Top Interview Questions and Answers HR Asked

Here are the Top Interview Questions and Answers HR asked-

Question 1. Tell me something about yourself?

Explanation: This is usually the first question that the interview asks to break the ice. You should be mindful while answering this question. Start with giving a brief introduction about yourself. Focus on highlighting your education, work experience and skills. However, make it precise and don’t blabber too much but still provide with enough information for the interviewer to decide if you are a good fit.

Some tips to answer this question:

  • Do not ask the interviewer what he wants to know about you. You may be asking genuinely but the interviewer may view you as someone who does not have clear thought process and understanding.
  • Do not speak what is already there in the resume. The interviewer wants to know what they have not seen on the resume. Keep your answer to be strictly professional and avoid using any personal information.
  • Introduce yourself by including certain adjectives like problem-solving, innovation and tech-savvy, creative, quick learner, etc. that best describe you in your professional life to boost your chances.
  • Cover what you have accomplished in your career and what work you have done in the past which can help you excel in the position that you are being interviewed for.
  • You can also tell why you want the position and how the job is going to be perfect for you.
  • Focus only on your strengths that are relatable to the work.

Sample Answer:

“Thank you for allowing me to answer this question. I am Meera Sharma and I am from New Delhi. I have completed my bachelors of Business Administration from IP University. I’d like to start by highlighting my soft skills. I am optimistic, self-confident and have a positive mindset. I am more of the glass half full type of person. My technical skills include knowledge about data analytics and data analysis tools. I also have a good command on accounts and general taxation.

I have done a few internships in the field od Accounting and Data Analytics which have helped me sharpen and improve my skills. My interests include dancing and learning about different cuisines that exist around the world.”

Question 2. What are your strengths?

Explanation: When answering this question, you should focus on your strengths related to the job you are applying for. For example, suppose you are applying for a position of Content Writer. In that case, you might say that your strengths include excellent writing skills and a strong hold on English and grammar. You may also explain how your content is unique and displays a w=style of your writing.

Some tips to answer this question:

  • Be honest in your answers. On order to appear as an ideal candidate, do not speak about things you may not have knowledge about.
  • Start by stating the strongest skills and qualities that can be of a great match to the job role.
  • Be ready with the backup claim for each of the strengths that you mention. Hence, avoid speaking of the strengths that you do not possess.
  • Do not tell any weakness that can potentially jeopardize your candidature.
  • Do not mention more than 2 weaknesses and always mention how you are working on improving them.
  • Do not tell cheesy, cliché answers like “I am a perfectionist which is both my strength and my weakness”.

Sample Answer:

 So, I believe my strengths would be my time management skills. I am a well organised person and like to be systematic and efficient. Time and again, I have used my strengths to excel at my work, be it in my internships or college events. I am also proud to tell you that so far, these strengths have always helped me in excelling at things.

Question 3. Why are you interested in this job? Or Why do you want to work for our company?

Example: Be sure to do your research on the company before you go in for the interview. Talk about how your skills and experiences make you the right candidate for the job.

Some tips to answer this question:

  • Talk about the past projects that you had worked on that matches the requirements of the current role.
  • Talk about your career aspirations that are associated with this job role.
  • Have the knowledge in hand about the company’s vision, mission, and the work it has done in recent years that inspired you to join the organization.

Sample Answer:

I honestly believe it is an honour and privilege to work for an established company like yours. As I researched about the job opening you have, I realised that my skills and experience align with your requirements. Through this job, I can showcase my technical skills to help the company’s development. I am looking forward to work here and allow an opportunity of growth for both myself and the organisation through my work.

Question 4. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

Explanation: This is a question that is often asked in job interviews. It is meant to assess your long-term goals and whether they are aligned with the company’s. It can also be used to gauge your ambition and determination.

But, You might be tempted to answer honestly by saying things about your plans for higher studies, your plans to start a startup, your plans of becoming a hiring manager in the company or if you don’t have a plan then you are simply tempted to say you don’t have a plan at all. These are the things the interviewer doesn’t want to hear and hence avoid giving such answers.

Sample Example:

Over the course of the next five years, I’d love to take advantage of every opportunity that the company allows me to take through external and internal training programs. They are necessary for me to gain knowledge and enhance my skills. My dream career objective is to be a Copywriter. Hence, I am looking forward to working upon various writing matters that embody the mission of this company and contribute to making a positive impact while speeding up my path to becoming a successful Copywriter.

Question 5. Would you like to work overtime or odd hours?

Explanation: You need to be very sincere in answering this question. Do not tell a fake story or make a compromise to get the job. If you are comfortable with overtime working, you could say this:

Sample Answer:

I understand that putting extra effort impacts the company’s development, and I’ll always try to put my share in it. However, I am also someone who values a work life balance. So, while I may not be open to working overtimes all the time, I am certainly open to do them at times or urgency.

Question 6. Why did you leave your last job?

Explanation: Be very cautious in answering this query. Avoid blaming employers for their mistakes and stating that “Salary was less or poor work management.” Instead of this, you can say that:

Sample Answer:

It’s a professional shift. I’ve gained much from my last job, but now I’m seeking new challenges to expand my perspectives and gain an entirely new set of skills.

The reason I am looking for change is that I feel like now is the time to expand my horizon. I have worked in my current company for quite a long time and while I am grateful for all the opportunities that were presented to me there, I want to go beyond my current role here, explore different avenues and take up challenging roles and I believe that your company will be the perfect place for me to push and grow myself as an individual.

Question 7. How do you handle stress, pressure, and anxiety?

Explanation: It is a common interview question to determine your performance under pressure and stress. The interviewer wants to understand your abilities to think rationally under moments of stress. While answering this question, take your time to think about your answer.

Sample Answer:

Whenever I am under any pressure or stress, I try to calm myself first. Once done, I try to think rationally and use my soft skills to deal with the issues. I also indulge myself in relaxing activities or sometimes even meditation.

Question 8. Is there anything that makes you different from other candidates?

Explanation: Under pressure and stress, I usually utilize my soft skills and handle every situation calmly. I also perform physical exercises and mind relaxing activities like meditation to deal with work stress and pressure.

Sample Answer:

There are a few things that make me different from other candidates. First, I have an ample of experience working with different teams and managing projects. I’m also great at communicating with people, so I can easily build relationships with clients and coworkers. Finally, I have a strong interest in learning new things and taking on new challenges.

Question 9. Tell me about a time when you were not satisfied with your performance?

Explanation: There are a few reasons why interviewers might ask this question. One possibility is that the interviewer wants to understand if you can take feedback and improve upon your weaknesses. They may also be looking to see if you can admit when you have made a mistake and how you coped with the situation.

Sample Answer:

In my previous internship, I had to deliver a pitch to a prospective client to convert them into our customer. I had very less time and was required to complete it within a span of three days. The timing of the deadline clashed with my important submissions. I finished the pitch as quickly as I could. However, I was not sure of it, yet submitted it to the client. Needless to say, the client could not be converted, but he was kind enough to provide me with feedbacks for improvement. I took the feedbacks graciously and learned how to manage my time more efficiently, and work better even in minimal time frames.

Question 10. Tell me about a time when you experienced difficulty at work while working on a project?

Explanation: The interviewer wants to know how you handle difficult situations. They are looking for a pattern of behaviour, so they want to know about a time when you had difficulty with a project. They will also want to see how you combated that situation and what you learned from the experience.

Sample Answer:

The most difficult project I ever worked on was a website redevelopment project. The client had very specific and detailed requirements, and they were constantly changing their mind about what they wanted. This caused a lot of reworking, and it wasn’t easy to keep the project on track. In the end, the client was happy with the final product, but it was a very stressful experience.

Question 11. Tell me about the gap in your resume.

Explanation: This question comes up when the interviewer finds something interesting and out of ordinary in the resume. Some examples could be a job that could be unrelated to what you are seeking or a job that lasted only for some months or in some cases, the outright gap between two consequent jobs. Here, HR wants to make sure that the gaps are not due to any red flags.

Sample answer:

After the completion of my bachelor’s degree, I started working continuously for 4 years without taking any break. This sort of impacted my productivity and also harmed my work-life balance. It also left me with little to no time for further enhancements in my career or education. Hence, I decided to take a break of 3 months to clear my mind, make amends with my family, and also do solo travel to different places. I also gained some lessons during this break such as the importance of work-life balance, organizational ability, and a fresh new perspective on life.

Question 12. What is your biggest achievement so far?

Explanation: Make sure to discuss only your work-related achievement. Pick up the most recent achievement of yours and answer this question.

Tip to answer this:

Answer the question in a STAR format.

STAR represents: S: Situation, T: Task, A: Action, and R: Result

Sample answer:

I have achieved several milestones to date in my career as a software developer. The most recent one is of the time when we were working on a critical component of a product pertaining to customer payments. We were working round the clock for around 2 months and I was a core developer. I was made a lead to this component for completing the task in another 2 months.

To meet the deadline, we ensured that we upskilled ourselves to learn all the aspects of the development of this module and also brought in a few more resources to complete it faster. Post the deployment, I trained our team to support the platform proficiently. Ultimately, we could complete the product well in advance of the deadline. When the product was launched, the higher management was super proud of us and our team was awarded for our outstanding performance in the quarterly town hall. It was a very proud moment for me.

Question 13. Why should we hire you?

Explanation: The recruiter asks this important question to understand how well you would fit into the position because every hire is a risk to the interviewer in case they turn out to be unfit. Your answer to this question can make or break your interview. Hence, prepare well for this question and make sure to convey to the interviewer why you are the perfect fit for the position.

Some tips to answer would be to include:

  • How well you would perform the job and how you would be a great addition to the team.
  • How you possess the right talent which makes you stand apart.
  • Everything should boil down to how you can add great value to the organization.

Sample answer:

I am a self-motivated and adaptable individual, as well as a fast learner. While going through the job description and my experience in the field of web development, I am confident that I am very much suitable for this role. I enjoy the process of analysing various situations and finding the best one to solve our issue.

I also believe that my values are aligned with this company’s values. I think this position will support my interest and also give me interesting and exciting opportunities to contribute to the growth of this organization. I am very much excited about this opportunity.

Question 14. If we hire you, what value can you bring to the position?

Explanation: The interviewer will ask this question to discover how much you know about the requirements and responsibilities of the position. Take it as an opportunity to explain how your skills and experience can make you a perfect fit for the job.

Sample Answer:

 “To begin, I have the educational qualifications, job skills and work experience necessary for this position. I have also read your mission statement and your company values align with mine. That will make it easier for me to fit in and work together with my new colleagues to reshape and improve our industry. I have received awards in my previous job for my leadership, teamwork and motivational abilities. I will channel that experience here to select and implement the right methodologies to help employees meet work challenges and earn more profit gains for the company.”

Question 15. What do your friends/co-workers say about you?

Possible Answer #1:

“I recently completed my internship at Swiggy. In the beginning of the internship, my manager was of the opinion that I may be a little laid back and lost when it came to my work. However, by the end of the internship program, he understood that I took a little extra time to understand my work culture and work with a methodological approach rather than jumping straight to action. While he was impressed by my work in the organisation, he still advised me to work upon my socializing skills, which I have kept in mind and try to work upon it even now.”

Possible Answer #2:

“Since I like to build strong professional relationships with my teammates, most of them have become great friends. We have been spending eight hours a day, five days a week for several years now.

So, I am sure that whatever they say, will be realistic and not made up. One thing that they will surely mention about me is my love for food! The rest is up to you to find out.”

Question 16. What is your ideal company or workplace?

Possible Answer #1:

“My ideal workplace or company is a fair one that values my contributions even as a fresher and encourages me to speak up and share my ideas. It is a place where I can be myself, while working towards a greater goal.”

Possible Answer #2:

“My ideal company is the one which can bring forth exciting challenges. Such opportunities will bring out the best in me as I can use my interests and experiences to grow. I like my present workplace as it offers all this along with a clean and professional work atmosphere, and more. But I am looking forward to a company that is actively involved in social welfare, and your organization does exactly that.”

Question 17. What are your future goals? Tell me about your short term and long-term goals.

Possible Answer #1:

“My short-term goal is to join a reputed company, like yours, where my job role would allow me to apply my knowledge and key strengths. I want to get recognized for my contribution to the company in the long-run.”

Possible Answer #2:

“I’ve picked up Marketing Automation basics during my first job, which lasted for two years. Now I am prepared to take up a bigger and more challenging project. I want to see myself as a marketing analyst in the next two years, that would be my short-term goal. Following which, I would see myself as an end-to-end Digital Marketing Strategist or a Manager in the long run.”

Question 18. What motivates you?

Possible Answer #1:

“I love public speaking. Preparing a presentation and talking about it in front of an audience, and then getting back to them with answers in the question and answer round, motivates me! The whole experience is so thrilling. As a Sales Rep, I think building a connection with my audience is useful, inspiring and exciting.”

Possible Answer #2:

“Meeting the set target within an assigned deadline motivates me the most. When I do so, I get a sense of accomplishment and fulfilment. When this is coupled with an award, I feel all the more motivated. All in all, I like to achieve milestones, so that I can look back at them and say to myself, ‘Yes, that was my achievement.’ Visible results also motivate me.”

Question 19. What are your hobbies? or What are you passionate about?

Explanation: You can talk about your own passion here. This is a commonly asked question in all ‘HR interview questions.

Possible Answer #1:

“I am passionate about reading. I first started reading when I was in class 10th, and I haven’t stopped since. I try to read a certain number of books every month and learn something valuable from them. Even now, I generally read a book while commuting to different places.”

Possible Answer #2:

“I’m passionate about cooking. I love to stir up a new dish or experiment with a new recipe every now and then. Every weekend, my friends come over to my place to try out a new dish. I maintain a journal where I jot down all my kitchen quests. I might publish it as a guide for home cooks, but that will have to wait until I develop and write down at least 100 final recipes.”

Question 20. What are you most proud of?

Possible Answer #1:

“I think It is yet to come. The day I land my first job in a reputed company such as yours, will be my proudest achievement. That moment is still pending.”

Possible Answer #2:

“This may not seem like a big deal, but during my internship, I helped find a bug in the website and then ended up finishing it, all by myself. Now, this may not seem like a moment to be proud of, But I certainly consider it as a crucial moment that made me believe my ability as a web developer.

Question 21. What has been your greatest failure?

Possible Answer #1:

“There’s no such thing as my biggest failure et I believe. Since I haven’t be involved in the real world and its issues yet, so yeah, not really a case of biggest failure. But if I had to answer this, I’d say all the times when I did not secure good marks even after putting the efforts, I felt like those were the moments that described me as a failure.”

Possible Answer #2:

“Last year, we wanted to improve sales by 50% but achieved just 35% which was a huge letdown, even if there was a huge boost to our ROI. The underlying issue was that I was on a holiday and my entire team took this last big deal for granted.

They are all star performers, but I don’t know why they took this sure shot deal so lightly. We had built a great rapport with this client over a period of 3 months and the deal had almost been wrapped up. That was a huge failure in the recent past for me. Eventually, the deal slipped out of our hands and impacted the overall sales percentage.”

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