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Office Clerk Interview Questions

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  1. What equipment do you have the most experience running or demonstrating for others in the office? See answer
  2. What office software programs are you familiar with and use the most often? See answer
  3. Do you have any experience with basic bookkeeping duties? See answer
  4. What types of office correspondence have you been responsible for? See answer
  5. How would you prioritize your office work if you receive work requests from many departments? See answer
  6. Do you have experience pulling data and compiling reports? If so, describe that experience. See answer
  7. Describe your past customer service experience.
  8. Have you ever had a disagreement with another office clerk? How did you manage that conflict?
  9. Do you have any relevant certifications or licenses for office clerks or for our industry?
  10. Do you speak any other languages?
  11. How do you keep paperwork from multiple people or projects organized?
  12. Are you comfortable managing confidential information and data as requested?
  13. What is your typing speed?
  14. Do you have experience planning office events? Would you be comfortable doing so?
  15. In past positions, did you ever change any procedures or practices to improve your efficiency?
  16. What skills or qualities do you think are the most important for an office clerk to have?
  17. Have you experienced working with a difficult customer? How did you handle that situation?
  18. In past positions, did you perform any training for new office clerks or administrative employees?
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6 Office Clerk Interview Questions and Answers

Q:

What equipment do you have the most experience running or demonstrating for others in the office?

A:

Computers, scanners, printers, copiers, image devices, Wi-Fi setups, monetary machines, phones and other devices are commonly used for daily tasks and business communication. Knowing what experience the candidate has with the standard equipment for workplace operations can help determine the type of training a potential office clerk may need. This question is also useful for learning if the applicant is comfortable with being assigned different tasks such as handling phones or teaching other staff members how to operate technology around the office. What to look for in an answer:

  • Familiarity with specific types of office equipment
  • Comfort level with phone communications
  • Experience with handling electronic correspondence

Example:

“I have worked with scanners, printers, copiers and computers. I have also been responsible for the direction of demonstrations using Wi-Fi.”

Q:

What office software programs are you familiar with and use the most often?

A:

Modern offices employ many different software programs for organizing, record keeping, bookkeeping and written composition. The most commonly utilized programs are Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word. While many applicants may be familiar with these two programs, fewer office clerks are truly proficient. If the candidate answers in the affirmative for Excel or Word experience, you can follow up with specific questions on software expertise. What to look for in an answer:

  • Familiarity with specific software programs that your company uses
  • Experience with using Excel and Word
  • Interest in and willingness to receive training in new and updated software

Example:

“I have experience running many applications for office tasks. I have an intermediate level of expertise with Excel and Word, and I am taking an advance course in Excel.”

Q:

Do you have any experience with basic bookkeeping duties?

A:

If your office deals with simple bookkeeping transactions on a weekly basis, you will want to know if the applicant has any experience in conducting basic financial accounting. Knowledge areas can include invoices, daily financial reconciliations, payrolls, deposits and fiscal reports. If the candidate does have training with bookkeeping duties, you can expand on this question and ask about the tasks they feel most proficient with. What to look for in an answer:

  • Familiarity with bookkeeping and financial tasks
  • Features they enjoy the most
  • Confidence in oneself

Example:

“I have been responsible for running daily financial reports. I am also familiar with making bank deposits and reconciling daily transactions.”

Q:

What types of office correspondence have you been responsible for?

A:

External and internal communications are the backbone of any office. You will want to know what experience the applicant has with written exchanges and documentation. It is helpful to know if the candidate has worked with editing pre-existing drafts or has been responsible for original creations. Can they detail their knowledge of English business correspondence rules and demonstrate their knowledge of MLA and AP styles? What to look for in an answer:

  • Familiarity with different types of written correspondence
  • Experience with composing original documents
  • Proficiency with grammar rules

Example:

“I can compose original letters and type letters from other sources. I am proficient in grammar and utilize various resources for additional checks.”

Q:

How would you prioritize your office work if you receive work requests from many departments?

A:

Efficiency is crucial in the office and can directly impact the operations of your business. How a candidate organizes their time is an important indication of their ability to manage the workplace in the most productive manner possible. This can also demonstrate their logical thinking processes when they receive conflicting requests from different departments. Is the applicant comfortable asking for help when needed or for additional direction on priorities from their supervisor? What to look for in an answer:

  • Logical thinking for prioritization of tasks
  • Ability to ask for assistance
  • Responsiveness to handling unexpected requests

Example:

“I have an in box and an out box for written tasks and a to-do list on my computer for electronic tasks. I sort according to urgency, similarities and length of time to complete task.”

Q:

Do you have experience pulling data and compiling reports? If so, describe that experience.

A:

In most offices, office clerks perform a range of administrative duties. Asking candidates about their past experience with a specific skill, like compiling data into a report, is a great way to learn whether they have the necessary abilities and experiences to perform well at your company.

Look for an answer that includes:

  • A detailed history of the candidate's report writing history
  • Other related tasks the candidate can perform
  • How these skills would benefit your company

A strong candidate answer might reflect this example:

Example:

"My last position was at a law office. I regularly assisted the paralegals in gathering information and preparing templates for the attorneys to use. While I haven't worked in the medical industry before, I am confident the research skills I developed in my last role would transfer well to this position. For example, I am very comfortable with the professional language used in a medical office and feel certain I could obtain the necessary information for a specific report and write the actual report very quickly. I majored in English, so I am a confident writer with excellent grammar."

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