1. Can you tell us how long can you commit to work with us?
I like new challenges and a chance to grow. As long I keeping getting these, I don't think I'll need to switch over. I'd like to believe that this relationship lasts for many years. However, I haven't set a time limit as such.
2. Explain me something about your previous boss?
All my bosses possessed some skills worth learning. I have always tried to learn something new from them including my previous boss.
3. What is your expected salary as HR Director?
I believe that an ideal remuneration for any position recognizes the ability, rewards the performance and provides the employee an opportunity to indulge in his hobbies and passions. I am sure that this company also takes care of these.
4. Explain me if you won the lottery, would you still work?
Admittedly, this HR interview question is a little silly. Even so, it's another opportunity to underscore your motivation and work ethic. Kennedy advises acknowledging that you'd be thrilled to win the lottery but would still look for meaningful work because meeting challenges and achieving make you happy. And say it with a straight face.
5. Explain me you are overqualified for this position?
You might feel that I possess more degrees than you require for this position. But, I believe that I grow everyday when I talk to my staff, customers and superiors. So, basically the learning process continues through out the life – I don't think I am over qualified.
6. Tell us is there anything that you do not like about your last or current job?
I was quite enthusiastic while joining my last job. Towards the end, the number of challenges and opportunity to grow further started diminishing. A challenge loving and growth oriented person like me doesn't enjoy this.
7. Can you tell us what do you know about us?
Research the company and its business a bit before appearing for the interview. Also, find out a bit about the technologies they work upon. You don't need to know everything inside out but having a fair idea about the company makes you appear interested in the position, to be taken seriously.
For e.g. I see that your company does a lot of projects based on OpenSource platforms like Joomla, Drupal, Magento which is quite interesting as I have a similar kind of experience.
8. Tell us where would you really like to work?
“The real agenda for this HR interview question is assurance that you aren't applying to every job opening in sight,” says Kennedy. She advises never mentioning another company by name or another job title because you want to highlight all the reasons you're perfect for this job and that you'll give it all of your attention if achieved. A good response would be: “This is where I want to work, and this job is what I want to do.”
9. Tell us why do you consider yourself a suitable candidate for this position?
The answer to this question lies in the preparation you did before the interview. It is extremely important that you research the requirements of the position well and match them with your skills.
For e.g. if the position requires an Asp.net developer with good knowledge of health care domain, tell the interviewer about your technical skills and your domain knowledge.
Fresh graduates can talk about their technical skills, ability to learn and grasp things quickly.
10. Tell us can you describe how you solved a work or school problem?
Kennedy says that, really, no one should be too taken aback by this HR interview question, as it's one of the most basic interview questions and should always be anticipated. However, all too often interviewees either can't come up with something on the spot or miss the opportunity to highlight their best skills and attributes. Kennedy says what the HR interviewer really wants is insight into how your mind works. Have an answer ready, like how you solved time management issues in order to take on a special assignment or complicated project that showcases an achievement.
11. Tell us how did you prepare for this interview?
The intention of this HR interview question is to decipher how much you really care about the job or if you're simply going through the motions or winging it. Kennedy says the best way to answer is by saying, “I very much want this job, and of course researched it starting with the company website.” Beyond explaining how you've done your homework, show it. Reveal your knowledge of the industry, company or department by asking informed questions and commenting on recent developments.
12. Tell us can you perform under pressure?
Most of the times, the job of software development is that of working under pressure. Sometimes, it will be the pressure of delivering on time while it can be that of a bug that has sprung all of a sudden in your code.
So, expect pressure in everything you do. It is important to maintain your performance and develop strategies to deliver under pressure. You can then go ahead an talk about your way of dealing with pressure and performing under it.
13. Explain me why do you want to leave your present job or company?
You may want to leave your present job for any reason but make sure that you do not talk bad about your manager, company or job. It reflects your complaining attitude.
Provide a sincere reason for e.g. “I think, I have grown up with my last employer as much as I could. I want to grow further and I believe that is possible with a new employer.”
14. Explain me what Characteristics Make You a Good HR Manager?
There are a few good ways to answer this question. It's always ideal to highlight the characteristics you possess which work well for the position. Let your interviewer know that you are capable of fitting the position by illustrating your strengths. For example, letting your interviewer see that you have excellent interpersonal skills and communicate well, both in oral and written forms, is wonderful. Look back at the job posting and take notice of the characteristics they specifically mention. If you possess these attributes, bring them up when answering this question.
15. Explain me what bugs you about coworkers or bosses?
Don't fall into this trap HR interview question. Kennedy says you always want to present yourself as optimistic and action-oriented, and hiring managers may use this question to tease out whether you'll have trouble working with others or could drag down workplace morale and productivity. “Develop a poor memory for past irritations,” she advises. Reflect for a few seconds, and then say you can't recall anything in particular. Go on to compliment former bosses for being knowledgeable and fair and commend past coworkers for their ability and attitude. It will reveal your positive outlook and self-control and how you'll handle the social dynamics in this position.
16. Explain me if employed, how do you manage time for interviews?
“The real HR interview question is whether you are lying to and short-changing your current employer while looking for other work,” says Kennedy. The interviewer may wonder: If you're cheating on your current boss, why wouldn't you later cheat on me? She suggests placing the emphasis on why you're interested in this position by saying you're taking personal time and that you only interview for positions that are a terrific match. If further interviews are suggested, Kennedy advises mentioning that the search is confidential and asking to schedule follow-ups outside of normal working hours.
17. Tell us how do you view the difference between incentives and salary?
When I was a new HR manager, I had a hard time understanding how incentives and fringe benefits could be used to help recruit the most talented individuals. Instead, I focused on making sure that the salary offered was indicative of both the job candidate's previous experience level as well as a genuine sign of the confidence that the company had in that person to grow and contribute to the vision of the corporation. As I continued as an HR manager, I came to see that the people we wanted to hire were more willing to take on the responsibilities and demands of their new positions when they were offered both a reasonable salary as well as signing bonuses and opportunities for performance-based bonuses throughout the year.
18. Can you explain me some of your strengths?
Again, it is important to study the requirements of the position before you appear for the interview. List out your strengths and offer the ones that this role demands.
For e.g. If you are appearing for the position of a Tech Lead – VB.net, talk about your VB.net skills, any extra knowledge which you have about coding with VB.net in comparison to other candidates, your team management skills etc.
19. Tell us as you know you have stayed in your current job for quite a long time, why?
There are many people who do not change their jobs for years and when they go out looking for a new employer, this is one of the most important questions they are asked. Some people might look upon staying with the same employer for long as “lack of ambition”.
A good answer to this question can be something like, “Yes, you are right. I stayed with my last employer for almost 5 years but I was continuously growing in the company, doing new things, handling bigger challenges. So, I was quite happy working with them for these many years.” You can then talk about how you grew with your last employer.
20. Tell us as you know you seem to be drawing a good salary. Will you be OK in taking a salary cut?
I believe that at one point of time in career salary becomes secondary and self actualisation become more important. While taking up any new job, it will be my priority to ensure that the work culture, chances to contribute and grow are sufficient along with the money I am paid. I also believe that any good company who cares about its employees ensures that they are paid well.
21. Can you tell us have you ever had a problem with your peer? Can you give us an example?
Yes, it happened once. I was quite friendly with a colleague of mine from the other department. While talking to him during the lunch hour, I casually told him about the new marketing strategy that the marketing team was thinking about. He mentioned it to his boss and that caused a lot of confusion between the two departments. This taught me a lesson that you must not discuss any departmental strategies with anyone from other department unless you have been authorised by your boss.
22. Basic HR Director Job Interview Questions:
☛ What's your experience with HR software?
☛ What do you know about EEO laws/FMLA/etc.?
☛ What KPI's do you use to measure the effectiveness of the HR function?
☛ If you have to use three words to describe the role of an HR Director in a company, what would those be? Why?
☛ How do the company's HR needs influence strategic planning?
☛ What do you do to ensure the HR department's objectives are aligned with strategic goals?
☛ What is company culture to you? How would you maintain it as the company grows?
☛ What can HR do to influence the company culture?
☛ What steps would you take to ensure diversity in the organization?
☛ How do you stay current and ensure compliance with employment laws?
☛ What is your role in assisting other departments in improving their people practices and adhering to policies?
☛ Let's assume you encounter a problem but there are no official guidelines for solving it. What is your course of action?
☛ If one of the managers under your supervision made a serious mistake, what would you do?
☛ Imagine one of the stakeholders is asking you to implement a policy while you think it will not benefit the company in the long run. How do you handle this?
23. Fresh HR Director Job Interview Questions:
☛ Describe a time you developed a new policy. What did you do to make it work successfully?
☛ Tell me about a time when you implemented an HR initiative, policy or program that didn't stick. What should you have done differently to avoid that?
☛ Tell me about a time you were successful in driving positive change.
☛ Describe a time when a manager came to you with a problem they couldn't solve. What did you do?
☛ Tell me about a time you had foreseen a problem with employees/union/vendors. How did you prevent it from escalating?
☛ What actions did you take to shape organizational culture in your past role?
☛ What do you think was your most important contribution to the workplace in your previous job?
☛ Describe me a situation where you had serious challenges and road-blocks in doing your job efficiently. What did you do about them?
☛ Tell me about a situation where you had to disagree with your superiors. How did you approach this and what happened?
24. Top HR Director Job Interview Questions:
☛ How would you describe your management style?
☛ What is your overall approach to human resource management and managing the department?
☛ What is your view on coaching and training?
☛ What is your hiring approach? Where do you find top industry talent?
☛ What is your approach to new employee onboarding?
☛ What is your ideal company culture? How do you define it?
☛ What technology and tools do you believe are essential for HR management?
☛ What do you think is the biggest motivator for employees?
☛ How do you keep employees engaged? What is your best advice?
☛ What is the most effective approach to resolving an employee conflict?
I believe that every individual can succeed in her or his career with the proper training. It is essential that HR managers under me are not only aware of and well-versed in the company policies regarding personnel, but also able to sincerely understand how these policies are beneficial to both the employees and the management. With the proper buy-in from those administering the policies, I find that there is greater cooperation company-wide in abiding by the company's policies and procedures.
In my former position, I worked in the HR department of a small computer company. I was responsible for maintaining the records of all the employees in a locked cabinet. I always made sure to keep confidential information about personnel to myself. During my five years at that job, I never misplaced confidential files or misused confidential information about the employees with whom I interacted as I sought to build a successful climate in the office.
27. Please explain a work or school instance in which you messed up?
This HR interview question is a minefield. “One question within the question is whether you learn from your mistakes or keep repeating the same errors,” says Kennedy. Similarly, the HR interviewer may be trying to glean whether you're too self-important or not self-aware enough to take responsibility for your failings. Perhaps even more problematic, if you answer this HR Interview question by providing a list of all your negative traits or major misdeeds, then you're practically spelling out your insecurities and guaranteeing you won't get the job. So you don't want to skirt the question or make yourself look bad. “Briefly mention a single small, well-intentioned goof and follow up with an important lesson learned from the experience,” she advises.
28. Explain me some of your weaknesses?
You have to be careful while answering this question. Do not offer a weakness which will directly affect your selection but at the same time saying that you do not have any weakness will not be right too. Every human being has weaknesses, so it is perfectly OK for you to have some too.
The best way to answer this question will be to turn one of your strengths as a weakness and say that others accuse you of having this weakness but you think it is important to work in this manner. For e.g.: “My colleagues accuse me of paying to much attention to syntax but I believe it is important when you are writing the code to avoid spending too much time on finding and fixing the bugs later on.”
Another way to answer this question is to offer a totally un-related weakness for e.g. “I have been staying alone for so many years now but I still can't cook independently.”
Yes, there have been many such instances. I like people who challenge my decisions rather than following me blindly. This keeps me ensured that I am surrounded by thinking brains rather than just a set of dumb followers.
When someone challenges your decisions, you are bound to rethink over it and the chances of reaching the best option are brighter.
Of all the HR Manager interview questions and answers, but for this one in particular, you will want to know about the company you are interviewing with. It is always a good idea to research a company before you interview. Knowing about a company's structure, mission statement and working environment will help you to answer this question fully and give the answer your interviewer wants to hear. Knowing specifics about the company will show that you are already paying attention and that you are committed to your potential position. This is also a great opportunity to talk about your successes in the past. Limit your responses to a few great examples that illustrate your competency.
Another good idea is to let your potential employer know that building a community is more important than specific individuals. Your potential employer will want to know that you understand that making sure the company, as a whole, is strong is better than fostering a few talented people.
The human resources director is involved in proactive tactics to strengthen the company by strengthening the overall communication and effectiveness of the managers and employees. Someone employed as a personnel manager is responsible for responding and reacting to issues among the personnel in a company. Though personnel management can be involved in motivating employees by providing bonuses and rewards, the HR director is responsible for helping managers and other personnel perform at their best to yield better results and satisfaction. This sometimes involves bonuses and rewards, but as an experienced HR director, I apply a more nuanced approach that includes developing good policies and procedures and encouraging proper training and leadership development among employees to lead to cooperative success across teams.
32. Please tell us do you know anyone who works for us?
This one really is a tricky HR interview question, says Kennedy, because most interviewees expect that knowing someone on the inside is always a good thing. “Nothing beats having a friend deliver your resume to a hiring manager, but that transaction presumes the friend is well thought of in the company,” she says. Because the HR interviewer will likely associate the friend's characteristics and reputation with your merits, she recommends only mentioning someone by name if you're certain of their positive standing in the organization.
33. Can you tell us are you comfortable working in a team?
The whole work of software development or IT is a team work. So, the only answer to this question can be: “Yes, I am comfortable working in a team.” If you have any problems in working as a team, it is important to work on them and develop yourself as a team player.
34. Explain me what do you do to improve your knowledge?
The field of IT is very revolutionary. It is extremely important to keep yourself abreast with the new technological developments and this needs you to take some time out of your work schedule so that you can keep sharpening your saw.
To answer this question, you can tell the recruiter about the forums which you keep visiting, blogs which you keep reading. It will be an advantage if you are a member of some local user group.
35. Tell us would you like to ask us anything?
I would like to know about the career growth I can expect being with this company. I am quite an ambitious person and this information will be helpful.
