17 Front Office Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Front office managers are responsible for the first and last impressions of a business. They manage the reception area, greet guests, and coordinate front office operations. They also manage office staff, including hiring, training, and scheduling.

If you’re looking for a job in a hotel, hospital, or other business that has a front office, you’ll likely need to go through a job interview. One of the best ways to prepare for a job interview is to know what questions you might be asked. In this guide, we’ll provide you with some common front office manager interview questions and answers.

Are you comfortable managing a team of people?

Front office managers often have to manage a team of people, including receptionists and customer service representatives. Employers ask this question to make sure you’re comfortable with leadership responsibilities. In your answer, explain that you enjoy working with others and helping them succeed. Explain that you are willing to provide guidance and feedback as needed.

Example: “I am definitely comfortable managing a team of people. I’ve been the front desk receptionist at my current job for two years now, so I’m used to delegating tasks and providing guidance when necessary. I also regularly train new employees on how to do their jobs. I find it rewarding to help others learn and grow in their roles. I think I would be an excellent leader for your team.”

What are some of your past experiences in customer service?

Front office managers need to be able to provide excellent customer service. Employers ask this question to see if you have experience in the field and how you performed. When answering, think of a time when you helped a customer with their needs or concerns. Explain what steps you took to help them and what your results were.

Example: “In my last position as a front desk receptionist, I had many responsibilities that included greeting customers and helping them with any questions they had about our company. One day, I noticed one of our clients was upset. I asked her what she needed and she told me she couldn’t find an important document. I offered to help search for it and we found it within five minutes.”

How would you handle a situation where multiple employees are arguing in the front office?

Front office managers often have to resolve conflicts between employees. Employers ask this question to see if you can use your problem-solving skills and interpersonal skills to help their team work together more effectively. In your answer, describe a situation where multiple people were arguing in the front office and how you helped them resolve their conflict.

Example: “In my previous role as a receptionist, I had two coworkers who would argue with each other every day. One of them was always late for work, which made the other one upset because she felt like she had to cover for her coworker all the time. Eventually, they both came to me asking for advice on how to resolve their issue. I told them that it’s important to communicate with each other about any issues they’re having so they can find a solution together. After talking through their problems, they decided to switch shifts so neither of them had to cover for the other.”

What is your process for handling employee complaints and concerns?

Front office managers often handle employee complaints and concerns. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the skills necessary to resolve conflicts in a productive way. In your answer, explain how you would use your conflict resolution skills to help employees feel heard and supported.

Example: “I believe that every complaint or concern an employee has is valid. I always try to listen carefully to what they are saying and take their feelings into account. Then, I work with them to come up with a solution that makes everyone happy. If there isn’t a compromise we can all agree on, I will let them know that I am willing to talk through their issue until they feel satisfied.”

Provide an example of a time when you went above and beyond to help a customer or client.

Front office managers are often the first point of contact for customers and clients. Interviewers ask this question to see if you have any experience going above and beyond to help someone. Use your answer to highlight a time when you helped a customer or client in an exceptional way.

Example: “When I worked as a receptionist, one of my duties was answering phones. One day, I had three calls come in at once. Two were from patients who needed to reschedule their appointments, while the other was a patient calling to cancel. I immediately put the two callers on hold so that I could take care of the cancellation. While I was talking with the third caller, I noticed that they were canceling their appointment as well. I quickly transferred them over to the cancellation line so that we could get both calls out of the way.”

If a visitor was looking for someone in the building and you knew where they were, would you let them know or direct them to the front desk?

This question is a test of your customer service skills and ability to work with others. Your answer should show that you value the privacy of other employees and respect their right to choose whether or not they want to speak with someone.

Example: “I would let them know where they are, but I would also ask if they wanted me to tell the person they were looking for that they’re here. If they said yes, I would go get the employee and bring them back to the lobby so they could greet the visitor. If they said no, I would direct them to the front desk.”

What would you do if you suspected one of your employees was stealing from the company?

Front office managers often have to deal with sensitive situations like this one. Your answer should show that you can handle conflict and protect the company’s assets. In your response, explain how you would investigate the situation and take appropriate action if necessary.

Example: “If I suspected an employee of stealing from the company, I would first try to resolve the issue by speaking with them privately. If they denied it, I would continue my investigation by looking at their work history and comparing it to any missing funds. If I found a discrepancy, I would fire them immediately. If there was no evidence of theft, I would speak with them again about their performance and give them a warning.”

How well do you handle stress and pressure?

Front office managers often have to handle a lot of stress and pressure. They are responsible for managing the front desk, answering phones, scheduling appointments and more. Employers ask this question to make sure you can handle these types of situations well. In your answer, explain how you manage stress and give an example of a time when you did so successfully.

Example: “I am very good at handling stress and pressure. I find that if I stay organized and prioritize my tasks, it helps me keep everything under control. At my last job, we were short-staffed one day, which meant I had to take on some additional responsibilities. I was able to do all of my regular work while also helping out with other things. This helped our team get through the busy day.”

Do you have any experience managing budgets or overseeing expenditures?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with financial management. Front office managers often oversee budgets and expenses for their departments, so the interviewer may want to know if you have any previous experience in this area. In your answer, share a specific example of how you managed a budget or oversaw expenditures.

Example: “In my last role as front office manager, I was responsible for managing our department’s budget. Each month, I would create a spreadsheet that outlined all of our expenses and revenue. Then, I would compare these numbers to our projected budget to see where we were spending money and make adjustments as needed. This helped me ensure that we stayed within our budget each month.”

When is it appropriate to let visitors into the building?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your ability to make decisions that are in the best interest of the company. Use examples from past experiences where you made a decision about letting visitors into the building and how it affected the business.

Example: “In my previous role as front office manager, I had to let many people into the building who weren’t patients or employees. In one instance, a woman came into the office asking for directions to the bathroom. She was lost and needed help finding her way back to her car. After helping her find her way out of the building, she asked if we could call her an Uber so she could get home safely. I called her an Uber and helped her get settled before returning to work.”

We want to improve our customer service. What would you do to implement improvements?

Front office managers are responsible for improving customer service in their organization. They do this by implementing new policies and procedures that improve the overall experience of customers. When answering this question, explain how you would implement these improvements to make sure your team is providing excellent customer service at all times.

Example: “I believe that every employee should be able to provide excellent customer service. I would start by creating a training program where we teach our employees about the best ways to interact with customers. For example, I would train them on how to answer common questions and how to solve problems quickly. I would also create a system where employees can give feedback about their experiences so we can continue to improve.”

Describe your experience using common business software.

Front office managers need to be familiar with common business software, such as accounting and customer relationship management (CRM) systems. Your interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience using these programs. In your answer, explain which business software you’re comfortable using and what you’ve used in the past.

Example: “I’m very experienced using CRM software like Salesforce. I’ve been using it for over five years now, so I feel confident using it to manage my team’s sales goals, track client information and monitor our progress toward meeting those goals. I also use Microsoft Excel regularly to create reports on how we’re performing against our goals.”

What makes you qualified for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications for the job. They want to know what you can bring to their team and how you will help them achieve company goals. Before your interview, make a list of all your skills and experiences that relate to the position. Think about which ones are most important for the role and highlight these in your answer.

Example: “I have five years of experience as an office manager at my current company. In this role, I am responsible for managing employees’ schedules, ensuring they complete their work on time and resolving any issues they may be having. I also handle customer service calls and emails from clients and ensure our staff is providing excellent service. These skills make me qualified for this front office manager position because I understand the importance of communication and teamwork.”

Which industries do you have the most experience working in?

Front office managers often have experience working in a variety of industries. Employers ask this question to make sure you are comfortable working in their industry. Before your interview, read through the job description and highlight any skills or experiences that match what they’re looking for. In your answer, explain which industries you’ve worked in and why you feel qualified to work in theirs.

Example: “I have experience working in both healthcare and hospitality. I find these two industries to be very similar because they both require excellent customer service skills. I enjoy helping customers with whatever questions they may have. I think my previous experience in these industries makes me well-suited to work here.”

What do you think is the most important trait for a front office manager to have?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand what skills you value most. It also helps them see if your values align with those of their company. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about which traits helped you succeed in previous roles.

Example: “I believe that empathy is one of the most important traits for a front office manager to have. I’ve worked as a receptionist before, so I know how frustrating it can be when someone isn’t greeted right away or has to wait on hold for a long time. Having empathy means that I can put myself in my patients’ shoes and make sure they feel comfortable while waiting for care.”

How often do you think employees should be evaluated?

Front office managers often evaluate their employees, and the interviewer wants to know how you would do it. Your answer should show that you understand the importance of regular evaluations and can perform them effectively.

Example: “I think front office staff members should be evaluated at least once a year. I find this is enough time for me to see if they are meeting expectations or need additional training. If an employee’s performance is declining, I want to give them ample opportunity to improve before making any decisions about whether they should remain with the company.”

There is a disagreement between two employees in front of a customer. How do you handle it?

Front office managers often have to resolve conflicts between employees. This question helps employers understand how you would handle a conflict in front of customers and other visitors. Use examples from your experience where you helped two employees work through their disagreement.

Example: “In my previous role, I had an employee who was always late for her shift. She would come into work five minutes before the start time, but she would be late for her first task every day. The manager and I talked with her about this issue several times, but it didn’t change. One day, another employee came to me because she was upset that our tardy employee kept talking to her while she was working. We spoke with the tardy employee again, and she said she felt overwhelmed by her responsibilities. We gave her more training on her tasks and reassigned some of them so she could focus on one thing at a time.”