17 Business Support Assistant Interview Questions and Answers

Do you have excellent customer service skills? Are you detail-oriented and well-organized? Do you have experience working in a business environment? If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may be a great fit for a business support assistant job.

A business support assistant provides administrative and clerical support to a business or company. This may include answering phones, greeting customers, handling correspondence, and maintaining records. To land this type of job, you’ll likely need to go through a job interview.

In this guide, we’ll provide you with some common interview questions and answers for business support assistant jobs. We’ll also give you tips on how to dress and what to bring to your interview.

Are you familiar with basic accounting software?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you have experience using accounting software. They want to know that you can use the company’s specific accounting software, if it uses one. If they don’t use a specific program, they want to know whether you’re willing to learn how to use it. In your answer, explain which accounting software you’ve used in the past and what level of expertise you have with it.

Example: “I am familiar with QuickBooks, although I haven’t had much opportunity to use it. However, I did take an introductory course on accounting when I was studying for my degree. I also worked as a bookkeeper at a small business during college where we used QuickBooks extensively.”

What are some of the most important skills for a business support assistant?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills necessary to succeed in this role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few of your strongest skills and how they relate to the job description.

Example: “I think communication is one of the most important skills for a business support assistant because we are often communicating with others about different aspects of our work. I am also highly organized, which helps me stay on top of my tasks and meet deadlines. Finally, I believe that problem-solving skills are essential for this position since we may encounter challenges when helping clients.”

How would you describe your work ethic?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your work ethic and how you approach your job. They want to know that you are a hard worker who is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. When answering, think of an example from your previous job where you worked especially hard or stayed late.

Example: “I have always been someone who approaches my work with a positive attitude. I am committed to doing whatever it takes to help my team succeed. In my last role, I was working on a project when one of my coworkers had to leave early due to illness. I offered to stay later so we could finish our work together. We were able to complete everything before she returned to work.”

What is your experience with data entry?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with a variety of tasks, including data entry. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention any specific software you’ve used for data entry and how comfortable you are using them.

Example: “I have two years of experience working as a business support assistant at my current company. In that role, I am responsible for entering all client information into our database, which includes their name, address, phone number, email address and other important details. I use specialized software to enter this information quickly and accurately so that we can keep track of our clients’ contact information.”

Provide an example of a time when you solved an issue within the workplace.

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach problems and solve them. It can also show your ability to work independently and with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation in which you used your problem-solving skills to find an effective solution.

Example: “At my previous job, I was responsible for organizing all of our company’s documents. One day, I noticed that some important files were missing. I immediately informed my supervisor so we could start looking for them. We searched through all of our filing cabinets but couldn’t find them. So, we decided to search through the computers where they may have been saved. After searching through several computers, we found the missing files on one computer. The employee who had originally filed those documents hadn’t saved them properly, so they weren’t backed up anywhere else.”

If hired, what would be your primary area of focus?

This question helps employers determine how you would fit into their company culture. They want to know that your primary focus will be helping customers and clients, not administrative tasks. Your answer should show that you are passionate about customer service and enjoy interacting with others.

Example: “My primary area of focus would be assisting customers and clients. I love being able to help people solve problems or find what they need. It’s rewarding to see the relief on someone’s face when I can provide them with an answer or solution. I also like learning new things, so I’m always excited to learn more about a company’s products or services.”

What would you do if you noticed unethical behavior within the company?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you would handle a challenging situation. You can answer this question by describing your process for reporting unethical behavior and what steps you would take to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Example: “If I noticed unethical behavior, I would first report it to my supervisor or manager so they could address it with the appropriate parties. If I felt uncomfortable talking to my supervisor about the issue, I would talk to someone else in management who I trust. After reporting the unethical behavior, I would make sure that the company took action to prevent similar situations from happening in the future.”

How well do you communicate with others?

This question can help the interviewer determine how well you work with others and your communication skills. Showcase your ability to communicate clearly, concisely and effectively by providing an example of a time when you had to do so in a previous role.

Example: “In my last position as a business support assistant, I was responsible for communicating with clients via email and phone calls about their orders. When I first started working there, I found it challenging to speak on the phone because I am more comfortable using written communication. However, after practicing over the course of several months, I became much more confident speaking with customers on the phone. Now, I find that I enjoy talking to people and helping them solve problems.”

Do you have any questions for us about the role?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you have done your research about the company and are genuinely interested in the position. Before your interview, make a list of questions you have about the role or the company. Your questions should be specific so they can help you learn more about what it’s like to work at this organization.

Example: “I am very excited about this role because I think my skills as an administrative assistant would be a great fit for this company. I noticed on your website that you offer a tuition reimbursement program. I was wondering if you could tell me more about how that works?” This shows the interviewer that you are motivated by their benefits package and want to know more about the opportunities available to you.

When was the last time you took on a new challenge at work?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your willingness to take on new responsibilities. They want to know that you’re open to learning new things and taking on challenges in the workplace. When answering this question, think of a time when you took on a new task or project at work. Explain what motivated you to do so and how it helped you grow as an employee.

Example: “The last time I took on a new challenge was when my manager asked me to help with some administrative tasks for our marketing team. At first, I wasn’t sure if I could handle all of the extra work, but I decided to give it a try. After working with the marketing team for a few weeks, I realized that I enjoyed helping out. Now, I regularly assist with marketing projects.”

We want to improve our customer service. What ideas do you have for us?

Customer service is an important part of any business, and employers want to know that you can help improve their customer service. When answering this question, it’s helpful to mention a specific idea or two that you have for improving the company’s customer service.

Example: “I think one way we could improve our customer service is by having more training on how to handle different situations with customers. For example, I had a situation where a customer was upset because they didn’t receive their package in time for Christmas. I apologized and explained that there was nothing I could do about the situation since it wasn’t our fault. The customer said she would never shop here again, but if we offered free shipping for life, she might come back. I told her I couldn’t offer that, but I did give her a coupon code for 10% off her next purchase.”

Describe your experience working with confidential information.

This question is a great way to assess your ability to handle confidential information. Employers ask this question because they want to make sure you understand the importance of keeping company secrets and how to protect them. In your answer, explain that you would never share any confidential information with anyone outside the organization. You can also mention that you have experience using encryption software to keep data safe.

Example: “I am very aware of the importance of protecting confidential information. I know that if I were ever to share secret information with someone who wasn’t supposed to know it, it could be detrimental to the company. That’s why I always use encryption software when working with sensitive data. It allows me to store important files in a secure location where only authorized people can access them.”

What makes you stand out from other candidates?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their company. When answering, it’s important to highlight a skill or experience that makes you unique from other candidates. You may also want to mention something that relates to the job description.

Example: “I have excellent communication skills, which is why I am so passionate about working in business support. In my previous role, I was responsible for communicating with clients via email and phone calls. I always made sure to answer questions thoroughly and resolve issues quickly. This helped me build strong relationships with clients and develop my customer service skills.”

Which industries do you have experience in?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your background and experience. It’s important that you have relevant experience, but it’s also good to show that you’re willing to learn new things. If you don’t have experience in the industry of the company you’re interviewing with, consider talking about an industry you’d like to work in.

Example: “I’ve worked primarily in the healthcare field, however I’m very interested in working in the tech industry. I think my customer service skills would be a great fit for this type of business.”

What do you think is the most important thing a business support assistant can do to help the company succeed?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you understand the role of a business support assistant and how it can help an organization succeed. When answering this question, think about what you’ve done in previous roles that helped your company achieve its goals.

Example: “I believe the most important thing a business support assistant can do to help their company succeed is provide excellent customer service. I know from experience that when customers have a positive experience with our company, they are more likely to refer us to others. In my last position, I was responsible for helping customers over the phone and through email. I always made sure to be friendly and helpful so that customers had a good experience.”

How often do you perform routine tasks?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you feel about performing routine tasks. It can also show them your level of comfort with repetitive work and whether you’re willing to do it if necessary. When answering this question, try to emphasize that you enjoy doing routine tasks as long as they are part of a larger project or goal.

Example: “I actually really enjoy performing routine tasks because I find them very calming. However, I only perform them when they are absolutely necessary. For example, I would perform routine data entry but not if there was an easier way to get the information we needed. I prefer to use my time more efficiently so I can complete more complex projects.”

There is a problem with a project. How do you handle it?

This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills. It also allows the interviewer to see how you handle a challenging situation and whether you can use your critical thinking skills to find solutions.

Example: “If there’s a problem with a project, I first try to understand what happened. Then, I look at all of the details of the project to determine if it was something that could have been avoided or if it was just a mistake. If it was avoidable, I will let my manager know so they can address the issue. If it wasn’t avoidable, then I will make sure the client knows about the delay and provide them with updates on when the project should be completed.”