HR interview questions are designed to help employers assess how well a potential candidate suits the position and the company based on their personality and experience. Because of this, human resources (HR) may ask you general questions about yourself and your previous role.
Even if you have the necessary experience for the job, it’s essential to practice for HR interviews, as they significantly impact your application. Whether you are new to the workforce or a seasoned professional, these HR interview questions and answers can help you leave a strong impression and boost your chances of landing the coveted role.
Key Takeaways
Common HR interview questions are focused on your background and personality to determine if you are a good fit for the company.
Behavioral HR interview questions are designed to highlight your problem-solving and leadership skills.
Experience-related HR interview questions are a way to determine how your previous positions shaped you as an employee.
Some HR interview tips to keep in mind to ace your interview are to research the company, dress appropriately, and practice with a mock interview.
13 HR Interview Questions & Sample Answers
In this HR interview guide, we’ll share the usual HR interview questions and top answers you can use as a reference when preparing your own:
Common HR Interview Questions
The common HR interview questions help the interviewer understand your personality and cultural fit within the company.
These questions usually include the following:
#1. Why did you apply for this position?
This variation of the common “Why do you want to work here?” HR interview question shows your motivation behind applying for the position.
Simply put, the interviewer wants to know if you are actually interested in the job and the company and not just blindly applying to open roles. This is why the sample answer that mentions specific reasons, such as the company’s reputation and culture, works best.
Sample Answer
I applied for this position because it perfectly aligns with my experience and skills in marketing. I’ve always been passionate about the marketing industry and greatly admire the [Company]’s reputation as one of the pioneers. I’ve also heard nothing but great things about your company’s culture and believe that this would be the perfect place to hone my skills.
#2. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
“What are your strengths and weaknesses?” is one of the most common HR interview questions in companies, including Accenture, and is a great opportunity to showcase your best skills and self-awareness. While it’s important to be confident, companies are aware that there are no perfect employees and will appreciate honesty about your shortcomings.
Sample Answer
One of my biggest strengths is my ability to adapt to different situations. In my previous role, I was able to help our company deal with an important backlog by developing a strategy that allowed us to improve workplace efficiency by 30%.
As for weaknesses, I used to struggle with delegating tasks to team members because I felt responsible for every aspect of a project. However, I am actively working on it and have learned to focus on clear communication rather than attempting to finish everything alone.
#3. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
The best answer for this HR interview question is one that shows the interviewer that your long-term plans align with the company. After all, no one wants to go through all the trouble of interviewing and onboarding a candidate only to have them leave after a few months.
Sample Answer
In five years, I see myself as a senior project manager in the company, able to lead a team that drives impactful projects. I am eager to take on more responsibility and develop my skills to further contribute to the company’s success.
#4. Why did you leave your last job?
Some interviewers ask this question simply to understand why you are seeking new employment and to gauge your potential as a long-term employee. You can use this opportunity to emphasize your interest in the role and share some previous achievements that will help you succeed in the position you are applying for.
Sample Answer
While I enjoyed my time at [Company] and gained valuable experience in customer success management, I felt that it was time for a new challenge. Currently, I’m looking for a role that allows for more strategic involvement, which is why this position perfectly aligns with my career goals.
#5. Tell me about yourself.
While interviewers are interested in how you see yourself, this is in a professional context. So, leave out any personal details like hobbies or information already in your resume, and keep your answer related to the role you are applying for.
Sample Answer
My name is John, and I have a background in digital marketing with over five years of experience specializing in content strategy and SEO. In my previous role, I led a marketing campaign that increased organic traffic for our client by 50% in one year. Outside of work, I enjoy keeping up with the latest marketing trends and industry leaders.
“Tell me about yourself” is arguably one of the most common interview questions you will encounter, regardless of the company and position you apply for, but it can also be the easiest one to get wrong.
Behavioral HR Interview Questions
You may be asked behavioral HR interview questions by interviewers looking to gauge how you handled real workplace situations.
Here are some common behavioral interview questions you should prepare for:
#1. Tell me about a time when you experienced difficulty at work while working on a project.
This is one of the common HR interview questions for software developers and other technical roles, as it shows how you use your experience to overcome work-related problems. By providing a step-by-step process for dealing with the problem, you can showcase your thinking process and skills, which can help you get the job.
Sample Answer
While working on a software rollout in my first company, a critical API integration failed a few weeks before the launch. This was a major setback that could have caused months of delay, so I immediately gathered input from the developers and worked together to create an alternative API that would allow us to meet our deadline.
#2. How do you deal with criticism?
Behavioral interview questions like these are a great way to express your openness to feedback and willingness to learn. So, the best way to answer it is to provide an example demonstrating your growth.
Sample Answer
I handle criticism as a way to improve my skills. When I was a new hire at [Company], my manager pointed out that my reports were messy and hard to understand. I took this feedback seriously and reviewed previous reports to see how they were structured. I also began adding key takeaways at the beginning to highlight the important points of the report. As a result, the leadership team found my reports more actionable and valuable.
#3. Give an example of when you demonstrated leadership in your previous role.
Even if you don’t have any experience leading a team, this HR interview question is designed to highlight a situation where you took the initiative and had a positive impact on the company. This answer not only shows leadership but also problem-solving skills, which are valuable in the workplace.
Sample Answer
At [Company], our sales team struggled with inconsistent follow-ups, greatly impacting our conversions. To help resolve the issue, I took the initiative to create a more streamlined follow-up process that helped increase our close rate by 15%. I also trained my colleagues in this process to ensure a smooth integration.
#4. How do you handle stress at work?
Interviewers who ask this question want to know your approach to unexpected challenges or problems at work to assess how well you can work under pressure. Since your reaction to these situations can affect the productivity of the whole team, it’s important to highlight your stress-management techniques.
Sample Answer
I handle stress at work by focusing on solutions rather than the pressure of the situation. For example, we often experience backlogs during the holiday season, and I had multiple deadlines approaching at the same time. Rather than allowing myself to feel overwhelmed, I created a list that categorized each task by priority, allowing me to focus and break them down into more manageable steps.
Experience-Related HR Interview Questions
Experience-related or situational interview questions are designed to help the interviewer understand how your past experiences can help you for the role.
Below are four commonly asked experience-related questions and some effective answers:
#1. Tell me about a time when you were not satisfied with your performance.
By answering the HR interview question this way, you can end a negative experience on a positive note and show self-awareness and growth from a past mistake while highlighting a current skill.
Sample Answer
When I first started working at [Company], I was asked to present a proposal to an important client. However, I wasn’t able to address their concerns fully, so they ended up going with another vendor. I realized that I didn’t do enough research on their specific pain points, which is why my proposal was lackluster.
I used this as a learning opportunity and made it a habit to conduct in-depth research on clients even before our meetings to improve my pitch success rate.
#2. What skills do you bring to the position?
While you may already have your skills outlined in your resume, your interviewer may ask this question to see how you distinguish yourself from other candidates. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your unique skills and capabilities.
Sample Answer
I bring a combination of strong technical skills and interpersonal abilities to the position. As a content strategist at [Company], I developed marketing campaigns that helped increase lead generation by 40%. I also worked closely with our design and sales team to ensure that all our content aligned on both branding and goals. I’m confident that these skills will help your company expand its digital presence and boost engagement.
#3. Tell me about this gap in your resume.
Gaps in a resume are often seen as negative, which is why it’s important to respond to this HR interview question in a practical manner. Rather than focusing on your period of inactivity, highlight how you used this downtime productively for personal and professional growth.
Sample Answer
After leaving my first job, I realized that a career in sales was not the path I wanted to pursue. So, I took some time off to discover my true passion and realized that I was meant to be in content creation. After that, I enrolled in several courses to learn the necessary skills for the position I wanted and took on some freelance projects to hone them. Now, I’m excited to bring this experience to a full-time role.
#4. How has your previous experience prepared you for this role?
While similar to another question used to gauge your skills, this one does not focus on skills alone but rather on your experiences as a whole. So, the best response to this HR interview question is to directly connect any previous experiences to the role you’re applying for.
Sample Answer
I have previously taken on roles that required me to develop strong analytical and project management skills, which I believe will help me greatly in this position. For instance, at [Company], I helped streamline the company’s onboarding process, which significantly reduced onboarding time by 30%. Meanwhile, in my latest role at [Company], I successfully managed several projects that required flexibility and reliable problem-solving abilities.
15 More Typical HR Interview Questions
While it’s important to know how to answer the interview questions we outlined above, there are a few more typical HR interview questions you should be prepared for, including:
HR Interview Questions
How would you rate your skills on a scale of 1 to 10?
Are you interviewing for other jobs right now?
Describe yourself in one word.
How do you stay updated with industry trends?
How can you be an asset to the company?
Are you willing to relocate?
Describe your ideal work environment.
How do you prioritize tasks?
Are you okay with working in a team, or do you prefer to work alone?
What are your responsibilities at your current job?
Do you have any hobbies?
Why are you looking for a change in employment?
5 Best Tips to Ace Your HR Interview
Aside from preparing your answers to common HR interview questions, here are five expert interview tips to increase your chances of getting hired:
Interview Tips
Research the company. It’s crucial to do this step as part of your job interview preparation, as it will help you tailor your answers to align with the company’s values and goals. This is also a great way to determine if the company would be a great fit for you in the long run.
Prepare examples of your accomplishments. Behavioral HR interview questions often ask for examples of your experiences in the workplace, so it’s important to be prepared with situations that highlight your skills and accomplishments.
Conduct a mock interview. Having interview skills and being naturally good at answering questions is rare, and more often than not, unprepared candidates are caught off guard by common HR interview questions. To ensure you leave a lasting impression, consider conducting a mock interview to practice your answers and body language.
Prepare questions to ask your interviewer. Some interviewers may ask you if you have any questions for them, and while you don’t have to, asking a question shows your genuine interest in the company and the position.
Dress appropriately. Remember, first impressions last, so make sure to dress appropriately and choose an outfit that aligns with the company’s dress code. Moreover, according to Forsythe (2006) in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology, clothing had a significant impact on an interviewer’s applicant perceptions and hiring decisions.
Final Thoughts
HR interview questions allow employers to assess candidates and find the best fit for their company. With the sample answers and tips for answering HR questions we provided in this article, you can confidently address any inquiry and ensure a smooth HR interview.
One of our resume tips for interviews is to highlight your most relevant qualifications in the resume and then expand on these experiences while discussing soft skills during the interview. If you want to improve your current resume, you can use Resume.co’s online resume builder to enhance its content and structure in seconds.
