Introduction:
To hire suitable candidates for any organization, a company conducts many rounds, like assignment round, SME Interview round, case study round etc. At the end of the interview process there is always an HR Round, which is a very important round. The interview round may play a vital role in a candidate selection or rejection for a particular job. Generally, HR interview rounds are done at the end of the recruitment process.
Below are some of the tips to keep in mind before attending the HR Interview round:
- Do not fake. Be genuine and honest.
- Wear comfortable and formal clothes and keep accessories to the bare minimum.
- Always reach the venue of your interview before time and, if your interview is online, keep your laptop, earphones, internet connection ready and attend at the correct time.
- Keep your video on if you are attending an online interview.
- Lastly, always keep a smile on your face.
In this article, let us see some of the most common HR questions and acceptable answers to the questions:
1. Tell me about yourself.
This is a very common HR interview question and also the first question in most HR interviews. Be specific while answering this question. To answer this question, start with your name, qualifications, your experience and achievements.
This question is basically an icebreaker for the HR interview person to find out about your family and experiences.
Sample Example:
My name is Priya Kumari. I have completed my graduation in (subject) from (college name). I have been working in an accountant’s profile for the last 2 years. I was promoted last year from (mention the previous designation and current designation). My achievements in previous experiences are (Mention your achievements).
2. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
This question could be a bit tricky. While the question may be casual, the main purpose of this question may be to know how long you are planning to stay with the company. An HR personnel would always want to hire a candidate who would stay in the organization for a long time. Here you can highlight the career aspirations you are looking for within the company.
Sample Answer:
Over 5 years, I would love to utilize all the opportunities that this company provides me with learning. My ultimate career goal is to become a (role name) and hence I would look forward to working on it to represent the vision of this company and be a part of making a difference.
3. Why should we hire you?
The HR Personnel asks this question to understand how well you would fit into the position. Your answer to this question could be the reason for your selection or rejection. Hence, prepare well for this question and make sure to convey to the interviewer why you are the perfect fit for the position.
Some tips to answer would include:
- How well would you do the job?
- What are your strengths that would benefit the organization?
- How much do you adhere to the company culture?
Sample Answer:
I am a self-motivated and very open-minded person. Looking at the job description and my experience in the field, I am confident that I am very suitable for this role. I enjoy solving problems, and I am a great team player. I also believe that my values are aligned with this company’s values. I think this position will support my interest and also give me interesting and exciting opportunities to contribute to the growth of this organization. I am very excited about this opportunity.
4. What are your strengths?
While answering this question, you need to focus on those strengths that are required for the job you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a customer service job, You may say good communication skills are your strength.
Sample Answer:
I have good communication skills and have strong time management skills, which makes me efficient for the make.
5. Why did you leave your last job?
Be positive while answering this question. Try not to blame your employer. Rather you can give some other reasons, like I am looking for new challenges etc.
Sample Example:
I had a good time at my previous organization and learned many things here. But now I am looking for new challenges and new opportunities to grow my career.
6. How do you handle stress, pressure, and anxiety?
It is a common interview question to determine your performance under pressure and stress.
Sample Answer:
Under pressure and stress, I usually utilize my soft skills and handle every situation calmly. I also perform physical exercises and mind relaxing activities like meditation to deal with work stress and pressure.
7. Why are you interested in applying for this position?
Be sure to do your research on the company before you go in for the interview. Talk about how your skills and experience make you the right candidate for the job.
Sample Answer:
It’s an honor and a privilege to work for an established company like yours. As I researched the job opening you have, I realized that my abilities align with your requirements. Through this job, I can showcase my technical skills to help the company’s development.
8. What are the reasons for changing jobs so many times?
It’s important to be honest regarding your job change reason, but it is equally important to answer the question in a positive light. You can mention that you were looking for new challenges and was enthusiastic about learning new things.
Sample Answer:
Frequent job changes help me to face new challenges and learn new things. As you can see in my CV, I have spent at least 2 years in every organization, which is a decent tenure. In my every past role I have faced new challenges and learned many new things.
9. What is your greatest fear?
Remember the interviewer’s intention behind this question may be to know your weakness. Try to answer this question in a positive way.
Sample Answer:
The biggest fear in my life is the fear of failure. I’m afraid of not achieving my goals, letting myself down or others, and missing out on opportunities for success and fulfillment. However, I believe that facing this fear head-on, learning from setbacks, and persevering through challenges ultimately leads to personal growth and resilience.
10. What are your hobbies?
This question is generally asked to know you more as a person. Be genuine while answering this question
Sample Answer:
I love painting. It helps me to release my stress after work. During my weekly offs I spend most of my time painting.
11. Why did you decide to apply for this role?
This candidate evaluates the candidate interests for a particular role. If the person is really interested in applying for the role or not. Candidates should show that this application was a conscious decision on their part.
Sample Answer:
The job profile aligns well with my experience. It would give me more exposure professionally and help me grow professionally.
12. Why are you leaving your current job? / Why did you leave your previous job?
Being negative can be a red flag here. Always be honest while answering such questions. Attitude is what matters to this. For example, if a candidate mentioned they left their previous job because their employer wasn’t paying their workers the fair market rate, it would be a reasonable reason.
Sample Answer:
I really like my current job, team and organization. I started as a junior and was later promoted to Team Lead. However, I think that my time in this company has come full circle – I’m actually the one who coaches others while I don’t learn anything myself anymore. Learning is important to me, so I want a new job that will challenge me and help me develop further.
13. Tell me about this gap in your resume.
This is one of several very common HR interview questions that may refer to a job that lasted for only a few months. The purpose of these HR interview questions is check if there are any red flags.
Sample Answer:
After I completed my master’s, I started working non-stop for six years. That’s why I decided to take a break from work and travel to other countries to volunteer. This helped me clear my mind and help other people, while acquiring new skills (like communication and organizational ability).
14. What are your salary expectations?
Every position has a particular budget, so to check if a person is within the budget or not, generally HR professionals use this question.
Sample Answer:
I expect to be paid somewhere between X and Y. But I am available for negotiation to some extent.
15. Do you have any questions?
Candidates should always have the opportunity to ask questions themselves, so they can decide if the job is a good fit for them. The other reason that HR uses this question is to find out if candidates are truly interested in knowing more. They should ask smart questions about the company, and preferably, questions related to the role, too.
Sample Answer:
I would like to know the scale of 5, 5 being the highest, how much you would rate me. I want to know this so that I can work on improving myself even if I don’t get shortlisted for this position.
16. If we hire you, how long can we expect you to work with our company?
Companies invest time and money in hiring and training candidates, so they want an employee to stay at least 3–4 years in the organization.
Sample Answer:
I’m looking for stability and growth, which I think I can get with your company. So, I hope to work with you and make useful contributions in the coming years.
17. You may be overqualified for this position. Will you be able to adjust?
Here the interviewer wants to make sure that you will be able to work in a position that might not require the full use of your talents. You may also have to work with less experienced and younger people.
Sample Answer:
Yes, I have more educational qualifications than you might need for this job. However, I don’t think there is any such thing as being overqualified when it comes to doing a job. I believe in doing everything I undertake as well as possible and in learning from it. I also try to get along with everyone I work with, regardless of their age, position or experience.
18. If we hire you, what value can you bring to the position?
The interviewer will ask this question to discover how much you know about the requirements and responsibilities of the position. Take it as an opportunity to explain how your skills and experience can make you a perfect fit for the job.
Sample Answer:
To begin, I have the educational qualifications, skills and work experience necessary for this position. I have also read your mission statement and your company values align with mine. That will make it easier for me to fit in and work together with my new colleagues to reshape and improve our industry. I have received awards in my previous job for my leadership, teamwork and motivational abilities. I will channel that experience here to select and implement the right methodologies to help employees meet work challenges and earn more profit gains for the company.
19. How do you prioritize your work?
Here you can state the strategy you use while working. Like setting priorities for tasks, sticking to a timeline etc.
Sample Answer:
I maintain a daily tracker and at the start of the day I prioritize which task I need more attention to and set priority.
20. Describe how you deal with conflict in the workplace.
This question is asked to understand your conflict resolution strategy. You can share an example from your experience where you handled conflict successfully.
Sample Answer:
When I was team leader, one day, suddenly, my team went on strike. To bring them back to work, I explained and manipulated them how their approach was wrong and was successful in managing the conflict.
Conclusion:
Going through an HR interview successfully is much more than just about providing the right answers. It’s about showcasing your unique qualities, understanding the role and the company culture, and aligning your skills and experiences with the needs of the organization.
HR interview questions are an opportunity to show yourself how you fit into the role and into the organizational culture. Prepare well and be genuine while answering the questions. Always approach it with confidence and curiosity to leave a lasting impression.
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Disclaimer:- Views expressed are the author’s own.
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