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Office Clerk Interview Questions

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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Office Clerk interview questions and answers.

  1. When the CEO and the COO each ask you to complete paperwork, which task takes precedence? See answer
  2. As an office clerk, what would your daily routine at this organization look like? See answer
  3. What office software do you consider to be most important to your job and why? See answer
  4. How do you protect sensitive information? See answer
  5. Do you have any experience managing financial transactions? How did you go about it? See answer
  6. What experience do you have dealing with minor faults with office machinery? See answer
  7. What filing system do you consider the most efficient and why? See answer
  8. What relevant certifications to this role do you currently possess? See answer
  9. Have you ever had to handle a side project for your superiors? How did you do it without interfering with your daily routine?
  10. What role did you play in your previous firm’s written communication?
  11. How do you handle the repetitive nature of your Job?
  12. How would you introduce organization when working with a highly disorganized superior?
  13. How would you deal with an impolite and difficult customer?
  14. Tell us about a situation where your specific job duties and daily routine changed constantly and how you handled it.
  15. What would you do to keep a high-profile visitor busy when the executive they intend to see is occupied?
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Hire your next Office Clerk today.

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Hire your next Office Clerk today.

Post a job
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 Office Clerk Interview Questions and Answers

When the CEO and the COO each ask you to complete paperwork, which task takes precedence?

An office clerk often has to complete certain tasks that may be needed at the same time for top-level executives. This question tests the candidate's understanding of hierarchy at the workplace and how they can prioritize tasks.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Logical assessment of priorities
  • Understanding of hierarchy 
  • Ability to cope with pressure

Example:

"When asked to complete tasks at the same time by the CEO and the COO, the CEO's request comes first. However, if the COO's request is very crucial to the organizational goals at that time, then that takes precedence, but I would inform the CEO."

Have you ever had to handle a side project for your superior? How did you do it without interfering with your daily routine?

Office clerks often develop a cordial working relationship with their superiors, leading to them being entrusted with certain projects that might involve tasks that lie outside the scope of their primary responsibilities.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Knowledge of primary duties
  • Ability to prioritize primary duties
  • Multitasking qualities

Example:

"I have. I was able to reduce interference with my daily routine by making sure that I allotted time to complete my typical work tasks before beginning on the side project."

As an office clerk, what would your daily routine at this organization look like?

The roles of an office clerk can be somewhat general. However, there are some tasks for office clerks that can be specific to different organizations. A candidate's answer here can show if they know about your company and how they might fit in.

What to look for in an answer: 

  • Evidence of research about the company
  • Knowledge of role responsibilities
  • Sequential description of daily routine

Example:

"When I start work in the morning, I'll likely check my messages and relay them to the appropriate individuals. After this, I'll process all documents pertaining to the daily order of work routine for that day."

What office software do you consider to be most important to your job and why?

There are many types of office software that can be important to the job of an office clerk. This question can help you see if the candidate is familiar with the software they might need to fulfill their job duties at your company.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Knowledge of important software
  • Evidence of proficiency using most office software
  • Understanding of the functions of different office software

Example:

"While I have experience with many types of software, I believe the most important is the Microsoft Office Suite, such as Word and Excel. This is because the Microsoft Office software can help me handle the major routine processes of my job, such as preparation of correspondence, statements, and data collation."

What role did you play in your previous firm's written communication?

Written communication and correspondence can be very crucial to the day-to-day running of the organization, and the responsibility often falls to office clerks. The candidate's experience with this indicates how well they can be of use in this regard.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Proficiency level with editing
  • Strong writing skills
  • Experience with various forms of written communication

Example:

"My previous company used newsletters, memos, emails, and letters to communicate with customers, and I was responsible for conveying the thoughts of the company via written text. I also had the responsibility of going over cover letters and proposals attached to our bids and budgets to ensure we communicated properly."

How do you protect sensitive information?

The office clerk is always sending and receiving important information. This question can help you ensure that the candidate is trustworthy and professional with sensitive information.

What to look for in an answer:

  • A demonstration of professionalism
  • Ability to identify important information
  • Trustworthiness

Example:

"Handling information, particularly sensitive information, is one of my core responsibilities as an office clerk. I am obliged to call the attention of the appropriate authorities as fast as possible when I come across such information."

Do you have any experience managing financial transactions? How did you go about it?

Experience managing financial transactions can be invaluable for companies that deal with simple cash transactions. The candidate's experience managing financial transactions determines the level of such responsibilities you can entrust them with.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience with financial tasks
  • Proven systematic approach
  • Bookkeeping proficiency

Example:

"I helped my firm handle simple bookkeeping tasks that required me to remain updated on daily cash inflow and outflow. I also helped run daily financial reports that summarized the firm's daily financial status."

How do you handle the repetitive nature of your job?

The daily activities of an office clerk can be very important to making sure a business's operations run smoothly. However, as doing so can sometimes involve repetitive tasks, this question can confirm that a candidate is prepared for possibly tedious work.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Knowledge of the job's main tasks
  • Self-developed means of coping with repetitiveness
  • Creativity and motivation

Example:

"I like to view each day as a new opportunity to help the company in my own way. Sometimes, when my work begins to feel repetitive, I try to come up with innovative ways to do the same tasks I have been doing. I also make sure not to restrict myself to only routine activities, and I take part in everyday company strategies and tasks."

How would you introduce organization when working with a disorganized superior?

An office clerk is responsible for handling important files and documents in close collaboration with top-level personnel. The candidate's ability to maintain the required level of organization when working with any individual is important to the day-to-day running of the company, especially if the superior seems disorganized.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Collaboration skills
  • Ability to work with superiors
  • Strong organizational skills

Example:

"I always prioritize the most important tasks and try to know when and how to get to them when they're needed most. I also try to identify a pattern in my superior's way of doing things and align myself with it."

How would you deal with an impolite or difficult customer?

The office clerk can often be the customer's first point of contact with the company. Because there can be potential for office clerks to encounter challenging customer situations, it's helpful to ensure the person attending to them can make the best out of every situation and reflect the company in a positive way.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Interpersonal skills
  • Professionalism
  • Customer service skills

Example:

"I would make sure to do all that is possible not to escalate the situation. To ensure this, I like to keep a calm voice and tone while trying to be as courteous as possible. I then typically try to determine the reasons why they are being impolite and difficult so that I can offer a solution or refer them to the appropriate individual."

What experience do you have dealing with minor faults with office machinery?

The candidate's experience with minor faults with office machinery can speak to their level of familiarity with the machines. Their answer to this question can show whether they can work around minor challenges that often happen with machines.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience working with office machinery
  • Ability to detect minor faults
  • Familiarity with handling electronic office equipment

Example:

"I frequently use the printers, scanners, copiers, and computers for my daily paperwork. Sometimes, the printers and copiers develop some paper jams. When this happens, I open the appropriate compartment to take out the paper and restart the machine."

What filing system do you consider the most efficient and why?

The candidate's response here can show how well they understand different filing systems. Furthermore, it can be helpful to see if the candidate's preferred system matches the one your organization uses.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Knowledge of different filing systems
  • Familiarity with multiple filing systems
  • Strong organizational skills

Example:

"I have experience using a wide range of filing systems, including alphabetical, numeric, and alphanumeric systems, all of which have their own advantages. However, I consider the alphabetical filing system the most efficient because it's simple to use."

What relevant certifications to this role do you currently possess?

Although an office clerk doesn't typically need formal education, the qualifications that a candidate has can be very important. Knowing a candidate's level of expertise can tell you about the level of technicality they can handle and how much supervision they might need.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Proof of some formal education
  • Demonstration of past experience in a similar role
  • Certifications pertaining to soft skills

Example:

"I have a national diploma and a general office clerk certification. What I consider most relevant to this job is the experience I have gathered via my on-the-job training over the past three years."

Tell us about a situation where your specific job duties and daily routine changed constantly and how you handled the situation.

Changes can happen frequently in a company. These changes might require the company to consider temporary solutions, and it can be important to know whether a potential employee can be capable and willing to adapt.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Adaptability
  • Willingness to help
  • Problem-solving skills

Example:

"When my previous firm had to downsize for a short period, I was prepared to fully take on the role of a customer support agent where I received calls, noted customer complaints, and offered solutions. When someone else filled the role, I was charged with overseeing correspondence. I believe my primary responsibility is to help the company in any way I can."

What would you do to keep a high-profile visitor busy when the executive they intend to see is busy?

Since the office clerk might be responsible for greeting visitors at the company, it's important to know how well they can interact with people, as this might determine how the general public perceives the company. 

What to look for in an answer:

  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • Verbal communication skills
  • Professionalism

Example:

"I would try to make any high-profile guests comfortable and welcome by offering some refreshments while they wait for their meetings, such as tea or coffee. I would also offer my assistance in case they have any questions regarding their visit."

Three individuals are sitting at a table with a laptop, a disposable coffee cup, notebooks, and a phone visible. Two are facing each other, while the third’s back is to the camera. The setting appears to be a bright room with large windows.

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