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Production Assistant 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 Production Assistant interview questions and answers.

  1. Do you have previous experience as a production assistant before? See answer
  2. Why should we hire you? See answer
  3. Why do you want to work with our company? See answer
  4. What do you find hard to deal with as a production assistant? See answer
  5. What will you do to ensure you work well with your colleagues? See answer
  6. How well do you work under pressure and tight deadlines? See answer
  7. What makes you enjoy working as a production assistant? See answer
  8. What makes you good at what you do? See answer
  9. Can you list some of the responsibilities of a production assistant? See answer
  10. If we tasked you with creating a budget for a new project, how will you come up with one? See answer
  11. Are you good at multitasking? See answer
  12. Can you tell us about a time when you made a mistake at where you worked previously and how you dealt with it?
  13. What will you do if you have to escort an actor to one set and set the lights in another?
  14. Can you tell us about anything innovative you did to improve your previous workplace?
  15. Aside from your qualifications, what other useful skills do you possess?
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Hire your next Production Assistant today.

Post a job

Hire your next Production Assistant 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 Production Assistant Interview Questions and Answers

Do you have previous experience as a production assistant before?

This question makes you aware of the applicant's background and their understanding of what the job entails. It is a common misconception that the film industry is just glamorous and the pay is high. This is false as they will have to work in tough conditions and the pay depends on a lot of things, not just the fact that it is a job in the film industry

What the answer should have:

  • The company where they have previous experience
  • Awareness of the number of working hours
  • Awareness of the work conditions

Example:

"I have worked before at Manga Company as a production assistant. As a beginner, I was given various responsibilities such as running errands for those above me, getting umbrellas for the actors when the rain starts to pour in the middle of filming and bring some costume changes for the actors. I learned a lot from my previous work on what the responsibilities of a production assistant entail."

Why should we hire you?

This question makes you aware of the applicant's qualifications. It also makes you gauge their convincing power and what skills they may possess.

What the answer should have:

  • Applicant's qualifications
  • A certain amount of confidence
  • A skill the applicant possesses 

Example:

"I'll be a great addition to the team, as my time management skills are excellent. Also, I'll be of immense value to the company as I am a hard worker that accomplishes everything I set out to achieve.”

Why do you want to work with our company?

This question will help you know how much the applicant knows about the company. It also lets you gauge what the applicant is looking for in an organization.

What the answer should have:

  • Company's background
  • Company's vision
  • Services provided by the company

Example:

"I'm well aware of the company's vision to change the face of film in general. I'm especially intrigued with the quality of films this company produces every year and it would be my pleasure if I could be a part of such greatness."

Can you tell us about a time you made a mistake at where you worked previously and how you dealt with it?

This question will help you assess the applicant's skills when it comes to crisis management. It will let you know how they would deal with their own mistakes and whether their mistakes may affect the company.

What the answer should have:

  • Honesty as we all make mistakes
  • Speed as to which they dealt with the problem
  • The magnitude of the problem

Example:

"Although it rarely happened, yes, I have ever made a mistake. I once messed up with the lens of the camera I was supposed to get. Upon realizing what I had done, I quickly dashed back to the store, got the right lens and got back just in time before production began. I do admit I was a little tired when making this mistake and I assure you that will not happen when I work here."

What do you find hard to deal with as a production assistant?

This question will let you know the applicant's weaknesses. It will help you gauge how many responsibilities the applicant can juggle.

What the answer should have:

  • A weakness
  • A technical issue
  • Ways to make up for the weakness

Example:

"With my experience as a production assistant, making impromptu errors has been a slight issue for me. It interferes with my schedule, but I adjust accordingly and do as I am told. Aside from that, I find everything I do as a production assistant quite fulfilling as I love what I do.”

What will you do if you have to escort an actor to one set and set up the lights in another?

This question will assist you in getting to know how the applicant's organization skills. Often while working, the schedule of a production assistant will get mixed up and they have to come up with innovative ways to deal with it.

What the answer should contain:

  • Organizing skills
  • Critical thinking
  • Planning and time management

Example:

“If I ever find myself in such a predicament, I will first contact someone on the other set and find out whether the lights have already been delivered. I will then talk with the actor and find out when they plan on leaving. If there is leeway, I will rush to the other set and finish setting up the lights, then come for the actor. If there isn't, I will escort the actor first, then go set up the lights."

What will you do to ensure you work well with your colleagues?

This question makes you aware of the applicant's ability to work with people. This is key in the film industry as you want to hire people who can work as a team to ensure maximum output. Onset, you need everyone to do their work well and together so that everything goes smoothly. 

What the answer should contain:

  • Ability to work well with people
  • Ability to be friendly to their colleagues
  • Ability to respect their colleagues' boundaries

Example:

“I will respect their boundaries. I will not touch their items without their permission. If they are working on a project that needs my expertise, I will assist them if I can. I will also be friendly with them. I will also do my work well and on time so that if someone "is waiting on my work, they are at a convenience"

How well do you work under pressure and tight deadlines?

You will know if the applicant is suitable for the job as it can be very demanding. They need to have thick skin to be able to handle the job. Often, while on set, tensions may start to get high as maybe deadlines have to be met or a certain target. You will need someone who can work under that pressure to ensure the work is still good. 

What the answer should demonstrate:

  • Persistence
  • The applicant's adaptability 
  • Organizing skills
  • Stress coping techniques

Example:

"I enjoy working under pressure as I believe it brings out the best in me. I never miss my deadlines as I plan accordingly and finish on time, even if I have to work the whole night."

What makes you enjoy working as a production assistant?

This question will make you aware of the applicant's passions on the job. People tend to perform better if they are doing what they love. Also, if they enjoy working as a production assistant they will tend to go the extra mile to ensure things move smoothly on set. 

What the answer should have:

  • A well-detailed explanation
  • Passion for the job
  • Willingness to go the extra mile to meet expectations

Example:

"What I enjoy about it is that I get to be part of a greater team. I have enjoyed film ever since I was young and it will be a pleasure working on creating some, no matter how small the role is."

What makes you good at what you do?

This question will make you know the applicant's strengths better. It also gives you a preview of what you will get if you decide to hire them. You will also get to know where exactly you can position them in the company and what duties you will assign them should you choose them.

What the answer should show:

  • Confidence
  • Lifeskills
  • Two or more answers

Example:

"I am very good with anything electrical, which usually comes in handy. I'm also very organized, which is needed every day on this job. I'm also very passionate about film and hence, I put in my all."

Can you tell us anything you did to improve your previous workplace?

With times always changing, you want to hire people with an innovative mind to tackle problems that may evolve.

What the answer should have:

  • A specific problem that needs a solution or improvement
  • An out-of-the-box idea that tackled a problem
  • What the job applicant did to improve the conditions

Example:

“A lot of time was being wasted during lunch break. I suggested to my superior to have people give their orders and they are delivered during the break. This saved time as people no longer had to go get their lunch and it cut the lunch break by 20 minutes."

Can you list some of the responsibilities of a production assistant?

 You will get to know if the applicants understand what the job entails. A production assistant is different from a personal assistant and some may know the difference.

What the answer should have:

  • Job description
  • Accurate list of what a production assistant does
  • Knowledge of what the job entails

Example:

"A production assistant assists in setting up lights, props, etc., in a set. They also print and distribute paperwork such as scripts. They can also be tasked with assisting the directors with various activities they want them to do. They are also responsible for escorting actors to their various film sets.”

Aside from your qualifications, what other skills do you possess?

You will get to know what the applicant brings to the table other than what they studied. The more an applicant can offer, the better.

What the answer should have:

  • A skill not related to their academic qualifications
  • Leadership skills
  • Conflict resolution skills

Example:

"I'm an excellent cook who could prove to be useful on the company's camping trip. I'm also good at fishing and happened to have won fisherman of the year at our annual fishing competition at Lake Goodman. In addition to all this, I'm also very fluent in German and French.”

If we tasked you with creating a budget for a new project, how will you come up with one?

You will test the applicant's ability to come up with accurate budgets. It can also test the applicant's creativity.

What the ideal answer should contain:

  • A well laid out procedure
  • Effective use of money
  • Ability to keep down and track expenses

Example:

"I will first look at a previous budget and highlight the areas where the company spent a lot of money. I will then use mapping software to see where I can procure different items on the budget. I will go with slightly cheaper quality products, hence saving the company a few coins." 

Are you good at multitasking?

This question will make you aware of the applicant's ability to multitask. This is very crucial as a production assistant.

What the answer should illustrate:

  • An example of when the applicant multitasked
  • Planning skills
  • Ability to keep multiple projects running

Example:

"I'm very good at multitasking. I remember when I had to distribute scripts to various actors and still act as a runner distributing various information to people on the set. I did this very well by distributing the scripts and when I saw someone whom I had their message around, I would pass it on."

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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