First Interview Questions - PDF

Tell Me About Yourself I'm a San Jose State grad with a B.A. in Design Studies, and creativity has always been a big part of how I approach problem-solving and communication. I started in customer service across food and retail, which gave me great people skills and really taught me how to stay cal...

Tell Me About Yourself I'm a San Jose State grad with a B.A. in Design Studies, and creativity has always been a big part of how I approach problem-solving and communication. I started in customer service across food and retail, which gave me great people skills and really taught me how to stay calm and solution-focused, no matter who I’m working with. After graduating, I joined Sensiba LLP as the front desk admin, acting as the face of our office and supporting the tax team at our Pleasanton headquarters. While I was initially tied to one department, I quickly took on more—managing the office, supporting multiple departments, and providing high-level administrative support. Especially during tax season, I really learned how to prioritize and stay adaptable under pressure. Within a year, I was trusted to support seven tax managers and their executive assistants directly. That role showed me how much I enjoy being in a collaborative environment, improving processes, and playing a key support role that helps others succeed. I’ve really valued the supportive culture at Sensiba, but I feel ready to take on a new challenge—one that lets me grow, meet new people, and apply my skills in a fresh environment. What Are Your Biggest Strengths? I’d say one of my biggest strengths is communication—whether it’s keeping internal teams aligned or making sure clients have what they need. I try to be really clear and proactive so everyone’s on the same page, especially when things get busy. I’m also very strong when it comes to project management. In my current role as a Tax Admin at our Pleasanton office, I support multiple departments and manage a lot of moving parts. I use tools like Outlook, Excel, and Monday.com to automate reminders, track deadlines, and stay on top of priorities. It really helps me stay organized and keep things moving without missing a beat. Working in such a fast-paced environment has sharpened my ability to juggle tasks, stay flexible, and anticipate what people need before they even ask or think of it. Tell Me About a Time You Had to Juggle Multiple Priorities Absolutely. During tax season at Sensiba, I was supporting our managers and multiple departments—all with overlapping deadlines. To keep things running smoothly, I blocked time in my calendar for focused work, grouped similar tasks together, and kept detailed checklists for each manager and department. I also met regularly with my executive assistants and team leads to make sure we were aligned. By planning and communicating early, I was able to meet our deadlines. My managers told me they felt less overwhelmed because I was keeping everything organized behind the scenes. How Do You Handle Change or Last-Minute Surprises? When something unexpected happens, I try to stay calm and go straight into solution mode. One example was during an internal event we were hosting at the firm—our guest speaker had to cancel the morning of the event. Rather than panic, I quickly updated the agenda, adjusted the materials, and let attendees know about the change so they’d know what to expect when they arrived. We ended up pivoting the focus to networking and team connection, and it actually turned out to be a great experience for everyone. It was one of those moments that reminded me how important it is to stay flexible, communicate clearly, and keep a positive attitude. Especially in a firm environment where a lot of moving parts come together, being able to adapt quickly can really keep things running smoothly. Describe a Mistake You Made and What You Learned Sure—so one mistake I made earlier on in my current role as a tax admin was not being as proactive with communication as I should’ve been. There was a situation where a client was late getting us some important documents. I figured they were just running behind, so I didn’t flag it right away. Unfortunately, that led to a last-minute scramble for our team to meet the deadline, and it definitely created more stress than was necessary. Looking back, I realized I should’ve checked in earlier and raised the issue with my manager instead of waiting. Since then, I’ve built a habit of staying ahead of potential issues—whether that’s setting up reminders, checking in regularly, or giving early heads-up when something seems off. It was a good learning moment. Now I’m a lot more proactive and organized, and I think that mindset really fits well with the kind of forward-thinking support needed in an executive operations role." Why Do You Want to Work at Armanino? What excites me most about Armanino is its forward-thinking, dynamic culture, especially as reflected in your Purpose, Values, and Anchors (PVAs). I really connect with how your firm prioritizes innovation and people-centric values. What also stood out to me is Armanino’s commitment to making a positive impact beyond just business. Your efforts to acknowledge environmental responsibility and continuously strive to do better really resonate with me and my belief that life is a journey of endless learning and development. I see a lot of value in being part of an organization that not only talks about strong values but actively integrates them into its operations and culture—it reminds me of what I currently appreciate about working for a B-Corp. Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years? In five years, I’d like to be in a position where I know my work is valuable and valued, whether that’s a direct progression of this role or another internal opportunity I could discover in the future. Whatever that may be, the goal is endless learning and evolving to be the best version of myself for the benefit of myself, my loved ones, and my future colleagues. What Interests You About the Executive Operations Administrative Assistant Role at Armanino? I’m really excited about this role because it seems like the perfect fit for my skills and experience. I’ve spent a lot of time supporting multiple teams and managing a variety of tasks, and this position offers a great opportunity to do that on a larger scale. What stands out to me is how collaborative the environment at Armanino seems to be, and I thrive in that kind of setting. I love the idea of being able to contribute to different teams and help streamline processes to make things run smoothly. Plus, I really connect with Armanino’s values around innovation and people-first culture. It feels like a place where I could grow, learn, and continue to take on new challenges, which is exactly what I’m looking for in my next step. Can You Describe Your Experience Managing Complex Calendars? Managing complex calendars is definitely something I’m used to! I’m a visual person, so I like to see all the calendars I’m working with at once—it helps me stay organized and track important details. For my own calendar and my executives’, I use Microsoft Outlook to keep everything on track and make sure we’re all aligned. It’s really about staying on top of availability and making sure everyone has time for what they need to focus on. In my current role, I coordinate meetings for seven tax managers, and while they’re all local, each one has their own unique schedule. So, I’m always adjusting and checking calendars to make sure everything fits. For managing more detailed tasks, I love using Monday.com (it’s my favorite!). It helps me break down projects, track deadlines, and make sure nothing slips through the cracks. I also use Excel for tracking tasks and project timelines when I need to get even more detailed. It’s all about staying organized and proactive, so my execs can focus on their work while I handle the logistics behind the scenes. How Do You Handle Conflicting Priorities in a Fast-Paced Environment? I think the key is planning ahead, staying adaptable, and communicating regularly with my team. During tax season at Sensiba, I was supporting seven managers and multiple departments with overlapping deadlines, so it was all about staying organized. I’d block out time for focused work, group similar tasks together, and use detailed checklists to make sure I was on top of everything for each manager. I also made sure to check in with their executive assistants regularly so we were all aligned and on the same page. Things don’t always go as planned, especially in a fast-paced environment, so being adaptable is really important. I’ve found that when priorities shift, staying flexible and adjusting quickly helps keep everything moving smoothly. Communication is huge—keeping the team updated and making sure everyone knows what’s happening helps prevent any surprises and ensures we’re all working together. This approach helped me meet deadlines and allowed my managers to focus on their work without feeling overwhelmed. Describe a Time You Successfully Coordinated an Event or Meeting One example that comes to mind was when our CEO, John Sensiba, offered our office space to host a business luncheon for the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce. I was responsible for coordinating the event from start to finish. The request came in, and I created a checklist to capture all the key details—things like the event’s purpose, date, time, location, number of attendees, food allergies, ADA accommodations, and any special requests. This checklist helped streamline communication and ensured that I had everything in one place to refer back to. I then put together an Excel sheet with all this information and shared it with the event coordinator to keep us aligned. We checked in regularly to make sure everything was on track and that all details were covered. By staying organized and proactive, we were able to execute the event smoothly, and the luncheon went off without a hitch. The experience really reinforced how crucial clear communication and attention to detail are when coordinating events. It was a great feeling to see everything come together successfully! How Do You Maintain a Positive First Impression When Managing Incoming Communications? I always start by appreciating the person for reaching out and letting me know what they need. It’s important to acknowledge their communication right away and let them know I’m accessible for any follow-up or future questions. I lead with empathy, focusing on understanding where they’re coming from and being attentive to what they have to say. I make sure to listen carefully, take notes when necessary, and confirm receipt of their message. This helps ensure that I’m fully aligned with their needs and can respond appropriately. By staying approachable, empathetic, and appreciative, I create a positive and open dialogue, which sets a good tone for the conversation and builds a strong foundation for future interactions. How Familiar Are You with Microsoft Office, and Which Applications Do You Use Most Often? I’m very familiar with Microsoft Office, and I use it every day for a variety of tasks. The application I use the most is Outlook—it’s essential for managing emails, scheduling meetings, and coordinating across teams. I also rely on it to keep my calendar organized with automated task blocks and reminders, which helps me stay on top of everything. For project management, I use Excel a lot. I find it really useful for tracking detailed information, managing deadlines, and staying organized across multiple tasks. While I do use Word and PowerPoint for documents and presentations, Outlook and Excel are definitely the core tools that help me stay efficient and organized. Questions for the Interviewer ​ What does development/advancement look like for this position? ​ What does a day-to-day look like for this role from your experience? ​ What are the skills and attributes that are valued most in candidates for this role? ​ Based on our conversation, are there any specific skills and experiences in my resume that I should highlight in my interview? ​ Do you have any concerns about my ability to perform this role based on my resume/background/experiences, and our conversation today? ​ What are your expectations for a candidate for this role within the first 90 days?