QUESTION 2 OF 40

Give me an example of a time when you went above and beyond your usual administrative tasks.

"While attending my Introduction to Business Mathematics class, I noticed that the student beside me was stressed. I could see him struggling with the content, and his body language was that of someone feeling deflated. After class, I approached him and introduced myself. I asked him how he felt about the class. My classmate said that he wanted to drop out. I told him that I had strong abilities in math, and I could tutor him for a couple of hours to help him gain a better grasp of the basic concepts. He agreed and was thankful that I reached out. It felt great to go the extra mile to help someone succeed, and I look forward to the opportunity to do the same in a business setting."

The interviewer would like to see your willingness to go above expectations to help your employer. Display to the interviewer that you are able and eager to do more than the bare minimum. Show that you react with kindness when you see that someone has a need that requires you to reach beyond typical expectations. It's best if you can give a story-based example as this will bring your keen work ethic to life. If you are new to your career, you can draw on experience from school, sports, or volunteer work.

"Last week I noticed that my manager had not completed the employee schedule for the following week. Some of the staff were complaining that they didn't have their work schedule yet. Rather than going to my manager with the complaint, I offered to take on some of her work. This way, she would have the time to complete her scheduling tasks. We worked together for a couple of overtime hours that day and were able to catch her up on everything. It felt good to help, and I truly enjoy exceeding expectations ."

Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.

Anonymous Answer

I worked part-time as an account receivable after finishing my diploma in business administration. When I was joining the company, they had a backlog and many clients did not pay because they did not get their Invoices. I organized my current work with pending clients' invoices. Within the three months, I cleared out the backlog, and 20% of company revenue was increased.

Chad's Feedback

This is a great example to share of a time you exceeded expectations to benefit your employer. Good job! It sounds like your additional assistance to clear the backlog of unpaid invoices was extremely beneficial in increasing the company's revenue.

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Admin Assistant Mock Interview

Give me an example of a time when you went above and beyond your usual administrative tasks.

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