Office Manager Interview Questions

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What do you think the primary roles of an office manager are? See answer
What do you think the biggest strengths of an office manager should be? See answer
Our office manager is the key to keep our team working together and on track. Tell us about your experience providing leadership working in a team environment. See answer
What sets you apart from other office managers we may be interviewing for this position? See answer
What office management software are you proficient at using? See answer
Office managers facilitate communications throughout the workplace, ensuring that everyone understands the proper procedures for completing certain tasks. A successful office manager should have multiple strategies for implementing policy changes, taking people’s current habits into account. They should understand that some people struggle to adjust to change and have precautions prepared to make transitions easier. This question gives candidates the opportunity to showcase their teamwork, collaboration and communication skills.
Do you have experience placing supply orders and doing inventory checks for essential office supplies?
The office manager is in charge of helping their coworkers accomplish their workplace needs. How do you track requests from colleagues working in your office?
What factors do you use to determine the priority of your tasks each day?
Are you comfortable working with confidential information about your colleagues?
How do you promote a positive company culture through your actions as office manager?
Have you ever managed multiple phone lines at once?
Part of an office manager’s duties is to write memos and type other information. How many words can you type per minute?
How do you politely turn away solicitors who want to make a sale at your office?
What would you do if a coworker asked for help with a task that you didn’t know how to complete?

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6 Office Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Q:

What do you think the primary roles of an office manager are?

A:

An effective office manager should be aware of the role and responsibilities that will be required of them. A good candidate will have done some research on the specific needs of the company and should be able to answer in a way that showcases their understanding of the position along with any relevant skills they possess.

What to look for in an answer:

Effective leadership skills
Knowledge of what the position entails
Understanding of their role in a larger company team

Example:

“Office managers are primarily responsible for making sure that an office runs as it should. This means being able to direct and support the performance of the office staff.”

Q:

What do you think the biggest strengths of an office manager should be?

A:

How an applicant answers this question will give you a good indication of how well they’ll fit in at the office and with the rest of your team. A candidate should focus on the needs of your company, based on the information gleaned from the job description. They should also mention the importance of being personable and friendly as well as skilled at leading and directing others to accomplish a goal.

What to look for in an answer:

Ability to self-reflect
Focus on leadership and the needs of the team
Recognition of their impact on the team

Example:

“I believe an office manager should have great communication skills so they can always be approached by their team when needed. They should also be organized and willing to lead by example.”

Q:

Our office manager is the key to keep our team working together and on track. Tell us about your experience providing leadership working in a team environment.

A:

Since they’re applying for a leadership role it’s important that the prospective office manager be a good team player. A manager who can’t relate well to others won’t be able to establish a positive relationship with the employees they’ll be leading. It’s important to find an applicant who can develop a good rapport with the rest of the team and encourage them to approach them with any professional needs.

What to look for in an answer:

A friendly and approachable demeanor
A strong team player
Willing to focus on the needs of their subordinates

Example:

“I’m a great team player. I believe that working in a team can improve the quality of everyone’s workflow, especially when under the direction of a good manager.”

Q:

What sets you apart from other office managers we may be interviewing for this position?

A:

This question gives the potential hire an opportunity to showcase their unique skills abilities or anything else that makes them special and well-suited for the position. How they answer this question can also help you decide between similarly qualified candidates and determine what each applicant can bring to your organization.

What to look for in an answer:

Any skills relevant to the position
Ability to express their unique skills coherently
Willingness to talk about themselves

Example:

“I have great interpersonal skills and am sure I would be able to fit in with your team right away. I look forward to establishing professional relationships with everyone in the office.”

Q:

What office management software are you proficient at using?

A:

Many of the day-to-day office tasks are now managed on a computer, and it’s important for an applicant to be experienced at using the appropriate software to streamline these tasks. A qualified office manager should at least be familiar with the different programs that are part of Microsoft Office as these are used regularly in the office setting. Depending on the needs of your office, you may be looking for an someone who is experienced with other software as well.

What to look for in an answer:

Computer literacy
Proficiency with Microsoft Office
Willingness to learn how to use other software your company uses

Example:

“I’m very experienced with most of Microsoft Office. I’ve used Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint in depth during my previous positions and am fairly knowledgeable of QuickBooks as well. I’m a quick learner and can easily pick up new software as needed.”

Q:

Office managers facilitate communications throughout the workplace, ensuring that everyone understands the proper procedures for completing certain tasks. A successful office manager should have multiple strategies for implementing policy changes, taking people's current habits into account. They should understand that some people struggle to adjust to change and have precautions prepared to make transitions easier. This question gives candidates the opportunity to showcase their teamwork, collaboration and communication skills.

A:

Top office manager candidates should reference the following in their answer to this question:

Consistency
Accountability
Knowledge of current workplace behaviors

Here is one example of a successful answer that addresses the key points of the question:

Example:

"When upper management decides to make a policy change, I make sure to immediately update the employee handbook to reflect the change, including the paper version and any digital copies of the handbook. I send out an email to everyone in the office and post memos at places where people gather like the lunchroom. I would also post a reminder in the areas most influenced by the change. For example, if the process for printing documents changed, I would place a laminated sign on the printer to remind people about the new policy when it is most relevant."

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