Top 10 HR Interview questions and answers pdf download

10 Interesting HR Interview questions

Are you preparing for your HR interview?

Well, you have arrived at the right place, because today we are going to share Top 10 frequently asked questions in the HR interview rounds. Most of these questions are relevant for both freshers as well as experienced job seekers.

You can also download HR interview Questions and Answers PDF here:

1. Tell me a little about yourself

Your interview starts with this question. This is where you make the first impression. You know that the first few minutes are critical for deciding whether you will be hired or not. So make sure that you get it right. You may like to read our post Tell me about yourself - How to introduce yourself? Here we have explained in detail, how you can prepare for this question.

2. Why should we hire you?

This is an opportunity for you to explain how you will add value to the organization. You can talk about the relevant skills and qualifications you have which matches their job description. If you are an experienced candidate, you can talk about your past projects which have enhanced your technical knowledge. If you are a fresher, you can present the exposure you got through internships and training programs. You can also talk about your team spirit, hard-working qualities. Good communication skills and the ability to easily adapt to different work cultures are also some qualities that the company is looking for.

3. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

While mentioning a list of strengths is an easy job, convincing the interviewer that you actually have those qualities is what some candidates fail to achieve. Sometimes they may ask you to provide examples that prove your strengths. You can mention qualities like honesty, commitment to work, quick learning abilities, team spirit, and ability to work under pressure.

Unlike strengths, don’t talk much about weaknesses. The interviews are not actually looking for a weakness. They are, rather, trying to evaluate your honesty. You can mention some of your minor weaknesses, like "Excessive attention to detail" or "Cannot say no when someone asks for help". Avoid any weaknesses that might affect your performance at work.

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

Please understand that this is not a chance to point out the negative aspects of your current job. This is not considered professional. You should, rather, focus on the positive aspects and benefits of moving to the new role. Explain how you have grown working with your current organization and that you are grateful for this. The skills that you acquired at your current role can be utilized in the new organization. Talk about how this new role will add value to your career. Show your interest in the new role because of the growth opportunities it's going to offer you.

5. Why have you changed jobs so many times?

You can say that this was not intentional. Then you can describe how your experience with each of your past roles has added some value to your career. And your diverse skills and knowledge are a result of the same. Finally, you can end your answer by saying that you are at a phase in life where you have gained enough knowledge and experience with the past organizations, and now you are looking for a long term commitment, with the new role.

6. Give an example of a time when you experienced conflict with a co-worker and how did you deal with it?

The interviewer is interested in checking your ability to handle conflicts at work. Explain that you are capable of accepting the opinion of others, even though it is conflicting to yours. Provide an example of a conflict you faced in the past. Tell them how you were able to resolve it with the help of your positive approach and constructive discussion with the co-worker. The interviewer is also interested in knowing about your learnings from the situation. So be prepared to answer that.

7. What is an ideal work environment according to you?

You can say that an ideal work environment for you would be a place where you can put your skills and knowledge to the best use. Where every individual is encouraged to contribute, and the employees work as a team to achieve their goals. You can mention that the work should be challenging enough, which pushes you to learn new things and achieve new goals every day. The work atmosphere should be professional, and the team members should respect everyone without any bias.

8. What do you know about our company?

The interviewer wants to check if you have done any research about the company. This shows your level of interest in joining the company. If you have done your research, you will be able to answer it easily. You can talk about when the company was established, it's core values, short and long term goals, and its area of operation. You may like to go through this post: Why and what should I research about the company before an interview?

9. How do you learn new things to improve your knowledge and stay updated

There are several ways of learning new things. You can talk about the ones you like. Some people like to read blogs that publish the latest developments in their field. Some may prefer reading magazines and books. There are several online and offline training/certification programs available. Taking up a distance learning program is also a good option to improve knowledge.

10. Do you have any questions for me?

This will be the last question in the interview. Never say that you don’t have any questions. This might come out as your lack of interest in the role. The interviewer is looking for candidates who can ask questions. The absence of any question in your mind shows a passive attitude. 

Ask about the responsibilities that will be expected from you at the new role. You might also be interested in knowing about the technologies that you will be working on so that you can brush up your skills during the notice period. Any other relevant questions that you might have, could be asked here.

We hope that this post helps you with your HR interview preparation. College students who are fresh graduates are recommended to download this pdf and practice these questions before their HR Interview.

Comment below and tell us if you would like us to cover any other questions.