Admin Assistant Mock Interview
Master 40 Admin Assistant interview questions covering organization, communication, and office technology.
Question 38 of 40
How would you handle working forsomeone who was a poor communicator?
Entry Level
How to Answer
Example Answer
Community Answers
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"In high school and while attending post-secondary studies, I had teachers and coaches with room for improvement in their communication. In these instances, I continued working as I would have, regardless of their involvement. If I had a leader or co-worker who was not the most excellent communicator, I would ask for clarification when possible; however, I would not let their communication roadblocks impact my quality of work."
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
Admin Assistants should be excellent communicators, and often need to 'read between the lines' when it comes to the needs and expectations of others. Of course, nobody wants to work for a leader that is a bad communicator, but sometimes these situations happen. You may work for someone who is a great communicator most of the time, and then has a blip in communication now and then. Assure the interviewer that you are capable of working around all types of communicators. Show that you remain flexible and professional, despite someone else's communication style.
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"I have worked for people in the past who were very brief in their communication and not able to provide me with full instruction. In those instances, I can be very independent and take tasks into my own hands with minimal direction. In my current position, my supervisor is rarely available. When he is, it's often quick text messages with errors. These messages are very challenging to decipher. I have learned to read his language, as well as read between the lines."
Interview Coach
Jaymie
A real coach, not AI. I read every answer myself and write back with personalized feedback.
Typically responds within 24 hours.
0 - Character Count
Anonymous Answer
Updated answer - If I was given a task and didn't receive clear instructions, I would first consider whether I could get the information needed to complete the task through simple research of my own such as doing a web search. If I still needed further instruction after my research, I would follow up with the person who assigned me the task and ask them for clarification. I would make sure I fully understand what needs to be done and when the deadline for the task is before I begin working on the project.
Marcie's Feedback
Excellent! You might consider providing a specific example here of a time when one of these people in your past didn't provide you with enough information about a project. And then talk about how you successfully managed to navigate this situation and still finish the project. These additional details will further strengthen your answer. Great job!
Unlock All 40 Admin Assistant Questions
Unlock professional responses that demonstrate the reliability and initiative interviewers seek.
Get StartedJump to Question