Summary:

In this article, you will learn the top HR Interview Questions & Answers.

Take a glimpse below.

1. How are you today?
2. Tell me something about yourself
3. Why do you want to work for us?/Why do you think you are a good fit for this role?
4. What do you consider to be your strongest and weakest points?
5. What motivates you?
6. What holds more importance for you: work or money?
7. Tell us about your salary expectations.
8. What is your aim in life?
9. How would you be an asset to our company?
10. How well can you handle stress and pressure?

Read the complete article to learn all the HR Interview Questions with Answers.

You’ve been aspiring to bag a job at your dream company for quite some time, and finally, it is happening! Check out our free courses to get an edge over the competition.

Now, you’re up for an HR interview.

Attending an HR interview and wondering what are all the questions and discussions you will go through? Before attending an interview, it’s better to have an idea about the types of HR interview questions that will be asked so that you can prepare answers for them.

You can also consider doing our Management Essentials Bootcamp if you are interested.

After the initial rounds of candidate selection, every company holds an HR interview round to get to know the potential candidates personally. An HR interview’s main aim is to judge the candidates’ personality, background, strengths, and weaknesses and assess whether or not one is a good fit for a specific role. In other words, the HR round decides if you’ll be called in for the following rounds.

This blog will answer all your doubts about HR questions for the interview and how you can prepare to make it through the final round and bag victory!

Why is HR interview conducted? 

HR interview is an imperative part of any job-acquiring process, essential to assess candidates and learn about them. If you think your resume or CV is enough to win a job, you are mistaken. Individuals are far more than just their skills in a professional working environment. Besides possessing technical proficiency, your personality traits play a key role in designating your place in any company. A candidate’s work ethics and teamwork qualities emphasize how well they will perform in the company. 

HR questions for interviews test the same qualities through a bunch of tricky questions, not just to know your answers but to assess your reactions, way of talking, presentation, and many other factors. Your body language and speech can speak louder than the resume in an HR interview questions for freshers, so an HR interview is an essential part of the joining process and requires apt practice too. Developed soft skills are put into use through these interviews, so don’t hesitate to work on your self-growth and practice HR questions and answers for freshers before applying for a job. 

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To help you out, I have created the top HR interview question and answers guide to understand the depth and real-intend of HR interview questions. Let’s get started.

Since the HR interview is a crucial part of the hiring process, it’ll help if you are well-prepared for it.  

Our Learners also read: Free online HR courses with certificates!

Preparation tips for HR interview

Before you go in for the HR interview, keep these tips in mind:

1. Understand the job profile

You must understand what the particular job profile demands of you. Dig into the job profile to understand what the company expects of you, what skills are required, and what qualifications they’re looking for in a candidate. Once you gather the relevant information on the job profile requirements, you’ll not be surprised if the interviewer asks you anything related to the job profile.

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2. Take a hard look at your resume

Next, you must ensure that your resume matches the requirements of the job profile. Go through your resume thoroughly to check whether you have aligned your information according to the job role’s demands.

Re-organize your resume (skills, educational qualifications, experience, etc.) if need be. The idea here is to match your resume to the company’s job profile. Although it may not be a complete match, you can still highlight the experiences or abilities that align well with the job description. 

3. Know the company inside-out

It is an absolute must to know the company before you appear for the interview. Try and collect as much information on the company as you can from the official website and social media handles (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc.), to know what they specialize in, the products/services they offer, the target market, and the company’s vision, objectives, and core values.

Also, read up on the prominent faces behind the company (the CXOs and HR Managers). Having this information will pay off if ever you must talk about the company during the interview. 

Check out the scope and career options in HR

4. Conduct a mental interview

We could not stress this enough – before you go in for the real HR interview, it always helps to prep yourself with a mental interview. Sit in an isolated place where you can think peacefully and visualize yourself sitting before the HR bench. Make a list of a few personal questions (don’t worry, we’re going to help you with that!) and try to answer them. Most importantly, always be yourself. While it’s okay to step slightly out of your comfort zone, never try to lie about your interests and capabilities during an interview. 

Now, without further ado, let’s get straight to the point of discussion – X most common HR interview questions and answers you should expect in an HR interview!

HR Interview Questions and Answers

Ace your final interview with HR manager questions and answers:

1. How are you today?

HRs usually ask this question to set the mood and environment for the interview. No matter what your day’s experience has been, it would help if you positively answered this question with a smile on your face. Keep your answer short and simple, like:

“I am doing great, thank you. It’s good to be here.”

It is very simple but it does create a psychological impact on the interviewer’s mind. It acts as a very small ice breaker. Moreover, it acts as a medium for rapport building with the interviewer. 

Make sure to be smiling, make eye contact and moreover engage in active listening.

2. Tell me something about yourself.

This is one of the first few questions that HR Managers ask candidates. As simple as it sounds, the question is quite tricky as it will put you (the candidate) on the spot. In a pressurizing and challenging situation like this, it is important to stay composed and calm. Try to analyze what your interviewer is interested to hear from you. 

Start with a breezy and confident tone – keep in mind, your answer shouldn’t sound scripted. So, your sentences should be well-articulated, and pronunciation should be on point. Be quick to bring the focus on your most significant accomplishments first.

Do not repeat the things that you’ve already mentioned in your resume. Also, make sure that you never come off as overconfident or arrogant. Never downplay your accomplishments and talk negatively about yourself.

Here are two examples of how you can answer this question:

If you are a fresher just out of college/university, here are two excellent ways of shaping your answer – 

“I am among the top graduates of my batch. Besides having a BA/BSc/BCom degree in X subject, I also have an MBA degree in Operations/Digital Marketing/Business Analytics/International Business from XYZ institute. As for my interests, I love exploring new domains, and I’m a fast learner.”

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If you are an experienced professional, your answer could be something like this – 

“For the past few years, I’ve been deeply dedicated to administrative and managerial work in my organization. In this capacity, I’ve been lucky to have worn multiple hats like that of a Business Analyst, Team Lead, and Project Manager. I strongly believe in my power of persuasion and people skills. So, I can be a good fit for people-centric roles in your company.”

Some of the Do’s while answering hr interview questions like such are as follows:

• Keep it short
• Keep it professional
• Keep it relevant
• Focus on positive
• Sound confident in what you are speaking about
• Show passion
• Mention a sweet yet relevant anecdote to make it sound organic.
• Highlight your accomplishments
• Sound humble yet confident

Some of the Donts’ while answering hr interview questions like such are as follows:

• Do not sound shocked with the question
• Do not ramble for too long
• Do not indulge in  sharing personal and uncomfortable information
• Recite the exact same points mentioned in your CV
• Talk arrogantly of yourself
• Talk low of yourself
• Don’t tell unnecessary information about yourself or family.
• Don’t sound underconfident
• Don’t be unprepared

This is how you can respond to the hr interview questions and answers. During these hr round interview questions are asked to understand a little more about the candidate, to assess their personality and most importantly see the cultural fitment for the company.

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3. Why do you want to work for us?/Why do you think you are a good fit for this role?

One of the most common HR interview question. This question aims to help the interviewer understand whether or not you know the job profile’s requirements if you are a suitable candidate for the role, and what is your intent/goal behind choosing the company and the particular job role. 

Your answer must convince the interviewer that you are indeed a good fit for this role. Here, you must explain and highlight your best qualities that sync well with the job role in question. You could talk about your past projects that are similar to this role’s requirements and your present/future career aspirations. This is where your knowledge of the company and its top executives will come in handy. 

Here are two ways answers to this question:

“I chose this job profile and your company because I feel it’s a perfect match for my skills and experience. Presently, this is exactly the kind of role that I can visualize myself in as it aligns well with my career goals. I think with my skill set and background, and your guidance, I can grow to be a valuable asset to your company.”

“Sir/Ma’am, I feel extremely grateful to have been called in for an interview with your company. It’s a privilege to be associated with your company, which boasts of a long-standing history in thought leadership. I’ve done my homework, and I know what the company stands for, and I feel that your vision perfectly aligns with my beliefs. I would very much like to be a part of your X team because this is where my skills and knowledge will be best utilized.”

The employers ask this question during the interview in order to understand how does the interviewee thinks. The employers also want to know how much research has the candidate done. Moreover, how well prepared the candidate is about the company. 

Make sure to emphasise on the which ethos of the company you feel attracted to. Additionally, make a mention of how you feel you can add value to the organisation.  

4. What do you consider to be your strongest and weakest points?

Another tricky question up the HRs sleeves, this is a direct hit to divulge your best and weakest qualities both as an individual and a professional. The interviewer wants to know more about your characteristics to judge if you are the right candidate for a particular job profile. 

While answering this question, always be honest. First, state your strongest qualities and skills that you think will match well with the job role. List your strengths in a connected manner to make it more cohesive.

Ensure that you never mention any trait or skill you don’t possess since it can be counterproductive if the interviewer asks you to back your claim. Coming to the weakness part, do not state more than two weak traits. Talk about weaknesses that aren’t directly related to the job role and always say that you’re working to improve them. 

Here’s how you can frame your answer:

“I think my greatest strengths are that I am a team player and master negotiator. I have excellent people skills. Some of my other strong points are that I’m a self-motivated, fast learner. Whatever task I set out to do, I commit myself to it and complete it diligently. However, my biggest weakness is that I trust people quite easily. Also, sometimes I tend to overthink things, but I’m working on bettering myself constantly.”

“Over the years, I’ve honed my analytical, critical-thinking, planning, and organizational skills. I can work comfortably in a team or individually. I prioritize work and always ensure that I complete my tasks before the deadline. As for my weak points, I get nervous while speaking in a group, although I’m actively working on it. I hope I can overcome this soon so that I can share my ideas with the entire team and feel like an important part of it.”

Some of the strengths you could mention during the interview:

• Accuracy
• Creative
• Flexible
• Honest
• Dedicated
• Enthusiastic
• Clarity 
• Negotiation skills
• Communication skills
• Leadership skills
• Problem- solving skills
• Fast learner
• Team player
• Time management

Some of the weaknesses you could mention during the interview:

• Impatient
• Disorganised
• Self- criticism 
• Blunt
• Micromanaging
• Multitasking
• Public speaking
• Writing essays
• Analytical skills

This is how you could respond to hr interview questions with answers.

5. What motivates you?

This is a straightforward question that demands an honest and inspired answer. When you answer, stick to things like job satisfaction, achieving your career goals, becoming a valuable part of the team, sharpening your professional skills, and excitement for new challenges, as the primary motivators for excelling in your professional life.

You can also mention money, but make sure you keep it towards the end – it should not come off as your primary motivating factor. Never brag about material things while answering this question. 

Below are two examples to help you understand what the interviewer expects to hear from you:

“I’m a very passionate person, and passion is my strongest motivator that continues to push me to become a better version of myself. When it comes to working, I believe that great results will follow if I put in the commitment, dedication, and patience in whatever I do. Working as a part of a team excites me. The thrill of being able to create something valuable motivates me to work harder.”

“My greatest motivation is to become the best version of what I can be. It excites me to exceed my expectations and accomplish tangible results. I love to be productive and achieve milestones. This gives me a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. Learning new things and completing new challenges also motivates me to go the extra mile.”

Some of the do’s of mentioning what  motivates you:

• Say something that is honest.
• Keep it professional.
• Share a simple, honest anecdote.
• Keep answers that are not downplaying your strengths.

Some of the dont’s to avoid:  

• Avoid answers that are superficial.
• Do not be extremely negative.
• Have something that mtivates, do not say that there is nothing. Introspect in case you are clear.
• Do not say just anything for the sake of saying.
• Do not mention anything  insensitive.

This is an interview questions for hr position with answers which you can use to build your answers.

6. What holds more importance for you: work or money?

There’s only one way to answer this question – work comes first. Even if money is a vital driving factor for you, remember that interviewers want individuals who’re passionate about working in their company. It is one of the general questions from HR interview questions and answers guide.

A few examples to help you frame this answer:

“For me, work is a priority. I feel like if I’m satisfied with what I do and if I’m good at it, money will follow. My goal is to keep learning and upskilling. As my professional skills continue to grow, my professional worth will naturally increase. 

“Being of a practical mindset, money has always been an important factor in my life. However, I firmly believe that if my work fails to satisfy me at the end of the day, I won’t be able to enjoy the money I earn. So, work will always be my foremost priority, and if I can prove my mettle in the workplace, I will be adequately rewarded.”

Do’s of responding to interview questions and answers for hr position:

• Be greedy
• Sound practical 
• Make sure to make sense regardless of the answer you choose to respond with.
• Be visionary 
• Have practical reasons/ goal set to back up your answers.

This is how human resources interview questions and answers should be tackled.

7. Why do you want to leave your present job?/Why are you looking for a job change?

One of the most common HR interview questions, this question is mainly directed towards experienced professionals. Whatever your reason be for a job change, be it a bad working environment or low salary package at your current company, do not divulge such information. Do not talk negatively about your present employer – it will put you in a bad light. Instead, keep it very professional. 

You could say something like this:

“Sir/Ma’am, I feel like I’ve learned all that I possibly could in my present organization, and now, I’m looking for something different. I want to explore new avenues and am more than willing to take on challenging roles.” 

“I feel like it’s time to expand my horizons. I’ve been with my present organization for quite some time, and while I’m grateful for all that I’ve learned there, I want to go beyond my current role. And I feel that your company is the perfect place for me to challenge myself and push my limits.”

Some of the reasons for answering this question: 

• Professional development
• Opportunity for personal growth
• Change of job description
• Underutilised skills
• Current work is becoming monotonous
• Organisational shuffle
• Company shutting down your vertical
• Organisational restructuring
• Layoffs
• Want to change industry 
• Domain switch 

This is how you could tackle hr position interview questions and answers.

8. Tell us about your salary expectations.

When an interviewer asks this question, don’t get too eager to put a number on yourself. Instead, show your commitment towards the job and then frame your answer as something like this:

“To be honest, the role interested me, and that’s why I wish to work for your company. And I hope to be compensated according to my skill set and industry experience.”

“Since I am a fresher, my main goal is to learn and gain experience. As for the salary, I’m sure you will compensate me for matching my knowledge and skills. I am looking forward to growing as a professional with your company, and I’m ready to accept the standard industry salary offered for this position and my skillset.”

Approach to follow while answering this question:

• Make sure to research market standards well
• Share about competitive offers if you have any
• Ask about the companies budget for that position
• Justify your range

Mistakes to avoid while answering this question:

• Give a fixed amount
• To sell yourself short
• Disclose the current salary you have
• Give the exaggerated and overpriced number

9. What is your aim in life?

This answer needs to be on point and practical. You need to show the interviewer that you have a vision in life and are set out to do something in life. After listening to your answer, they should feel like you’re a goal-oriented person and have the confidence to hire you. 

You could say something like this:

“Presently, my goal is to become an integral part of a reputed organization where I can enrich my real-world skills and take on new challenges. I want to apply my knowledge and skills to contribute to an organization’s growth and success. Most importantly, I want to be happy and satisfied with my job. As for my long-term goals, I wish to build a comfortable life for myself and my family.”

Approach to follow while answering this question:

• Keep it relevant to the job description.
• Involve goals that include your time with the company.
• Include goals that are aligned with the company’s goals.
• Involve how you want to expand your skills that help to make your job better.
• Emphasise how you can solve a real problem that the company is facing through your skills.

This is how you could tackle HR job interview questions and answers.

Read: Best Online MBA Courses in India

10. How would you be an asset to our company?

One of the most common question in any HR interview question and answers guide. When you answer this question, merely don’t point out your good qualities like honesty, punctuality, dedication, team spirit, etc. These are the qualities that any company’s management will expect from a candidate by default. Talk about these qualities in the context of past experiences depicting that you are a reliable resource for the company. 

Here’s what you could say:

“I believe I have the essential qualities that match your company’s job profile. This is the reason I want to become a part of your organization. I have always been a goal and result-oriented person, and I know that whatever responsibilities come my way, I will see them through. If I get the space and push to grow and develop as a professional, I will repay it with fierce loyalty and dedication.”

“As a fresher, I’ve not been exposed to the work environment yet. But I know that given the right platform and mentorship, I can prove my mettle and drive tangible results for the organization. I’m headstrong, and practical, and possess excellent people skills. If given a chance, I’ll be ready to expose myself to different challenges, roles, and working conditions. So, I think, in a short time, I’ll be able to grow into a valuable asset for your company.”

Approach to follow while answering this question:

• Mention your adaptability
• Your judgement capabilities
• Your ability to tolerate stress
• Critical thinking ability
• Communication skills
• Organisation skills
• Analytical skills

This is how you could respond to HR questions and answers.

11. How well can you handle stress and pressure?

This is a pretty straightforward question aimed at understanding how do you conduct yourself and handle workplace pressures. Usually, corporate jobs come with their quota of stress and anxiety. It takes experience and agility to manage the pressure and stress of the daily grind of the workplace.

This is how you can frame your answer:

“While nobody can escape work pressure and stress, I believe that having an organized schedule can help a great deal. Also, prioritizing work is a must. I like to stay ahead of my timeline to deliver my tasks/projects in time. As for stress buster, I love to listen to calming music. It helps me keep my calm and continue with my work. For me, the most important thing is to keep a calm head. When you have a calm mind, it’s much easier to figure out ways to handle stressful situations.”

“Being in the industry has helped me understand that pressure and stress are very much a part of the job. I am fully aware of the kind of pressure that comes with a particular position, and I’m up for it. I’ve never felt discouraged by pressure. Rather it motivates me to push myself and accomplish the task I’m set to do.”

Approach to follow to answer the question:

• You could also make a mention of how you have handled a stressful situation. 
• Be calm while answering this question.
• Mention how you focus on positives rather than panicking.
• Mention how you try to solve the task at hand.
• How you help your team also to complete the tasks at hand.
• Instead of thinking, you focus on doing.
• Sound calm and confident with your answers.
• Be prepared with an honest and a relevant anecdote to back up your answer.

12. How do you feel about working overtime or at odd hours?

Sometimes a tricky HR Interview question. You must try to be as honest and clear about your intentions and comfort zone while answering this question. Do not agree to working overtime or on odd hours to bag the job, or later you’ll find yourself stuck where you aren’t comfortable. Try to use a diplomatic tone in your answer:

“Sir/Ma’am, if I’m required to put in extra hours to complete urgent deliverables, or if there’s a resource crunch in the team, I’ll be willing to put in overtime for my team and organization. I am always willing to contribute to my team in any way possible, including working extra hours and odd times. However, I do expect to get comp offs to unwind and get back on track for what’s ahead of me.”

“In my current position, my job is set within the 9-6 routine. However, I never back off from putting in extra effort and time if the need arises. If I’ve to work odd shifts and extra hours to achieve something for myself and my company, I am willing to do it, provided I get compensatory time off after.”

Approach to follow to respond to this question:

• Mention how you value time management.
• How you focus on quality over quantity.
• Share if any situation of crisis or requirement you are okay with it.
• Make sure you share valid reasons for your stance but also show that you are okay if it is not a frequent occurrence and is required only in need.

13. Assuming we hire you, how long would you be with us?

The aim of asking this question is to get a sense of your long-term plan. Essentially, the interviewer wants to know if training and mentoring you will be worth the effort and time. They need to see if you’ll invest your time in the company in return. Nobody wants to invest in candidates who take up jobs whimsically or just for the sake of it. 

Here are a few examples of what your answer could be like:

“As long as I feel like I’m contributing to the growth of your company while also undergoing personal growth, I will be loyal to the organization. I need job satisfaction and scope for professional development. So, if I continue to learn new things and scaling up the promotional ladder, I will never feel the need to jump ships.”

“I will happily continue to work with your company as long as there’s mutual growth. While I’ll contribute actively to promote the organization’s growth, I will also expect to get ample opportunities to grow both professionally and financially.”

“If I enjoy working here and I feel like I have a bright future ahead of me, I’ll be a dedicated and loyal employee of your organization. I’m looking forward to a healthy work environment where I can upskill and grow personally and professionally. As long as I find these aspects here, I’ll never think about changing my job.”

14. If needed, would you be willing to relocate for this job?

Any HR Interview Question and Answers guide won’t complete without this question. With this question, the interviewer wants to know if you can take up field jobs and tasks that require extensive traveling. Do not say “Yes” straightaway – build your answer. It will only make you look desperate. If you have familial obligations to stay at your location, make sure to state it honestly. Understand the tone of your interviewer and answer diplomatically, like this:

“I will certainly like to travel if the opportunity presents itself and is rewarding for my career at your company. I think work-related travels are excellent for exploring new places, new business opportunities, and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds.” 

If you are inclined to travel, you could say:

“Yes, I would be willing to travel/relocate to new locations. I love traveling, and I think going to new places will be a delightful experience for me.”

15. Do you consider yourself a team player?

By this question, the interviewer asks whether you can work and collaborate with others in an organization. So, answer this question positively. Your answer should make the interviewer believe that you will fit in well with the team they assign you to and contribute to the company individually and as a part of the team. 

Here’s what you can say:

“Yes, I do consider myself as an excellent team player. I’ve been lucky enough to work both as an individual contributor and as a part of the XYZ team in my present organization. So, I am fully aware of what each role demands of me. When given a task, I can handle it well with minimal supervision, and I can also work seamlessly within any team. As part of a team, I always keep communication lines open and am always ready to help my teammates wherever I can. know that collaboration is often the key to innovation and success, and I’m perfectly comfortable with working in a team environment.”

“Yes, I am. Right now, I’m working as an independent contributor to my present company. However, I’ve worked with my colleagues on numerous projects, and my transition into the team structure happens quite naturally. I like being a part of the team as it allows me to open up to new ideas and explore new avenues while working on different projects.”

Approach to follow in order to answer this question:

• Talk about your past experience related to the question asked.
• Mention how you have contributed in order to finish the tas at hand.
• Mention the hard skills or soft skills you have used in order to finish the task.
• Sound realistic
• Sound humble yet confident
• Share a relevant anecdote.
• Share how your individual strengths adds value to the team.

16. Do you have any serious medical issues that we should know?

This is a crucial question that often makes it to most HR interviews. Interviewers ask this question to understand if you are suffering from any severe or life-threatening illness that hampers your productivity. When you answer this question, only mention serious conditions like cancer, epilepsy, heart diseases, etc. Also, expectant mothers must disclose if they are pregnant. Such conditions must be declared in the first instance to avoid any problems at the workplace in the future. 

If you do not have any severe issues that are worth considering at this point, do not stretch your answer. Say the needful without mentioning too many details of your health status. Remember that any kind of harmful exaggeration here may cause HRs to assume that you’ll have a bad attendance record. You can end up losing a good job opportunity, and even if you get the job, you might miss out on travel opportunities. 

Keep your answer brief and simple:

“Sir/Ma’am, I’m perfectly fit, and as of now, I haven’t been diagnosed with any serious illness or medical condition. While the occasional fever and flu aren’t strangers to me, I try to keep myself as fit and healthy as I can.”

17. What is your work ethic?

HRs usually ask this question to judge what kind of an employee you will be and if you are a professional through and through. This question aims to divulge if a candidate is disciplined, organized, and well-behaved. While answering this question, focus on your core strengths and posit them as your work ethic, like so:

Though I’m a fresher, I’ve always been organized and planned with my schedule. Even during my academic days, I was a very disciplined student. I like planning my schedule and follow it diligently. My aim as a professional is always to deliver quality work within due time. I believe no job is menial and that all tasks should be given equal importance.”

“To be honest, my work ethic lies in my diligence, commitment, and passion for my work. So far, in my professional life, I’ve worked dedicatedly to never miss a deadline without compromising my work quality. I believe that teamwork and collaboration go a long way into creating a healthy work environment.”

Some of the work ethics which you could choose to mention:

• Punctuality
• Reliability 
• Hard work 
• Output Oriented 
• Responsible

18. How do you deal with criticism?

This question aims to judge your attitude toward feedback or criticism and how you react to feedback. The key to answering this question is to make the interviewer understand that you’re open to constructive criticism and feedback. While you should exude confidence, you should never come off as a stubborn or ignorant person who cannot take input in any form. 

You can say something like this:

“Sir/Ma’am, I know that I’m not perfect. I’m still learning. Naturally, I make mistakes, but I feel that I can learn from my mistakes. I’ve always been enthusiastic about learning new things and acquiring new skills. If anyone offers me constructive feedback or criticism, I’ll surely consider it and try to better myself. If you have a piece of advice for me that can benefit me and my work, I’ll make sure to keep it with me moving forward.”

“Over the years in my professional experience, I’ve learned how to turn criticism into positive insights that I can use in my daily life. If ever I’m wrong and I’m criticized, I understand that I’m at fault. In such instances, I always try to rectify myself. I feel that I’m flexible and mature enough to handle criticism, both positive and negative.”

Share how you are open to the constructive criticism and take the positive feedback sent your way very seriously. Make a mention of an anecdote that is relevant and how you have seen an improved growth through a received feedback.

19. What would you rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10?

As a rule of thumb, do not convey the message that you are completely perfect and that there’s no scope for improvement anymore. The trick is not to sound overconfident but also keep yourself in the good graces of the interviewer:

“On a scale of 1 to 10, I will rate myself an 8. The reason for this is because I know that I’m not perfect. There’s always room for improvement and upskilling. I believe this is pivotal to improving both personally and professionally. One should have the interest to learn and grow. So, that’s why an 8.”

20. Suppose you win a lottery now that ensures you are set for life. Would you still work, or would you quit?

Do NOT, under any circumstance, say “Yes” to this question! Any employee who’s purely materialistic and money-centric isn’t a valuable asset to an organization. If you show that a job is only a means to earn money and that you could easily give it up if a lump sum is handed to you, no company will ever want to hire you.

Instead, say something like this:

“Sir/Ma’am, if I win a lottery, I will be thrilled. It will mean that now I have hefty savings ready for me and my family’s future. But not even for once will I think of quitting my job because I’m a professional. I enjoy my work, and I would like to continue to learn and excel in my field.”

“While the thought is tempting, I think I will continue to work because I enjoy what I do. I love learning and exploring new domains in my field, and I cannot give it up for anything. I aim to retire after having completed a rich and fulfilling career.”

Ensure that you establish that you are a believer in constant growth and money is not the main reason of your work. The reason you wish to work is because you want to establish your identity. Additionally, mention how you want to solve the existing problems with the help of your skills.

Also Read: Highest Paying Cities for MBA

21. Do you think you are overqualified for this job role?

This trick question is directed to understand if a candidate is boastful or humble. There’s a thin line between confidence and overconfidence, and you must never sound overconfident before the interviewer. Even if you are overqualified for a particular job, don’t mention it out loud. Frame your answer like this:

“No, Sir/Ma’am, I don’t think I am overqualified for this job role, but I think I’m perfectly qualified for it. I have the right skill set, educational background, and experience for this post, and I believe I can use them to my advantage at your company, that is, if I’m hired. I feel that there’s no end to learning. So, yes, I’m well qualified for this post.”

22. Would you rather be liked or feared?

You must answer this question diplomatically. No interviewer will like to hear a candidate saying they would love to be feared at the workplace. 

Here’s what you can say:

“Honestly, I would love to be well-liked and respected in my organization. For me, respect is necessary at my workplace. I would never like to be someone with whom my colleagues or my juniors cannot talk to. I believe ‘respected,’ and not ‘feared’ is the right word here because being feared doesn’t always command respect.”

23. What sets you apart from other candidates?

Since you are a candidate who’s not aware of the strengths and weaknesses of other candidates, make sure you start with this point as a disclaimer. This shows that you know you’re not in a position to judge other candidates and pit yourself against them. 

When answering, frame it like this:

“I’m sure that this profile has attracted many candidates with impressive profiles. However, since I’m not familiar with what other candidates have to bring to the table, I’ll not compare myself to others. As for myself, I am a creative individual with excellent organizational and problem-solving skills. I’m also a diligent and dedicated professional, and I think these qualities make me a strong contender for this position.”

24. In the past year, what steps have you taken toward upskilling?

The question is pretty self-explanatory. Generally, companies expect professionals who’re always learning and gaining new skills to create value for their organization. So, if you say that you haven’t done anything in the last year to improve your professional knowledge, they might swap you for another candidate who takes an active interest in upskilling. However, remember that you shouldn’t lie here. If you say you have done/completed some course while you haven’t, the interviewer might ask you something related to it and catch your bluff.

Here’s what you can say:

“Last year, I attended various seminars for professional grooming and personality development. Also, I took two courses relevant to my field of work and attended training workshops conducted by my present employer.”

“Although I haven’t attended any professional seminar or course in the past year, I did complete a few online courses on XYZ as it is highly relevant to my work. I’ve also been regularly working on my communication skills through online tutorials and books.”

25. Are you good at time management?

This is a straightforward question that demands a simple and honest answer. For this question, you could say:

 “I take on a very professional approach to time management. It’s my habit to make schedules and timelines for work to complete my tasks before the deadline. I also make to-do lists and make sure to stick to my routines. These little things help me keep my days and weeks organized.”

“For time management, I believe there’s nothing better than to-do lists and schedules. Once I have a list of tasks to do, I prioritize the tasks and then schedule them in my weekly/monthly schedule. I also follow a scheduling system for my meetings so that they never collide. This helps me to keep things well-planned and organized, both at work and home.”

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26. Would you be willing to lie for the company?

This is an extremely tricky question. Although it is not a very common question in HR interviews, you should be prepared for it. 

If you’re asked this question, answer diplomatically, like so:

“Sir/Ma’am, my inclination or willingness to lie for the company would depend on the situation and the outcome. If my lie can bring about a positive result for the company and its employees, and if the lie isn’t jeopardizing anyone’s position in the company, I can lie. However, given a choice, I do not feel good about lying.”

“At first go, I’d probably say no to lying. But if my lie would profit the company and its employees without bringing any harm whatsoever, I would be okay with lying. But I would never want to jeopardize or harm anyone through my lie.”

27. How will you cope up with working under a bad boss?

It is one of the HR interview questions with answers or HR job interview questions and answers that need to be formulated with extreme care. The purpose of this question is for the interviewer to comprehend your ability to work with people possessing different ideologies. Never highlight the negative sides of the situation while answering this question.

 A possible answer to this top HR interview questions or HR discussion questions can sound like this:

“Firstly, I won’t impulsively conclude that my boss is bad. Instead, I will try to consider things from his perspective and analyze their personality. I will focus on figuring out what displeases my boss. Moreover, I would ask colleagues how they succeeded in dealing with our boss. Lastly, I will contact HR regarding this if the situation worsens.”

28. What is your spirit animal?

It is yet another HR question for the interviewer to assess your personality. While answering this question, you should be able to provide proper justification. Never choose animals that have poor traits. For instance, a snake is known for its tricky ways. So, you should avoid describing yourself as a snake. 

Moreover, try to pick animals that possess traits necessary for the job role. For instance, you can describe yourself as a lion. A lion’s strength and ability to overcome challenges is pretty impressive. You can also describe yourself as a dolphin because they are known for their kind and selfless nature. 

29. How are you going to handle disagreements with your manager?

While answering human resources interview questions and answers, don’t say that you will never have disagreements with your manager. If you are working together, it’s not unnatural to have disagreements. But the interviewer would like to assess your ability to handle disagreements through this answer. One way of answering this question can be:

“I will sit down with my manager and present my viewpoints to him or her with logic. I will also try to understand why my manager is rejecting my ideas and is not agreeing with me. If I find out that my manager’s viewpoints are what would work for the best for the project and the company at large, I will gracefully accept it. “

30. Have you ever made a mistake at work? 

It is one of the trickiest HR interview questions with answers or hr position interview questions and answers that need to be framed without highling a major flaw of yours. You should try to talk about a mistake that you were able to rectify. Otherwise, you might end up hampering your reputation in front of the interview. Meanwhile, you shouldn’t be saying that you have never made any mistakes because that would make you sound overconfident.

One example of HR position interview questions and answers is:

“I remember when I joined my first company I volunteered to work on a project. I was pretty confident that I would be able to complete the project. But while working on it, I faced some difficulties. I refused to ask my seniors and colleagues any question because I thought it would make me look bad in their eyes. While I could complete the project on my own, I made one minor mistake which could have been easily avoided by asking a simple question to my supervisors. So, it has really been a huge lesson for me. From then onwards, I always ask questions and clear my doubts to deliver every project according to requirements. I have realized asking a thousand questions and delivering a perfect project is always better than making mistakes because I was too self-conscious to raise a question.”

31. Talk about a time when you were not happy with your performance at work.

Interviewers ask this question to understand whether you know how to take ownership while performing any task. Moreover, it shows how much you care about the job and the company. You can answer this question in this manner:

“I was allocated to a particular project that really intrigued me. I was extremely happy to receive that project. It also came with a strict deadline. However, I was confident that I would be able to complete the project on time. While I was able to complete the project within the deadline, I felt that I could have done better. Moreover, I felt that I did not value my team’s opinion much while working on that project. But I quickly understood where I went wrong while working on that specific project. So, I gave it my all in the next project and even took recommendations from all my team members. In fact, the next project I worked on remains one of my best works till date.”

32. Where do you picture yourself in the next five years?

It is one truly deadly question asked at an HR interview. While it might seem like a casual question, the interviewer is trying to figure out how long you are planning to stay with the company. You might be tempted to answer this question by shedding light on your personal plans for the future. But the interviewer wants to hear your specific plans with the company. So one way of answering this question is as follows:

“In the next 5 years, I would love to leverage all opportunities available to me in this company for my personal as well as professional growth. I look forward to exploring senior positions at this company and challenging myself with new tasks every day.”

33. Explain the gap in your resume.

If you have had an outright gap between two jobs, the interviewer will definitely ask this mba hr interview questions. You might also face this question in the case of a job that lasted for only a few months or a job that’s completely unrelated to your ultimate ambitions. In order to answer this question smartly, you will have to convince the HR that the gaps in your resume are not red flags. You can say this:

“Right after I completed my graduation, I started working immediately. I never took any break throughout my career. But I realized that this constant hustle hampered my productivity to some extent and caused a disbalance between my professional and personal life. So, I took a break from work and tried to rejuvenate myself. It helped me clear my mind and enabled me to come back to work after a few months with a fresh perspective.”

34. Why have you changed jobs so frequently?

In case you are someone who has switched jobs within a short span, you are likely to face this interview question. You can answer this question in this way:

“Yes, it’s true that I have switched jobs quite frequently. But honestly, it has made me a more evolved professional. First of all, these switches have made me better at adapting to changing business environments. Moreover, each job has helped me develop some positive skills to become a better employee. If you are asking why I went for the switches, it’s because I felt that my growth got stagnant and the opportunities available for me at those organizations weren’t enough.”

35. If I contact your last manager, what is that one area which they will suggest that you need to work on?

You can highlight one of your weaknesses while answering this interview questions for hr position with answers. But you also need to mention that you have or are actively trying to get over that weakness. This will help you establish a positive reputation in front of the employer. One example of answering this question is as follows:

“I am a shy and introverted person by nature. So, my manager might point out that I have trouble speaking in front of large groups. I often used to feel underconfident and nervous while speaking in front of too many people. But apart from pointing this out as my weakness, my previous manager also helped me overcome it. He constantly motivated me to share my opinions in front of people and interact with others. Thanks to him, I can now speak publicly with a lot more confidence.”

36. How would your coworkers describe you?

The point of asking this HR round question is for the interviewer to figure out whether you gel well with others. One example of answering this question is as follows:

“I have been able to build strong relationships with all my coworkers over the years. Since I spend a huge chunk of my day with them, they have almost become friends now. But if you ask them to describe me in the professional space, I think they will describe me as a team player. I have always tried to work well in groups and treated everyone with respect. Moreover, I try to help my coworkers as much as I can.”

37. How would you feel about firing someone?

You will be asked HR interview questions for experienced if you are applying for a managerial position. To answer this question, you can say:

“It truly feels terrible to fire someone. But I know that it’s important to keep emotions aside in the professional space. So, if I have to fire someone because that’s what’s best for the company, I will do that.” 

We hope our HR Questions and Answers guide is helpful. We will be updating the guide regularly to keep you updated.

Besides these HR questions and answers for freshers, the interview panel often asks candidates to ask them a question. The ‘Do you have any questions for us?’ question is frequently asked. Sadly, lack of practice and revision can lead many people to decline this opportunity, but you must not lose it. While such HR interview questions for experienced workers are easy, freshers might have a hard time tackling them. 

The question is your chance to reflect your willingness to become a part of the country. Ask away interview questions for experienced or HR interview questions for freshers without any hesitation. Do not ask questions like ‘Did my answers match your questions?’, ‘How often will I receive a salary raise’?’, ‘What does the company do?’, or ‘How long are my working hours?’. These questions display unprofessionalism and can be distasteful to interviewers. While you should inhibit yourself from asking such questions, do not miss the opportunity to seek answers to genuine questions like ‘How would my role progress with time?’, ‘Are there any particular responsibility you seek from my position?’, ‘What are the training opportunities under the role?’, or ‘ Where do you see the company in the next five years?’. 

Asking questions proves your genuine interest in the company, and questions like these entail you are willing to put in work. It’s your chance to improve interviewers and collect brownie points. So, do not miss the opportunity and ask away! Prepare your questions beforehand with all the research about the company and your role, and get ready to stand out as an impressive candidate.

What does your ideal work organization look like?

This is a tough quiz designed to reassess your qualifications for the job. If you want to work for a company that pays six figures and provides you with benefits like telecommuting and paid time off, you really shouldn’t answer this question by saying so. Here are some suggestions for responding to such perplexing HR inquiries:

• Identify the features of the ideal workplace that are most important to you.
• Don’t go overboard. Give an example of a company you worked for.
• Make sure what you say fits in with how things are done around here.
• You should review these often asked and critically significant HR interview questions before going in for the real interview. Use the questions and the advice above to craft answers that are succinct yet comprehensive.

Tell me about a time when you and your former employer had a disagreement.

How did you handle your former manager disagreeing with your suggestions? is a popular behavioral HR interview question. Disagreements are an inevitable part of group work. Therefore, the recruiter will be interested in hearing how you plan to strengthen your relationship with management and whether or not you can handle disagreement. Some suggestions for responding to behavioral HR queries are provided below.

• Explain what it is that has caused tension between you and your superior.
• How did you handle the situation?
• The question is, what did you take away from this experience?
• Do not verbally insult or speak poorly about your boss.
• However, it would be dishonest to claim you’ve never had a difference of opinion, since that would indicate you lack both leadership and originality.

Guidelines for Answering Common HR Interview Questions

Your prospects of getting employed by the company of your dreams might make or break the HR interview rounds. If you want to impress the HR interviewer, keep these guidelines in mind.

• Stay genuine, both to yourself and the company. Never, ever bluff during an interview.
• Make a solid resume. Use the Resume Format for Beginners if you are unsure of how to organize your resume.
• Wear business attire and leave the jewelry at home.
• Arrive on time for the interview. Log up to your online interview platform of choice at least 10 minutes early to guarantee a smooth connection.
• Include both short- and long-term professional objectives on your CV. The following are the top 10 samples of career goals to use as templates for your own.
• Don’t give answers that seem boring.
• If the HR interview is happening online, double check that your video is on and your camera is functional.
• As a last note, try to keep a positive attitude.

What to do to build a career in HR?

You can opt for Master of Business Administration (MBA) Liverpool Business School and specialize in a relevant area like Human Resource Management or Strategic Management. It comes with dual certification from LBS and IMT and a week-long immersion program at the university campus. Here is an overview of what these courses intend to teach you:

• Introduction to HR for Non-HR managers
• Organizational Behaviour as a discipline
• Workforce Planning and Recruitment
• Employee Training and Development
• Employee Engagement, Retention, and People Performance
• Business Laws and Ethical Concepts
• Business Communication
• Decision Science
• Enterprise Management
• Business Strategy and Leadership
• Digital Business Innovation
• Change Management for Sustainable Futures
• Case studies from Harvard Business Publishing

While selecting a suitable program, it is best to evaluate the alternatives based on the syllabus, pedagogy, faculty profile, networking opportunities, and career support. Enrolling in an online degree can offer a cost-effective and flexible way to get the same experience as the traditional on-campus counterpart. So, it is advisable to carefully discern your strengths and weaknesses and then choose the route that best aligns with your needs.