HR Interview Questions and Answers for Experienced

Q-1: Can you describe your employment history?
A: It is vital to remember what you mention in your application. Give a concise yet accurate account of your past employers- beginning from the first to the latest or current. Mention the approximate period you worked at each job, designations held and your responsibilities.Q-2: Why are you looking for a new job?
A: Take care not to criticize your former and current employers. Instead, speak about how your skills can be better utilized by the place where you have applied for work. Point out areas where your skills were redundant you could not use to optimum in previous workplaces.Q-3: Why do you believe our company can fulfill your needs?
A: Harp on your skills. Tell your interviewers, the new job will help you develop and fine-tune the skills that can prove beneficial to the company and add value to its products, services, and functioning.Q-4: How do you rate job satisfaction at previous workplaces on a scale of one to 10?
A: It is best to give an honest assessment of your job satisfaction levels at previous workplaces. The interviewer can interject and ask you more questions about some workplace where you rate job satisfaction as low. Be ready to provide answers without criticizing any employer, its policies, management, and colleagues.Q-5: What additional skills have you acquired from your previous employment?
A: You can answer this question best, since you will have definitely gained vital experience, developed new skills and learned a few tricks of the trade during your tenure with past and current employers. Highlight how these skills can benefit the interviewer’s company.Q-6: What roles do you foresee for yourself in this company?
A: Talk about your short and mid-term goals and skills you offer. Talk about how to intend to achieve these goals and progress in the company by optimal use of your education and skills. Shun talking about specific designations. However, you can speak of various functions and departments where your skills are useful. Q-7: Can you briefly explain the reasons for leaving your past employers?
A: Once again, do not run down your past employers or their staff. Point out to your application and highlight that it shows an upward move in your career. You can explain to you switched jobs for progressing in your career.Q-8: What problems do you face in your current (or past) job?
A: Here too, stick to your objectives of career development. Speak about areas where you could have done better in your current or past job. Cite reasons such as lack of opportunities or unavailability of technology to develop and utilize your skills. Once again, shun criticism.Q-9: You seem to change jobs frequently. Why is that?
A: Understandably, this question can unnerve anyone who has a history of frequent job changes. It does not disqualify you automatically from the new job. However, you will have to provide valid and acceptable reasons for frequently switching jobs.Q-10: Why are there are several periods of unemployment in your career?
A: Regardless of your great qualifications and unbeatable experience, patches of unemployment indicate something may be wrong with you. It could include anything from domestic problems to illness, addictions to inability to cope with work pressure, strained relations with seniors and colleagues. Answer this question very truthfully. Remember, you are called for the interview, meaning the employer would be willing to overlook this flaw.Q-11: How long would you work for us?
A: Honestly, no mortal can foresee the future. However, you can respond to this question in a tacit manner. State that you are looking for a prolonged career that offers you high job satisfaction and allows you to utilize your experience and skills for the employer’s benefit.Q-12: Could you describe your former (or current) manager and management style?
A: You will have to answer this skill with great tact. Any criticism about your previous or former boss should be presented in a positive manner. Highlight their achievements and good character or qualities. Speak about how they helped you and your great experiences while working with them.Q-13: What is your working pattern and style?
A: Give a brief description of your daily routine at work. Provide details about your work and how to go about executing it effectively. You can also speak about how you collate between tasks and coordinate with colleagues. Also include details about any work-related assistance you provide juniors.Q-14: Does anything prevent you from performing better?
A: Please be very honest about factors that impede you from utilizing your skills and experience to the maximum. This could be anything from lack of sufficient opportunities, technical snags, long commutes, family problems and issues at the workplace such as obsolete technology. Shun speaking about irascible bosses and uncooperative colleagues.Q-15: What would you require from us to excel at work?
A: This is a question you should welcome. It signifies the company wants to enhance its performance and looks forward to you for doing so. Be modest in your demand and ensure that existing staff will be able to cope with any new technology you are likely to introduce. State that cooperation from all levels of staff at the company will help you work better.Q-16: How would you approach a problem at work or in life?
A: Indubitably, you would have done a lot of troubleshooting in your previous jobs and at home. We all have our own unique ways to approach problems and solve them. You can talk about these methods you derive from experience.Q-17: How would you rate your professional success and failure a scale of one to 10?
A: A detailed answer is best for such questions. You will have to sort your skills and rate your achievements at work on this scale. At the same time, describe instances where your skills proved useless or were redundant causing you to fail at some tasks. Honest self-assessment is always treasured by interviewers. It leaves a good impact and furthers your chances of bagging the job.Q-18: Would you be able to cope with working with a younger team?
A: Of course you would be. Younger employees are more energetic and open to newer ideas. They also have their own ideas about how a particular task can be best executed. Working with a younger and often lesser or inexperienced team is great fun. Accept this challenge whole-heartedly.Q-19: Do you have any issues in reporting to a younger boss?
A: None whatsoever. Younger bosses have a better grasp of modern technologies and other skills, thanks to newer trends in education. Indeed, you can learn loads of new stuff by working with a younger boss. Further, you will also be able to chip in vital information with your experience.Q-20: Could you tell us something about harassment at your previous jobs?
A: Regardless of whether you were harassed or adored at your previous jobs, never speak anything negative about your former seniors and colleagues. However, you may cite a couple of instances where you felt you were overburdened with work without valid reasons.Q-21: What value can you add to this company if employed?
A: You will need to do some research into the company on the Internet or other sources to prepare yourself for this common question. You can point out areas where you believe the company could fare better and maximize its profitability. Feel free to discuss any changes that you wish to see or can bring about, without harming existing employees or drastically altering its corporate culture.Q-22: How would you point out to wrong decisions taken by your boss?
A: The answer is fairly simple. Say that you would meet your boss in total privacy, indicate the reason you are there and provide solid reasons why you believe a decision is wrong. That you would do it in a very positive manner, bereft of criticism and for better of the company.Q-23: Are you a member of any organizations, clubs, political parties or trade unions?
A: Generally, companies are wary of hiring people with strong connections to political parties or are members of the trade and labor unions. However, if you are a member or affiliated to such groups, it is best to disclose. Remember, it does not mar your chances of getting the job since such choices are generally considered personal and do not have any bearing upon the company.Q-24: Are you willing to join us for this amount of salary?
A: This is purely your decision. We have no suggestions to offer. You need to base your decision upon your liabilities, monthly expenses, and other costs. If you are jobless, the salary can prove a boon. You may wish to settle for less if offered a good designation or for better career prospects in a large corporation. However, the decision about your remuneration is at your sole discretion.Q-25: Can you tell us something about the projects you are working on and plans of your current employer?
A: Avoid answering this question at all costs. It is tantamount to leaking information to a competitor. In any case, you should safeguard any sensitive information about your past or current employers. Say you cannot divulge this information since it would mean a breach of trust of your former employer. An interviewer may ask you this question for two reasons: To assess your integrity as an employee or to gain some insider knowledge about a competitor. In both cases, never disclose such information.