Behavioral Office Manager Interview Questions & Answers:

1. How would you keep staff members motivated?

When you answer them you should focus on communication and team building, "I do my best to show recognition and acknowledgement to all employees that meet goals, which keeps morale high and employees on task. Also, when applicable, I keep tasks interdependent within the team, so that staff members require and encourage fellow staff members to complete their work."

2. How do you handle stress and pressure as an office manager?

The best way to answer this question is to give an example of how you have handled stress in a previous job. That way, the interviewer can get a clear picture of how well you work in stressful situations.Avoid mentioning a situation when you put yourself in a needlessly stressful situation. For example, do not share a story about a time when you were stressed because you procrastinated and had to finish a project quickly. Focus on a time that you were given a difficult task or a multiple assignments, and you rose to the occasion.

3. What are the typical work activities of an office manager?

The role varies according to the type of employer, the size of the organisation and the management structure, but activities typically include:
☛ Using a range of office software, including email, spreadsheets and databases.
☛ Managing filing systems.
☛ Developing and implementing new administrative systems, such as record management.
☛ Recording office expenditure and managing the budget.
☛ Organising the office layout and maintaining supplies of stationery and equipment.
☛ Maintaining the condition of the office and arranging for necessary repairs.
☛ Organising and chairing meetings with staff - in lower paid roles this may include typing the agenda and taking minutes, but senior managers usually have an administrative assistant to do this.
☛ Overseeing the recruitment of new staff, sometimes including training and induction.
☛ Ensuring adequate staff levels to cover for absences and peaks in workload, often by using temping agencies.
☛ Carrying out staff appraisals, managing performance and disciplining staff.
☛ Delegating work to staff and managing their workload and output.
☛ Promoting staff development and training.
☛ Implementing and promoting equality and diversity policy.
☛ Writing reports for senior management and delivering presentations.
☛ Responding to customer enquiries and complaints.
☛ Reviewing and updating health and safety policies and ensuring they are observed.
☛ Arranging regular testing for electrical equipment and safety devices.

4. What can you do for this company?

First of all, be sure to have researched the company prior to the interview, so you are familiar with the company's mission. Respond by giving examples why your education, skills, accomplishments, and experience will make you an asset for the employer.Take a few moments to compare your goals with objectives of the company and the position, as well as mentioning what you have accomplished in your other jobs. Be positive and reiterate your interest in the company, as well as the job.

5. What strategies would you use to motivate your team?

Although there are a variety of ways to answer this question, ultimately you should convey your understanding that different approaches work for different personality types. A good starting point is to mention that you would take the time to get to know your reports or team members, and assess their needs and preferences. Also review these examples of motivation skills to get an idea of what employers are looking for.

6. How did you handle challenges?

Best Answer:
A long-term client was about to take their business to a competitor. I met with the customer and was able to change how we handled the account on a day-to-day basis, in order to keep the business.

7. What are your most difficult decisions to make?

When answering these questions, give one or two concrete examples of difficult situations you have actually faced at work. Then discuss what decisions you had to make to remedy the situations.You want to come across as confident and capable of making big decisions. Avoid examples that make you seem indecisive or uncertain.

8. What do you expect from a supervisor?

I would like to be able to go my manager if I have an issue or idea and to be able to feel comfortable to expressing my thoughts. I would also expect my supervisor to be open and honest with me and to let me know if there is anything I could do to improve upon or do differently in my work.

9. What do people most often criticize about you?

Best Answer:
I had a supervisor many years ago tell me that I was too critical of other people's work. I took that to heart, and made sure from that point forward that my analysis and suggestions are always supportive and helpful rather than critical.

10. What is your biggest management weakness?

For all job interview questions, it is important to stay away from any true weaknesses or shortcomings. Yet with management questions, it is acceptable to offer a minute amount of humility with your own abilities to provide a believable answer. An effective answer to these types of interview questions is, "Sometimes in the heat of a deadline, I have found that I have overlooked great work by a staff member. I am working on making sure everyone I work with gets their deserved recognition for successful completion of their tasks, because it is important that every individual staff member be recognized for their contributions toward building the company's success."