Interviews can be daunting and hard to prepare for but we’re here to help. We’ve compiled a list of common questions that you might be asked in yours and how you might go about answering them, as well as some questions you could ask your interviewer to help show your interest in the position!
The interviewer is looking for genuine reasons why you want to be a school business support assistant. You could mention something like opportunities for career progression. In that case, make sure to reassure the interviewer that you wish to progress within the company rather than moving on. You could also mention your enjoyment of the tasks involved in the role as another motivation. Enthusiasm about the job can be another way to show that you wish to be a long-term employee.
Again, this is a personal question so have a think about what it is that you actually enjoy about the role and be honest about it, interviewers are going to value people who show some passion. A good idea of something to talk about when it comes to being a school business support assistant is being helpful. In this role you will be supporting many colleagues, parents and students so helping others is a great goal.
This can be a different way of the interviewer asking you about your weaknesses. Make sure to try keep things positive, but don’t be afraid to talk about difficulties you might have had as long as you explain how you overcame them. When asked a question like this it can be easy for you to get muddled or ramble, a good approach when being asked a question that requires you to recall past events is to use the STAR method.
As an administrative assistant you will be constantly working with others, whether it be other office staff or even teachers so being able to work effectively as part of a team is vital. One way of answering this question would be to recall a time when you have worked well as part of a team. If you are struggling with a way to structure your answer using the STAR method may help.
For a school business support assistant role the interviewer is usually looking for someone who can use email software, Microsoft office, photocopying machines, and phones. The most important thing here is to be honest about what you do and don’t know, lying about being able to do things but then not having any experience may not only stop your personal growth and training but it could lead to you being fired. If you are the right candidate for the job, training will be given to you in relevant areas if you lack experience, so make sure to emphasise you are ready and able to learn. Depending on the role, enthusiasm and willingness to learn can sometimes trump experience.
The key to answering this question is to talk about how well you deal with stress, how you manage you time and prioritise tasks, and how you communicate and keep those involved informed. If you can, referring back to a time when you have you have dealt with these issues is ideal, using the STAR method to structure your answer might be a good start.
Reading through some of our common questions should help get you in the right headspace for your interview, but don’t stop here–have a think about what kind of questions you could be facing, as well as how you might answer them on your own!
If you’re looking for that next job interview, take a look at our jobs board! You might find your dream school support job.
Make sure you have everything else you’ll need to land that dream job by returning to our school business support assistant career advice, or find out how to revamp your school business support assistant cv or cover letter. Have you got a job in mind but don’t have the right qualifications? If so, check out our courses page and take a look at some of our valuable qualifications.
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