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Business Continuity Plan

Term from Office Administration industry explained for recruiters

A Business Continuity Plan, or BCP, is a detailed guide that helps organizations keep running during unexpected problems like natural disasters, power outages, or other emergencies. Think of it as a backup plan that office administrators create and maintain to make sure a company can continue its important work even when things go wrong. It includes steps for things like working from different locations, backing up important files, and making sure employees know what to do in emergencies. Similar terms you might see are Disaster Recovery Plan or Emergency Response Plan, but Business Continuity Plan focuses more on keeping the whole business running rather than just fixing specific problems.

Examples in Resumes

Created and maintained Business Continuity Plan for 200-person office

Led quarterly updates of company BCP and emergency response procedures

Trained 50+ employees on Business Continuity Plan protocols and procedures

Developed and implemented Business Continuity Planning strategies across 3 office locations

Typical job title: "Business Continuity Planners"

Also try searching for:

Office Manager Administrative Manager Operations Manager Facilities Manager Risk Management Coordinator Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Business Continuity Coordinator

Where to Find Business Continuity Planners

Professional Organizations

• Disaster Recovery Institute International
• Business Continuity Institute
• Continuity Insights

Online Resources

Job Resources

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you develop a business continuity plan for a company that has never had one?

Expected Answer: A strong answer should mention conducting risk assessments, identifying critical business functions, creating emergency contact lists, establishing backup locations, setting recovery time objectives, and developing employee training programs.

Q: How do you ensure a business continuity plan stays current and effective?

Expected Answer: Should discuss regular review schedules, testing procedures, updating contact lists, conducting drills, gathering feedback from stakeholders, and adjusting plans based on organizational changes.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What elements should be included in a basic business continuity plan?

Expected Answer: Should mention emergency contact information, step-by-step procedures, backup location details, essential business functions, recovery timelines, and communication protocols.

Q: How would you train employees on a business continuity plan?

Expected Answer: Should describe creating training materials, conducting workshops, running practice drills, providing quick-reference guides, and ensuring new employees are trained during onboarding.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is the difference between a business continuity plan and a disaster recovery plan?

Expected Answer: Should explain that a business continuity plan focuses on keeping the entire business running during disruptions, while a disaster recovery plan specifically deals with recovering data and IT systems.

Q: What basic steps would you take to maintain emergency contact lists?

Expected Answer: Should discuss regularly updating employee contact information, verifying vendor contacts, maintaining both digital and physical copies, and ensuring accessibility during emergencies.