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March 21, 2022
As an HR manager preparing for an interview, you know that you are going to be asked very specific questions by your prospective employer. If the current manager of the HR department carries out the interview, someone else may accompany them. They are going to ask in-depth questions to ensure that you are a good fit. No matter the position within the company of the interviewer, preparing answers to questions in advance will ensure that you are prepared, confident and relaxed – traits, which are very valuable when it comes to being in the hot seat.
You may have already worked as an HR manager or this could be your first position. Whichever category you fit into, you should take the time to research the role and the type of work you will be carrying out. Working in the HR (human resources) department means that you will be dealing with the employees of the company. This will not only involve dealing with recruits but also looking after staff welfare, including grievances. The interviewer can see from your CV that you are well qualified to do the job, but that’s not enough. You need to show that you are not only suitable for the role but will bring much to the company in the way of positivity and a helpful persona.
At the interview, you know that you are going to be asked a range of questions relating to the role. Never attend without some preparation on your part. Your answers are going to determine your suitability so you need to get them right. We are going to help you by looking at a range of questions that an HR manager may be asked at the interview, along with their answers. The interviewer is going to be looking to find out more about your past employment and qualifications, your intended career path going forward, your people skills and your ability to organise well. The answers that you give to the HR manager interview questions should illustrate that you are a natural when it comes to dealing with people and that you can easily handle employee issues. Use this opportunity to show just how good you are and why they should want to employ you.
As well as the in-depth HR interview questions, you are likely to be asked about more general things. This is the interviewer’s way of finding out more about what makes you tick, giving them an insight into your personality. Here are a few examples:
For those already working in HR, you will be asked about your previous experience. If this is your first HR role, the questions will be more general but still related to your previous work:
So we’ve looked at the more basic HR manager interview questions, but what about those that explore your talents in more depth? The person sitting in the interviewer’s chair is tasked with trying to find out more about your specific HR ability. These are the type of questions they might use to accomplish this, together with ideas of answers. Use the information below when preparing for the interview, relating each reply to your background and experience:
“What sort of reference do you think your previous employer would give to you?”
This is your chance to refer back to your previous experience (whether in HR or some other field) and use it to bolster your chances of getting the job. Talk about things like your positivity and ability to get on well with colleagues and management. If you are a great communicator or organiser, tell them. You should state that your previous employer was happy with your performance and the value that you contributed to the company. They may be reluctant to lose you and may have even offered you a better package to stay, so talk about this. Think back to your appraisals and the type of positive things that were discussed. Be honest as the company will not only ask your employer for a written reference but they may contact them by phone.
“What sort of team player are you? Do you work best alone or as part of a group?”
You can use your answer to this question to highlight your strengths. Talk about how you can do both equally well, but prefer to work in a group environment. Bring into the conversation examples of past events to show how well you have operated when involved with a group. Show that you will bring many strengths to the team that you will be working with at their organisation. Emphasise your ability to collaborate, listen to others and work as one unit towards a unified goal. You can evidence your answer by referring to past successful team projects.
These, and other HR manager interview questions, are not difficult to answer as long as you prepare well in advance. It doesn’t matter whether you are new to HR or have previously worked in this sector. Use your experience to show how you excel, supporting your statements with evidence.
If you would like to talk to the team at CMD Recruitment about HR manager positions or find out more about how you can secure the job of your dreams, get in touch with us. You can find current HR manager positions in the job search facility on our website. Register with us so that you are immediately alerted when a suitable position becomes vacant. Our download and blog section will provide you with valuable information. If you would rather chat or email, then you can contact us – we’re always happy to help!
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