Question Overview: The best administrators are able to manage stakeholders, even those who are unreasonable. You want to know how your administrator will react to a difficult situation and how they will handle a difficult person.
Sample Answer: I've had to deal with a few unreasonable stakeholders in my time, but I've always been able to remain professional and work with them toward a mutually beneficial solution.
Question Overview: The best administrators are always calm, cool and collected. They're also able to effectively manage stress and conflict. You want to know how your administrator would handle a difficult situation, like a coworker or customer yelling at him or her.
Sample Answer: I'd calmly ask the person to repeat himself or herself, then explain my position and why I made the decision I did.
Question Overview: The best administrators are adept at handling difficult clients. They are able to maintain a professional relationship while also being assertive and firm when necessary. They also know how to tactfully handle a client's anger or frustration without compromising their own integrity or the company's reputation.
Sample Answer: I would listen carefully to the client's concerns and address them directly. I would also be sure to document the conversation in case there were any misunderstandings.
Question Overview: This question is a trap. The best way to answer it is to turn your weakness into a strength. For example, if you are a perfectionist, you can say that you sometimes work too hard to make sure everything is done perfectly, but that your perfectionism has made you a better administrator.
Sample Answer: I'm a perfectionist, so I sometimes work too hard to make sure everything is done perfectly. But my perfectionism has made me a better administrator.
Question Overview: A business administrator must be able to work well with others, including managers, peers and subordinates. The best administrators are able to work with a variety of personalities and styles while still maintaining their own professionalism.
Sample Answer: I've worked with a variety of different people in my career, and I've always been able to find common ground and work effectively with them.
Question Overview: A school administrator must be able to analyze the problems of a school and develop a plan to address them. You want to know that your administrator understands the root causes of poor performance and has the knowledge and experience to address them.
Sample Answer: I would first analyze the school's strengths and weaknesses. I would then develop a plan to address the weaknesses and implement it.
Question Overview: The best administrators are always on the clock, even when they're not at work. They're constantly thinking about their work and how to improve it. They're always looking for ways to streamline processes and cut down on time-wasters. They're always thinking about how to do more with less.
Sample Answer: I use a variety of time-management techniques, including prioritizing tasks, setting goals and breaking down large projects into smaller tasks.
Question Overview: Mistakes are inevitable in business. An administrator must be able to recognize and address mistakes, learn from them and move on. In addition, an administrator must be able to identify mistakes made by others and address them in a constructive way.
Sample Answer: I've always taken responsibility for my own mistakes and learned from them. I've also been able to identify mistakes made by others and address them in a constructive way.
Question Overview: This is a question that will help you determine if the candidate is actually interested in the position. It will also give you an idea of how well they know your company.
Sample Answer: I'm very interested in working for your company because I've heard great things about it and I think it would be a great fit for me.
Question Overview: An administrator's future plans are an indicator of his or her commitment to professional development. If an administrator has no plans for growth, it's a sign he or she is content with the status quo and may be less likely to take initiative or be proactive in his or her work.
Sample Answer: I'm interested in advancing my skills and knowledge in business administration and management. I'm also interested in pursuing a master's degree in business administration.
Question Overview: A difficult situation can be anything from a major crisis to a minor hiccup. The key is how the administrator handled it. Did he or she take the initiative to solve the problem, or did he or she wait for someone else to take charge? Did he or she make the right decision, and how did he or she communicate it?
Sample Answer: I had to handle a situation where a vendor was late on a shipment, and I had to find an alternative source for the product. I was able to locate another vendor who could fill the order in time, and I communicated with my team about the delay.
Question Overview: An administrator's job is to oversee and coordinate the work of others. As such, he or she must be a good team player, able to work with a variety of personalities and skill sets. An administrator must also be able to work independently and efficiently, and be able to communicate effectively with a range of people.
Sample Answer: I'm excited about the opportunity to join your team and contribute my skills to your company's success.
Question Overview: You want to know if your administrator is human. A good administrator is, but a great administrator is able to admit his or her mistakes and learn from them.
Sample Answer: I've forgotten my keys, my wallet, my cell phone. I've forgotten to call clients back. I've forgotten to return phone calls. I've forgotten to do my laundry. I've forgotten to pay bills on time. I've forgotten a lot of things, but I've learned from each of these mistakes and have become a better person because of them.
Question Overview: An administrator's management style is the way he or she interacts with staff and other departments. It's important to know what kind of manager your administrator will be, as this will affect the way he or she interacts with you and your employees.
Sample Answer: I'm a hands-on manager who likes to be involved in every aspect of my team's work. I also like to be available to my employees whenever they need me.
Question Overview: Administrators are often faced with situations where they're given more work than they can handle. It's important to know how your administrator handles this situation. Does he or she delegate tasks to others? Does he or she take on the extra work? Does he or she simply put off the extra work?
Sample Answer: I've had to take on extra work in the past, but I always make sure to prioritize my tasks so that I can complete them in a timely manner.
Question Overview: An administrator's experience and skills are the foundation of his or her professional identity. You want to know how your candidate has developed and demonstrated these qualities in the past.
Sample Answer: I've developed my skills by taking continuing education courses, reading industry journals and networking with colleagues.
Question Overview: An administrator must be able to handle a variety of situations, from managing a team to resolving conflicts. The best administrators are able to stay calm and think clearly in the face of adversity.
Sample Answer: I was responsible for a team of five employees who were all working on a project that was due in two weeks. One of my team members was out sick, and another was on vacation. The third team member was struggling with the project and needed help. I had to make sure the project was completed on time while still supporting my team members.
Question Overview: You want to know that your administrator has a thorough understanding of the industry and the company's place in it. The best administrators have a broad perspective of the industry and how their company fits into it. They also have a deep understanding of the company's history, its current position and its future goals.
Sample Answer: I've worked in this field for over 10 years, including at two other companies.
Question Overview: You want to know the administrator's experience has been diverse enough to give him or her a broad perspective on business operations. You also want to know the administrator has been promoted in each position, which shows you he or she is a self-starter and a team player.
Sample Answer: I've been promoted three times in my career, including once when I was promoted from assistant to administrator. I've also worked in a variety of roles and departments, including finance, accounting and human resources.
Question Overview: The most difficult thing on your last job position? That's a loaded question. You want to know what challenges your administrator faces on a daily basis and how he or she handles them. You also want to know how the administrator would handle similar challenges in your company.
Sample Answer: The most difficult thing on my last job position was managing the team. I had a very small budget and a lot of work to do, so I had to be very creative with how I allocated resources.