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 FAQS HR Interview Questions Tips |
HR Interview Questions Tips
Q: Tell me about yourself ?
Tips:
Start with the present and tell why you are well qualified for the position.
Remember that the key to all successful interviewing is to match your
qualifications to what the interviewer is looking for. In other words you must
sell what the buyer is buying. This is the single most important strategy in
job hunting.
So, before you answer this or any question it's imperative that you try to
uncover your interviewer's greatest need, want, problem or goal.
To do so, make you take these two steps:
Do all the homework you can before the hr interview to uncover this person's
wants and needs (not the generalized needs of the industry or company)
As early as you can in the interview, ask for a more complete description of
what the position entails. You might say: "I have a number of accomplishments
I'd like to tell you about, but I want to make the best use of our time
together and talk directly to your needs. To help me do, that, could you tell
me more about the most important priorities of this position? All I know is
what I (heard from the recruiter, read in the classified ad, etc.)"
Then, ALWAYS follow-up with a second and possibly, third question, to draw out
his needs even more. Surprisingly, it's usually this second or third question
that unearths what the interviewer is most looking for.
You might ask simply, "And in addition to that?..." or, "Is there anything
else you see as essential to success in this position?:
This process will not feel easy or natural at first, because it is easier
simply to answer questions, but only if you uncover the employer's wants and
needs will your answers make the most sense. Practice asking these key
questions before giving your answers, the process will feel more natural and
you will be light years ahead of the other job candidates you're competing
with.
After uncovering what the employer is looking for, describe why the needs of
this job bear striking parallels to tasks you've succeeded at before. Be sure
to illustrate with specific examples of your responsibilities and especially
your achievements, all of which are geared to present yourself as a perfect
match for the needs he has just described.
Q: What are your greatest weaknesses ?
Tips: Disguise a strength as a weakness.
Example: "I sometimes push my people too hard. I like to work with a sense of
urgency and everyone is not always on the same wavelength."
Drawback: This strategy is better than admitting a flaw, but it's so widely
used, it is transparent to any experienced interviewer.
BEST ANSWER: (and another reason it's so important to get a thorough
description of your interviewer's needs before you answer questions): Assure
the interviewer that you can think of nothing that would stand in the way of
your performing in this position with excellence. Then, quickly review you
strongest qualifications.
Example: "Nobody's perfect, but based on what you've told me about this
position, I believe I' d make an outstanding match. I know that when I hire
people, I look for two things most of all. Do they have the qualifications to
do the job well, and the motivation to do it well? Everything in my background
shows I have both the qualifications and a strong desire to achieve excellence
in whatever I take on. So I can say in all honesty that I see nothing that
would cause you even a small concern about my ability or my strong desire to
perform this job with excellence."
Alternate strategy (if you don't yet know enough about the position to talk
about such a perfect fit):
Instead of confessing a weakness, describe what you like most and like least,
making sure that what you like most matches up with the most important
qualification for success in the position, and what you like least is not
essential.
Example: Let's say you're applying for a teaching position. "If given a
choice, I like to spend as much time as possible in front of my prospects
selling, as opposed to shuffling paperwork back at the office. Of course, I
long ago learned the importance of filing paperwork properly, and I do it
conscientiously. But what I really love to do is sell (if your interviewer
were a sales manager, this should be music to his ears.)
Q: What are your greatest strengths ?
Tips:
You know that your key strategy is to first uncover your interviewer's
greatest wants and needs before you answer questions. And from Question 1, you
know how to do this.
Prior to any interview, you should have a list mentally prepared of your
greatest strengths. You should also have, a specific example or two, which
illustrates each strength, an example chosen from your most recent and most
impressive achievements.
You should, have this list of your greatest strengths and corresponding
examples from your achievements so well committed to memory that you can
recite them cold after being shaken awake at 2:30AM.
Then, once you uncover your interviewer's greatest wants and needs, you can
choose those achievements from your list that best match up.
As a general guideline, the 10 most desirable traits that all employers love
to see in their employees are:
A proven track record as an achiever...especially if your achievements match
up with the employer's greatest wants and needs.
Intelligence...management "savvy".
Honesty...integrity...a decent human being.
Good fit with corporate culture...someone to feel comfortable with...a team
player who meshes well with interviewer's team.
Likeability...positive attitude...sense of humor.
Good communication skills.
Dedication...willingness to walk the extra mile to achieve excellence.
Definiteness of purpose...clear goals.
Enthusiasm...high level of motivation.
Confident...healthy...a leader.
Q: Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Tips:
Reassure your interviewer that you're looking to make a long-term
commitment…that this position entails exactly what you're looking to do and
what you do extremely well. As for your future, you believe that if you
perform each job at hand with excellence, future opportunities will take care
of themselves.
Example: "I am definitely interested in making a long-term commitment to my
next position. Judging by what you've told me about this position, it's
exactly what I'm looking for and what I am very well qualified to do. In terms
of my future career path, I'm confident that if I do my work with excellence,
opportunities will inevitable open up for me. It's always been that way in my
career, and I'm confident I'll have similar opportunities here."
Q:Why do you want to work at our company?
Tips:
This question is your opportunity to hit the ball out of the park, thanks
to the in-depth research you should do before any interview.
Best sources for researching your target company: annual reports, the
corporate newsletter, contacts you know at the company or its suppliers,
advertisements, articles about the company in the trade press.
QWhy did you leave your last job?
Tips:
Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major problem
with management and never speak ill of supervisors, co-workers or the
organization. If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep smiling and
talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an opportunity, a chance to
do something special or other forward-looking reasons. Latest Answer: I prefer
an organisation where i can contribute and my contribution are recognized and
appreciated....
Nancy Pahuja
HR Executive (MBA,BBA)
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