If you’ve ever had to fill an Office Manager role, you know the competition is fierce. That’s why you have to know the right office manager interview questions to ask each candidate that comes through the door.
The role of an office manager is different for each company. Your candidate should already have a sense of the responsibilities they’ll face and what the company expects. With a little research, they will be prepared with answers that impress you while assuring you they’re right for the job.
Here are some of the top questions to ask an office manager candidate and why they matter.
When faced with multiple responsibilities, how do you keep yourself organized?
An office manager is pulled in many different directions. Generally, they’re answering to each department within a company while trying to keep the office afloat at the same time.
So, it is important to understand how someone prioritizes their responsibilities and faces the pressure of wearing multiple hats. This answer will give you some insight into whether or not the candidate is quickly overwhelmed.
What strengths should an office manager have?
An office manager should not only know how to lead but lead with composure and compassion. There are many situations an office manager faces where they’ll have to keep calm and make tough decisions. If a candidate understands what your company is looking for, they should be able to answer this in a way that showcases leadership, direction, and confidence.
Unfortunately, someone who buckles under pressure likely won’t be right for a role that requires fast thinking no matter what the obstacles. This is a great way to identify those individuals.
Tell me about a time you had to showcase your leadership skills by leading a team project.
As we mentioned above, leadership is an essential quality of an office manager. They often work independently and have to make on-the-fly decisions — so knowing how they lead is a huge plus.
Ask for a concrete example of a project they lead and the outcome. How did people respond to them? Did they project manage and meet deadlines? How did it feel when the project came to an end?
How do you deal with confidential information?
Office managers answer to everyone. That means they’re privy to confidential information before it becomes public knowledge.
Having the ability to keep things confidential and operate with grace is paramount. When asking this question, you should request examples of situations in which they had to handle confidential information and what they did with it.
For many companies, this will be one of the most critical questions. Don’t hesitate to ask follow-up questions.
Hiring an office manager is a massive step for any business. It can be the gateway to developing a more organized and productive office, and it also takes some of the pressure of executives and their admins.
However, this role is just as important as any other in your company, and you want to make sure you find the right fit. These office manager interview questions can help to guide you there.
