Top Office Manager Interview Questions with Example Answers [2022]

Prepare for your Office Manager interview by going through these most asked Office Manager interview questions. Additionally, get access to sample answers and interviewer's expectations.

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  • Question: What's the biggest thing on your bucket list that you have left to achieve?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to give you insight into the applicant's personality and interests. It's important to find someone who is a good fit for the office environment and who will be able to get along with the rest of the team.

    Sample Answer: I've always wanted to go skydiving, but I've never had the chance. I think it would be a great experience and would love to do it someday.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - A desire to work in a team environment
    • - A willingness to work with others
    • - A desire to learn new things

  • Question: What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • Question Overview: This question is a classic interview question that gives the candidate an opportunity to showcase their strengths and weaknesses. It's important to find out how they view themselves and how they will be able to contribute to the team.

    Sample Answer: I'm a very organized person and I'm always on time. I think my biggest weakness is that I can sometimes be too hard on myself.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to self-reflect
    • - Awareness of their strengths and weaknesses
    • - Willingness to talk about themselves

  • Question: What do you think is important in the dental field?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to find out what the candidate knows about the dental field. It's important to find out if they have any knowledge of the field and if they have any experience in it.

    Sample Answer: I think it's important that a dentist is able to communicate well with their patients. It's also important that they are able to work well with other members of the dental team.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Knowledge of the dental field
    • - Experience in the dental field
    • - Willingness to learn more about the dental field

  • Question: How do you handle stressful situations?
  • Question Overview: An office manager will be faced with a lot of stressful situations, especially when dealing with difficult employees or trying to meet a tight deadline. It's important that the applicant be able to demonstrate their ability to handle these situations in a professional manner.

    Sample Answer: I always try to remain calm and collected in stressful situations. I know that it's important to remain focused and work hard to meet deadlines. I'm also very good at communicating with my team when there are issues that need to be resolved.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to remain calm under pressure
    • - Willingness to work hard and meet deadlines
    • - Ability to communicate effectively

  • Question: What is your availability?
  • Question Overview: This question is important to ask because it will help you determine if the candidate is available to start work on the date you need them. It's also important to find out if they have any other commitments that may interfere with their ability to work full-time.

    Sample Answer: I'm available to start work on May 1st. I have no other commitments that would interfere with my ability to work full-time.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Availability to start work on a specific date
    • - Availability to work full-time
    • - Commitment to the position

  • Question: What are your career goals?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to find out what the applicant's long-term goals are. A good candidate will have a clear idea of what they want to accomplish in their career and will be able to express it in a way that shows they're motivated and driven.

    Sample Answer: I'm looking for a position where I can advance my career and gain experience in an office management role. I'm very interested in working for your company and would love the opportunity to do so.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - A desire to advance in their career
    • - A focus on the company's goals
    • - A willingness to work hard to achieve their goals

  • Question: How would you resolve office conflicts?
  • Question Overview: An office manager should be able to handle conflicts with their staff in a professional manner. They should be able to resolve issues in a way that is fair and equitable to all parties involved.

    Sample Answer: I would first try to understand the issue from both sides. Once I had a good understanding of the problem, I would try to come up with a solution that would be fair for everyone involved.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to remain calm under pressure
    • - Ability to resolve conflicts in a fair manner
    • - Willingness to listen to both sides of an issue

  • Question: What are the important qualities/traits you should have to do well in this particular position?
  • Question Overview: This is a question that gives the applicant a chance to showcase their strengths and how they will be able to contribute to the success of the company. It's important that they focus on the needs of the company and how they can fulfill them.

    Sample Answer: I believe that an office manager should be able to work well with others and have an understanding of what it takes to run a successful office. I'm sure I can do a great job at keeping everyone on track and helping them reach their goals.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to self-reflect
    • - Focus on the needs of the company
    • - Recognition of their impact on the company

  • Question: What if an employee is a repeat of showing up late or not clocking out?
  • Question Overview: An effective office manager will have a good understanding of how to handle employee issues. They should be able to identify the problem and come up with a solution that will benefit both the employee and the company.

    Sample Answer: If an employee is repeatedly late or not clocking out at the end of their shift I would first try to understand why they are doing this. If it's a problem with their work schedule I would try to work with them to find a solution that works for everyone. If it's a behavioral issue I would first talk to them about it and then if necessary take disciplinary action.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to identify the problem
    • - Ability to come up with a solution
    • - Willingness to take action

  • Question: What are your strengths and opportunities?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to give you a better idea of how the applicant views themselves and their professional abilities. It's important to find someone who is confident in their abilities and willing to talk about them.

    Sample Answer: I have a strong work ethic and am always willing to go the extra mile for my employer. I'm also very good at working with others and establishing a positive rapport with everyone in the office.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Confidence in their abilities
    • - Willingness to talk about their strengths

  • Question: What were your least favorite things about your last job?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to give you a better idea of what the candidate didn't like about their previous position. It's important to find out if they're going to be a good fit for your company. You'll want to look for a candidate who doesn't have any major complaints about their previous job and is able to talk about the things they liked instead.

    Sample Answer: I really enjoyed my last job. I learned a lot and was able to work with a great team. The only thing I didn't like was that we were always so busy that it was hard to take time off when I needed it.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to self-reflect
    • - Willingness to talk about their past
    • - Ability to focus on the positive

  • Question: What can you contribute to the team?
  • Question Overview: This question is a great opportunity for the applicant to showcase their strengths and abilities. They should focus on their ability to be a good leader and team player as well as their willingness to work hard and contribute to the overall success of the company.

    Sample Answer: I'm a great team player and I believe that working in a team can improve the quality of everyone's workflow, especially when under the direction of a good manager. I'm very organized and I'm always willing to pitch in wherever needed.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to self-reflect
    • - Focus on leadership and the needs of the team
    • - Recognition of their impact on the team

  • Question: Have you ever organized an event?
  • Question Overview: An office manager is often responsible for planning and organizing events for the office. This could be anything from a company picnic to a holiday party. A good candidate will have experience with planning and executing events and will be able to give you examples of their past work.

    Sample Answer: I've organized several company events in the past. I'm very good at coming up with creative ideas for events and making sure that they run smoothly. I've always been able to get everyone involved and make sure that everyone has a good time.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to plan and organize events
    • - Experience planning events
    • - Willingness to work with others to plan an event

  • Question: Tell me about a time when you felt undervalued.
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to see how the candidate will react when faced with a difficult situation. A good office manager should be able to work well with others and be able to resolve any issues that arise.

    Sample Answer: I felt undervalued when I was working in a team of people who didn't appreciate my contributions. I was able to resolve the issue by talking to my supervisor and explaining how I felt.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to self-reflect
    • - Ability to work well with others
    • - Willingness to talk about themselves

  • Question: Tell me about your self.
  • Question Overview: This is a very open-ended question that gives the applicant an opportunity to tell you about their personality and their professional experience. It's important to find someone who is able to express themselves well and who can give you a good idea of what they're like as a person.

    Sample Answer: I'm a very friendly person who is always willing to help out my co-workers. I'm a hard worker and have always been able to get along with my superiors.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to express themselves
    • - Willingness to talk about themselves

  • Question: What did you like and dislike about your last project?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to get a sense of how the applicant feels about their previous work experience. It's important to find someone who is enthusiastic about their work and has a positive attitude.

    Sample Answer: I really enjoyed working on this project because it allowed me to use my skills in a new way. I also appreciated the opportunity to work with a team and learn from them. I didn't like how long it took for the project to be completed.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to self-reflect
    • - Ability to talk about their work in a positive way
    • - Willingness to talk about their work

  • Question: How would you handle a situation where an employee was not meeting deadlines or goals?
  • Question Overview: An office manager needs to be able to handle situations like this with tact and professionalism. They need to be able to approach the employee in question with a solution that will benefit them both. An effective manager will also be able to handle this situation without causing a rift in the office team.

    Sample Answer: I would first make sure that I understood the problem and why it was occurring. Then I would sit down with the employee and discuss their goals and how they could be met. I would also make sure that they understood my expectations of them and what they needed to do to meet them.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to handle difficult situations
    • - Ability to be diplomatic
    • - Willingness to work with others

  • Question: How would you classify your manager?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to see how the applicant views their current or past manager. If they have a good relationship with their manager, they should be able to describe them in a positive light. If they don't have a good relationship with their manager, they should be able to explain why and how they would work to improve the situation.

    Sample Answer: I have a great relationship with my manager. She's very understanding and always willing to help me when I need it.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to self-reflect
    • - Ability to work well with others
    • - Willingness to improve a negative situation

  • Question: Why do you think we should consider you for this position?
  • Question Overview: This is a great opportunity for the applicant to showcase their knowledge of the company and their understanding of the position. 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.

    Sample Answer: I'm very interested in this position because I believe I have the skills and experience to make a valuable contribution to your team. I've done some research on your company and believe I can help you reach your goals.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to self-reflect
    • - Focus on leadership and the needs of the team
    • - Recognition of their impact on the team

  • Question: What would you do if someone calls you a bad name?
  • Question Overview: A good office manager should be able to deal with a variety of situations and be able to handle them appropriately. This question will give you an idea of how well an applicant can handle conflict and how they react to being provoked.

    Sample Answer: I would try to resolve the situation as quickly as possible and make sure that everyone involved understands that this type of behavior is unacceptable.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to remain calm under pressure
    • - Ability to resolve conflict
    • - Ability to remain professional