports?

This question assesses attention to detail.

Sample answer:

“I create checklists for repetitive tasks and always review my work. For expenses, I cross-check receipts with entries to avoid errors.”

7. If you support multiple people at one company, how do you decide which projects to work on first?

Prioritization skills are vital for administrative assistants.

Sample answer:

“I prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance. If two tasks are equally urgent, I communicate with the stakeholders to set clear expectations.”

8. Describe a time you worked with a team to meet a common goal. What was your role?

Teamwork is often essential for administrative roles.

Sample answer:

“I once coordinated a company-wide event. I liaised with different departments, ensuring everyone had the resources they needed. The event was a success due to our collaborative efforts.”

9. What does “managing up” mean to you? In what ways have you done that?

This question gauges the candidate’s proactive approach and communication skills.

Sample answer:

“Managing up means anticipating the needs of my superiors and communicating effectively. I’ve done this by preparing reports in advance or suggesting more efficient processes.”

10. Some of this work can be repetitive. What motivates you to excel in this role?

Understanding what drives a candidate can indicate their long-term fit for the role.

Sample answer:

“I find satisfaction in creating efficient systems and processes. Even if a task is repetitive, knowing it contributes to the company’s success motivates me.”



Administrative Assistant Interview Questions

Administrative assistants are found in all types of industries. This is usually an entry-level position with wide-ranging support duties. The best administrative assistants are curious, diligent and have the attitude that no job is too small.

What is the role of an administrative assistant?

Administrative assistant responsibilities include making travel and meeting arrangements, preparing reports and maintaining appropriate filing systems. Some tasks, such as data entry, report preparation, calendar management require proficiency with workplace software such as Microsoft Office.

Use these interviews as an opportunity to evaluate these skills. Some employers may even include a short skills test in the interview process. If there is a specific skill that you need, such as travel coordination, be sure to add questions about that to this list.

These open-ended and situational interview questions will encourage your candidates to speak at length about their relevant experience. They will also help you get a sense of their interpersonal skills, such as how well they “manage up”, how well they can work on a team, and what motivates them as employees. The best candidates will be able to articulate what interests them about your company, and will contribute several prepared and spontaneous questions of their own to the conversation.

Let’s summarize some of the questions and add a few more divided into specific types.

Operational and Situational questions

 

  • What interests you about working in an administrative position at this company?
  • What kinds of administrative projects do you like to work on?
  • What administrative projects are less interesting for you? How do you overcome your disinterest in order to do a good job?
  • How would you rate your computer skills?
  • Describe your experience with calendar management.
  • What kinds of documents have you made from scratch using MS Office programs?
  • What is your experience with data entry?
  • How do you ensure accuracy in routine tasks such as processing expenses and preparing reports?
  • If you support multiple people at one company, how do you decide which projects to work on first?
  • Have you ever been on a team with a difficult coworker? How did you handle it?
  • Describe a time you worked with a team to meet a common goal. What was your role?
  • Describe a time you suggested a way to save time, lower costs, or increase revenue.
  • What does “managing up” mean to you? In what ways have you done that?
  • Some of this work can be repetitive. What motivates you to excel in this role?

Frequently asked questions

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