This practice Principal Clerk job interview is from an actual civil service interview. 

The practice Principal Clerk interview questions are provided by the Complete Civil Service Interview Guide.  The Guide is written by experts who have written civil service interview questions and interviewed job candidates at all levels.  This step-by-step Guide will teach you how to succeed in the civil service interview including:

• How civil service interviews are different from private industry interviews and how to handle the differences.
• How to identify possible interview questions before your civil service interview.
• How to answer any civil service interview question confidently and without nervousness.
• Answers to the toughest interview questions and situations.
• How civil service interviews are scored and which words to say to raise your score.

More from the Complete Civil Service Interview Guide on governmentjob.us including more practice interviews and civil service interview questions and answers.

Job Description

A Principal Clerk exercises independent judgment in directing, coordinating, and reviewing the work of a group of clerical employees engaged in a variety of activities and services. The position regularly supervises a group of employees, determines specific work methods, assigns work, trains, evaluates employees, and ensure that such work meets agency requirements. In addition, a Principal Clerk may personally perform highly specialized clerical work and routine administrative duties under limited supervision and may have regular contact with the public, or executive management.

Clerical activities include performing typing, filing, and related office work; maintaining specialized records and prepares reports relating to the activities of the department to which assigned; preparing payrolls and maintains time/attendance and employee personnel folders and ensures confidentiality of such information; maintaining simple financial records and accounts relating to departmental budgets and/or expenditures for supplies and equipment; preparing statistical reports and related documents and checks for accuracy; assist in preparing budgets and personnel request documents; requisitioning and inventory of office supplies and equipment; and developing and implementing of new work methods and procedures.

Practice Principal Clerk Job Interview

• What are your qualifications for the position of Principal Clerk?  Focus on the aspects of your experience, training, and education that apply to Principal Clerk.
• What tools and methods do you use to build teamwork among your employees?  
• Give us an example of a successful team that you’ve developed.
• How do you prioritize your work?
• What aspect of supervision do you find most challenging?  Identify what you find most challenging and then describe how you handled the challenge with an example.
• Your receptionist informs you that a reporter is at her desk and has requested to speak with the Director of Corporate Safety regarding a Cal OSHA citation.  The reporter is apparently working with the General Manager’s office on an article featuring the Department’s safety programs and has two quick questions. 
• Tell us about your experience in handling confidential records and information.
• You’ve been given an important, high visibility assignment by the Director that you delegated to one of your employees.  However due to an increase in the workload and staff absences, the assignment was not completed by the due date.  How will you communicate your failure to the Director?
• Give us an example of your ability to work independently.  Provide a relevant example.  The more complex the assignment, the better.
• What will you do when an exemplary employee starts to come in late on a frequent basis?
• Do you have anything to add?  Summarize by emphasize your qualifications as they apply to this job.   Also cover anything you missed from your opening.  Don’t forget any education or formal training.