The most common receptionist interview questions are those that attempt to evaluate both the job candidate’s prior experience and the specific skills required for the position. These could include questions about the software the job candidate has used, the office machinery he or she is familiar with, and the number of words per minute he or she can type. Interview questions for receptionists may be accompanied by a typing test, as it is critical for an office receptionist to be able to type quickly and accurately.
Other questions about work experience, skills, and examples of how the job candidate handled a stressful situation will most likely be similar to those asked at any other job interview. The interviewer will most likely want to know how many other people the receptionist worked with in a previous office job, how he or she handled conflicts, and the job candidate’s ability to multi-task and complete multiple tasks accurately at the same time. A job candidate may also be asked to evaluate his or her own strengths and weaknesses during the interview.
Questions about organizational skills are also common in receptionist interviews. The receptionist may be in charge of receiving and opening mail or maintaining a filing system; in some cases, a new receptionist may be required to set up the filing system. A job candidate who can provide specific examples of performing this type of work in the past is often a front-runner for the position. Furthermore, interpersonal skills are important for a receptionist to demonstrate in an interview, such as the ability to answer the phone cheerfully or consistently present a polite, friendly demeanor when greeting people who come into the office.
The most common receptionist interview questions focus on a job candidate’s ability to use various office equipment, such as a fax machine, scanner, copier, and computer. Anyone interviewing for a position in an office is expected to have computer skills and be familiar with common office software. Budgeting and spreadsheet software, word processing software, and slideshow presentation software, to name a few examples, are all examples of this. Other specific skills or expertise with certain computer programs may be requested depending on the nature of the office; this information is helpful to determine prior to the interview so that one can be well prepared for any potential questions.