Interview clerk questions and answers:
Computer software you use?
In detail you are familiar with and explain each package of packages you use. Give examples of specific functions in which you are proficient, such as for creating and formatting spreadsheets in Excel, and creating and editing tables in Word. Involve your computer skills as required by the job.
What type of correspondence are you responsible for?
Answering a clerical interview question like this shows the level of responsibility you have regarding generating and editing correspondence. Do you type letters from drafts, corrected copies, recordings, dictations, or previous versions? Highlight your knowledge of English composition, spelling and grammar rules. Explain how you ensure accuracy. Provide work samples to support your answers.
Have you written any reports, formatted or checked and distributed?
Give examples of reports for which you were responsible and explain how you obtained and managed the necessary information and systems for generating and distributing reports.
What type of management of filing systems?
Highlight how you ensure filings that are current and being done accurately. How do you ensure effective retrieval of information? Detail what you are familiar with and explain their pros and cons in different filing systems. Discuss any improvements you have made. Show that you are actively managing the filing system and not just maintaining it.
What kind of information are you responsible for handling?
Focus on the type and volume of information - and so on form - that is captured and processed. What software and systems do you use? An important part of the answers to the clerical interview questions about information processing details how do you validate or audit the information before processing? How do you check for errors?
What kind of information do you have to keep confidential for your last clerical job?
Shows you how to use your own judgment to determine what types of information and situations are confidential. Gives you specific examples of confidential information management. How is this information stored? How do you monitor it? What is the process of retrieval?
How do you prioritize your work?
Describe your techniques for organizing your work. How do you determine the importance and urgency of tasks? What else do you do when prioritizing your work - e.g., resources available to complete tasks? Show how you were able to use your own judgment and plan of action to best fit the course.
Describe any innovations you made successfully in your last job to improve efficiency?
The interviewer wants to know if you were able to analyze a problem, come up with a workable solution, and show how you used initiative to make positive changes.
What do you think are the most important qualities for this clerical/administrative job?
A clerical or administrative type of job mainly involves information management and communication. Qualities such as good listening and communication skills, planning and organizing, flexibility, adaptability, independent judgment, confidentiality, attention to detail and accuracy are all key to clerical work.