How to Answer: Have you ever been overloaded with work? If so, how did you react, and how did you meet your deadlines?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for an Admin Assistant job interview.
36. Have you ever been overloaded with work? If so, how did you react, and how did you meet your deadlines?
How to Answer
Admin Assistants often have a wide range of responsibilities, making it easy for workloads to multiply. The interviewer would like to know that you react with professionalism even when expectations are higher than usual. The hiring authority also wants to hear about the plans you have in place to keep yourself organized and prepared to handle varying workloads. Discuss your time management skills and how you prioritize tasks. If you recently had an overload of work and were able to come out on top, be sure to give a quick story-based example, as it will bring your answer to life.
Written by Rachelle Enns on August 22nd, 2020
Entry Level
"While attending college, I also worked part-time at a lawyers' office, helping with phone calls and emails. There were many instances where I needed to fulfill multiple school projects while also juggling my commitment to the law office. I reacted very well under this pressure and found myself concentrating better, and being extra diligent with my time. I believe this experience helped prepare me for success as an Admin Assistant, ensuring that I can handle a large work volume and a variety of expectations."
Written by Rachelle Enns on August 22nd, 2020
Answer Example
"In my current position, I support a team of over 50 leaders and employees in a variety of functions. So, without proper organization, my workload can get out of hand quite quickly. I was recently involved with a project that required 30 hours of my time across two weeks while I was performing my usual admin tasks. I remained on track by time-blocking my day, ensuring that I remained focused on one task at a time for the bulk of my morning. I also set up reminders in Slack, which is a project management application that I have on my laptop. I ended up working some overtime hours as well to ensure that I met my deadlines. Rest assured, I am not afraid of hard work."
Written by Rachelle Enns on August 22nd, 2020
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