1. Explain what are your biggest weaknesses?
It is tempting to adopt a common interview tactic by glossing over this, or to provide a fake answer by attempting to dress up a strength as a weakness. This is a mistake. The interviewer will want to see an example of self-awareness and a commitment to self-improvement.
2. What is your greatest professional strength as Auction Assistant?
When you are asked about your strengths, you want to relate your response to skills and abilities that are relevant to your prospective position. Perhaps you are excellent at speaking and working with clients or keeping the office impeccably organized. Either of these can be highly prized in the right environment. Frame your strengths as an asset to your prospective employer.
3. Tell us what are your long-term goals?
Again, these should relate to the role in question. A final interview tip is to make sure your goals appear clearly thought out and well articulated to demonstrate that this is a serious and ongoing consideration.
4. Tell me what kind of documents do you have experience writing?
Office assistants typically write any or all of the following: thank-you letters, newsletters, labels, donor and annual reports, emails, messages, fax messages, etc.
5. Explain why do you want to work here?
Interview questions and answers like this are another opportunity to demonstrate that you have done your homework so instead of focusing on pay and benefits, talk about how the philosophy of the organisation impresses you and how you are excited at the prospect of making a contribution to its ongoing success.
6. Explain what is your greatest professional weakness?
Your prospective employer wants to know how you respond to setbacks. This reveals a lot about your drive and ability to learn from your mistakes. When you encounter administrative assistant interview questions and answers like this, it is imperative to keep your reply positive. Focus more on how you overcame the setback or issues. Furthermore, show how it made you a more effective professional.
7. Tell me about a specific contribution you made to improve team performance?
Administrative assistants have to work effectively as part of a team or group. Your answers should highlight your ability to build relationships with other group members and show how you contribute to team success.
8. Tell me what has been your most complex assignment to date?
The example given should convey how a combination of technical expertise and personal characteristics enabled you to successfully deliver within very challenging constraints.
9. Tell me how do you keep up to date with the latest thinking in this field?
Interview guides recommend discussing your membership of any professional or academic institutions, reading blogs, articles and newsletters, and attending networking events. Also, mention your own professional network of fellow Accounts Assistants that you are continually growing and developing.
10. Explain me what office-related software are you proficient with?
An office assistant is able to use various standard communication software, such as – emailing tools, Messenger, and Skype. Moreover, he/she is able to type and be proficient in Word, Office, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.
11. Tell me what computer programs are you comfortable using?
In most administrative assistant jobs you will find yourself using various computer programs. Make sure you are honest, as you don't want to be asked to do something on your first day and have to admit that you lied in an interview. Think about classes you've taken and programs that you've used in previous roles.
“I have a lot of experience using all Microsoft Office programs like Word, Publisher, PowerPoint and Excel. In fact, I recently took a class at the community center to really get a feel for Excel and everything it has to offer. In addition, my previous roles had me putting together many PowerPoint presentations and I have basic PhotoShop knowledge.”
12. Tell me what do you know about the organisation?
One of the best interview tips is to ensure you have a good understanding of the organisation and its products and services and be able to relay this clearly and authoritatively. There is no need to be an expert at this stage but you should be able to talk confidently about the history of the organisation as well as its place in the market and key people.
13. Tell me do you work well in a team environment?
Depending on the size of your prospective employer, you make have to work with another or multiple administrative assistants. Together, you will manage the necessary administrative tasks to make the enterprise as effective as possible. Give an example of how you were able to delegate and focus as an integral part of a team. Keep the anecdote short, but make your point.
14. Tell me what attracts you to this role?
Focus on how specific elements of the role relate to your own skills and experience in order to highlight your strength as a candidate. Also, be sure to cover how the role aligns to your personal and professional development ambitions.
15. Tell me about a time when you had to adapt quickly to a new procedure or policy?
An administrative assistant has to provide support to a number of different people under a number of different circumstances. Your ability to adjust successfully to different individuals and task requirements is very important. Provide specific examples of when you had to adjust your approach and behavior in different situations.
16. Tell me what different systems have you used to store information and documents?
Administrative assistant interview questions will explore your ability to gather and manage information. Detail the types and volume of data you had to manage and how you ensured your information management was up to date and accurate.
17. Explain me what is your least favorite aspect of being an accounts assistant?
The risk here is to sound negative, and interview guides always recommend avoiding this, so focus on the positive without being glib. Highlight an area that you know to be commonly unpopular and discuss how you handle that so it does not impact on your performance.
18. Explain me what do you feel is the best educational preparation for this career?
It is important to ensure that your answer largely reflects your own education history. Cover academic qualifications, plus ongoing professional development, practical training such as mentoring or coaching and membership of any professional institutions.
19. Explain me are you at ease with complex phone systems and large call volumes?
One of the hallmark duties of an administrative assistant is answering a stream of telephone calls. You must remain courteous at all times and maintain a high level of efficiency. With these kind of administrative assistant interview questions and answers, the hiring manager wants to know that you are completely capable of this task.
20. Describe a project you worked on that involved a large amount of detail, how did you manage it?
Attending to and completing all the details results in accuracy. Give examples of when you have addressed mistakes in your or other people's work. Focus on following the correct procedures to complete a task and check your work.
21. Explain me why do you want to be an administrative assistant?
Chances are you will be asked this question, especially if you are switching careers and haven't had a job like this before. Think about the benefits of the actual position. You can go into why you want to work for the specific company in other questions.
“I am one of those people who really enjoys being super organized and finding ways to balance my time, which is why I started looking into become an administrative assistant. Actually, you can find me in my free time reorganizing my house and trying to discover the most efficient ways to maximize my time. Also,I truly enjoy making others happy and helping them succeed and I feel like this type of role would fit in with my personality.”
22. Explain do you think it's important to maintain cleanliness in and around the office?
Besides duties like handling calls and other forms of communication, managing documentation, coordinating events, etc., an office assistant maintains an efficient and pleasant working environment by keeping it fresh and free of clutter.
23. Tell me about a situation where you had to reprioritize quickly to meet changing demands?
Focus on scheduling and prioritizing activities. How do you decide which are the most important activities? Include criteria such as urgency of the tasks, deadlines to be met, available resources and setting realistic targets. Outline the tools you use to plan your day including the computer applications you have found helpful.
24. Describe a situation where you went out of your way to provide customer satisfaction?
Remember when answering administrative assistant interview questions about customer service that your colleagues, supervisors and managers are your internal customers in addition to any external customers that you have to deal with.
In your interview answer focus on the following: - asking the right questions in order to clarify the customer's wants and needs - using your knowledge and skills to determine how to meet those needs. Describe how you went about providing the right service to meet the customer's needs.
25. Basic Auction Assistant Job Interview Questions:
☛ Do you consider yourself a patient person?
☛ Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Are you more outgoing or a private person?
☛ How do you describe your personality? Bubbly? Upbeat? Reserved?
☛ Do you speak any other languages?
☛ Are you able to multitask? Provide me with an example of what you might be juggling on an average day.
☛ What office equipment are you able to use?
☛ With your current employer, what has been your attendance record?
☛ How are you with understanding accents and working with individuals who are foreign nationals?
☛ Tell me about your customer service experience.
☛ Provide me with an example of a recent challenge you've faced with a visiting sales rep, vendor, customer. What happened and how did you handle?
☛ Tell me about your experiences working with your current manager. What do you find the most challenging?
☛ Provide me with a quick list of the last few projects you've worked on through the last 2-3 years.
☛ Do you like taking on ad-hoc projects? Or are you someone who prefers a set day-to-day schedule?
☛ If asked, what would your current employers say about you?
☛ Have you had any involvement with introducing new systems or technologies to help improve performance within the company?
☛ Any professional involvement with social media and online networking, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn?
☛ Do you help your current manager with maintaining his online presence?
☛ Lastly, do you like working on the front lines of a company? What do you think that is?
☛ Describe your ideal manager. What type of managers would help you deliver your best performance?
☛ How do you handle stressful situations?
☛ Are you capable of handling multiple inquiries simultaneously; staff, front door, customers, phone?
☛ What software are you comfortable using?
☛ Are you comfortable placing cold calls to leads and existing clients?
☛ Do you have experience making national and international travel arrangements?
☛ Are you willing/capable of traveling should we require you to accompany a manager or executive on a business trip?
☛ Would you be able to comply with our company's dress code?
☛ How are you at handling as-needed projects? Do you mind unexpected tasks?
☛ Do you consider yourself a brisk worker, or one who is slower paced yet persistent and consistent?
☛ Outline the types of people or teams that you have supported over the years.
☛ Do you have experience managing an executive calendar and scheduling appointments? What software?
☛ How many phone lines are you comfortable handling?
26. Prioritizing Work Based Auction Assistant Job Interview Questions:
☛ How do you prioritize your work? How well does this work?
☛ If you have a situation where several people gave assignments-all due very quickly-how would you handle the problem?
27. Strengths and Weaknesses based Auction Assistant interview questions:
☛ What are your salary requirements.
☛ Who else have you applied to/got interviews with?
☛ Would you rather write a report or give it verbally?
☛ Your greatest weakness in school or at work?
☛ When was the last time you were in a crises?
28. Basic Auction Assistant interview questions:
☛ Are you planning to continue your studies?
☛ Do you work well under pressure?
☛ Example when you went above and beyond the call of duty.
☛ Do you know anyone who works with our company?
☛ What are you looking for in terms of career development?
29. Independence and Initiative Based Auction Assistant Job Interview Questions:
☛ How do you organize your typical workday?
☛ How do you begin a complex work assignment?
☛ What do you do when you have slow/down times at work? Please be specific.
☛ What sort of direction do you want from a supervisor? Do you like detailed instructions, or would you rather just know the highlights? Do you want them in writing?
30. Behavioral Auction Assistant interview questions:
☛ How do you decide what gets top priority when scheduling your time?
☛ Has anything ever irritated you about people you've worked with?
☛ Give examples of ideas you've had or implemented.
☛ Describe a situation where you had to plan or organise something.
☛ What steps do you follow to study a problem before making a decision?
Be very thoughtful about your answer. Try to answer Auction Assistant interview questions completely. Focus on positive achievements and views.
31. Competency Based Auction Assistant job interview questions:
☛ Did you feel you progressed satisfactorily in your last job?
☛ When given an important assignment, how do you approach it?
☛ Tell me about an important goal that you set in the past.
☛ If you were hiring a person for this job, what would you look for?
☛ How do you react to instruction and criticism?
32. Administrative Auction Assistant Job Interview Questions:
☛ What's the most interesting project you've worked on as an administrative assistant?
☛ What do you enjoy most about administrative work?
☛ How have you changed the administrative assistant position at past companies?
☛ What trends do you see impacting the administrative assistant role in the future?
☛ What administrative assistant interview questions would you ask if you were doing the hiring?
33. Situational Auction Assistant interview questions:
☛ What relevant experience do you have?
☛ You have not done this sort of job before. How will you succeed?
☛ What parts of your education do you see as relevant to this position?
☛ What do you think, would you be willing to travel for work?
☛ How did you handle meeting a tight deadline?
Don't feel too much pressure as you have been asked many strict questions that you are unable to answer well.
Never use any adjectives for these sort of Auction Assistant interview questions. Answer all Auction Assistant interview questions honestly and stay focused throughout the hiring process.
34. Phone based Auction Assistant interview questions:
☛ What are three positive character traits you don't have?
☛ What are you expecting from this firm in the future?
☛ Tell about a time that you had to adapt to a difficult situation.
☛ Tell me about yourself.
☛ Tell me about an important issue you encountered recently.
Avoid negative comments about past employers. Prepare a list of things you want to say in the interview.
The interviewers want to know the real you, the potential candidate they may accept in.
35. Video Based Auction Assistant interview questions:
☛ What would you say are your strong points?
☛ Give me an example that best describes your organizational skills.
☛ What was the most difficult period in your life, and how did you deal with it?
☛ Situation in which you had to arrive at a compromise.
☛ How have you changed in the last five years?
Emphasize benefits to the company.
A short positive response is best. It is meant to see whether or not you'll speak poorly of an employer.