17 Vice President Of Administration Interview Questions and Answers

The vice president of administration is responsible for the overall management of a company’s administrative functions. This includes human resources, finance, and information technology. The vice president of administration is also responsible for developing and implementing company-wide policies and procedures.

If you’re interested in becoming a vice president of administration, you will need to have extensive experience in administration and management. You will also need to be able to effectively communicate with people at all levels of the organization.

In this guide, we will provide you with some sample vice president of administration interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

Are you familiar with the administrative functions of our industry?

The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience in their industry. If you don’t, they may want to know how quickly you can learn the administrative functions of their company and adapt to them. To answer this question, explain your knowledge of the industry and highlight any relevant skills that will help you succeed in the role.

Example: “I’ve worked in the healthcare industry for five years now, so I am familiar with many of its administrative functions. However, I would be happy to learn more about your company’s specific processes and procedures. I’m a quick learner and enjoy adapting to new environments.”

What are your strategies for managing human resources?

Human resources is a key function of any organization, and the vice president of administration will be responsible for overseeing this department. Your answer should show that you have experience managing human resources and can explain how you did so effectively.

Example: “I believe in creating an open-door policy where employees feel comfortable coming to me with questions or concerns about their work environment. I also make sure to hold regular meetings with my team members to discuss company goals and objectives as well as employee performance. These two strategies help me identify areas where improvements are needed and provide solutions to these issues.”

How would you handle a disagreement between two of your department heads?

As a leader, you may need to resolve conflicts between your employees. Employers ask this question to see if you have the skills and experience to help their team members work through disagreements. In your answer, explain how you would use your conflict resolution skills to help two department heads come to an agreement or compromise.

Example: “In my previous role as vice president of administration at Acme Inc., I had two department heads who disagreed on which software program we should use for our company’s accounting needs. One preferred using QuickBooks while the other wanted to try out Freshbooks. After discussing the issue with both parties, I decided that it was best to give each department head what they wanted. We installed QuickBooks for our financial records and Freshbooks for our marketing analytics.”

What is your experience with information technology?

The vice president of administration is responsible for overseeing the company’s information technology, including its computer systems and software. This question allows you to show your knowledge about IT and how it can help an organization run smoothly. You can highlight any experience you have with managing IT or discuss what you would do if you had no previous experience.

Example: “In my last role as director of human resources, I was in charge of hiring our new IT department. I interviewed several candidates before finding a team that could provide us with all of the services we needed. I also worked closely with the IT department when implementing new software and updating our computers. I believe this helped the HR department streamline many of our processes.”

Provide an example of a time you identified a problem and developed a solution to address it.

This question can help the interviewer gain insight into your problem-solving skills and ability to take initiative. Use examples from previous positions that highlight your critical thinking, analytical and decision-making abilities.

Example: “In my last role as vice president of administration for a large nonprofit organization, I noticed our budget was getting out of control. We were spending more money than we had coming in, which meant we would have to start cutting programs or staff if we didn’t find a solution. After meeting with key stakeholders, I learned many departments weren’t following proper procedures when submitting their expenses. I developed an online expense reporting system to ensure all departments submitted their expenses correctly. This helped us save thousands of dollars each month.”

If we were to visit your department, what would we see you doing on a typical day?

This question is a great way to learn more about the role and what you would be doing on a daily basis. It also helps employers see if your skills match their expectations for the position. When preparing for this question, think of what you would do in a typical day at work. Consider asking someone who works in the department or company to describe their own days so you can get an idea of what they do.

Example: “If I were working in this department, I would start my day by checking emails and making sure all communication was up-to-date. Then, I would review any reports that came in overnight and make sure everything looked good. After that, I would meet with my team to discuss our goals for the day and how we could accomplish them. Throughout the day, I would check in with my team members to see how things are going and offer support when needed.”

What would you do if you noticed a problem with one of our company’s products or services?

The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your problem-solving skills and ability to make decisions. Your answer should show that you can use critical thinking, research information and apply your knowledge of the company’s products or services to find a solution.

Example: “If I noticed a problem with one of our company’s products or services, I would first try to understand what caused it. Then, I would look at similar problems we have had in the past to see if there is a pattern. If I notice a trend, I would work with my team to create solutions for these issues so we could prevent them from happening again.”

How well do you communicate with other departments?

As a vice president of administration, you may need to communicate with other departments or teams. Employers ask this question to see if you can work well with others and collaborate on projects. Use your answer to show that you are a team player who is willing to help out others when needed.

Example: “I am always happy to help out my colleagues in other departments. I find it helpful to know what’s going on in other areas so I can better support the organization as a whole. In my last role, I helped my HR manager by answering questions from employees about their benefits. This allowed her to focus more on employee training and development.”

Do you have any experience working with accounting software?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with specific software programs. If you have experience using accounting software, share what type of program it was and how you used it in your previous role. If you don’t have any experience working with accounting software, you can explain that you’re willing to learn the system if hired for the position.

Example: “I’ve worked with several different types of accounting software throughout my career. In my last role as an administrator, I helped implement a new accounting software program into our organization. This process took some time, but once we got the hang of it, it became much easier to use. I’m confident that I could help your company transition to a new accounting software program.”

When working with department heads, how do you determine priorities?

The interviewer may ask you this question to understand how you prioritize your work and communicate with other leaders. Use examples from past experiences where you had to collaborate with department heads or managers to determine priorities for projects, initiatives or company goals.

Example: “In my previous role as director of human resources, I worked closely with the CEO and CFO to develop a strategic plan that outlined our key objectives for the next fiscal year. We then used these objectives to create measurable KPIs for each department head. For example, one objective was to increase revenue by 10% within six months. The KPI we developed for the sales team was to generate $1 million in new revenue per month. This allowed us to set clear expectations for each leader while also providing them with the tools they needed to achieve their goals.”

We want to improve our customer service. Give me an example of a strategy you would use to do this.

Customer service is an important aspect of any business. The hiring manager may ask this question to see if you have experience improving customer service and how you did it. In your answer, explain what steps you would take to improve the company’s customer service.

Example: “I think one way we can improve our customer service is by having a more organized call center. I noticed that when customers called in with questions or concerns, they often had to wait on hold for quite some time before speaking with someone. To solve this problem, I created a new system where each employee was responsible for a certain number of calls per day. This helped employees stay focused on their work while also ensuring customers always got through to someone quickly.”

Describe your experience with human resources software.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn about your experience with HR software and how you use it in your daily work. If you have previous experience using HR software, describe the type of software you used and what you liked or disliked about it. If you haven’t worked with HR software before, explain that you are open to learning new systems if necessary.

Example: “I’ve worked with several different types of HR software throughout my career. I find that I prefer software that allows me to manage employee records, onboarding processes and other administrative tasks all in one place. This saves time by eliminating the need to switch between multiple programs.”

What makes you the best candidate for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and why you are the best person for the job. When answering, it can be helpful to list a few of your strongest skills or experiences that relate to the position.

Example: “I am the best candidate for this position because I have extensive experience in administration work. In my previous role as an assistant vice president of administration, I managed all aspects of the company’s finances, including budgeting, accounting and payroll. I also worked with human resources to create new policies and procedures for employees. These skills make me well-suited for this role.”

Which administrative functions are you most familiar with?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of experience in administrative functions. It can also show them which ones you enjoy doing and which ones you prefer to delegate. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a few administrative functions that you are familiar with and then explain why you chose those particular functions.

Example: “I am most familiar with budgeting, accounting and human resources. I started out as an accountant, so I have a lot of experience with financial management. I’ve been working on budgets for over five years now, so I feel comfortable creating one from scratch or modifying an existing one. Human resources is something I learned about later in my career, but I find it interesting and challenging. I like learning new things, so taking on HR was a good fit for me.”

What do you think is the most important trait for a vice president of administration to have?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand what your priorities are as a professional. Your answer should reflect your personal values, but it can also be an opportunity to highlight any skills or traits that aren’t listed in the job description.

Example: “I think one of the most important traits for a vice president of administration is being able to communicate effectively with others. This role requires working closely with many different departments within the organization, so I believe it’s essential to have strong communication skills. In my previous position, I was often asked to facilitate meetings between other employees who were having issues communicating with each other. I find that active listening is a great way to diffuse tense situations.”

How often do you update department heads on company goals and objectives?

This question can help interviewers understand how you communicate with other leaders in the company. Your answer should show that you are a strong communicator and have experience working with others to achieve goals.

Example: “I meet with department heads at least once per month to discuss our progress on company objectives, as well as any challenges we may be facing. I find this helps keep everyone informed about what’s happening within the organization and allows us to work together to overcome obstacles. In my last role, I also met with each team member every week to check in and see how they were doing. This helped me learn more about their roles and responsibilities so I could better support them.”

There is a conflict between two department heads. How do you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer assess your conflict resolution skills. Use examples from past experiences to show how you resolve conflicts and maintain relationships with all parties involved.

Example: “In my previous role, there was a disagreement between two department heads about which software to use for their daily operations. One preferred one program while the other wanted to continue using another. I met with both department heads separately to understand each of their perspectives on the issue. After hearing both sides, I decided to implement a hybrid system that would allow them to use both programs depending on the task at hand.”