Every organisation performs multiple rounds of interviews to assess a candidate's technical and behavioural abilities before hiring them. HR interviews are conducted to assess a candidate's personality, as well as their strengths and flaws, in order to determine whether or not they are qualified for the position. Interviews are sometimes undertaken to determine how well a candidate will fit into the company's culture. These rounds are usually completed following the technical skills evaluation at the end of the recruitment process.

Let's take a look at some of the most regularly asked HR interview questions, why they're asked, and what example acceptable responses to those questions are in this post.

  • Tell me about yourself.
  • Why do you want to work for our company?
  • What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
  • Why are you looking for a change?
  • Tell me about the gap in your resume.
  • How would you rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10?
  • What is your biggest achievement so far?
  • Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
  • Why should we hire you?
  • How do you deal with criticism?
  • Tell me about a time when you were not satisfied with your performance?
  • Tell me about a time when you were made to work under close supervision.
  • Can you tell me about a time where you were happy with your work and what was your reaction?
  • Tell me about a time where you experienced difficulty at work while working on a project.

Tell me about yourself.

Experts recommend a simple and effective formula for structuring your response:

  • Present: Talk a little bit about what your current role is, the scope of it, and perhaps a big recent accomplishment.
  • Past: Tell the interviewer how you got there and/or mention previous experience that’s relevant to the job and company you’re applying for.
  • Future: Segue into what you’re looking to do next and why you’re interested in this gig (and a great fit for it, too).

Of course, this isn't the only method to construct your response, and you can alter it as needed. If you have a very compelling tale about how you got into this profession, for example, you might want to start with that "past" story before moving on to what you're doing now.

Make sure that whatever sequence you choose is ultimately tied to the job and organisation. Giving a transition of this is why I'm here is a wonderful spot to end it. You want to be very certain that your interviewer thinks it's reasonable that you're sitting here talking to me about this position.

Eight Tips that will help in answering “Tell Me about yourself Question”

  • Customise your response to the role and company.
  • Maintain a Professional Attitude
  • But Inject Some Passion Into Your Answer (if You Feel Comfortable)
  • Keep it short and sweet (and don't recite your resume)
  • Practice (But Don’t Memorise)
  • Know Your Audience
  • Keep It Positive
  • Keep in mind that this is frequently your first impression, and it matters.

Why do you want to work for our company?

Another common question given by interviewers is to ensure that the candidate understands the work requirements and to assist the interviewer in understanding why the candidate chose their organisation for that job. You should respond in such a way that the interviewer believes you are a good fit for the position.

Some ways to answer this question:

  • Discuss any previous projects you've worked on that are relevant to the present position's needs.
  • Discuss your professional goals and how they relate to this position.
  • Have the information you need about the company's goal, mission, and recent work that encouraged you to join.

What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

HR asks this inquiry to learn more about your personality and suitability for the position. It's also one of the most basic and frequently asked questions.

Some ways to answer this question:

  • Be honest.
  • Begin by listing your strongest abilities and attributes that are a good fit for the job.
  • Have a backup claim ready for each of the qualities you identify. As a result, refrain from mentioning any strengths that you do not possess.
  • Tell no one about any flaws that could jeopardise your candidacy.
  • Mention no more than two flaws, and always explain how you're striving to overcome them.
  • Telling clichéd responses like "I am a perfectionist, which is both my strength and flaw" is not a good idea.

Why are you looking for a change? 

The interviewer wants to know what made you explore alternative jobs and whether there are any red flags, which is another frequently asked question for experienced candidates. Whatever your motivation for moving jobs is, do not criticise your existing employer. Do not discuss how horrible the work environment was or how low the salary was because the interviewer is uninterested in such details. Keep your response professional by not mentioning your problems. Tell me about the gap in your resume.

This question is asked when the interviewer notices something unusual or noteworthy in the resume. A job that is irrelevant to what you are looking for, a position that only lasted a few months, or, in some situations, a complete gap between two jobs are all examples. HR is checking to see if the gaps are caused by any red flags.

How would you rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10?

The most important thing to remember while answering this question is to avoid implying that you are flawless. This demonstrates to the interviewer that there is no room for growth and that you are overconfident.

Also, don't forget not to undervalue oneself. This would demonstrate a lack of self-assurance.

What is your biggest achievement so far?

Make sure you exclusively talk about work-related accomplishments. Pick your greatest recent accomplishment and respond to this question. Answer the question in a STAR format. STAR represents: S: Situation, T: Task, A: Action, and R: Result.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

This is the trickiest and most dangerous of all the questions. This may turn out to be a trap, and you may not even realise it. While the question may appear innocuous, the aim is to determine how long you want to stay with the company if recruited and how your vision aligns with the company's vision. If you don't have a plan, you might be tempted to say you don't have one at all. You might be tempted to answer honestly by saying things like your plans for higher education, starting a startup, or becoming a hiring manager in the company. If you don't have a plan, you might simply say you don't have one at all. These are the kinds of things the interviewer doesn't want to hear, so don't say them. The recruiter is solely interested in learning how long you expect to stay with the company and how happy you are with the current role for which you will be employed.

Why should we hire you?

Because every hire poses a risk to the employer if they show out to be unfit, the recruiter asks this crucial question to see how well you would fit into the position. The way you respond to this question will determine whether or not you get the job. As a result, be prepared for this question and make sure to tell the interviewer why you are the best candidate for the job.

Few tips to answer would be to include: How well you'd do the job and how you'd be a valuable member of the team. How you have the right talent that makes you unique.

How do you deal with criticism?

The purpose of this question is to determine your attitude toward feedback and how you respond to it. The essential idea here is to show that you are always receptive to constructive criticism from the interviewer. You should not portray yourself as a stubborn or stupid individual who is incapable of accepting any feedback for personal development.

Tell me about a time when you were not satisfied with your performance?

The interviewer learns how much ownership you have over a task by asking you this question. It also displays how dedicated you are to the job and the organisation.

Tell me about a time when you were made to work under close supervision.

Here, the interviewer assesses your ability to operate in a group as well as independently.

Can you tell me about a time where you were happy with your work and what was your reaction?

The interviewer is trying to figure out what success means to you and how it makes you feel by asking this question. They will be able to examine your concerns for the company's growth as well as your personal progress as a result of this.

Tell me about a time where you experienced difficulty at work while working on a project.

This is a broad subject because difficulties can take many forms. This inquiry is intended to determine what you regard to be tough and how you approach tackling that issue. When answering this questions, try adding these points : 

  • Focus on using the STAR approach. 
  • Avoid negativity about any supervisor or any company. 
  • The interviewer should be forced to comprehend the problem's root source. 
  • Avoid personal issues. 
  • Instead try focusing on the damage, concentrate on the problem's lessons.

We've looked at the most often requested HR interview questions, why they're asked, some recommendations for answering each one, and possible sample answers. The listing is rather extensive. An HR representative may also ask position-specific questions to determine how well you understand the job role. The questions posed during this round may appear to be casual, but you must be well prepared to answer them because the HR round is the most critical and the only step between you and your dream job. The graphic below summarises all of the tips you can use to ace this interview.