When we perform a task regularly, with ample determination and focus, it amounts to discipline. But, everything in excess is awful. The same applies to such an act of regularity. A consistent routine can lead to monotony and has the ability to crush you under its influence. For this reason, a wide variety of institutions, such as health care facilities, care institutions, shelters, recreation centers, etc employ an activity assistant that facilitates movement, or we can say entertainment, leisure time activities, and socialization. The role of an activity assistant is quite challenging and hectic, but a bright pay leads to stiff competition for places and available vacancies.
Best 21 Interview Questions To Study
1) What Is The Best Activity For A Group Of Senior Citizens?
This question tests your knowledge and grip on your profession.
Sample Answer
It is common for activity assistants to arrange a devotional trip for a group of senior citizens. But, I do not prefer the same. In my opinion, senior citizens, must embrace and appreciate the beauty of nature. I always arrange a recreational trip for them to any hill station. This helps them to rejoice and enjoy the beauty of nature.
2) Will You Ever Go Overbudget?
Activity assistants employed at various institutions, have to organize and execute the activities using a pre-planned budget. However, sometimes this budget gets surpassed due to a variety of factors. An interviewer wants to know your views on crossing this threshold.
Sample Answer
In my opinion, I would rarely exceed the budget allocated to me. Money or finance is the most important aspect, that defines the grandeur or scale of activity. It is my primary responsibility to keep within the limits and organize an exceptional and engaging activity. Yet, there are a few circumstances and situations, wherein this budget gets crossed, say due to labor escalation, increased fares and transportation costs, etc. However, I would always ensure that the budget, if ever gets crossed, is only because of such uncontrollable factors and not because of my negligence.
3) How Important Are Recreational Activities For Elderly Patients?
This question tests your knowledge and awareness of the various practical procedures.
Sample Answer
In my opinion, elderly patients are the heartbeat of a medical institution and almost all the medical professionals give their best effort and time, in attending to them. Since, they are most probably, spending their last phase of life, performing recreational activities, such as singing and dance competitions, chess games, playing piano and guitars, etc, are most beneficial and crucial for their mental well-being. Hence, I always highly rate them.
4) Are You Willing To Work As A Team Member?
This question tests your viewpoints in working as a member of the team.
Sample Answer
Yes sir absolutely. working in a team setting is a need of the hour. Almost all organizations, prefer to work in a team setting, as it maintains a sense of satisfaction and even motivates you to work hard when you see your fellow mates working hard. Further, easy discussion of doubts and getting instant solutions always attracts me to work in a team culture.
5) How Do You handle Criticism?
This is a common interview question, that helps an interviewer to evaluate your personality and behavioral aspects.
Sample Answer
I consider criticism as feedback, which is vital to perform and execute tasks in an orderly fashion. I never take any criticism in a negative manner, rather think of it as an opportunity to improve my performance and future prospects.
6) Rainy Days or Extreme Cold, Ruin Outdoor Fun. Is It True? Tell Some Alternate Activities That Can Be Performed During These Seasons.
This question tests your knowledge in relation to the practical working procedures.
Sample Answer
In my opinion, this is not at all true. Such seasons do limit our ability to move outside and have an eventful activity under the sun, but they in no way limit our ability to have some engaging indoor recreational activities. We can perform, various activities such as:
- Organizing a match of:
- Table tennis
- Pool/Snooker
- Chess
- Carrom board, etc.
- Organize singing and dancing competitions
- Play cards
- Watch a movie together
- Watch any sporting event together, etc.
7) How Do You Handle Long Hours Of Work?
It is common for interviewers to ask this question so that a candidate becomes aware of the organization’s requirements. You would most probably be required to work for long hours, without regular breaks. Hence, answer this question positively.
Sample Answer
Working for long hours is absolutely normal and is necessary in order to enhance productivity and efficiency. I am up for the challenge, and for this, I always maintain my fitness level by engaging myself regularly in intense workouts at least 4 days a week. Further, I perform 20 minutes of meditation daily, so as to enhance my concentration level and focus.
8) Have You Applied With Other Organizations?
It is a tricky question that evaluates your body language and approach towards answering questions that are tough to answer. Just be genuine and honest, as any generic answer might suppress your selection chances.
Sample Answer
To be honest, yes sir, I have applied with other organizations as well, in order to enhance my selection chances and probability of getting a job. However, no other organization matches the superiority and charisma of this particular organization, which is my top priority. Looking forward to kicking start with you.
9) How Do You Prioritize?
It is common for business organizations to allot several tasks, that are to be performed in a particular workday. It is for this reason, that interviewers ask a similar question from you. You are advised to share a technique that enables you to effectively prioritize.
Sample Answer
Prioritization is necessary and of utmost importance in order to achieve the targets for the day and execute them in a time-bound manner. In order to prioritize effectively, I always create a list of tasks to be executed during my workday, which is arranged on the basis of time consumption. The most time-consuming tasks are executed first by me and then I slowly move towards the less time-consuming tasks. This way, I am able to finish all my duties, without skipping even a single task.
10) If You Were An Animal, What Would You Be?
This is a personality evaluating question, that basically displays your character, desires, and personal goals in life. Moreover, this would also enable an interviewer to understand whether or not you will be a perfect match for the organization.
Sample Answer
If God gives me such a chance then I would prefer to be a bald eagle. It is an incredible bird and is always committed to its goals. The level of determination, concentration, and ability to work hard is tremendous and has always excited me. Further, If not an eagle, I would prefer to be a lion, as I love to lead and guide people.
11) Which Book Have You Read Recently?
This is a common interview question that judges your intellectual abilities and knowledge. It is highly advised that you never, mention any love or romance-based book, in order to promote your candidature and enhance your selection chances.
Sample Answer
Sir, being a vivid reader, I always read a lot of books on varied aspects and genres. Recently, I have finished (____mention the name of your book_____). It is a wonderful book, which has taught me how to react in tough situations and how to improve my communication skills. I always employ the teachings of the books in my practical life and reap the benefits.
12) Rate Your Communication Skills On A Scale Of 1 To 5?
This question evaluates your self confidence and faith in your own ability to deliver speeches.
Sample Answer
I have always strived to improve my communication skills. I have even completed a course, wherein I was taught, how to effectively use your power of speech in order to express your message effectively. With due diligence and thorough self-scrutiny, I would love to give myself 4.7
13) How Will You Handle A Disgruntled Participant?
It is common for any organization to have a few clients who are not satisfied with the services offered. Being the representative or the face of the organization, you are expected to handle such a delicate situation in the most professional manner. An interviewer wants to know your this manner of handling such a delicate situation.
Sample Answer
You just can not satisfy everyone and hence it is common to have a few discontented individuals, no matter how efficiently or professionally you deliver your performances. Yet, customers are the most important aspect of any business venture. If I ever encounter such a situation, I would always lay maximum effort to understand the problem completely. Post this, I would use my critical thinking to deliver an effective solution to the participant.
14) Why You Left Your Previous Employer?
Through this question, an interviewer wants to know the genuine reasons for leaving your previous employer’s organization. This would enable him or her to understand your personality in a better and more comprehensive way.
Sample Answer
My previous organization was wonderful, with excellent work culture, on-time salary, and superior infrastructure. The only issue was the distance of the office from my place of residence. The distance was just too much, to cope with on a daily basis. It took me almost 5 hours of traveling on a daily basis, which robbed me of my entire leisure time and pleasure. This was the primary reason why I left my previous organization.
15) What Motivates You To Work?
This is a common interview question, through which an interviewer wants to know the motivational factor that promotes you to work hard and achieve the daily targets.
Sample Answer
Sir, the motivational factors are different for different individuals and depend largely on the circumstances, desires, and situations that a person experiences in life. For me, my primary motivational factor is my desire to advance my career and progress or ascend forward in life. Such career advancement has many benefits such as increased salary, enhanced recognition, and more responsibilities. Hence, my desire to become successful pushes my boundaries and forces me to work hard.
16) How Will You A Handle A Situation In Which A Participant Is Not Adhering To The Safety Rules?
This question tests your knowledge of the practical working procedures.
Sample Answer
Every physical recreational activity has some sort of safety rules which must be strictly adhered to. It is a habit, to make the safety rules clear to all the participants involves in the activity. Yet, there are always some over smart individuals, who give them a toss and do not take them seriously. I always mark them out and request them humbly to adhere to the rules. If they still defy the rules, I would shoot an official complaint to my senior.
17) What Is Your Favorite Leisure Time Activity?
This is a personality evaluating question that closely relates to your job profile.
Sample Answer
There are so many activities that I love to engage myself in, during my leisure time. But, since you have asked to pick me one, I would choose basketball. It is my love for the sport that I can play it for almost an entire day. I always motivate my clients to also incorporate this into their daily schedule.
18) When Can You Start?
It is common for interviewers to ask this question during the interview session itself. Through this, they want to check on your availability and want to judge whether or not you are an immediate starter. Never get excited or emotional, after hearing this question. as this in no way, guarantees your selection.
Sample Answer
- For Employed Individuals: Sir, I am currently serving ABC Corporation Inc. but I would soon serve a notice to them, most probably within the next two days. It is our organization’s policy to grant a relieving letter within 10 days of the receipt of the notice. Hence, I confirm, that I can join the organization on (___mention the date of your joining_____)
- For Unemployed/Freshers: Sir, I have the ability to join immediately, as I neither have any commitments or any obligations to fulfill.
19) What Is Your Biggest Strength?
This is a common interview question, wherein an interviewer wants to evaluate your level of self-scrutiny and appreciation. This question must be answered after a careful analysis of the self. During the course of the response, you must not sound arrogant or haughty in any manner whatsoever.
Sample Answer
In my humble opinion, my ability to lead and guide people is my biggest strength, which has been honed and enhanced since my school days. Right from school, I have always been a class monitor, captain of the local rugby team and have always led the drama society during my college days. Even during my previous tenure, I was made a team leader within 4 months of working as a fresher. This inculcates a sense of leadership in me and I believe, I can assume responsibility and make informed business decisions in a calibrated and diligent manner.
20) Why You Chose Us?
This is a common interview question through which an interviewer wants to evaluate your seriousness and commitment towards the organization. In order to effectively answer this question, you are advised to browse and study the official website of the organization.
Sample Answer
Being an excellent center, with more than 2,000 active employees and operations spread in 12 countries through more than 600 branches, I am not looking for any organization beyond this wonderful group. I believe, this company has the capability to shape my future in an adorable way and shine my path towards a shining and successful professional career. Further, an exceptional level of commitment shown by the existing employees and the presence of superior work culture entices me to be a part of the workforce.
21) Do You Have Any Questions For Us?
Be it the position of a financial manager or a factory supervisor. May it be the position of an engineer or a school teacher. Every interview session is concluded with this question, which enables a candidate to ask a few questions from his or her interviewer, related to the organization, job profile, the various benefits available, etc. Skipping or ignoring this question can prove detrimental to the selection chances of a candidate and he or she might lose the edge over other candidates.
Sample Questions
- What are the various incentives offered by the organization to its employees?
- How would you define the work culture of the organization?
- What are the organization’s policies in relation to harassment, bullying, and ragging at the workplace?
- What are the various health benefits extended by the company to its employees?
- Is there a provision for maternity reimbursement?
Download the list of questions in .PDF format, to practice with them later, or to use them on your interview template (for Activity Assistant interviews):
References
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8372373/
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/175045890101100406
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