Job Interview Questions Series

HR
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
YOU’LL MOST LIKELY BE ASKED

225
Interview Questions
HR
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
YOU’LL MOST LIKELY BE ASKED

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Paperback ISBN 10 : 1-949395-96-0

Paperback ISBN 13 : 978-1-949395-96-9
Ebook ISBN 10: 1-949395-75-8
Ebook ISBN 13: 978-1-949395-75-4

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018904084

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 Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Creativity 7

Chapter 2 Leadership 15

Chapter 3 Teamwork 41

Chapter 4 Deadlines and Time Management 53

Chapter 5 Dedication and Attitude 65

Chapter 6 Personality 73

Chapter 7 Decision Making 95

Chapter 8 Goals 107

Chapter 9 Creative Questions 117

Chapter 10 Customer Service 131

Chapter 11 Background and Experience 139

Chapter 12 Business Skills and Knowledge 153

Chapter 13 Communication 163

Chapter 14 Job Searching and Scheduling 173

Chapter 15 Knowledge of the Company 187

Index 196
Dear Reader,

Thank you for purchasing HR Interview Questions You’ll Most Likely Be Asked.

Review these typical interview questions and think about how you would answer
them. Read the answers listed; you will find best possible answers along with strategy
suggestions.

We are committed to publishing books that are content-rich, concise and approachable
enabling more readers to read and make the fullest use of them. We hope this book
provides the most enriching learning experience as you prepare for your interview.

Should you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to email us at

reachus@[Link]

Thanks again for your purchase. Good luck with your interview!

– Vibrant Publishers Team

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 About the Author
Pamela Ellsworth is a PHR certified HR
consultant with over 10 years in the field. She has
studied and trained on psychology, sociology,
behavior modification, motivational interviewing,
and more. Her career has taken her from working
in state prisons, to small businesses, and
government agencies. While she has extensive
experience in all facets of human resources including employee
relations, benefits, retirement, leave administration workers
compensation and safety, her forte and passion is in recruitment and
selection, on-boarding, and coaching.

She has screened thousands of resumes and applications, conducted

hundreds of interviews, and hired many excited new employees. She
loves motivating people to be their best and offers coaching on how
to walk into any interview with confidence and handle any question
the interview panel throws at them with ease. She consults businesses
on their recruitment and selection programs and policy issues. In her
free time Pamela is active in children’s ministries and community
outreach.
 1
Creativity
Leadership

Teamwork

Deadlines and Time Management

Dedication and Attitude

Personality

Decision Making

Goals

Creative Questions

Customer Service

Background and Experience

Business Skills and Knowledge

Communication

Job Searching and Scheduling

Knowledge of the Company

8 HR Interview Questions You’ll Most Likely Be Asked

001. Every business faces problems that affect productivity

and profitability. Can you share with me a solution you
developed for a workplace problem that was unusual or
unexpected, and actually led to increased productivity or
profitability?

Answer:
The correct answer will provide quantifiable evidence of
the candidate’s efforts which increased profitability and
productivity.

As an example:
A customer placed a large order for an item with specifications that
were significantly different from the product offered by my company.
I needed to meet this customer’s needs without creating increased
production costs. To satisfy this customer, I worked with company
engineers and found a way to modify the production machinery to
meet this need without increasing my company’s production costs.
As part of the engineering process, I was able to implement cost
savings through reduced labor costs and better utilization of the
required raw materials.

002. Can you describe how you analyzed a workplace problem

you have faced, and how your analysis led to the solution?

Answer:
The correct answer should provide evidence of the candidate’s
analytical skills, and the candidate’s ability to look at an
issue from different angles and develop the best solution to a
problem.

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Creativity 9

As an example:
The employer wanted to ramp up production to three shifts per
day to meet increased demand for a product without hiring more
than five new employees. I found a way to rearrange the existing
employees’ schedules without creating significant dissatisfaction.
Additionally; I was able to fit the five new employees into the
schedule in such a way that they were able to work smoothly together
to increase the production.’

003. There are times when customers are unhappy with your
company’s product or service and expect a solution that
is more than what is normally provided. Can you share
a time when you were able to provide a solution to an
unusual customer expectation that made both customer and
management happy?

Answer:
The correct answer should provide insight into the candidate’s
attitudes towards meeting customer service challenges. The
answer should provide evidence of the candidate’s willingness
to creatively respond to difficult customers without violating
company policies.

As an example:
An important customer from a different time zone had a need to
regularly conduct business outside of my company’s normal business
hours. I found a way to make a customer service representative
available without increasing over time hours. I was able to meet the
customer’s needs without increasing the financial burden on the
company.

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10 HR Interview Questions You’ll Most Likely Be Asked

004. Describe workplace innovations you have developed on

your own initiative.

Answer:
The correct answer should provide tangible evidence of the
candidate’s willingness to take the initiative to solve problems
without being prompted by supervisors.

As an example:
My company recorded employee time on paper time cards, and
to reduce payroll expenses. I initiated a project to launch fully
computerized system. It included reporting payroll taxes and fees
to the state and federal governments, and a direct deposit system
for the payment of employee salaries. My efforts saved the company
thousands of dollars each year in tracking and paying payroll
expenses.

005. Describe workplace innovations you helped develop as a

member of a team.

Answer:
The correct response to this question will show how the
candidate is able to work as a team member.

As an example:
I was assigned to a management team with the task of developing an
entire new line of interior paint products that included new colors,
new textures and competitive retail pricing. I was able to help the
team develop a customer survey that when completed showed the
team exactly which products customers would desire and would
purchase if priced right.

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Creativity 11

006. Where do you find ideas?

Answer:
Ideas can come from all places, and an interviewer wants
to see that your ideas are just as varied. Mention multiple
places that you gain ideas from, or settings in which you find
yourself brainstorming. Additionally, elaborate on how you
record ideas or expand upon them later.

As an example:
I am constantly taking notes on a notepad or in my phone
throughout the day of things I would like to revisit later. I get ideas
during work meetings, listening to my coworkers struggles and
updates, take notes and research later how we can improve workflow.
I will also get ideas via my network when they put out new
innovative things they are pursuing in their workplace, I will see
how I may be able to apply those innovations in my own company.

007. How do you achieve creativity in the workplace?

Answer:
It’s important to show the interviewer that you’re capable of
being resourceful and innovative in the workplace, without
stepping outside the lines of company values. Explain where
ideas normally stem from for you (examples may include an
exercise such as list-making or a mind map), and connect this
to a particular task in your job that it would be helpful to be
creative in.

As an example:
I was assigned to a safety and wellness taskforce. Most people were
walking on their breaks anyway, just not together. I signed up for
a three month hosted walking challenge in which people could still
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12 HR Interview Questions You’ll Most Likely Be Asked

walk on their own on their breaks, however, they were encouraged

to interact with their coworkers and engage in some healthy
competition in tracking their progress. This ended up getting more
people to get up and exercise while also building morale and a sense
of teamwork.

008. How do you push others to create ideas?

Answer:
If you’re in a supervisory position, this may be requiring
employees to submit a particular number of ideas, or to
complete regular idea-generating exercises, in order to
work their creative muscles. However, you can also push
others around you to create ideas simply by creating more
of your own. Additionally, discuss with the interviewer the
importance of questioning people as a way to inspire ideas
and change.

As an example:
Each staff meeting I encourage staff members to bring a problem or
challenge they have been facing or had faced since our last meeting,
along with a solution. I also encourage employees to attend regular
professional development opportunities whether it is a free webinar,
a training, or even read newly published articles in their field, and
share things they have learned or trending topics with the team.

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Creativity 13

009. Describe your creativity.

Answer:
Try to keep this answer within the professional realm, but if
you have an impressive background in something creative
outside of your employment history, don’t be afraid to include
it in your answer also. The best answers about creativity
will relate problem-solving skills, goal-setting, and finding
innovative ways to tackle a project or make a sale in the
workplace. However, passions outside of the office are great,
too (so long as they don’t cut into your work time or mental
space).

As an example:
I participate in a volunteer group outside of work who provides
meals for homeless people. The company I worked for was seeking
connections to the community and ways for the employees to be
involved in something bigger than their specific roles at work, so
with permission form the company, I hosted a fundraising event put
on the company where the employees worked a spaghetti dinner to
raise funds for the homeless charity. This boosted employee teamwork
and comradery and a sense of purpose amongst them.

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 2
Creativity

Leadership
Teamwork

Deadlines and Time Management

Dedication and Attitude

Personality

Decision Making

Goals

Creative Questions

Customer Service

Background and Experience

Business Skills and Knowledge

Communication

Job Searching and Scheduling

Knowledge of the Company

16 HR Interview Questions You’ll Most Likely Be Asked

010. Was there a time you were called upon to reorganize your
department? If so, what steps did you take to ensure the
reorganization was successful?

Answer:
The candidate should be able to relate to a verifiable time
when she was asked to reorganize her department. The correct
answer should say something like, “just last year my company
decided there should be reorganization program because the
internet had significantly changed the way we were doing
business.”

As an example:
My first step was to identify the exact business functions that were
driving the need for change. Secondly, I identified the functions
that were working properly and should not be changed. Thirdly, I
made a determination of how the people in the department needed
to be reassigned to best accomplish the reorganization. In the end,
the reorganization was successful, and the company’s profits were
increased.

011. Tell me about a time when you led a team to successfully

complete a project.

Answer:
The correct answer should describe a situation where the
candidate was able to act as a project manager of a project
with a team involved. It should explain how the candidate
analyzed what needed to be done, how they delegated the
members of the team and oversaw the project, and what the
outcome was.

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Leadership 17

As an example:
Last year my management team was assigned the task of finding
a way to improve our company’s overall customer service rating.
We were having trouble finding and retaining customer service
representatives that were responsive to the needs of our customers.
Through customer service surveys and close observation of customer
service interactions, we were able to identify a number of customer
service representatives that were providing outstanding service to
our customers. We assigned these people as trainers and mentors for
the purpose of motivating the entire staff to provide a high level of
service to our customers.

012. Describe a time when you played a major leadership role in

a special event.

Answer:
To answer this question correctly, the candidate should be
able to describe an actual event in which she was the primary
leader. The special event could be a job fair, awards banquet,
marketing meeting or other event.

As an example:
Our Company is constantly looking for talented people. We feel
the greatest competitive advantage we have is our people. In April
last year, I was given the responsibility to set up a regional job fair
designed to attract college graduates. The job fair was a total success.
We had over 1000 recent college graduates come to the job fair. Our
human resources people were able to fill all of our open positions.

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