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Expeditor Interview Questions

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Expeditor interview questions and answers.

  1. Can you describe a time you expedited a process in your previous role? See answer
  2. In terms of facilitating production processes, what goods or items do you have the most experience with? See answer
  3. What strategy do you think is the most effective to meet a production schedule? See answer
  4. What software programmes have you used in the past, and how did you use them in the workflow process? See answer
  5. How do you handle a shipping delay during the production process? See answer
  6. How do you approach the budgeting stage when expediting a process? See answer
  7. What is the most challenging part of being an expeditor? See answer
  8. Can you describe a time you collabourated with a group of people when expediting a production schedule? See answer
  9. Tell us about a time you experienced a challenge when working with a vendor. See answer
  10. How do you typically measure success when expediting a process? See answer
  11. When beginning a new expediting process, how do you determine which vendor is best? See answer
  12. When reviewing new materials, what steps do you take to ensure quality? See answer
  13. Tell us about a system you use to maintain or track inventory. See answer
  14. What skills do you have that make you a good expeditor? See answer
  15. How do you stay organised during the expediting process? See answer
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Hire your next Expeditor today.

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Hire your next Expeditor today.

Post a job
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 Expeditor Interview Questions and Answers

Can you describe a time you expedited a process in your previous role?

The aim of this question is to evaluate the candidate's technical production schedule knowledge and to ensure they fully understand the role. What to look for in an answer:

  • An accurate and full understanding of an expeditor's duties
  • An example that demonstrates their production process knowledge 
  • Previous experience as an expeditor or in a similar role 

Example:

"In my previous role, I expedited and facilitated the manufacturing process. I reviewed materials, managed orders, and created workflow systems to increase efficiency. As our company grew, I reviewed the systems and scaled up our process to respond to the increase in orders."

In terms of facilitating production processes, what goods or items do you have the most experience with?

Expeditors can work to improve production logistics in a variety of industries. The goal of this question is to assess the candidate's technical knowledge and prior experience in your industry. What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience working with relevant products and materials 
  • The ability to adapt and work with different materials
  • Specific details about the manufacturing or production process

Example:

"I have over six years of production experience. In various roles, I've worked with construction materials for large-scale engineering projects, including bridges, buildings, and roads. I also have experience working with materials designed to create new machinery and tools for the construction industry."

What strategy do you think is the most effective to meet a production schedule?

An effective expeditor will have a variety of tools and processes they can use to ensure timely production. The aim of this question is to evaluate a candidates' expediting plan and process. What to look for in an answer:

  • High-level knowledge of the production process
  • Experience managing a production schedule
  • A strong understanding of an expediting plan

Example:

"I've developed an expediting plan to ensure my team meets the production schedule. When reviewing a new process, I first evaluate the current system to determine the production capacity. I then plan an investment strategy by calculating whether it's more efficient to purchase additional machinery and materials or to outsource a part of the production process."

What software programmes have you used in the past, and how did you use them in the workflow process?

The goal of this question is to determine whether the candidate has experience with your organisation's software and systems. What to look for in an answer:

  • Knowledge of relevant software programmes
  • A highly detailed technical response
  • Willingness to learn new programmes

Example:

"I have experience working with workflow software, shipping and logistic platforms, and order management software. I use these at various stages in the production schedule to track inventory, review the shipping process, and review my workflow processes. I also have experience with data entry, file sharing, and word processing, which I use for administrative tasks to complete my expediting plan." 

How do you handle a shipping delay during the production process?

Expeditors may oversee the shipping and delivering process for production materials, and shipping delays can affect the production schedule. A successful expeditor has a plan for these situations. The aim of this question is to assess the expeditor's planning skills and adaptability. What to look for in an answer:

  • Flexibility and willingness to adjust to changing circumstances
  • Industry knowledge of production management 
  • The ability to think creatively and solve problems

Example:

"I always try to plan my inventory stock to account for unexpected shipping delays. If there's a minor shipping delay, my team can use the extra inventory to ensure timely production. If there's a large shipping delay, I reach out to another supplier to determine if I can find the materials I need to maintain production."

How do you approach the budgeting stage when expediting a process?

Budgeting is an important part of the production process. The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's ability to budget and plan expenses accordingly. What to look for in an answer:

  • Knowledge of budgeting strategies
  • Ability to plan and think strategically
  • An understanding of the importance of budgeting

Example:

"When beginning the budgeting stage of a new production schedule, I gather data from the various departments involved by asking each team to estimate their expected costs. I review these numbers with previous projects to create my budget. I also set milestones during the production process to compare the expected and actual costs."

What is the most challenging part of being an expeditor?

The goal of this question is to learn more about the candidate's understanding of the role and to assess their ability to overcome challenges. What to look for in an answer:

  • The ability to overcome obstacles
  • Awareness of common industry challenges
  • Resilience and careful planning

Example:

"I think the biggest challenge for expeditors is recreating successful processes. Because there are so many elements that affect the production process, it can be challenging to determine which component is contributing to the success of a project. I've found that recording all data throughout the process can help track which elements most affect success."

Can you describe a time you collabourated with a group of people when expediting a production schedule?

An expeditor may collabourate with different departments to increase efficiency during a production schedule. The goal of this question is to assess the candidate's ability to communicate with others and lead different groups. What to look for in an answer:

  • The ability to work with others
  • An example of a successful expediting approach
  • Excellent communication skills

Example:

"In my last role, I assisted a local business by connecting them with a manufacturing company and a shipping and distribution centre. I analysed the business's objectives and determined the most efficient way to sell their products was by partnering with local vendors. I connected the company to the two vendors, and we completed production ahead of schedule."

Tell us about a time you experienced a challenge when working with a vendor.

Successful expeditors help make the production process more efficient. The aim of this question is to evaluate how candidates respond to challenges and increase efficiency. What to look for in an answer:

  • Conflict resolution skills
  • A positive outlook when discussing obstacles
  • The ability to adapt and respond to challenges

Example:

"In my previous role, I experienced a challenge when working with a local supplier. We had been using the company for several months when they suddenly changed their shipping schedule. The new schedule would affect my team's production deadline. I met with the manager and discussed our production timeline, and together we were able to find a new shipping schedule that worked for both of us."

How do you typically measure success when expediting a process?

The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's ability to track and evaluate progress during the production process. What to look for in an answer:

  • Technical knowledge of tracking tools
  • The ability to self-reflect 
  • An understanding of the importance of measuring objectives

Example:

"I measure success by tracking all steps in the production process. Using tracking software, I record the total number of production orders, shipping times, and production time. I review these numbers over time to see how effective my expediting plan is. If the total time decreases while staying within the budget, I consider this a success."

When beginning a new expediting process, how do you determine which vendor is best?

A successful expeditor analyses a variety of vendors to determine which ones are best for the production process. The goal of this question is to evaluate the candidate's research and analysis skills. What to look for in an answer:

  • The ability to conduct research effectively
  • Experience analyzing suppliers
  • Confident decision-making skills

Example:

"When selecting a new vendor, I review the company's objectives and budget. Using this data, I review suppliers that meet these criteria. I meet with the top three choices to discuss final pricing options and shipping timelines. I then select the vendor that best meets the client's demands." 

When reviewing new materials, what steps do you take to ensure quality?

The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's ability to measure and track quality during the production process. What to look for in an answer:

  • Knowledge of quality control practises
  • Awareness of how quality affects the production process
  • The ability to create a replicable procedure

Example:

"When reviewing new materials, I create a list of quality standards. I then prioritise these by ranking them in terms of importance. I establish importance by considering the client's main objectives. Then I review the materials against those standards. If needed, I adjust my standards over time to ensure they check for high quality."

Tell us about a system you use to maintain or track inventory.

Tracking inventory is an important part of many expeditor's roles. The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's prior experience and technical abilities. What to look for in an answer:

  • A technical response with industry knowledge
  • Experience with the programme your company uses or a similar programme
  • An understanding of the importance of tracking inventory

Example:

"In my last role, I created an internal tracking system using a spreadsheet. I combined this with a mobile application to increase efficiency. Staff members were able to scan new shipments and used materials. The app automatically updated this information into the tracker."

What skills do you have that make you a good expeditor?

Successful expeditors use a variety of soft and technical skills to complete their daily responsibilities. The goal of this question is to evaluate the candidate's skills and to ensure they understand what makes an effective expeditor. What to look for in an answer:

  • Skills relevant to your job listing
  • Ability to self-reflect
  • A strong understanding of the role and duties

Example:

"I have strong communication and interpersonal skills which help me collabourate with different departments. These skills also help me communicate my ideas with clients, negotiate prices with vendors, and explain my expediting process to staff members. I also have great organisational and analytical skills which help me track data and measure efficiency during the production process."

How do you stay organised during the expediting process?

Effective expeditors understand the importance of organisation in the production process. The aim of this question is to evaluate the candidate's organisational skills. What to look for in an answer:

  • A detailed workflow process focused on efficiency
  • Experience with strategic planning and production schedules
  • A strong sense of organisation

Example:

"I stay organised by using a calendar and daily objectives. I create a production calendar at the beginning of a new process. I also create a daily schedule for myself using the production schedule. I prioritise three primary objectives each day and block my time hourly to ensure I complete all tasks." 

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