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: 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: When can you start?
  • Question Overview: This question is a great way to see how eager the candidate is to work for your company. A good answer will be specific and will show that they are ready to start working as soon as possible.

    Sample Answer: I'm ready to start right away. I've been looking for a position like this for a while and I'm excited to get started.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - A willingness to start immediately
    • - Confidence in their ability to start immediately

  • Question: What drives you?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to give you a better understanding of the applicant's motivations and what drives them to be successful. A good candidate will be able to express their desire to be successful and their willingness to work hard to achieve their goals.

    Sample Answer: I'm driven by the desire to be successful. I want to be able to provide for my family and have a career that I enjoy. I'm willing to work hard and put in the time necessary to achieve my goals.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Desire to be successful
    • - Willingness to work hard
    • - Passion for their work

  • 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: What kind of workplace culture do you like?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to find out if the applicant will be a good fit for your company. A good candidate will be able to express their understanding of the company culture and how they will be able to fit in with the rest of the team.

    Sample Answer: I'm a very outgoing person and I enjoy being around other people. I'm always looking for ways to help others and I think that's why I've been so successful in my previous positions. I'm sure I'll fit right in with your team.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to self-reflect
    • - Awareness of the company culture
    • - Willingness to work in a team environment

  • Question: How does your past experience relate to this job?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to help you see how well the candidate has researched the position. A good applicant will be able to show how their past experience is relevant to the position and will be able to explain how they can make an impact in this new role.

    Sample Answer: My experience as an office manager has given me a lot of experience working in a team environment. I've learned how to work with people from all different backgrounds and personalities and I'm confident that I can do the same here.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to self-reflect
    • - Demonstrated understanding of the position
    • - Willingness to talk about themselves

  • Question: Who was your rockstar on your team and why?
  • Question Overview: This question gives the applicant an opportunity to talk about their experience working in a team environment. It's important to find someone who can work well with others and help them achieve their goals. A good candidate will be able to name someone who they worked with closely and explain why they were so effective.

    Sample Answer: My rockstar on my team was my manager. She was always willing to help me out and gave me great advice when I needed it. She was always looking out for my best interests and I learned a lot from her.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to work well with others
    • - Recognition of the importance of teamwork
    • - Willingness to talk about their experience working in a team

  • Question: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to get a sense of the applicant's career goals and how they see themselves fitting into the organization. A good candidate will have a clear idea of what they want to accomplish in the next few years and will be able to communicate this effectively.

    Sample Answer: I see myself as an office manager at your company in 5 years. I'm very interested in the position and feel that I would be a great fit for your team.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - A clear vision of their future
    • - A desire to grow professionally
    • - A willingness to work hard to achieve their goals

  • Question: How would you handle a situation where you have to delegate?
  • Question Overview: A good office manager will be able to delegate tasks to their team members effectively. They should be able to break down a task into smaller pieces and explain how they would go about completing it. They should also be able to communicate the importance of the task and how it fits into the bigger picture.

    Sample Answer: I would break down the task into smaller pieces and explain what each person's role is in completing it. I would also make sure that everyone understands the importance of the task and how it fits into the bigger picture.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to break down a task
    • - Ability to communicate the importance of a task
    • - Ability to communicate how they would complete a task

  • Question: How do you react if there is a conflict with your work colleague?
  • Question Overview: An office manager will be working closely with their team on a daily basis, so it's important that they can resolve conflicts in a productive and professional manner. A good candidate should be able to explain how they would handle a conflict in a way that shows they are mature, professional and willing to work with others to resolve the issue.

    Sample Answer: I try to remain calm and professional when dealing with conflict. I believe that it's important to listen to what everyone has to say and try to come up with a solution that works for everyone.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to self-reflect
    • - Ability to resolve conflict in a professional manner
    • - Willingness to work with others