20/12/2023, 02:00 56 HR Interview Questions And Answers Asked Frequently

JOBS INTERVIEW ADVICE CAREER ADVICE SALARY WRIT

56 HR Interview Questions And

Answers Asked Frequently
Geetanjali | HR Interview Questions & Answers | 29 Jun 2023

Ever faced an HR interview before? In case you haven’t, I am sure

that you might face one soon enough.

In order to help you prepare, we have curated this blog which

covers some of the most frequently asked HR interview questions
and answers.

1. Tell me something about yourself in brief

2. Describe who you are? or Tell me about your background.

3. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

4. You have not done your PG yet. This is not a drawback, but
don’t you think you should get a PG degree asap?

5. You have changed jobs/jumped ship too many times

already, why so?

6. What are your strong points? or What are your strengths?

7. What is your greatest fear?

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8. If I call up your current or previous reporting manager now,

what will be their opinion about you? What will they say
that you need to work on?

9. Do you have any serious medical issues?

10. Did you ever have a conflict with your current/previous

boss or professor?

11. What do your friends/co-workers say about you?

12. What did you do in the last year to improve your

knowledge?

13. Explain the difference between group and team. Are you a
team player?

14. What is your ideal company or workplace?

15. Have you ever had to fire anyone? How did you feel about
that?

16. What is the most difficult thing that you’ve ever

accomplished? or What is the most difficult thing you have
ever done?

17. What is the difference between hard work and smart work?

18. How do you feel about working weekends and night shifts?

19. Where do you see yourself 3 years from now? or Where do

you see yourself in 5 years?

20. Give an example of a time you had to respond to an

unhappy manager/ customer/ colleague/ professor/ friend.

21. How quickly do you adapt to new technology?

22. What software packages are you familiar with?

23. On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate yourself as a

leader?

24. What makes you angry?

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25. Are you open to take risks? or Do you like experimenting?
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26. What are your future goals? Tell me about your short term
and long-term goals.

27. What motivates you?

28. What are your hobbies? or What are you passionate about?

29. What are your biggest achievements till date?

30. What are you most proud of?

31. What has been your greatest failure?

32. What do you always regret? or Do you have any regrets?

33. How do you respond to change?

34. Are you demanding as a boss?

35. Are you an organized person?

36. Can you describe your time management skills?

37. What’s your absenteeism record like?

38. Are you reliable? or Can I trust you with responsibilities?

39. What are the three things that are most important for you
in a job?

40. What was the toughest decision you ever had to make?

41. If you won a Rs.10-crore lottery, would you still work?

42. Give me an example of your creativity.

43. What makes you happy?

44. How do you work under pressure? Can you handle the
pressure?

45. Are you willing to relocate or travel?

46. What do you know about us or our company?

47. How long do you think you will work for us after we hire
you?
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48. Are you applying for other jobs? Do you have any other
offer in hand?

49. Why do you want to work for us or our company? or Why

do you want this job?

50. Do you know anyone who works for us?

51. Why should we hire you? or Why should I hire you?

52. What are your salary expectations?

53. Do you have a good work ethic?

54. How do you deal with feedback and criticism?

55. Why do you want to leave your current job?

56. Your interview is more or less coming to an end when the

interviewer asks you, “Do you have any questions for me?”

The job selection process, especially in India, comprises of the

following rounds.

1. A written test

2. A group discussion

3. Personal interview with a panel

4. Technical/Role-specific interview (this might take place

before the personal interview sometimes)

5. HR interview

Once the first four rounds are done, your HR round comes into the
picture.

As a candidate, here you are supposed to give a brief introduction,

answer a few HR interview questions and answers about your job
role or career and in the end, discuss salary, perks, benefits,
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deductions, company rules and regulations, conditions etc., with

the HR.

Getting nervous is perfectly human, but how to ensure that the

answers that you are about to give are smart enough and will lead
to selection?

To help you, we have gathered some of the most frequently asked

HR round questions and answers (with multiple versions).

You can also check out specific list of interview questions and
answers for freshers.

Also, see how to get a job as a fresher.

Related: Questions to ask in an interview

Also Read: 7 Lies Employers Tell Employees and How to Spot

Them

Go through this blog thoroughly to prepare for HR interview

questions and answers confidently.

Note: Please make sure that you talk about relevant skills and
certifications, wherever needed.

Tell me something about yourself

in brief
This is one of the most frequently asked questions during an HR
round interview.

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Your answer has to be short, crisp and to the point. Here are some
possible high-impact answers to help you leave a great impression.

Here are some possible high-impact answers to help you leave a

great impression.

Possible Answer #1:

“Thank you, Sir/Ma’am for this opportunity. I am from
XYZ City and belong to a nuclear family.

My father is a Central Government Employee and my

mother is a Vice Principal at a private school.

My younger sister will appear her CBSE 10 board this

year.

We are a very close-knit family. On an individual front, I

perceive myself as a confident, conscientious and
hardworking individual.

I carry out any task assigned to me without hesitation,

provided the instructions are clear. In the case of doubts, I
never hesitate to put forth my questions.

I have always been a fast learner, and I love to keep up my

process of learning to figure out better ways of solving
problems.

Moreover, I love to compete with my own past

performances than competing with my peers, as I believe
that improvement is always better than perfection!”

Don’t make the mistake of sharing too much personal information

in any of your HR interview questions and answers round.

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You will not be left with enough time to sell your experience and
relevant technical skills.

Possible Answer #2:

“Well, I am a confident, hardworking and a very
professional individual.

I have always carried out all the tasks assigned to me

without hesitation, provided the instructions from my
Reporting Managers or seniors were clear.

I have also been a good mentor to my juniors and never

hesitate to guide them.

On the other hand, I am a creative person and I love to test

my boundaries.

In order to do so, I keep pushing myself to think out of the

box!”

This is another version of frequently asked HR Interview questions

and answers, for the same question.

Possible Answer #3:

“I’m a management consultant with 12 years’ of
experience that I have gained across multiple industries
and sectors such as financial services, IT, Telecom, retail,
and media.

In my current job role, I am responsible for business

development activities.

In the last financial year alone, I sold projects totaling

INR 40,00,000 to clients.

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On a daily basis, I handle a 10-member strong team of

consultants and junior consultants.

Besides being a management consultant, I am a fair and

independent individual.

I try not to be judgmental and always absorb constructive

criticism, listen to my boss' inputs, my client's complaints
as well as address my team members' issues, to my best
possible abilities.”

Read more answers here.

Also read: Self-introduction for interview

Describe who you are or Tell me

about your background
In a job interview, you can be asked to describe who you are,
Describe yourself in one word or Describe yourself in 3 words, but
all such questions essentially mean that you talk about your skills
and qualities.

In an HR round, you will surely face this question among all other
HR interview questions and answers asked to you, and I am sure
you treat it as the easiest of all questions.

Well, it’s not!

Never underestimate the possibility of scoring better points with a

crisp answer, if you feel confident.

It can become a fate-changer for applicants having fewer than 5

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If your degree is obviously related to the job you’re interviewing

for, you can give this answer.

Possible Answer #1:

“I am a B. Tech in Computer Science/B. Com in Economics.
I also have an MBA or I have completed a certification
course in Digital Marketing from ABC Academy.

What else would you like to know?”

In case your degree is not as relevant as it should have been, but

you feel that you have the potential to shine through, you can give
this answer.

This is a useful tip for HR interview questions and answers.

Possible Answer #2:

“I have worked on an independent project work with 2
other students on Soft Skills.

I have also participated in several paper presentations on

Business Communication.”

Do not forget to talk about your major subject in your UG/PG at

the University and also about subjects/papers, that are relevant to
the job, that you have applied for.

Possible Answer #3:

“I have scored an A in Professional and Technical Written
Communication in English, in my first semester. Here’s
my marksheet.”

Here you will expect a new HR interview question, and the answer
to this one will be more relevant to your education. Looking for a job?
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In case there is an odd pause, start talking about cocurricular

activities that you are good at.

For example, you can say this.

Possible Answer #4:

“I am a music enthusiast and a beginner level guitarist. I
love to jam with my 4-member band every weekend at my
place.”

Such an answer will add a light mood to the interview and make
things more positive.

Professionals can also cite the above answer and highlight certain
awards and accolades which they have earned during their
school/college or university years.

Possible Answer #5:

“I was a good orator and always stood first in debate and
elocution competitions during my school and college
days.”

Read more answers here.

What are your strengths and

weaknesses?
This is a very common question asked by HR personnel to
candidates.

Remember that interviewers these days hardly ever get impressed

by flowery responses.
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So be careful while tackling this one.

Possible Answer #1:

“I have several strengths namely – I am patient,
committed, honest and self-motivated.

I am the biggest dreamer I have ever come across! I

forgive easily and hate to keep grudges in my heart.

My greatest weakness is that I don't like getting

interrupted when I am seriously into something.

Another one of my weaknesses is that I trust people very

easily.

As I already said, I am a very patient person, so I am

actively working on this lacuna.”

Possible Answer #2:

“I am impatient which is the reason why I am a quick
learner.

But I honestly believe that being impatient is a real

weakness.

I expect my team members to prove themselves and start

delivering on the very first assignment.

In case a particular resource fails, I have a tendency to

stop delegating work to them and pick up projects on my
own.

I am working on this attitude and in my previous

organizations, my peers helped me cope up with this to a
great extent.

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To compensate for my own weakness, I prep my people

about my exact expectations.

Then I give them a complete scope of the assignment

followed by various “checkpoint” dates, where they can
update me about their progress, with a demo/presentation
if applicable.

In my previous job as a Project Manager, I was handling

a 15-member team of both individual contributors and
business managers like lawyers, Web Designers, Graphic
Designers, SEO/SEM Consultants, Editors, Writers and
Callers.

I used to break the entire task down into manageable

chunks for each employee, followed by stringent timelines
about when they would circle back to me.

This process worked brilliantly, helped me stay within the

assigned budget and helped everyone achieve their
individual targets, as they learnt.”

Tip: In your HR interview questions and answers round, avoid

confusing answers such as this one. It might spark a war of
words. Instead of this, you need to highlight a skill-set which you
feel has scope for improvement. Remember to summarize what
you have been doing to improve the same. The takeaway here is
that your HR round interviewer is not interested to know about
your weakness. Rather s/he is interested to see how well you
handle the situation!

Possible Answer #3:

“I am a perfectionist and that is my main weakness, which
I also think is my strength.”
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Read more answers here.

You have not done your PG yet.

This is not a drawback, but don’t
you think you should get a PG
degree asap?
Other variations of this question are as follows:

Do you want to complete your Masters/Post Graduation in

near future?

Do you aspire to pursue higher studies?

Don’t fall into the interviewer’s trap. This question is shot at you to
check your confidence level.

So, do not feel unarmed or look surprised. Keep your calm and
answer smartly with a strong and indestructible logic.

Possible Answer #1:

“As soon as I graduated, I felt the urge to start working in
the real world. It’s not that I am a total novice.

I have undergone 3 internships, of which 2 are paid from

reputed organizations.

This credential has helped me land an offer from one of

those firms.

I sometimes wonder whether I should have first completed

my post-graduation.

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Had I done so, I wouldn’t have been able to develop my

complete portfolio.

And I am hoping that my track record will help me get

selected for this position in your esteemed organization.”

Possible Answer #2:

“Having a PG degree is important, but I don’t think it is
mandatory.

Most job seekers out there have similar degrees. In order

to differentiate, a PG degree from a reputed university
along with the total experience can obviously help me
stand out.

I am aware of this and as soon as I get a call from any

university about an executive program with weekend
classes, I will surely enroll for the same.

As of now, I have a lot of responsibilities back home, which

is why I don’t think it will be wise on my part to enroll
myself into a full-time PG program.”

You have changed jobs/jumped

ship too many times already, why
so?
This question is asked exclusively to experienced professionals
who have switched jobs more than two times in their entire career.
Freshers can skip to the next question.

Possible Answer #1:

“You may label me a ‘frequent career-changer’ but I
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genuinely feel that today I am a far better employee.
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My switches have helped me develop better interpersonal

skills, gain diverse skills and adapt to rapidly changing
business environments.

I can solve problems more efficiently and creatively, as I

have learned to live with ambiguity and uncertainty. My
first job helped me develop patience.

My second job helped me master spreadsheets and

numbers.

My third job helped me develop better people skills and

also adjust amidst culturally diverse and geographically
dispersed teams.

All in all, I feel that my varied background makes me an

ideal candidate for this job role today.”

Possible Answer #2:

“I never expected to work with so many companies in
these few years.

The companies that I worked for were small and one of

them was going through a really bad patch.

But honestly, my journey has been a rewarding one. I can

now confidently walk into a new situation and
successfully figure out ways to make a difference.

This was truly meant to happen and I wouldn’t exchange

all the experience I’ve gained from my switches, for
anything!

But I am seriously looking forward to not having to do

this, any more in the near future.

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I want to make a stint that lasts for 5 to 10 years with a

reputed organization, such as yours.

This will make my career a stable and a fruitful one in the

long run.”

Read more answers here.

What are your strong points? or

What are your strengths?
Don’t just talk about your strengths, your interviewer genuinely
wants to know about your strong points.

Possible Answer #1:

“I am passionate towards my work and also a good
listener, which means, I take my instructions seriously.

I am not a person who leaves things midway. I never lose

focus, even if I am under stress or have stringent deadlines
to meet.

I like to finish every single task on my to-do list

completely.

Optimism, energy and my ability to learn quickly let me

hit the ground and rapidly solve problems.

I also have good communication skills which means I can

deal fairly well with my business clients as well as with the
members of my internal team, in the future.

Based on my skills, abilities, and experience, I know I

would be a great addition to the team.”
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 Possible Answer #2:
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“I have the requisite skills to make your risk worth it.

Chatting less and letting my work do the talking, is my
motto.

In the past, whatever project was assigned to me was

delivered on time and also at par with all the quality
standards.”

Possible Answer #3:

“I’ve been told that I’m a very good manager.

My team tells me that I give them a lot of freedom in how

to do their work, which they really appreciate.

They also say that I’m really enthusiastic, so when we’re

faced with too much work, they tell me that my manner
really helps to keep them motivated and calm.

My boss also tells me that I’m very innovative in terms of

finding new ways of working that cut out inefficiency.”

What is your greatest fear?

Remember that this is a stress test question.

Don’t simply talk about your weaknesses, your interviewer

genuinely wants you to talk about your loopholes!

Try to resist the urge to give him/her more points to reject you.
Answer diplomatically.

Possible Answer #1:

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“You might think that since I have never worked in my life,

and this is only my first job, my inexperience is my
weakness.

But I beg to differ. I am a fast learner and very open

minded.

I assure that I do not carry any pre-conceived notions

regarding how I feel I should perform my job.”

Possible Answer #2:

“I work too hard sometimes and care too much about my
work. I take my tasks back home and work even during
the weekends.

You can call me a workaholic, but my family always

points out that this is not right.

Slowly and steadily I am realizing that speed and working

smartly are the key.

So, I have begun to reach out to my colleagues for ready-

to-use workarounds so that I can give more time to my
family.”

If I call up your current or

previous reporting manager now,
what will be their opinion about
you? What will they say that you
need to work on?
Freshers with no internship experience can move on to the next
Looking for a job?
question to prepare for HR interview questions and answers.

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 Possible Answer #1:
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“I used to get nervous while speaking in front of large

groups. You can say that I had stage-fear, and I believe
that I still do.

This is partly because I am shy by nature. No wonder that

I have been always assigned Individual Contributor roles.

My current manager might cite this as one of my

weaknesses, and he has actually helped me to overcome
my shyness.

Thanks to him, today I am an active member of

Toastmasters International and my journey with them has
been great so far!

I am working to improve my public speaking, and

leadership skills and I am sure my future employer will
witness a blatant change in me.”

Possible Answer #2:

“Interesting. During my last performance review, my boss
did not list any areas of improvement and gave me an
outstanding rating.

However, if I were to think of one, I would guess that I

need to speak up more during meetings.

I always have good ideas and contribute my thoughts to

my current project.

But I discuss these ideas with my boss and let him do all
the talking during meetings.

I should work on speaking up more during brainstorming

sessions.” Looking for a job?
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 Do you have any serious medical
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issues?
Note: Please make sure that you talk about relevant health
conditions, wherever needed while having a discussion during
your HR interview questions and answers round.

A “serious health condition” generally includes pregnancy or any

chronic disease such as epilepsy and cancer.

If you do not have any of the above, do not give out too many
details about your illness.

For example, if you are suffering from cold flu, say so.

Do not exaggerate the situation as it might create a negative

impression wherein your HR will start to anticipate your absence
in the near future.

If you do so, you might bid goodbye to goodies such as travel

opportunities, promotions, hikes and even ripe leadership
positions.

It is permissible for your future employer to question you. Some

might ask you to get a complete medical check-up done and
submit the report during joining.

While giving out the answer, be brief and summarize the health
condition in a few short sentences.

Possible Answer #1:

“I am partially color blind. Sometimes I face difficulty in
distinguishing between colors.
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For example, I cannot see shades or tones of the same

color.

But for your information, no adjustments would be

required on your part to accommodate this minor
disability.

As you can see from my resume, it does not have any

impact on my ability to get the job done.”

Possible Answer #2:

“I do not have severe health issues, but I do have a
migraine issue.

I have never disclosed my condition on a job interview

before or on a pre-employment health questionnaire, as I
was afraid that it might jeopardize my career.

But I am undergoing both acute (abortive) and preventive

(prophylactic) therapies and most of my colleagues know
about it.

The situation is completely under control and I have been

almost cured.”

Possible Answer #3:

“I do not have any serious medical issues.”

Did you ever have a conflict with

your current/previous boss or
professor?
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“Recently I had a disagreement with one of my professors

about a question that was out of syllabus in one of the
semester exams.

It was not a major one, but yes I will label it a ‘conflict’.

Most of my friends and peers did not attempt this question

due to ambiguity.

When I brought the cause into my professor’s notice in

private, he remained cold and unconcerned.

So, I and my batchmates had a discussion following

which, we went to him together.

At that point, our professor agreed that the question was

ambiguous, but he refused to give us grace marks for the
same.

I felt disappointed because he did not appreciate the fact

that I brought the situation earlier, into his notice in
private.

Besides, he did not suggest an alternative paper or project

work, with which students could make up for the lost
marks.”

Possible Answer #2:

“I was managing the creation of our new company
presentation, flyers, standees, brochure, and emailers.

My team had to meet a very tight deadline because

everything had to be delivered on time.

I was in charge of the deliverables and had to manage all

my team members which included marketing, sales,
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My designer was very talented, but he, unfortunately,

missed a deadline.

When I approached him about the same, he started bad-

mouthing me.

I was taken aback but explained my reasoning again.

Eventually, we decided to speak to our AVP about how

important and time-consuming this project was.

The AVP agreed and ended up assigning other designing

projects to another graphic designer.

This took pressure off my team and then we focused on

our priority.

Later my designer apologized for the blow-up and his

behavior. He also thanked me for my help.”

What do your friends/co-workers

say about you?
Possible Answer #1:
“I recently completed my internship at Tata Steel Ltd.,
Tata Center, Kolkata.

My project lead told me that in the beginning, I was a little

lost, but by the end of the summer internship program, she
knew that she could count on me.”

Possible Answer #2:

“Since I like to build strong professional relationships with
my teammates, most of them have become great friends.
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We have been spending eight hours a day, five days a

week for several years now.

So, I am sure that whatever they say, will be realistic and

not made up.

One thing that they will surely mention about me is my

love for food! The rest is up to you to find out.”

What did you do in the last year to

improve your knowledge?
Possible Answer #1:
“In 2016, I was in the final year of college. During that
time, I did three things to improve my knowledge.

1. I got myself enrolled in Aptech for the Sun Certified

Java Programmer course. I will appear my exam
soon.

2. I have bought magazine subscriptions such as

Dataquest. These magazines help me to stay well
informed about new topics in the IT world.

3. I completed my final year application project based

on Java. The topic was Centralized Remote Based
College Information Scheme.”

Possible Answer #2:

“Being an L3 or senior level Windows/Linux
Administrator I have mastered my virtualization
experience on VMware, KVM, Xen, Hyper-V etc.
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I made sure to understand storage and networking better

last year.

I picked up PERL scripting last month and plan to pick up

Ruby and Python in the next 3 months.

I am also a beginner level programmer as I learnt C++.

I mastered Chef on job and have deployed Amazon AWS to

understand cloud better.

I also earned my Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE)

license and I am targeting RHCA by the end of 2017.”

Note: Remember, certification is the key to land a job in an IT

firm. So, get certified asap in your core skills.

Explain the difference between

group and team. Are you a team
player?
Possible Answer #1:
“Yes I am. During my summer internship at Cadence, me
and my friends were working together.

Ours was a mixed group with varied skills and we

produced results which would have been impossible to
produce individually.

I had to keep all my communication channels open at all

times to ensure that the project stayed on track.

I was responsible for my part of the code and also for the
collective delivery of the entire project.
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I worked closely with senior key team members to keep

my deliverables on track.

In the end, I was able to deliver on time and within

budget.”

Possible Answer #2:

“Yes, I am. Though I am currently in an IC (individual
contributor) role, I like working with others as personally,
I am social and outgoing.

I like to nurture and build team spirit. At least once a

month we go for team lunch or host team parties and
generally, I am in charge of the fiancés from the pool fund.

In case there is no budget left in some month, I ensure a

potluck lunch.

Being a senior in the team, I keep my eyes and ears open

to understand the needs of all the others, especially my
juniors and freshers.

We help each other focus on what really matters, instead

of getting bogged down with irrelevant pressure.

My strong communication skills help me coordinate

between different team members and resolve further
issues.”

Read more answers here.

What is your ideal company or

workplace?
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“My ideal workplace or company is a fair one that values

my contributions even as a fresher and encourages me to
speak up and share my ideas.

It is a place where I can be myself, while working towards

a greater goal.”

Possible Answer #2:

“My ideal company is the one which can bring forth
exciting challenges. Such opportunities will bring out the
best in me as I can use my interests and experiences to
grow.

I like my present workplace as it offers all this along with

a clean and professional work atmosphere, and more.

But I am looking forward to a company that is actively

involved in social welfare, and your organization does
exactly that.”

Have you ever had to fire anyone?

How did you feel about that?
This question is not applicable to first-time job seekers who are
about to face a round of HR interview questions and answers.

You can skip to the next question if you are a fresher.

Mostly manager and above level interview candidates are asked

this question.

Possible Answer:
“Yes, I have and believe me it feels horrible. But I know
Looking for a job?
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Firing comes at the very end of road with me.

When I set up a team, I do so very carefully after

considering the past feedback and history of every single
team member.

But it is not always possible to choose your team.

Sometimes, you have to work with a few rotten potatoes

and it is essential to remove them from the basket, to save
the rest.

I have a tendency to spot poor performers within two to

three months of them or me joining a new team.

Last time I spotted one, I consulted my peers and other

team members.

Then, I had to set up a one-on-one meeting with the person

and gave him several warnings, both written and verbal,
over a 30-day period.

I helped him prepare a list of work and behavioral goals,

that I decided upon after consulting the rest of the team.

Eventually I had to fire that person because he showed

zero signs of improvement, drive and motivation.

That firing was for a cause and I had no other resort left
in my rule book.”

What is the most difficult thing

that you’ve ever accomplished?
or What is the most difficult thing
you have ever done? Looking for a job?
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 Possible Answer #1:
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“I have never been a great public speaker. The very

thought of facing a crowd used to make me nervous.

When I started college, my best friend advised me that I

had to get over this roadblock to shine through.

So, last year, I took the bold step of trying my hand at

public speaking. I joined the Debate Club in my college.

Since then, I have participated in multiple contests.

Initially, I stammered, forgot my lines, dropped the

microphone once due to my sweaty palms and even got
booed at or scolded by the judges.

Yet, I kept on participating. Last month, for the very first

time in a year, I won the third prize.

It was a great boost to my self-confidence.

I believe that it is my greatest feat so far, even bigger than

my AIEEE rank.”

Possible Answer #2:

“I have helped my father set up his business from scratch.
This is our family business and a startup as well.

The initial days were really very tough as I had to learn

and apply everything at once.

Be it sales, marketing, leadership, management, finance,

finance, human resources etc.

I became a jack of all trades overnight. It was really

difficult to running and grow the business.
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Nothing was so difficult or stressful as this one, midway I

even slipped into depression and anxiety.

I even made up my mind to quit my job and focus entirely

on my father’s dream, but thankfully the business took of
due to our collective efforts.

Today, I am free to focus on my career once again, and do

what I love the most.

The accomplishment bit here is that I feel whole and

complete, as my family business is running smoothly and
my career is undisturbed.”

What is the difference between

hard work and smart work?
Possible Answer #1:
“Hard work is what every breadwinner does today,
including a rickshaw puller or a daily wager.

Smart work is what the educated masses like us are

supposed to do, and some of us are actually doing it, like
my father.

A well-balanced combination of both hard work and

smart work is the secret formula to success.

I have friends who study all through the year and yet have
10 back papers to clear.

They do not have any interview calls in their kitty, and

what do you think is the reason behind this?

It is their lack of understanding about smart work.

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All year through, they were only working hard, but not
smartly.

They did not prioritize their goals properly.

Again, there’s me, I do not have any back papers and have
a decent CGPA. I am also attending this interview today.

Whatever might be the outcome, I feel I have prioritized

my goals correctly and have worked both hard and smart.

That is the difference between hard work and smart

work.”

Possible Answer #2:

“Hard work is delivering work on time with more effort
and smart work is delivering work on time, with lesser
effort.

I feel that is the basic difference.

Most of the times, in the corporate world, I feel a

combination of both is needed to attain excellence.”

Read more answers here.

How do you feel about working

weekends and night shifts?
Possible Answer #1:
“I am a fresher and I hardly have any exposure of the
corporate world.

Back in college, weekends were no different from

weekdays for us. Looking for a job?
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The assignments, tasks and projects had to be submitted

within deadlines, and to do so, we would study during the
weekdays.

As far as night shifts are concerned, I would like to say

that I am a nocturnal person and I like to do my studies
generally at night.

I have no issues working during weekends and at night,

provided I get enough compensatory offs to relax and
wind down.”

Possible Answer #2:

“Sir, my body clock has got tuned into regular weekday
shifts from 9 to 6.

I am not comfortable working nights and weekends on a

regular basis, unless there is some urgent deliverable or a
resource crunch in the team, I will surely pitch in.

But working odd shifts is not good for the mental and
physical health of employees and I hope you understand
the same.

Yet, if the company needs my presence mandatorily at

night or during the weekend for continued growth and
success, I will definitely work for it.”

Where do you see yourself 3

years from now? or Where do you
see yourself in 5 years?
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“My current goal is to find a career spot that ensures

continued growth alongside new challenges daily.

3 years from now, I see myself as an experienced and

reliable senior in the team and 5 years from now, I assume
that I will be ready to take up managerial responsibilities
like product strategy.

I want to have a stable career in a single organization and

hope I will get the same wherever I start.”

Possible Answer #2:

“I see myself working for a reputed organization, at a
strategic position with budgeting power, good
remuneration, and minimal interference.”

Read more answers here.

Give an example of a time you

had to respond to an unhappy
manager/ customer/ colleague/
professor/ friend.
Possible Answer #1:
“Personally, I am not too fond of conflicts. I don’t like it
when people are mean, so I try to avoid conflicts and
tongue-lashing as far as possible.

In case such a situation arises, I let my seniors or

professors handle it.

I cannot recollect the exact situation right now, but that’s

what I have done in the past.” Looking for a job?
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“In my previous job, a client was yelling on the phone. I

understand that his reaction was completely out of
frustration.

So instead of taking it personally, I tried to calm him done,

and ensured that his concern was well heard. How did I
do it?

Well, I listened to him carefully and apologized once he

finished. It ended up being a win-win situation for
everyone.”

How quickly do you adapt to new

technology?
Possible Answer #1:
“I can adapt quickly to new circumstances.

Since I am clear about my job role and I am mentally

prepared to take up challenges, I feel I have the capacity to
learn fast and apply my new knowledge.

During my student life, I had to clear new papers and

projects in every semester and thoroughly enjoyed doing
it.

Similarly, I will enjoy picking up new technologies in my

professional life as well.”

Possible Answer #2:

“Being a Bigdata Engineer working on game analytics
engine, which is in itself a completely new field, I have a
great track record of adapting to new technologies.Looking for a job?

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I have picked up and implemented restful cloud

application which can extract data from MongoDB or
Aerospike and processes this data in Spark.

The application I built takes SQL query inputs to process

and generate output in a JSON, PSV, TDE format Same is
published on a tableau server and further uploaded into
the AWS S3 buckets.

In order to build this API, I mastered Java/Scala Drop

wizard, Spark, MongoDB, Aerospike, SQL, Tableau SDK,
YAML, Maven, and SBT in just 1 year.

Whatever may be the case, the core requirements of my

job role are constant. I AM a Hadoop/Spark Engineer.

Yes, it does take me some time to forge positive working

relationships with new colleagues, but when it comes to
technology, I am always the front runner.”

Also read: 12 Technical Skills in demand

What software packages are you

familiar with?
Make sure you know each of your skills thoroughly. In case you
don’t know a particular software package or a terminology, please
do not talk about it in front of the interviewer.

(Keep this important tip in mind while preparing for HR interview

questions and answers).

Possible Answer #1:

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“I am proficient in Operating Systems like Windows and

Linux. I am familiar with Microsoft Word, Excel and
PowerPoint from the Microsoft Office Suite.

I am also familiar with regular web Browsers, Photoshop

and AutoCAD.”

Possible Answer #2:

“Among the Operating Systems, I am proficient in
Windows NT, Windows XP, Windows ME, Mac 0SX,
Windows 2000, Mac OS 8.6, Solaris, Mac 0S9, UNIX,
Linux, AIX, Sun OS, OS/2, DOS, FreeBSD, Novell 4.0,
Exchange 5.5, etc.

Among software solutions, I am proficient in Microsoft

Office Suite, IE, Outlook Express, Lotus 1-2-3, IBM Notes,
etc.

I also have good knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, Corel

Draw Pro, Adobe Illustrator, Studio, FileMaker Pro,
MySQL, SQL Server, SQL 6.5 & 7.0, Enterprise Manager,
EZ-SQL, Net Objects Fusion, Vignette, Broad Vision, etc.

The remaining have been listed in my resume. Please have

a look.”

On a scale of 1 to 10 how would

you rate yourself as a leader?
HR interview questions and answers are a way of testing you in
and out. The HR interviewer may ask you this question to gauge
your self-confidence.

Possible Answer #1: Looking for a job?

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“I rate my leadership skills an 8 out of 10. There is much to

learn, but I have always been a strong leader.

I was the head boy/girl during my school days and in the

college, I was a Senior Wing NCC Cadet.

I have completed my C-certificate and have earned lots of

badges in several NCC camps.

I have led the Senior Boys/Girls contingent at the Republic

Day Camp in 2012 as well.”

Possible Answer #2:

“I am a good leader. That is the reason why today, I
manage a 5-member strong team independently in an
MNC.

While assigning tasks, I consider people skills often.

If a team member is feeling demotivated, I try my level

best to understand them and accordingly control the
situation.

Bearing my performance as a Manager over the past few

years, I would rate myself an 8.5/10, as there is still a lot
of scope to learn and grow.”

What makes you angry?

Possible Answer #1:
“I get angry when I get falsely accused of something that I
did not do.

Lack of order and discipline also irritates me, but 4 years

Looking
of hostel life have taught me to cope and adjust with other for a job?
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people.”

Possible Answer #2:

“In a team, there are times when I and some of my peers
work hard to achieve a goal, while there are some people
who leave their modules incomplete or quit mid-way.

At such a juncture, this load also gets assigned to us, the

hardworking lot.

I don’t mind helping my peers out, but when an extra load

of work gets assigned to me in the 11th hour, I get irritated.

Sometimes, when I know that I cannot do justice to this

new module, I politely refuse to take it up.”

Are you open to take risks? or Do

you like experimenting?
Possible Answer #1:
“It is always good to venture into new waters and new
technologies.

I am a very adaptive person and my diligence helps me

pick up new stuff quickly.

Experimenting or taking risks can yield both good and

bad results, but the exercise in itself is a great learning
experience.

Such experiences generate experts and I want to become

an SME or a JAVA subject matter expert someday.”

Possible Answer #2: Looking for a job?

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“This is a good question and a complex one. My answer

would be both a No and a Yes.

Personally, I like to experiment with new things, but I keep

all my past mistakes in mind before taking a shot at a
brand-new project.

For example, carpentry is my hobby and I love to build

small furniture pieces with my new toolkit, which was a
gift from my brother.

But I will never venture into a complete home renovation

project with that little kit!

What I mean to say is that baby steps are fine, but I will
not jump off a cliff at once.”

What are your future goals? Tell

me about your short term and
long-term goals.
Possible Answer #1:
“My short-term goal is to join a reputed company, like
yours, where my job role would allow me to apply my
knowledge and key strengths.

I want to get recognized for my contribution to the

company in the long-run.”

Possible Answer #2:

“I’ve picked up Marketing Automation basics during my
first job, which lasted for two years.

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Now I am prepared to take up a bigger and more

challenging project.

I want to see myself as a marketing analyst in the next

two years, that would be my short-term goal.

Following which, I would see myself as an end-to-end

Digital Marketing Strategist or a Manager in the long
run.”

What motivates you?

Possible Answer #1:
“I love public speaking.

Preparing a presentation and talking about it in front of

an audience, and then getting back to them with answers
in the question and answer round, motivates me!

The whole experience is so thrilling.

As a Sales Rep, I think building a connection with my

audience is useful, inspiring and exciting.”

Possible Answer #2:

“Meeting the set target within an assigned deadline
motivates me the most.

When I do so, I get a sense of accomplishment and

fulfillment.

When this is coupled with an award, I feel all the more

motivated.

All in all, I like to achieve milestones, so that I can look

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back at them and say to myself, ‘Yes, that was my
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achievement.’ Visible results also motivate me.”

What are your hobbies? or What

are you passionate about?
You can talk about your own passion here. This is a commonly
asked question in all ‘HR interview questions and answers’ lists.

Possible Answer #1:

“I am passionate about painting. I have been a painter all
along, ever since my childhood.

Even today, I take advanced art classes during the

weekends.

The whole exercise of beautifying a blank canvas with

colors relaxes me. It is my way of unwinding.”

Possible Answer #2:

“I’m passionate about cooking. I love to stir up a new dish
or experiment with a new recipe every now and then.

Every weekend, my friends come over to my place to try

out a new dish.

I maintain a journal where I jot down all my kitchen

quests.

I might publish it as a guide for home cooks, but that will

have to wait until I develop and write down at least a
1000 final recipes.”

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What are your biggest

achievements till date?
Possible Answer #1:
“Becoming the Champion with 4 first prizes at the 25th
Zonal Sports Meet is my biggest achievement till date.”

Possible Answer #2:

“Till date, I have accomplished several goals and
milestones in my career as an app developer.

The one that rings a bell is the latest version update on a

core product of my current organization for customer
profiling and payments.

We had been slogging on this version update for 12

months at a stretch and I was a core team member.

My team made me their team lead during the last 6

months and at that time, we were working on the mobile
components of the product.

To meet the deadline, I brought in 5 more resources, who

had expertise in certain technologies, which were crucial
for the pending modules.

After the deployment of each of the component, all of us

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cross-trained to support all the platforms proficiently.
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In the end, we were able to deliver the project within time

and budget constraints.

Our CEO was highly impressed and all of us were also

awarded at the quarterly town hall in December.

Would you like to take a look at the Android version of our

product?”

What are you most proud of?

Possible Answer #1:
“It is yet to come. The day I land my first job in a reputed
company such as yours, will be my proudest achievement.
That moment is still pending.”

Possible Answer #2:

“I am very proud of how I helped ABC company set up
successful sales funnel by satisfying 60,000 hyper-
responsive customers.

I even won a ‘Best Performer’ award and 100% incentive

payout for the same.”

What has been your greatest

failure?
Possible Answer #1:
“I could not secure a perfect 100/100 in my Math paper in
12th Standard, despite my hard work.

That is my greatest failure till date.”

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“Last year, we wanted to improve sales by 50% but

achieved just 35% which was a huge letdown, even if there
was a huge boost to our ROI.

The underlying issue was that I was on a holiday and my

entire team took this last big deal for granted.

They are all star performers, but I don’t know why they
took this sure shot deal so lightly.

We had built a great rapport with this client over a period

of 3 months and the deal had almost been wrapped up.

That was a huge failure in the recent past for me.

Eventually, the deal slipped out of our hands and

impacted the overall sales percentage.”

Read more answers here.

What do you always regret? or Do

you have any regrets?
Possible Answer #1:
“I still regret turning down the position offered to me at
XYZ company last year.

I have gained good experience in my present organization.

But it’s good that I turned it down, otherwise, I wouldn’t

have been promoted and become a Manager.

Neither I would have got the opportunity to interview with

your esteemed organization today!” Looking for a job?
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 How do you respond to change?
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Possible Answer #1:

“I am patient, persistent, practical, and always positive.
This helps me cope up with change smartly.”

Possible Answer #2:

“I try to stay focused on what I am and what I need. This
helps me respond to change effectively.”

Are you demanding as a boss?

Freshers may skip this question as it is not relevant to their set of
HR interview questions and answers.

Possible Answer #1:

“My demands as a boss are never unreal. If the workload
is huge and timelines are not negotiable with my seniors, I
do become a demanding boss.

Yet, as a manager, I always ensure that I help my team

members progress and grow on their individual career
paths.

If they are having hiccups or challenges along the way, I

delegate work accordingly to make their life easy, as well
as ensure project delivery on time.”

Are you an organized person?

Possible Answer #1:
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“Yes, I am quite organized. I keep all my documents,

certificates and files labeled and sorted.

The labels are such that I can retrieve anything that I need
instantly, in seconds. I also have a very clean desktop in
my computer.”

Possible Answer #2:

“Organization comes naturally to me.

My desk, folders, software files, clothes, kitchen and

everything else is always well arranged, sorted and neatly
kept.

Thanks to my spouse and mom for instilling this skill as a

habit in me.”

Can you describe your time

management skills?
Possible Answer #1:
“I make a to-do list with timelines and stick to this until
any further revision of schedule is announced. That’s how
I manage time.”

Possible Answer #2:

“I decide on the order of my task list and prioritize tasks
according to the instructions from my seniors.

I try to deliver urgent tasks first and then the remaining

ones.

In case the urgency part is unclear, I prioritize

Looking
complicated or time taking projects over the simpler andfor a job?

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smaller ones.

Throughout the process, I keep adapting and updating my

seniors to ensure that I am on track and my efforts are not
getting wasted.”

Also read: 15 powerful time management tips

What’s your absenteeism record

like?
This is rarely asked to professionals during interview discussions
pertaining to HR interview questions and answers.

Possible Answer #1:

“At college, we had an 85% attendance adherence rule. I
followed this rule all along.

If there are certain policies in the company pertaining to

an employee’s attendance, I will surely abide by them.”

Possible Answer #2:

“I value punctuality in my personal life. I am absent from
work, it is backed by either a prior notification or a valid
reason.

I follow all company rules and HR policies regarding

attendance and leave.

I do not encourage habitual evasion of work among my

team members as well.

Habitual absentees are warned by me and I also put the

Looking
work across to requisite authorities in case somebody is for a job?

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overtly disobedient.”

Are you reliable? or Can I trust

you with responsibilities?
Possible Answer #1:
“Yes, I am a reliable person. I like helping my friends and
family, whenever I get a chance. Be it an emotional boost
or a financial aid, I am always around for them.”

Possible Answer #2:

“Yes, I am not only reliable but also a very dependable
person. If a task is assigned to me, it will be dutifully
handled and completed within the stipulated deadline.”

What are the three things that are

most important for you in a job?
Possible Answer #1:
“Honesty, loyalty, and determination to achieve my team’s
target.”

Possible Answer #2:

“Professionalism, growth and a healthy work-life balance
are important.”

What was the toughest decision

you ever had to make?
Possible Answer #1: Looking for a job?
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“Choosing Engineering over Medical Science after 12th

was my toughest personal decision. But I think I have
made the right choice.”

Possible Answer #2:

“When I was asked to step in as a temporary team leader
for the first time, I still remember how I missed a couple of
key communications from the manager. This pushed our
deadlines back by 2 weeks. It was a great lesson and since
then, I always make it a point to focus on the big-picture,
instead of looking at smaller projects.”

If you won a Rs.10-crore lottery,

would you still work?
Possible Answer #1:
“Yes, I would still work, to build my career. As far as the
lottery money is concerned, I will buy a huge house for my
Mom and Dad.”

Possible Answer #2:

“The amount you quoted is not huge, considering the fact
that my spouse is a social worker! In order to sustain my
existence and my family’s welfare, I would still keep
working.”

Give me an example of your

creativity.
Possible Answer #1: Looking for a job?
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“I can’t exactly recollect. Since I am hoping to become a

software developer, I have to be creative at all times.
Writing code not only requires technical expertise and
logic but also creativity to a great extent. Only then the
solutions developed will be flexible and be
accommodating.”

Possible Answer #2:

“Recently, the company that I work for, inaugurated a
new store. On the day of the opening, the air conditioning
of the outlet failed.

In order to keep all the new customers comfortable, I

immediately cracked the idea of organizing a sidewalk
open-air sale! It was a life saver as the shop was super-hot
inside. This is an example of how resourceful and creative
I can be when the situation demands!”

What makes you happy?

Possible Answer #1:
“Success makes me happy. I also feel happy after
accomplishing my task or makes me happy achieving my
goals. Holidaying with my family also makes me happy!”

Possible Answer #2:

“Exercising energizes me and keeps me happy. I would say
that working out on a regular basis keeps me charged as it
keeps my mind and body healthy. I am not a work out
freak but I follow a healthy way of living.

After channelizing my extra energy in cardio, I feel

Looking
charged at work and tend to deliver better. Going on longfor a job?

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20/12/2023, 02:00 56 HR Interview Questions And Answers Asked Frequently

rides or weekend trips on my Royal Enfield cruiser bike,

also makes me feel happy.”

How do you work under

pressure? Can you handle the
pressure?
Possible Answer #1:
“Working under pressure is what I have done a lot during
my college days. I have realized that I can actually work
well under pressure.

It is the pressure factor that brings out maximum

efficiency in me.”

Possible Answer #2:

“I like to work under pressure. It brings out the best in me
as well as helps me grow. I learn faster and perform well
when I have a strict deadline, because I plan accordingly,
work in a more organized manner and also tend to finish
my tasks with more efficiency.

In my current job role, deadlines and ‘pressure situations’

are common, and I have grown immune to them.”

Are you willing to relocate or

travel?
Freshers, do not say ‘YES!’ at once. This will only show your
desperation to be a part of the company. Answer carefully like this.
(This is an important tip for your HR interview questions and
Looking for a job?
answers).
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 Possible Answer:
20/12/2023, 02:00 56 HR Interview Questions And Answers Asked Frequently

“I would definitely consider it. If the opportunity given to

me is appropriate, rewarding and feasible, I don’t think I
will have any issues with the relocation or traveling
involved.”

You need to understand the purpose of this question. Answer

correctly, as explained above.

What do you know about us or

our company?
Possible Answer #1:
“I’m a Blivkart customer myself. The company was
founded by Som and Bandit Vashisht. They previously
worked for Umazin.com, and then quit their jobs to start
their own firm in India. Today it is one of the fastest
growing companies in India and is all set to create new
records. It will be more than a privilege to get through
and join such a super talented team.”

Possible Answer #2:

“Yours is one of the fastest growing and leading IT firms
in India. Both your mission statement and tag line, are
catchy and very attractive.

Everyone I know, who is a part of this organization, is

very happy about working here. I think this will be a great
place for me to perform, show my talent and get
recognized as well.”

Looking for a job?

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 How long do you think you will
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work for us after we hire you?

Possible Answer #1:
“I am fresher and nothing can be better for me than
starting my professional career in a reputed company like
yours. If everything goes well, I will be looking forward to
a long stint here, as long as the company needs me.”

Possible Answer #2:

“I believe in long hauls. I have been with 2 organizations
in the past, and my stints have lasted for 5+ years. Being
an experienced professional in the IT sector, I have done
my homework and believe this company will surely offer a
best-in-class working environment and a rewarding
career.

I plan to stay for a long time here, or at least for as long as

my services will be valued and required.”

Are you applying for other jobs?

Do you have any other offer in
hand?
Do not get intimidated with this HR interview question and
answer. You can be open about the other offer or keep it private,
depending on how happy you are with it.

HR recruiters generally ask this to understand your demand in the

market. They also want to know that by the time they interview
you and reach the offer stage, you would have already accepted
another one. Looking for a job?
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 Possible Answer #1:
20/12/2023, 02:00 56 HR Interview Questions And Answers Asked Frequently

“Yes Sir/Ma’am, I am negotiating verbally about an offer

with the HR of a startup company right now. But there is
no documentation to support the same. So, nothing is
concrete yet.”

Possible Answer #2:

“I and some of my batchmates received verbal offers from
a company, during our campus placements.

I was supposed to receive the official offer letter through

an email communication from the company within a week
of my selection, but it’s been over 6 months now.

I have sent them one follow up email, but the HR that I am

writing to is still silent. So, I don’t know clearly if I
actually got the job. That is the reason why I came for this
interview.”

Possible Answer #3:

“No I don’t.”

Play safe with this answer while you face your HR interview
questions and answers round. If you have an offer letter already,
keep it a secret till the salary negotiation stage comes up.

There, you can negotiate your remunerations on the basis of your

current drawn package and also the offer letter that you have.

You can negotiate with all the three organizations at this stage
(your current organizations, the company that issued an offer
letter and also the company with which you interviewed) and
finally select the best possible option.
Looking for a job?
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20/12/2023, 02:00 56 HR Interview Questions And Answers Asked Frequently

5 Hacks to Get a Higher Salary Package at Any Company

In case this strategy conflicts with your personal theories and

beliefs, you can frame your answer, as shown below.

Possible Answer #4:

“I’ve been talking to ABC company for the past 15 days,
but it is not final yet. I am interested in working with
them, but I’m still not sure. Is there something you know
about company ABC that you can share with me?”

Why do you want to work for us or

our company? or Why do you
want this job?
Possible Answer #1:
“I read an article in the newspaper a few months back.
The news piece revolved around your corporate
community service. I am not exactly a philanthropist, as I
am not that rich yet, but giving back is a big part of my
personal philosophy. When I read that article, I was
moved.

The true excitement overtook me when I got this interview

call. It will be really nice if I get to work in an
organization, which follows the same philosophies as I
personally do.

Because my technical skills will be recognized in other

places as well, but personal philosophies are equally
important.”

Possible Answer #2: Looking for a job?

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20/12/2023, 02:00 56 HR Interview Questions And Answers Asked Frequently

“Teamwork is what I truly believe in. When I saw that

there was an opening in your organization, I made sure
that my application was put in.

Being a team-player, I believe working together to achieve

a higher goal is what drives success in the long run.

And my skills as an engineer and a team member will give

me a 360-degree work satisfaction for me”

Read more answers here.

Also read: How to get a job as a fresher?

Must Read: Top Unique & Awesome Things To Reveal Company

Culture

Do you know anyone who works

for us?
The purpose of this HR interview question and it’s answer is tricky
and most of the interviewees these days fail to give an appropriate
answer.

Your interviewer wants to find out if you have relatives, friends or

acquaintances working for the organization.

From a psychological point of view, they want to know if you

already have a mentor within the organization.

So it is recommended that you frame a positive answer while

facing your round of HR interview questions and answers.

Possible Answer #1: Looking for a job?

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“I’m good friends with the daughter of Mr. XYZ, who is a

part of this organization.

My friend is not your employee, but thinks very highly of

this organization and has been constantly encouraging me
to apply.

That is the reason why I am here today, as the more I

learned about this company, the more I wanted to become
a part of it.”

Possible Answer #2:

“I am a friend of XYZ, who is a part of your Finance
Department, but our friendship was not the primary
factor for me to apply here.

Besides, I know how to separate my professional life from

my personal life.

This company has a strong reputation in the market and I

have always looked up to your brand.

I truly believe that I can use my skills and expertise to help

my team and the organization grows.”

Also read: How to get a job referral?

Why should we hire you? or Why

should I hire you?
Most freshers might treat this as a challenging question.
Remember that it’s not some sort of a blow to your ego, but a
stress test which you can pass smoothly with a powerful answer.

Looking for a job?

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Below given is your perfect answer, which you can use in your
discussion pertaining to HR interview questions and answers.

Possible Answer #1:

“Sir/Ma’am, I have all the requisite qualifications and
skills. I can do the work that the profile requires me to do.

Besides, I have the capacity to deliver exceptional results. I

can blend into mixed cultures and will fit in beautifully,
which will make me a great addition to the team.

For a fresher, I have the right amount of exposure into this

industry, as I have completed my internship with XYZ
company only recently.

Hiring me will be a great value-add to your workforce as

the organization will keep on gaining, with me around.”

Sell your interviewer on you and close the deal on your dream job
while having a discussion on HR interview questions and answers!

To do so, you need to stay prepared with a summary of the best

reasons why they should select you. If you feel you are the winning
candidate, you should prove that you are more than qualified.
Here’s your best answer.

Possible Answer #2:

“Sir/mam, I have great communication skills, desired
experience and the requisite skill set for this job role.

If I get a chance to showcase my abilities, I will leave no

stone unturned with my commitment to hard work and
dedication.”

Looking for a job?

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This is your chance to repeat your strengths and describe your

best-selling points while discussing HR interview questions and
answers.

Tweak them to align your answer to the position’s top

requirements.

Your answer should be ready in a few bullet points with the

optimal combination of your industry experience, your domain
expertise, your technical skills and your key accomplishments.

Articulate smartly for a sure shot impact.

Possible Answer #3:

“Sir/Ma’am, I am confident about the fact that my strong
technical experience and outstanding knowledge of
SKILL1, SKILL2, and SKILL3 make me a strong contender
for this position.

I have been in this field for X years. I have got several to

pick up skills, for example in my previous organization, I
have completed an internal certification on SAP and
supply chain management process.

I have successfully executed projects right from inception

to delivery.

I must add that today I am sitting here because I strongly

believe this is the right place to extend my skills.

This might be excellent for my future and for the growth of

this esteemed organization as well.”

Some other variations of this question that are generally asked, are
as follows. Looking for a job?
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20/12/2023, 02:00 56 HR Interview Questions And Answers Asked Frequently

Your answer remains the same for the below questions as well
(amongst all other HR interview questions and answers), as
discussed above. But remember to keep it short and precise.

What makes you the best candidate for this position?

Why do you think you can fit well into the position?

What can you bring to the position and to the organization

Read more answers here.

What are your salary

expectations?
Possible Answer #1:
“My salary expectations are in line with the current
industry standards, according to my experience and
qualifications.”

Possible Answer #2:

“Thank you, Ma’am/Sir, once my responsibilities are clear
I can state an exact figure.

Right now, I would like to know what my potential

Manager expects from this job position, in your
organization.

After this discussion, maybe we can both meet a

conclusion about my future remuneration.”

Possible Answer #3:

“Sir/Ma’am, I am sure your company is already paying a
specific package to someone in a similar position. Looking for a job?
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20/12/2023, 02:00 56 HR Interview Questions And Answers Asked Frequently

Hence, I would like to know your budget, if you do not

mind. Accordingly, I can put forth my expectations.”

Read more answers here.

If you are interested to know your exact in-hand salary, use this
free Take Home Salary Calculator here.

You can also read all about your salary and its various components
from this blog post.

Wondering if you should negotiate salary? Read how to negotiate

salary.

Do you have a good work ethic?

With this question, the interviewer is judging if you are disciplined
and structured in your work.

To answer this question, you must communicate your ability to

maintain your work schedule without compromising on its quality.

Possible Answer #1: (For fresher)

I am quite disciplined as a person, and I believe in doing
my work in a planned and organized manner.

A well thought out plan and discipline in execution is the

foundation of high-quality work.

Possible Answer: 2 (For Experienced

candidates)
In my X years of professional experience, I have rarely missed a
deadline. Looking for a job?
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20/12/2023, 02:00 56 HR Interview Questions And Answers Asked Frequently

Barring extraordinary circumstances, I am usually able to stick to

my writing schedule without compromising on quality.

Besides that, I get long well with people which helps in

maintaining a good work environment.

How do you deal with feedback

and criticism?
The purpose of this question is to test your attitude toward
feedback and criticism.

In answering this question, you need to indicate that although you

are confident about your work, you are not stubborn.

Show that you are flexible and willing to make changes and
modifications, when necessary.

Possible Answer #1:

To err is human, and I too have faltered at times in
interpreting a client's/company’s briefings and/or
expectations.

However, maintaining a cordial relationship with the

clients as well as with my seniors helps me discuss and
resolve the gaps without any fear or distress.

Possible Answer #2:

I have learnt that it is best to take criticism positively.

Feedback and criticism help one to look at things from a

different perspective, which results in a better
understanding of the situation. Looking for a job?
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20/12/2023, 02:00 56 HR Interview Questions And Answers Asked Frequently

It ultimately helps one gain useful insights into one's

strengths and weaknesses.

Why do you want to leave your

current job?
This a very common HR interview question which is asked to
assess whether the candidate will stick around and align
him/herself with the company's mission statement.

The question can be answered in the following manner.

Possible answer:
" I have been working with a great team in my current
company and have learnt a lot from each member.

But after working with the organization for more than 4

years now, I believe I have exhausted all the challenges
that could be there.

I am now looking forward to more challenges that can

push my limits further and open new learning
oppurtunities.

I believe the job role offered by your company is the

perfect scope for the same and I assure you I can surely
add more value to the team as well if given the chance."

You can read more about how to answer "why do you want to leave
your current job? in this blog post.

Looking for a job?

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 Your interview is more or less
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coming to an end when the

interviewer asks you, “Do you
have any questions for me?”
Never say “no” as this is perhaps the worst response ever given by
any interview candidate! Remember that interviews are not
integrations but are business conversations where both the parties
should ask and respond to questions. Coming back to the
situation, the best answer for a fresher is as follows:

Possible Answer #1:

“Yes, I do!”

This is probably your very first chance during the interview, to ask
a question. Questioning will indicate that as a fresher, you came
well-prepared for the interview and you are still absorbed in the
conversation.

It will also show that you do take interest in the organization.

Make a general list of five questions about the company and ask
them to your interviewer, after all other HR interview questions
and answers are over.

Possible Answer #2:

“How has your journey been so far in this organization?
What excites you the most about working here? How long
does it ideally take a person to prove their caliber here?
Where is the organization headed in the next years? What
are the next steps of this interview?”

In case you already know everything about your potential

Looking for a job?
employer, you can ask the interviewer a direct question like:
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 Possible Answer #3:
20/12/2023, 02:00 56 HR Interview Questions And Answers Asked Frequently

“Can you tell me something about yourself?”

Everyone likes to talk about themselves, so this is a safe question

amongst all other HR interview questions and answers. In the end,
try to throw in an enthusiastic conversation ender like:

Possible Answer #4:

“It was great talking to you!”

Read detailed article on questions to ask in an interview.

Lastly, wait for the interviewer to utter “Thank You” or any other
concluding line.

Now it’s your turn to get up, put your hand out for a handshake
and then step out of the interview room.

Remember to carry out your bag, folder, and other belongings. ?

We hope that this compilation of some of the most frequently

asked HR interview questions and answers will help you ace in
your next HR interview round.

Wish you all the best! Once you are done with your interview,
don’t forget to share your interview experience with us.

We would love to know how it went. All the best!

Further suggested readings:

AmbitionBox Unboxed Blog, for career advice & finding

great places to work.

How to prepare for a walk-in interview?

Looking for a job?
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20/12/2023, 02:00 56 HR Interview Questions And Answers Asked Frequently

How to tackle telephonic interview?

Skype interview tips and questions

21 interview skills you need to crack an interview

HR Interview Questions & Answers Interview Questions

Interview Advice Guides Job Search

Geetanjali Read More

Read more posts by this author.

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