HR Interview Questions | Interview Preparation Essentials PDF Download

Traditional HR Questions

The common and general questions asked during a job interview by the HR (human resources) personnel. These questions are usually related to the candidate's background, experience, strengths and weaknesses, motivations, goals, and other personal and professional traits. Traditional HR questions are used to assess the candidate's suitability for the job, their compatibility with the company's culture, and their potential to contribute to the company's growth and success.

Tell Me About Yourself

Some Tips to Answer this Question

• Avoid asking the interviewer what they want to know.
  When faced with this question, do not ask the interviewer what specific information they are looking for. This may come across as rude, even if your intention is genuine.
• Don't repeat your resume.
  The interviewer wants to know more about you beyond what they have already seen on your resume. Avoid simply reiterating the information they have already read.
• Keep it professional.
  Focus on your professional accomplishments and skills, rather than delving into personal details. Use adjectives like problem-solving, innovative, tech-savvy, creative, and quick learner to describe yourself, as these qualities can boost your chances of success.
• Highlight relevant accomplishments.
  Discuss what you've achieved in your career and your past experiences that make you a strong candidate for the position. Concentrate on your strengths that are directly related to the job you're interviewing for.
• Explain your interest in the role.
  Share why you want the position and how it aligns with your career goals. This demonstrates your enthusiasm and commitment to the job.

I am an energetic person, an effective communicator, and a quick learner. I was also one of the top students in my batch while pursuing a B.E degree in the XYZ domain. I have worked on various projects related to the software domain, which provided me with valuable technical exposure, an understanding of teamwork, and the importance of client satisfaction. My experience includes developing enterprise-level web applications to help companies solve problems such as ensuring business continuity and conducting market research analysis. I believe my skill set makes me a great fit for technology-centric roles in your company.

Why do you want to work for our company?

Some Tips to Answer this Question

• Relate Past Projects to the Current Role
  Begin by discussing the past projects you have worked on that match the requirements of the role you are applying for. This will show the interviewer that you have relevant experience and are capable of handling the job responsibilities.
• Discuss Your Career Aspirations
  Mention how the job role aligns with your career aspirations and how the position will help you achieve your long-term goals. This demonstrates that you are ambitious and focused on your professional growth.
• Research the Company
  Be knowledgeable about the company's vision, mission, and recent work. This will show that you are genuinely interested in the organization and have taken the time to learn about it. Mention specific aspects of the company that have inspired you to join.

I believe that my skill set and experience in the XYZ domain make me a great fit for this role. I have worked on similar projects in the past, which have prepared me for the responsibilities of this position. Additionally, this role aligns with my career aspirations and will allow me to utilize my skills and expertise effectively. I have researched your company and am impressed by the promising projections and exciting developments in recent years. I am eager to be a part of this bright future and contribute to the company's success. I also admire the strong leadership within the organization and believe that working here will provide me with the opportunity for personal growth and development.

What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

Some Tips to Answer this Question

• Be Honest: When answering, always start by stating your strongest skills and qualities that are relevant to the job role. Make sure to provide examples as evidence for each of the strengths that you mention. Avoid mentioning strengths that you don't actually possess.
• Don't Mention Damaging Weaknesses: When discussing your weaknesses, avoid mentioning any that could potentially harm your chances of getting the job. Stick to mentioning no more than two weaknesses and always explain how you are working to improve them.
• Avoid Cliché Answers: Stay away from overused and unoriginal answers like "I am a perfectionist, which is both my strength and my weakness."

I believe one of my greatest strengths is being a great team player. I am also self-motivated and a quick learner. Whenever I have a task to complete, I always give my best and ensure that it is done well and ahead of schedule. In terms of weaknesses, I am still working on mastering my people skills, particularly when meeting new individuals. I tend to get nervous when talking to new people, but I have been actively working on improving this aspect of myself for some time now, and I am confident that I have made significant progress.

Why are you looking for a change?

The reason I am looking for change is that I feel like now is the time to expand my horizon. I have worked in my current company for quite a long time and while I am grateful for all the opportunities that were presented to me there, I want to go beyond my current role here, explore different avenues and take up challenging roles and I believe that your company will be the perfect place for me to push and grow myself as an individual.

Tell me about the gap in your resume.

Following the completion of my bachelor's degree, I worked non-stop for eight years without taking any time off. This had a negative impact on my productivity and work-life balance. Consequently, I made the decision to take a six-month hiatus to clear my mind, mend relationships with my family, and travel solo to various destinations. During this time, I learned valuable lessons, such as the significance of maintaining a work-life balance, the importance of organization, and gaining a renewed outlook on life.

How would you rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10?

On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate myself as an 8 because I understand that there is always room for growth and improvement. I acknowledge that I am not perfect and strive to continuously learn and develop both personally and professionally. I believe that ongoing education and self-improvement are integral to achieving long-term success.

What is your biggest achievement so far?

Throughout my career as a software developer, I have achieved numerous significant milestones. One such accomplishment was during a critical project focused on customer payments. As a core developer, my team worked tirelessly for two months to complete the task, and I was subsequently promoted to lead the component and given two more months to finish the project. To meet the deadline, we not only upskilled ourselves but also enlisted the help of additional resources to expedite the development process. Once the project was deployed, I provided comprehensive training to our team, allowing them to proficiently support the platform. As a result of our hard work, we completed the project well before the deadline. Our team received recognition for our exceptional performance in the quarterly town hall, and it was a proud moment for me personally.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Some Tips to Answer this Question

• It can be tempting to respond honestly to interview questions by discussing your plans for higher education, starting a new business, or aspiring to become a hiring manager within the company. Alternatively, you may be inclined to admit that you do not have any specific plans. However, it is best to avoid such answers as they may not be of interest to the interviewer.
• Instead, the recruiter is primarily concerned with learning about your long-term intentions with the company and how content you are with the position you are being hired for.

In the next five years, I hope to take advantage of the numerous learning opportunities provided by this company, including internal and external training programs. My ultimate career aspiration is to become a Technology Architect, and I am eager to contribute to the development of innovative products that align with the company's vision. By doing so, I hope to make a significant impact while also expediting my progress towards achieving my goal of becoming a Tech Architect.

Why should we hire you?

Some tips to answer would be to include

• The focus of any job interview should be on how effectively you can perform the role and contribute positively to the team. 
• It is important to showcase the unique talents and skills that set you apart from other candidates. 
• Ultimately, the most crucial aspect is demonstrating how you can add significant value to the organization.

As a highly self-motivated and open-minded individual with a keen ability to learn quickly, I am confident that my experience in web development makes me an excellent fit for the job description. I have a passion for problem-solving and excel at working collaboratively within a team. Furthermore, I strongly identify with the values of this company.
I believe that this position aligns perfectly with my interests and offers me an exciting opportunity to contribute to the growth of the organization. I am extremely enthusiastic about the prospect of joining the team and eager to explore the possibilities this role presents.

How do you deal with criticism?

I am a firm believer in the value of continuous learning and growth, and I am not afraid to make mistakes along the way. When constructive criticism is offered, I am always receptive and use it to improve my performance and develop my skills.
However, in the event of negative feedback, I maintain a mature and professional attitude, choosing to focus on doing my job to the best of my abilities and not allowing it to affect my enthusiasm or motivation. Overall, I am committed to learning and self-improvement, and I believe that feedback - whether positive or negative - is an essential component of this process.

Behavioural HR Interview Questions

Behavioral HR interview questions are designed to assess how a candidate would behave in certain work-related situations based on their past experiences. These questions are focused on uncovering specific examples of how a candidate handled a particular situation in their previous job or academic experiences. The idea behind asking behavioral interview questions is to gauge how a candidate has demonstrated specific skills, competencies, and values in the past and how they are likely to behave in similar situations in the future.

Tell me about a time when you were not satisfied with your performance?

Upon starting my job right after college, I noticed that I was relying heavily on my team members to complete my tasks. However, as someone who values independence and teamwork equally, I was not satisfied with this situation. Without delay, I made an effort to understand the workings of the project and actively sought out assignments related to it. As I tackled more assignments with minimal assistance, I grew more confident and began to feel a greater sense of ownership. Not only did I become more independent, but I was also recognized multiple times for my hard work, dedication, and adaptability to the project.

Tell me about a time when you were made to work under close supervision.

In my previous job, I initially felt overwhelmed by the constant supervision of my manager. I was uncomfortable with the pressure of having someone watch over my shoulder at all times. However, I realized that my manager didn't fully trust me yet, since I was new to the job. To gain their trust, I worked diligently on projects without complaint. Once I felt that I had earned their trust, I approached my manager to request a project with less supervision. Though hesitant at first, my manager eventually agreed and I gave my best effort to successfully launch the project, solidifying their trust in me.

Can you tell me about a time where you were happy with your work and what was your reaction?

At one point during my previous job, I was responsible for managing a blogging project with the potential to inspire a large audience. To ensure the content was relatable and valuable, I conducted extensive research on topics that would be of interest to readers and also conducted a survey to gather insights from my network. Once the blog was published, it received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback, with readers praising the relatable posts. This ultimately led to a significant increase in sales for our products, and I felt proud to have contributed to both the company's profits and to providing a platform for people to find inspiration.

Tell me about a time where you experienced difficulty at work while working on a project.

During my current job, I encountered a bug report from a client stating that the databases were not performing well when a complex query was excessively called from the interface. I started by checking the logs to perform a root cause analysis, which provided me with an idea of where the bug was appearing. When attempting to reproduce the bug, I could only do so on the production server, not on my local system. Upon debugging, I discovered that there was a bug in the Java code, where some lines were commented out by the previous developers who had left the company. I immediately fixed the code and conducted performance testing on the application to ensure that the issue would not happen again. By the end of the day, the issue was resolved, and the server was operating with improved performance. This experience taught us the importance of performing regression testing after each release phase to ensure that the old functionalities worked properly in addition to the newly developed ones.

Tell me about a time where you displayed leadership skills.

I have a memory of an event where I volunteered to organize the annual summer barbeque at my company. The person responsible for the event had left for a new job, so I stepped up to take on the task.
The barbeque was a potluck event with various fun activities planned for the day. I decided to conduct a survey amongst the employees to get an idea of the activities that they would be interested in. Based on their responses, I created teams to organize each of the activities, making sure that we stayed within the allocated budget. I also sent out regular reminders to the teams to track their progress.
To ensure that everyone knew about the event, I made posters and went through the office floors with a team to promote it. On the day of the event, everything was planned out, and the event went smoothly. Everyone had loads of fun, and I received great appreciation from the higher management for my organizational skills.
Overall, it was a successful event, and I was happy to see everyone enjoy themselves.

Was there any point in your career where you made any mistake? Tell me about it.

I recall an experience from my first job where I was assigned to work on two projects simultaneously. Although I was aware that it would be difficult to manage both, I didn't inform my manager as I didn't want to appear incompetent. Moreover, I wasn't allowed to inform either client about working on another project, which added to my stress and made it difficult for me to meet the project deadlines. Eventually, I realized that I should have communicated my concerns to my manager earlier. When I did, my manager understood the situation and assigned a new resource to work with me to complete the project delivery. This experience taught me the importance of keeping my supervisors informed and being open with them when encountering any obstacles.

How did you handle disagreements with your manager?

Some tips to answer this question:

• Explain what the disagreement was.
• How did you overcome that?
• What was your learning outcome?
• Do not speak ill or abuse your manager.
• You can not tell that you never had a disagreement before as it would just prove that you do not have a sense of leadership or you lack creativity.

I recall an incident where my manager and I had a disagreement about whether a certain feature should be included in the product. I presented my case and explained why I believed it would be beneficial to our users. My manager, however, was against it, so we had several discussions to weigh the pros and cons of adding the feature. I gave him various scenarios and reasons to support my argument, and after considering them, he agreed to include it. When we presented the feature to our clients, they were thrilled with it, and we received their praise. My manager was happy with the results, and I learned that effective and respectful communication is critical in such situations. It's essential to present ideas in a way that is considerate of others' perspectives and to keep the project's success as the collective goal of the team. If my manager's idea was ultimately better for the project, I would have accepted it gracefully. It's important to acknowledge that disagreements happen, and handling them gracefully is a valuable leadership trait.

Tell me how you will handle it if suddenly the priorities of a project were changed?

Some tips to answer this question:

• Make sure that you convey the right things to the interviewer.
• Give instances of how well you are capable of handling pressure and stress.
• Avoid boasting and no matter how frustrated you were during these situations, do not tell the interviewer.

I acknowledge that a company may have legitimate reasons to alter the priority of a project. The project's vision may shift over time due to various factors. If the priority of the task I am working on changes, I will endeavor to comprehend why this decision was made and trust that it is in the best interest of the company. Instead of complaining, I will focus on the new task of higher priority and strive to accomplish the organization's ultimate goal by giving my best effort.

Opinion based HR Interview Questions

Opinion-based HR interview questions are designed to evaluate a candidate's personal opinions, attitudes, and beliefs on various topics related to the job or the organization. These questions are open-ended and allow the candidate to express their thoughts freely. The goal is to assess the candidate's thought process, their ability to think critically, and their alignment with the company's values and culture.

Consider the scenario - You win a million-dollar lottery. Would you still be working?

Winning such a lottery would make me ecstatic as it would provide a substantial financial cushion for myself and my family's future. However, despite such a windfall, I would not quit my job because I derive great satisfaction from my work and relish acquiring new knowledge in various fields. My only desire is to conclude my career feeling fulfilled and content.

What would you do if you were working under a bad boss?

To avoid prematurely labeling my boss as a bad supervisor, I will make an effort to understand their personality and identify the source of their behavior. If I determine that my boss has an aggressive nature, I will take note of what triggers their anger and do my best to avoid such situations. Additionally, I will seek guidance from my colleagues to understand how they have managed to handle working with such a personality. If the situation deteriorates, I will escalate the matter to the Human Resources department to find a suitable solution.

What do you think is an ideal work environment?

In my opinion, an optimal work setting is centered on a collaborative team effort where the main objective is to learn, work, and advance as a unit, ultimately achieving new heights for both the team members and the company. It is important to utilize the skills and capabilities of each team member to foster growth. During my research of your company, I noticed that there is a strong emphasis on teamwork, which greatly appealed to me. I am confident that I can thrive in a supportive environment.

What does motivation mean to you?

I am motivated to give my best at work by the excitement of learning new things and the sense of fulfillment that comes with problem-solving. I thrive on challenges as they encourage me to push myself further. I firmly believe that the learning process should never stop and that stagnation sets in the moment we stop learning. This belief constantly inspires me to seek out new knowledge and skills. Based on the job description, I am confident that this position will provide me with the right motivation to keep growing and advancing my skills.

What is your dream company like?

I aspire to work for a company that offers ample learning and growth prospects to help me hone my skills and make a valuable contribution towards the company's progress. A company that recognizes and rewards merit is highly valued by me. After researching your company, I am convinced that it can provide me with such opportunities.

What do you do to ensure that a certain number of tasks is completed effectively?

When assigned multiple tasks, I approach the situation with a positive mindset and prioritize the tasks based on their importance. After setting deadlines for each task, I begin working on them. In case I encounter any roadblocks or face difficulties, I inform my supervisor and seek help from my colleagues. If I see that I may not be able to complete a task within the assigned deadline, I inform my manager ahead of time and provide them with details of my progress. I have found that my managers are usually understanding and grant me an extension. Regardless, I ensure that I complete my tasks to the best of my abilities.

What would you prefer - being liked or being feared?

In all honesty, I believe that earning respect is more important to me than instilling fear in my colleagues. I aspire to be the type of leader that team members can trust and approach with ease for any concern or assistance they may require.

How long do you think you will be working for us if you are hired?

As long as my contributions are recognized and I am respected for my work, I am committed to being a part of this company for a long time, and I hope to be seen as an asset to the management.

If you were reborn as an animal, what animal would you want to be?

If I were to be reincarnated, I would choose to be a lion. Lions are known for their bravery, their love for challenges, and their pride. They go after what they want and can thrive in difficult situations, which is why I would like to be a lion.

Will you lie for the company under any circumstances?

My ethical stance is honesty. Hence, my willingness to be involved in a falsehood would rely on the circumstances and the consequences associated with it. If my participation in the deceit would not harm anyone and would yield beneficial outcomes for the company and the employees, then I could consider it. However, I do not feel comfortable about being deceitful.

Brainteasers HR Interview Questions

Brainteaser HR interview questions are challenging questions or problems posed to the interviewee to test their analytical and problem-solving skills. These questions often have more than one possible answer and are designed to see how candidates approach complex problems, think creatively, and communicate their thought processes. Brainteaser questions can be related to various areas, such as math, logic, or lateral thinking, and may require candidates to use critical thinking, reasoning, and imagination to find the solution.

What do you think is better - being perfect and delivering late or being good and delivering on time?

In my opinion, it is essential to deliver quality work within the given timeframe. Time is valuable to the organization, and timely delivery enables opportunities for improvements and refinements. On the other hand, delayed delivery even with high-quality work cannot compensate for the lost time.

How many times in a day does the clock’s hand overlap?

In a day, there are 24 hours and the clock's hands overlap at various points. The first overlap occurs at 12:00, followed by 1:05, 2:10, 3:15, 4:20, 5:25, 6:30, 7:35, 8:40, 9:45, and 10:50, twice in a day. However, at 11:55, the hour hand is moving towards 12 while the minute hand is at 11, so there is no overlap at that time. Therefore, the total number of times the hands overlap in a day is 22.

Salary Related Questions

What to expect?

Employers may ask questions about your salary expectations to determine if they can afford to hire you within their budget and the salary range they have in mind. They want to ensure that there is alignment between your expectations and the range provided by the company, and that you are satisfied with it. It is crucial to understand your worth and be prepared to answer such questions, especially if your expectations are higher than what the company is offering. You do not want to appear solely money-driven, nor do you want to appear as if you are willing to settle for less. Additionally, this is where your negotiation skills may come into play.

What is your current salary?

I am obliged to keep my current salary information confidential as per the agreement with my employer. Hence, I am unable to disclose that information. However, if you could share the salary range for this position, I can confirm if my expectations align with that range. Alternatively, I can provide a salary range that I have researched and believe is reasonable based on my skills and the company's standards.

What is your salary expectation?

With nearly six years of experience in the software development industry, I have gained valuable skills by working on numerous projects from scratch to launch. Over time, I have grown significantly since my early days as a fresher. Additionally, I have showcased my leadership qualities, which I believe can be an advantage for you alongside my technical expertise. After taking into account my background and research on the role, I believe a salary range of ₹15,00,000- ₹20,00,000 would be reasonable.

How much do you think you should be paid by looking at your qualifications?

After working in the software development industry for approximately six years, I have acquired extensive experience in developing and launching several projects, which has helped me progress from being a novice. Additionally, I have exhibited leadership skills that can complement my technical expertise, which could benefit your company. Based on my evaluation and investigation, I believe that a salary within the range of ₹15,00,000 to ₹20,00,000 would be reasonable compensation.

We have covered the most commonly asked HR interview questions, explained why they are asked, provided tips to answer each question, and even offered sample answers. While the list is comprehensive, HR might also ask role-specific questions to assess your understanding of the job. Though the questions might seem like a casual discussion, it is crucial to be well-prepared as the HR round is the last step before landing your dream job. The image below summarizes all the tips that can help you ace the interview.