1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
“Well, I’m currently as HR in
XYZ Group, where I handle management and Human Resource. Before that, I worked
at a company where I was on five different major wings of Human Resource. And
while I really enjoyed the work that I did, I’d love the chance to dig in much
deeper with one specific jewelry company.”
Remember throughout your answer
to focus on the experiences and skills that are going to be most relevant for
the hiring manager when they’re thinking about this particular position and
this company. And ultimately, don’t be afraid to relax a little bit, tell
stories and anecdotes—the hiring manager already has your resume, so they also
want to know a little more about you.
2. How did you hear about the position?
Another seemingly innocuous interview question, this is actually a
perfect opportunity to stand out and show your passion for and connection to
the company. For example, if you found out about the gig through a friend or
professional contact, name drop that person, and then share why you were so
excited about it. If you discovered the company through an event or article,
share that. Even if you found the listing through a random job board, share
what, specifically, caught your eye about the role.
3. What do you know about the company?
Any candidate can read and regurgitate the company’s “About” page. So,
when interviewers ask this, they aren't necessarily trying to gauge whether you
understand the mission—they want to know whether you care about it. Start with
one line that shows you understand the company's goals, using a couple key
words and phrases from the website, but then go on to make it personal. Say,
“I’m personally drawn to this mission because…” or “I really believe in this
approach because…” and share a personal example or two.
4. Why do you want this job?
Again, companies want to hire people who are passionate about the job,
so you should have a great answer about why you want the position. (And if you
don't? You probably should apply elsewhere.) First, identify a couple of key factors
that make the role a great fit for you (e.g., “I love human resource because I
love the constant human interaction and the satisfaction that comes from
helping someone solve a problem"), then share why you love the company
(e.g., “I’ve always been passionate about education, and I think you guys are
doing great things, so I want to be a part of it”).
5. Why should we hire you?
This interview question seems forward (not to mention intimidating!),
but if you're asked it, you're in luck: There's no better setup for you to sell
yourself and your skills to the hiring manager. Your job here is to craft an
answer that covers three things: that you can not only do the work, you can
deliver great results; that you'll really fit in with the team and culture; and
that you'd be a better hire than any of the other candidates.
6. What are your greatest professional strengths?
When answering this question, interview I would recommends being
accurate (share your true strengths, not those you think the interviewer wants
to hear); relevant (choose your strengths that are most targeted to this
particular position); and specific (for example, instead of “people skills,”
choose “persuasive communication” or “relationship building”). Then, follow up
with an example of how you've demonstrated these traits in a professional
setting.
7. What do you consider to be your weaknesses?
What your interviewer is really trying to do with this question—beyond
identifying any major red flags—is to gauge your self-awareness and honesty.
So, “I can't meet a deadline to save my life” is not an option—but neither is
“Nothing! I'm perfect!” Strike a balance by thinking of something that you
struggle with but that you’re working to improve. For example, maybe you’ve
never been strong at public speaking, but you've recently volunteered to run
meetings to help you be more comfortable when addressing a crowd.
8. What is your greatest professional achievement?
Nothing says “hire me” better than a track record of achieving amazing
results in past jobs, so don't be shy when answering this interview question! A
great way to do so is by using the S-T-A-R method: Set up the situation and the
task that you were required to complete to provide the interviewer with
background context (e.g., “In my last job as a junior analyst, it was my role
to manage the invoicing process”), but spend the bulk of your time describing
what you actually did (the action) and what you achieved (the result). For
example, “In one month, I streamlined the process, which saved my group 10
man-hours each month and reduced errors on invoices by 25%.”
9. Where do you see yourself in five years?
If asked this question, be honest and specific about your future goals,
but consider this: A hiring manager wants to know a) if you've set realistic
expectations for your career, b) if you have ambition (a.k.a., this interview
isn't the first time you're considering the question), and c) if the position
aligns with your goals and growth. Your best bet is to think realistically
about where this position could take you and answer along those lines. And if
the position isn’t necessarily a one-way ticket to your aspirations? It’s OK to
say that you’re not quite sure what the future holds, but that you see this
experience playing an important role in helping you make that decision.
10. Why are you leaving your current job?
Definitely keep things positive—you have nothing to gain by being
negative about your past employers. Instead, frame things in a way that shows
that you're eager to take on new opportunities and that the role you’re
interviewing for is a better fit for you than your current or last position.
For example, “I’d really love to be part of product development from beginning
to end, and I know I’d have that opportunity here.” And if you were let go?
Keep it simple: “Unfortunately, I was let go,” is a totally OK answer.
11. How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?
"Choose an answer that shows that you can meet a stressful
situation head-on in a productive, positive manner and let nothing stop you
from accomplishing your goals,". A great approach is to talk through your
go-to stress-reduction tactics (making the world's greatest to-do list,
stopping to take 10 deep breaths), and then share an example of a stressful
situation you navigated with ease.
12. What are your salary requirements?
The #1 rule of answering this question is doing your research on what
you should be paid by using sites like Pay scale and Glass-door. You’ll
likely come up with a range, and we recommend stating the highest number in
that range that applies, based on your experience, education, and skills. Then,
make sure the hiring manager knows that you're flexible. You're communicating
that you know your skills are valuable, but that you want the job and are
willing to negotiate.
13. Do you have any questions for us?
You probably already know that an interview isn't just a chance for a
hiring manager to grill you—it's your opportunity to sniff out whether a job is
the right fit for you. What do you want to know about the position? The
company? The department? The team?
You'll cover a lot of this in the actual interview, so have a few
less-common questions ready to go. We especially like questions targeted to the
interviewer (“What's your favorite part about working here?") or
the company's growth (“What can you tell me about your new products or plans
for growth?")
- HR Rahul Saxena
#rahulinvision
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