Benefits Specialist - Interview Questions

This is another popular question for any type of interview. Do you plan to still be answering phones in five years? Maybe not. Whatever you do, just work in how this job will not only help you but how you will help the company. It’s also okay to not entirely know where you’ll be in five years…just answer with something like: “Five years is a long time, and while I can’t say with certainty where I hope to be, I know that I like working in an office space and communicating with people. I hope to use my skills to help Company ABC continue to find success, while also growing personally and professionally. If we feel like we’re a good fit for each other, I’d also be interested in exploring more opportunities within the company.” 

For more advice on answering this tricky question, check out our post: How to Answer “Where Would You Like to Be in 5 Years?”  

Translation: How do you maintain an upbeat attitude all day while serving as the ‘face’ of the office? Sample answer: “As the first point of contact for office visitors, I think it’s incredibly important that a Benefits Specialist maintains a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Moreover, positive energy is infectious. One person’s enthusiasm can easily transfer over to others within the office, helping keep the entire team energized.”

What this question’s really asking: Do you understand that Benefits Specialists are the face of the office? Say this. “I see a Benefits Specialist as being the face of the office. They’re the first person a visitor usually interacts with, and it’s their job to set the tone for the company through friendly and professional interactions.” 

Let’s start with the basics. Any employer wants to know why you’re interested in the position you applied for! Do you have past experience as a Benefits Specialist? Are you looking for a new opportunity and think you have the skillset needed to thrive in the role? Be honest, just not too honest. Never tell an employer you “just really need a job.” It’s not a good look.

Interviewers may ask this or a similar question to evaluate
how frequently and openly you communicate important information to staff
members and your team. Communicate that you stay updated on current legislation
and labor laws as a true professional and keep your team and other employees in
the loop as well.

Also, let them know of any presentations and meetings you
were a part of at your previous job and all you did there to update employees
about new benefits offerings and updates. Also, show the interviewers how you
keep yourself available and let people at your workplace know that they can
reach you anytime. Help them see that you are approachable.

Companies offer different kinds of retirement compensation
plans. You should be well informed about both of them. Technical questions are
also necessary for interviewers to ask benefits specialists because they need
to make sure they have the skills and experience required.

To answer this question, you should describe the broad difference between these two plans and support it with examples relating to the enrollment process you would go through with employees for both these categories of pension plans.

Benefit specialists are often also tasked with performing payroll duties to ensure accuracy. So, your prospective employers might ask this question to get insights into how proficient you are with payroll software and the kinds of management systems you have used in the past.

Showcase your experience and expertise. Let them know that you are tech-savvy, skilled at using management software of different types, and are a quick learner.

This question is quite a logical one, which interviewers are pretty likely to ask prospective candidates for the benefits specialist position. Administrative tasks include answering phones, creating and maintaining a filing system, ordering supplies, and keeping the workplace in check.

You can also use any part-time work or internship you may have done within the administrative capacity for this question. Go into detail and explain what the job was, what it demanded, and your performed administrative duties. Give them a sense of the familiarity you have with such tasks and that you can do them without a problem.

A good benefits specialist will also be expected to be efficient. Organization, multitasking, and data management are all skills that benefits specialists need to perform effectively.
Do your best not to be vague, and give specific examples of the tools you use and the best practices you keep in place to stay organized. For example, let them know if you are someone who uses online spreadsheets or personal planners.

Also, talk about the tools that personally seem to work best for you, such as making a checklist or notes, focusing on similar tasks at one time, etc.