Employers are often interested in your motivations for pursuing a role because it helps them learn more about you and determine if you’re the best candidate for the position. The hiring manager may gather information about how long you intend to stay in the position and how your professional goals may affect your performance. If you’re applying for secretary positions, learning more about the question “Why do you want this secretary job?” and how to answer it can be beneficial. In this article, we explain why employers ask this interview question, discuss how to answer it, review example answers and provide interview tips.
SECRETARY INTERVIEW QUESTIONS & ANSWERS! (How To PASS a Secretarial Interview!)
Detail what you admire about the company
If youre applying to a specific company because you admire their practices or products, you can detail that in your answer. Before the interview, be sure to research the company thoroughly to ensure the information you share is correct. For example, you may explain that youre interested in working with the company because you admire their philanthropy and outreach initiatives. You may detail seeking a workplace environment that the company offers as a primary reason for pursuing the position.
Example 3
“Earth, Health and Planet Household Company has been a favorite household brand of mine since it started releasing products. I love using cleaners and household supplies that improve the planet and are ecologically friendly, and I admire this company because it gives back to charitable organizations. When I saw the opening for this position, I knew I had to apply for it and bring my excellent secretary skills here to help the company further its mission.”
Explain why you want the position with a story
Providing a story about your interest in being a secretary can help the hiring team connect with you and better understand your motivations. This is a great way to detail your personality and motivations for pursuing the position. For example, you may explain that your father was a secretary and after coming to work with him for career day, you realized you loved the job and wanted to do it when you got older.
How to answer the “Why do you want this secretary job?” interview question
The hiring manager may ask “Why do you want this secretary job?” to learn more about your career goals and professional motivations. Learning to answer it may help you improve your chances of receiving an offer for the secretary position. Here are some steps you can follow to answer this interview question:
Secretary Interview Questions (With Example Answers)
The role of a secretary has evolved over the decades as technology and executive needs change, and it’s likely to continue evolving. If you’re applying for a secretary job, understand that there is fierce competition for these types of positions in the job market.
A secretary serves an important role in an organization. It’s a fast-paced environment that requires clear communication, problem-solving, multitasking, adaptability, people skills, and positivity, among many other necessary skills and attributes.
Juggling a multitude of important responsibilities and maintaining a cheerful demeanor is no easy feat, but if you’re up to the task and getting ready for a job interview as a secretary, preparing for common secretary interview questions will help to bolster your chances of landing your next job.
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Secretaries take on a wide range of administrative and clerical tasks to lighten the load for the executives they support. The day-to-day duties of a secretary are similar to those of administrative assistants and executive assistants.
A secretary is often responsible for answering phone calls, managing calendars, coordinating meetings, organizing and maintaining files and databases, communicating with visitors, scheduling appointments, and many other tasks that are important to keep the organization running smoothly.
Depending on the workplace, some secretaries also take on internal tasks such as organizing team-building activities, friendly competitions between sales teams, and rewards for meeting goals. In situations like these, having event-planning experience can be a major asset among the many other skills and qualities a secretary needs to have.
A great secretary is expected to have well-developed hard skills as well as soft skills. Computer and software knowledge is important for efficiency.
Because a secretary is often a spokesperson for an executive and serves as a primary point of communication for clients, partners, the media, other employees, and the general public, strong interpersonal and communication skills are an absolute must.
This need for versatility is reflected in the most common open-ended, processed-based questions that frequently come up in a secretary interview. Examples of these types of questions include:
Why Are You Interested In This Role?
When this question arises, use it as an opportunity to sell yourself. Your answer will help the interviewer gauge if you are the best fit for the job.
Tip 1: Avoid mentioning monetary or material items as your motivation.
Tip 2: Ensure you mention things that make you resourceful to the organization.
Sample Answer
I am passionate about organizing things and ensuring everything runs smoothly. I am also an avid timekeeper, and the experience I have gained over the years enables me to ensure all things go as scheduled. I intend to use these skills to bring more order to the organization.
What Are the Roles of a Secretary?
The interviewer is assessing if you know what your job entails.
Tip 1: Do your research beforehand and only mention the roles in the job description.
Tip 2: If the organization does not provide a job description, talk about the general roles of any secretary you know.
Sample Answer
A secretary answers call, takes messages, maintain the diaries and arrange for appointments. They also file work, manage databases, prioritize the workload, type and prepare reports, and organize meetings.
