20 ACT Interview Questions and Answers

When you go to an interview, you can expect to be asked questions about your qualifications and experience. But what if the interviewer asks you a question about the company you’re interviewing for?

Answering questions about the company you’re interviewing for is a great way to show that you’re interested in the job and that you’ve done your research. But it can be difficult to know what to say.

That’s why we’ve put together this guide to company specific interview questions for ACT. With these questions, you’ll be able to show that you know a lot about the company and that you’re the right person for the job.

ACT Interview Process

The interview process at ACT can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least one phone interview and one in-person interview. For some positions, you may also be required to do a presentation or take a skills test. The interview process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

1. What is your experience with the K-12 student population?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience working with students of different ages. If you have worked with a variety of age groups, describe the differences in their learning styles and how you adapted to each group.

Example: “I’ve worked with all grade levels, but I find that younger students are eager to learn and excited to be at school. They’re also very curious and love asking questions. As they get older, however, they become more focused on getting good grades and completing assignments rather than understanding concepts. In my last position, I found that it was important to help them understand why certain things were important so they could apply those lessons to future situations.”

2. Tell me about a time where you had to prioritize, how did you choose what comes first?

This question is a great way to see how you prioritize your work and what steps you take when making decisions. This can be an important skill for any position, especially if you are in charge of managing multiple projects or tasks at once.

Example: “In my previous role as a marketing manager, I had to manage several campaigns at the same time. One campaign was focused on increasing sales through social media, another was focused on generating leads through email marketing and landing pages, and the last one was focused on improving our website’s SEO. I started by creating a timeline that included all three campaigns’ start and end dates. Then, I created a spreadsheet where I could track each campaign’s progress. Each week, I would review the spreadsheet and make adjustments based on the data.”

3. If a customer was unhappy with their purchase, how would you handle it?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your customer service skills. They want to know how you would handle a challenging situation and if you have the necessary conflict resolution skills. In your answer, demonstrate that you can empathize with customers and use problem-solving skills to find solutions.

Example: “I once had a customer who was unhappy with their purchase because they didn’t receive it in time for Christmas. I apologized for the inconvenience and offered them a refund or free shipping on their next order. The customer chose the free shipping option, which made them happy again.”

4. How do you feel about working weekends and holidays?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you’re willing to work overtime or on weekends. If the job requires weekend and holiday work, be honest about your willingness to do so. If it doesn’t, consider emphasizing that you’d rather not work these hours.

Example: “I’m happy to work any shift as long as I get my eight hours of sleep. However, I prefer working during regular business hours because I find it easier to focus when there aren’t many distractions around me.”

5. Are you comfortable answering phone calls?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your customer service skills. If you have experience working in a call center, describe the types of calls you handled and how you helped customers. If you haven’t worked in a call center, explain what you would do if you received an angry or upset phone call from a client.

Example: “I’ve never worked in a call center, but I did work as a barista at a coffee shop for two years. During my time there, I answered phones when our front desk receptionist was on break. I also took orders over the phone during busy times. In both cases, I always made sure to greet the caller with a friendly voice and offer them assistance.”

6. Describe your style of management.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your management style and how it might fit with the company’s culture. When answering, try to describe a situation where you used your management skills to help others or achieve goals.

Example: “I believe in being an approachable manager who is always available to my team members. I also like to encourage collaboration among my staff so that we can work together to solve problems and find solutions. In my last role as a marketing director, I had a large team of employees working on various projects. One day, one of our social media accounts was hacked. My team worked together to figure out what happened and fix the problem.”

7. Can you tell us about a project that you worked on recently?

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential new colleague’s skills and abilities. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the project in detail and explain how you used your skills to complete it.

Example: “At my current job, I worked on a project that involved creating an online database of all of our company’s products. This was a large project with many different components, so we split up into teams and each team focused on one aspect of the project. My team was responsible for researching and writing product descriptions. We spent several weeks researching the history of our products and their features before writing them out.”

8. Which shift are you available to work?

Employers may ask this question to learn more about your availability. They might also want to know if you can work a night shift or weekend hours. When answering, be sure to mention the specific days and times that you are available for work.

Example: “I am available to work any day of the week from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. I am also willing to work some nights and weekends as needed.”

9. Why do you want to work at ACT?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand why you are interested in working for their organization. It is important to show that you have done your research on the company, its values and mission statement and how it aligns with your own goals and career aspirations.

Example: “I am passionate about education and want to work at an organization that shares my same beliefs. I read through ACT’s website and was impressed by the programs and initiatives they offer to students and educators alike. I believe that if we continue to support our youth, they will be able to achieve great things.”

10. Do you have any experience interacting with customers?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your customer service skills. If you have experience interacting with customers, describe a time when you helped them solve a problem or provided excellent customer service.

Example: “I worked as a cashier at my local grocery store for two years while I was in high school. During that time, I interacted with many different types of people and learned how to help them find what they were looking for. One day, an older woman came into the store looking for a specific type of pasta. I remembered seeing it on display earlier that week, so I walked her over to where we kept our pasta and showed her which one she was looking for.”

11. We care greatly about our company culture here at ACT, how would you fit in as an employee?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your personality and how you would fit in with their team. To answer, think of a few qualities that describe yourself and explain why they make you a good employee.

Example: “I am very dedicated to my work and always strive to do the best I can. In my last position, I was tasked with creating an online database for our company’s sales records. I worked late into the night to get it done on time, but when I turned it in, I noticed there were some errors. Rather than just submitting it, I stayed late again to fix all the mistakes before turning it in. My dedication to quality work is one reason I’m excited to be here today.”

12. What skills can you bring to ACT?

ACT is a non-profit organization that provides assessment, research, information and program management. Your answer should show the interviewer you have the skills to be successful in this role. You can list your relevant skills and how they relate to the job description.

Example: “I am highly organized and detail oriented, which are two important skills for working at ACT. I also have excellent communication skills, as well as strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities. These skills will help me succeed in my role as an administrative assistant.”

13. How flexible is your schedule?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your availability and how you might fit into their organization. If they’re looking for someone who can work a lot of hours, you should let them know that you are available at all times. However, if the job requires less flexibility, you can explain that you have a regular schedule and cannot change it often.

Example: “I am flexible with my schedule as long as I get enough sleep each night. I find that working late nights is not good for me because I’m usually too tired to be productive during the day. I prefer to work from 9 AM until 5 PM, but I can adjust my schedule depending on what’s best for the company.”

14. What does good customer service look like to you?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your customer service skills. They want to know how you would interact with their clients and what kind of attitude you have when providing support. In your answer, try to show that you value the client’s experience and understand the importance of good customer service.

Example: “Good customer service is when a company or organization listens to its customers and responds in a timely manner. It’s important for businesses to respond to questions and concerns so they can build trust with their customers. I believe it’s also important to go above and beyond for customers by offering them additional resources and information.”

15. Provide an example of a time when you went above and beyond for a customer.

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your customer service skills. They want to know if you are willing to go the extra mile for their organization’s customers. In your answer, try to describe a situation where you went above and beyond for a customer and how it positively impacted them.

Example: “When I worked at my previous job, we had a customer who was having trouble with one of our products. He called us multiple times asking questions about the product and requesting that we send him a new one. We explained to him that he could return the product and receive a refund instead, but he insisted on getting a new one. Eventually, I offered to drive out to his house and deliver the product in person so that he would be satisfied.”

16. What do you know about testing? Is it something you’re interested in?

The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have any experience with standardized testing. If you do, they may want to know more about your experiences and how it helped you in the past. If you don’t have much experience with testing, they may be looking for a reason why you’re interested in working at ACT.

Example: “I’ve taken several tests throughout my academic career, including the SATs, AP exams and state-mandated assessments. I find that taking these tests helps me prepare for future challenges and gives me an idea of what to expect when I’m taking other important tests later on.”

17. What do you think are the most important qualities for a successful team member?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your teamwork skills and how you interact with others. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific time when you helped a team succeed or an example of a quality that you have yourself.

Example: “I think the most important qualities for a successful team member are communication, respect, trust and commitment. In my last job, I was part of a small marketing team where we had to create new campaigns every month. We would meet once a week to discuss our progress and bounce ideas off each other. During these meetings, I learned that everyone on the team respected one another’s opinions and were committed to creating high-quality work.”

18. How well do you work under pressure?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your ability to work under pressure. This can be an important skill for someone in a leadership role, as they may need to make decisions quickly and effectively when time is of the essence. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific example from your past where you worked under pressure and how you handled it successfully.

Example: “In my last position, I was responsible for managing several projects at once. One day, one of our clients called me with a problem that needed immediate attention. I took a deep breath and thought through all of my options before making a decision. I decided to delegate some tasks to other team members so I could focus on solving the issue with the client.”

19. How would you define success?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s values and how they define success. It can also help you determine whether your definition of success aligns with theirs, which could be important if you’re hiring for an organization that emphasizes certain values or goals.

Example: “Success to me is achieving my personal best while helping others do the same. I believe that everyone has unique talents and skills that they should feel empowered to use in their daily lives. When I see someone using their strengths to overcome challenges, it makes me feel like I’m doing my job well.”

20. What do you think makes someone a good manager? Why?

This question can help an interviewer get to know you as a potential employee and how you might fit into their company culture. When answering, it can be helpful to mention specific qualities that make you a good manager yourself.

Example: “I think someone is a good manager when they are able to balance being both authoritative and empathetic. I’ve had managers in the past who were either too soft or too strict, and neither of those approaches worked well for me. I like to find a happy medium where I’m firm but also encouraging and supportive.”