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 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 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'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: 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 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: 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 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 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: 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: 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: How does your past experience help you in this role?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to give you an idea of how the candidate has performed in previous roles. It's important to find someone who has experience working in a similar position. If they haven't worked in a similar role before, it's important that they be able to demonstrate that they have the skills and abilities needed to succeed in the position.

    Sample Answer: I've been working as an office manager for over five years. I've been able to use my experience to streamline office procedures and make sure that the office is running smoothly.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Demonstrates relevant skills
    • - Experience working in a similar position
    • - Willingness to talk about their past experience

  • Question: How would you handle 2 employees who are in a disagreement about something work related?
  • Question Overview: Office managers are responsible for maintaining a positive and productive work environment. This means that they'll have to step in when there are conflicts between employees. A good candidate will be able to handle these situations in a way that is fair to both parties and doesn't disrupt the workflow of the office.

    Sample Answer: I would first try to understand what the disagreement was about and then talk to each employee individually. I would try to find out what each person's concerns were and then try to come up with a solution that satisfied both of them.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to remain calm and objective
    • - Ability to resolve conflict
    • - Willingness to mediate between employees

  • Question: How would you move doubledutch to the new space?
  • Question Overview: The office manager is responsible for overseeing the move of the company to a new location. This includes making sure that all of the necessary equipment and supplies are moved to the new location and that the employees are able to continue working as normal. It's important that the candidate be able to provide a detailed plan of how they would go about this process.

    Sample Answer: I would first make sure that all of the equipment and supplies were packed and ready to move. I would then schedule a moving company to transport everything to the new office. Once everything was in place I would make sure that all of the employees were able to access their workstations and get back to work as soon as possible.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to plan ahead
    • - Ability to work under pressure
    • - Ability to work with a team

  • 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: How do you define customer service?
  • Question Overview: A good candidate will be able to explain what customer service means to them and how they would apply it to the office environment. It's important that they understand the importance of customer service in an office setting and how it can affect the overall success of the company.

    Sample Answer: Customer service is about going above and beyond for your customers. It's about making sure they're happy with your product or service and that they'll want to come back again.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - A focus on the needs of the customer
    • - Willingness to go above and beyond for customers
    • - Understanding of how customer service affects a company's success

  • Question: Tell me a time when you had to say "no" to an employee and how did you handle it?
  • Question Overview: An office manager is responsible for managing the performance of their staff. They should be able to provide direction and guidance to their employees while also being able to say "no" to requests that may not be in the best interest of the company. A good candidate will be able to provide an example of a time when they had to say "no" and how they handled it in a professional manner.

    Sample Answer: I had an employee who was consistently coming in late and leaving early. I had to let him go because his performance was not up to par with the rest of the team. I explained my decision to him and he understood, but it was still a difficult situation.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to say "no" in a professional manner
    • - Ability to provide direction and guidance
    • - Willingness to take responsibility for their decisions

  • Question: How do you handle a bad situation?
  • Question Overview: The best way to answer this question is to give an example of a time when you had to deal with a difficult situation. You should talk about how you handled the situation and what the outcome was.

    Sample Answer: I had a situation where one of my employees was having trouble getting along with another member of the team. I sat down with both of them and explained that they needed to work together and resolve their issues. They came to an agreement and have been working well together since then.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to self-reflect
    • - Ability to think on their feet
    • - Willingness to talk about a bad situation

  • Question: What makes you think we should hire you?
  • Question Overview: This is a great opportunity for the applicant to showcase their enthusiasm for the position and why they're the best person for the job. They should focus on how they can benefit the company and what skills they can bring to the table.

    Sample Answer: I'm very excited about this position and believe I have a lot to offer your company. I'm a hard worker and have a lot of experience working in an office environment. I'm sure I would be a great addition to your team.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to express enthusiasm
    • - Focus on how they can benefit the company
    • - Willingness to talk about themselves

  • Question: How do you stay organized in a work environment?
  • Question Overview: An office manager should be able to keep track of the many different tasks that need to be completed on a daily basis. A good candidate will be able to explain how they stay organized and how they make sure that their work is completed on time and according to company standards.

    Sample Answer: I'm very organized. I keep a calendar where I write down all my daily tasks and appointments. I also use a planner to keep track of my long-term goals and objectives.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to self-reflect
    • - Ability to set and meet deadlines
    • - Awareness of the importance of organization

  • Question: What are your goals for the next position?
  • Question Overview: An office manager should be able to articulate their goals for the next position. They should be able to express their desire to grow and develop as an employee and how they plan to do so.

    Sample Answer: I want to continue to grow as a leader and manager. I'm always looking for ways to improve my skills and I'm always open to new opportunities.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - A desire to grow and develop
    • - A desire to learn new skills
    • - A desire to improve their current skills