If you are getting nervous for your upcoming interview because you don’t know the exact HR interview questions you are going to be asked or know the answers that the interviewers will be looking for. Don’t fret.
One way to ensure that you will shine at your next face-to-face job interview is to prepare for some of the trickiest questions that leave most applicants at a loss for words.
I am going to shed some light on how you can answer the trickiest HR interview questions in a way that will make you stand out from all the other candidates.
Question #1: Why Do You Want to Leave Your Current Place of Employment?
The Trick: The interviewer wants to find out if you will talk poorly about your any of your employers, what motivates you, and if you are a good fit for their company. Lastly, the interviewer is interested in knowing whether you are honest in your interactions with others.
The Correct Approach: Prepare an appropriate response. Be rational and positive in your response without lying about your motivations for leaving your current place of employment.
Three Sample Responses:
- Discuss your concerns about your future because the company may be getting sold or going under new management.
- Share how the company you are currently working with is small and there are no opportunities for growth in your current position.
- Mention that you want to work at a smaller company so you can have the opportunity to make a bigger contribution.
Question #2: What Do You Consider Your Biggest Weakness?
The Trick: None of us want to discuss our weaknesses. However, the interviewer wants to know a bit more about your personality and if you assess yourself on a regular basis. This allows you to openly address any of your shortcomings in a positive manner.
The Correct Approach: Avoid going into details about your weaknesses as a person. For example, don’t say that you easily lose your temper when you are asked to do something important at short notice. Instead, address your shortcomings that are connected to your skillset.
Sample Response: “I have always loved being a graphic designer, but I haven’t designed anything for mobile device compatibility before. I realized this was weakness and took an online course to learn more about this skill. I am now practicing this new skill so that I can deliver high-quality work to clients.”
Such a response does several things. First, it deflects attention away from getting too personal and keeps the interaction professional. Secondly, the answer showcases that you proactively take steps to keep improving. This a good trait that all employers want to see in their employees.
Question #3: Is There Anything You Would Like to Ask Us?
The Trick: Interviewers want to know how prepared you are for the interview and how interested you are in the company. Nobody wants to hire someone who just woke up and went to their interview. They want to know what is important to you, so they can compare your response with what you said earlier.
The Correct Approach: Never say that everything has been talked about or that you have no further questions. Remember they are testing your motivation. Prepare three to five relevant questions about the company and specific to the role that you are interviewing for.
Three Sample Responses:
- Is this a new role or it has been in existence for a while?
- How would you want the holder of this position to execute their duties going forward?
- What are the major goals of the company that you would like the person in this role to help with?
In Closing
By asking these three questions it shows that you are focused on how you can help this company rather than how you will benefit from this opportunity.
Employers will most likely pick you because your questions show that you are interested in solving their problems.
I hope you will ace that interview.
Feel free to reach out to me at recruitgyan@gmail.com for a mock interview session if you need additional support and guidance.
