Here are some interview questions the HR interviewer may ask you with example answers you can provide:
1. Can you tell me about a time when you had to collaborate with others at different levels of the company?
Collaboration is a valuable skill for many employers. When you answer, show that you’re willing to work with others at all levels and how you might find opportunities for collaboration. Remember to use the STAR method if possible.
Example: “At my previous job, our manager put together a team to solve a specific issue that started happening with one of our new products. We had about half a day to figure out how to fix the problem and how to market it to our customers. I volunteered to lead the group. We could figure out from the customers describing the issue and other test results that there was a miscalculation in the programming. We worked together to fix the issue and present it to the public. The updated product is still on the market with a five-star review.”
2. When priorities shift, how would you help your team understand?
This question may appear to be job-specific but regardless of your experience in the industry, you can use your answer to display your adaptability and leadership skills. Consider describing a powerful approach that takes all the involved employees into account. Show that you’d be interested in understanding why the shift happened and that you’re confident in your ability to be flexible.
Example: “I enjoy the opportunity to grow and adapt, so I would share this enthusiasm with my team. I would inform everyone affected by the shift, and strive to understand why it happened so we could all work to meet the company’s changing goals.”
Related: What Is the Importance of Leadership?
3. Why should we hire you?
Employers might ask this question to understand what differentiates you from other candidates they might be interviewing. Explain how your experience, skills and attributes make you the best fit for the job. Make sure to carefully review the job description beforehand to understand what qualities they’re looking for, including that you have the confidence necessary to succeed in the role.
Example: “You should hire me for my passion and proven abilities in organization for office efficiency. In my previous role as an administrative assistant, I came up with a plan to reorganize the office supply closet by category. Because items were easier to find, we placed fewer orders and saved 30% on office supplies year-over-year. I’m excited to bring my skills to this role.”
4. What about our company’s culture attracts you?
This question is an opportunity to show what you know about the company and your enthusiasm to work there. Make sure to find out about some of the company’s policies and aspects of its culture and its history. You may also take time to research your interviewer’s role so you can prepare for their questions.
Example: “I love that at this company all executives have an open-door policy. I think that this leads to more ideas being shared between employees of all levels and less conflict between managers and employees. I believe that transparency and accessibility are two things that can make a company great.”
5. How has your previous experience prepared you for this position?
With this question, the interviewer is specifically interested in how your prior work experience has prepared you for the responsibilities of the position for which you’re applying. When answering, try to focus on specific work experiences. If you have limited or no prior work experience at all, you can also discuss how your educational experiences have prepared you for the role.
Example: “In my current role, I am responsible for supporting a team of four attorneys. My job involves making sure their files are prepared for trial, assisting them with preparing legal documents, answering and responding to phone calls from clients and maintaining the attorneys’ calendars. My experience there combined with my paralegal educational experience has helped me develop strong organizational skills, time-management skills and keen attention to detail. I am excited to continue to advance my career and development by joining your team as the lead paralegal.”
6. How do you handle deadlines?
You can use your response to emphasize that you work well with deadlines and discuss planning methods you use to manage your time and projects.
Example: “I enjoy project deadlines and find that I like to plan my own smaller goals for tasks that require completion to reach my work deadlines. I use my desktop calendar to assign regular goals throughout my work weeks. I developed this method to stay organized. In past roles, I created department calendars that enabled my department to stay on schedule.”
