7 answers
Racheal
Student
Lagos, Nigeria
1
Question
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HR skills?
Interview questions for an HR and skills and software required for an HR fresher?
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7 answers
Emitom Hillsman
Global HR Strategy
10
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Emitom’s Answer
Hi Rachael,
Kelsi provided some great advice. Another interview area to consider are behavioral interview questions. These are the questions that start with something like "Tell me about a time when...". When you are asked one of these questions, they would like you to respond by providing a specific example. A helpful method you can use to do this is called the STAR method. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result. You can start by describing the situation you faced and the tasks you needed to complete. Then, describe the actions you specifically took and the results you achieved from those actions. If you have quantitative results, it's great to bring in numbers, but if not, qualitative results work as well. I encourage people to start by practicing 3 STAR stories. As you feel comfortable with those stories, you can start to practice more. I recommend, in the long-term, having 8-10 STAR stories you feel really comfortable with and can know how you can tweak them to apply to different interview questions. At that point, you're pretty unstoppable! Many organizations ask these questions based off things that are easy to find online like their values and leadership principles. When you have an interview scheduled, I recommend doing research on the company and practicing STAR stories that are specific to that company. If needed, there is a lot out there on the internet where you can learn more about the STAR method.
In terms of the technology space, technologies include Applicant Tracking Systems for Talent Acquisition, compensation systems, and feedback systems. No matter your role in HR, you will want to be familiar with Human Capital Management systems, which include Workday, Oracle Cloud HCM, SAP SuccessFactors, ADP, and Ceridian. It's also important to know how to use Google Workspace / Microsoft Office. The more advanced Slides / PowerPoint and Sheets / Excel skills you have, the more possibilities you'll open up for yourself. Lastly, there are other tools you may find useful in your HR role such as data analytics (Alteryx), data visualization (Tableau / PowerBI), and robotic process automation (UiPath).
Practice using the STAR method to respond to behavioral interview questions
Kelsi provided some great advice. Another interview area to consider are behavioral interview questions. These are the questions that start with something like "Tell me about a time when...". When you are asked one of these questions, they would like you to respond by providing a specific example. A helpful method you can use to do this is called the STAR method. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result. You can start by describing the situation you faced and the tasks you needed to complete. Then, describe the actions you specifically took and the results you achieved from those actions. If you have quantitative results, it's great to bring in numbers, but if not, qualitative results work as well. I encourage people to start by practicing 3 STAR stories. As you feel comfortable with those stories, you can start to practice more. I recommend, in the long-term, having 8-10 STAR stories you feel really comfortable with and can know how you can tweak them to apply to different interview questions. At that point, you're pretty unstoppable! Many organizations ask these questions based off things that are easy to find online like their values and leadership principles. When you have an interview scheduled, I recommend doing research on the company and practicing STAR stories that are specific to that company. If needed, there is a lot out there on the internet where you can learn more about the STAR method.
In terms of the technology space, technologies include Applicant Tracking Systems for Talent Acquisition, compensation systems, and feedback systems. No matter your role in HR, you will want to be familiar with Human Capital Management systems, which include Workday, Oracle Cloud HCM, SAP SuccessFactors, ADP, and Ceridian. It's also important to know how to use Google Workspace / Microsoft Office. The more advanced Slides / PowerPoint and Sheets / Excel skills you have, the more possibilities you'll open up for yourself. Lastly, there are other tools you may find useful in your HR role such as data analytics (Alteryx), data visualization (Tableau / PowerBI), and robotic process automation (UiPath).
Emitom recommends the following next steps:
Emitom, thank you!
Racheal
Kelsi Zalavadia
Security Professional
1
Answer
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Kelsi’s Answer
Hi Racheal,
If I understand your question right, you are looking for some questions that gets asked during an interview for HR role, correct!?
First off, you will get some typical questions that any fields get like "Why do you want to work in HR / pursue that as your career?" Having a clarity about it will give you confidence to answer any questions tbh.
Secondly, be prepared to answer their company related questions like "Why did you choose our company?", "What do you know about company's HR policy?", etc. They won't expect you to know all their policies, but you can be honest about what general stuff you have read on their website, and what you don't know due to company's great confidentiality! Don't miss a chance to praise them where they deserve it or call out things they can do better, this way you make them aware that you know your stuff.
Other than that, here are some sample questions that you could start preparing for:
Technical:
- What does an employee onboarding process look like?
- How would you handle confidential information & maintain discretion of personal HR matters?
- What are HR Systems & Softwares you are familiar with?
- What strategies would you implement to improve employee engagement & retention?
Situational questions:
- If you were to provide a constructive feedback to an employee who poorly performed & started becoming emotional during review, how would you handle it?
- Describe a time when you had to collaborate with other departments, how did you make the best out of it?
- You receive a complaint from an employee alleging harassment by their supervisor, how would you handle the situation?
I am not much familiar with the HR Systems or Softwares that gets used currently, so I would turn to someone who is closely related to your field. A great way to network with HR Professionals is through LinkedIn, you can find some folks who are very active about socially sharing the knowledge, so you can follow those individuals and seek guidance from them in a professional manner.
I hope this helps you prepare for your interview, all the very best !
Best Regards,
Kelsi
If I understand your question right, you are looking for some questions that gets asked during an interview for HR role, correct!?
First off, you will get some typical questions that any fields get like "Why do you want to work in HR / pursue that as your career?" Having a clarity about it will give you confidence to answer any questions tbh.
Secondly, be prepared to answer their company related questions like "Why did you choose our company?", "What do you know about company's HR policy?", etc. They won't expect you to know all their policies, but you can be honest about what general stuff you have read on their website, and what you don't know due to company's great confidentiality! Don't miss a chance to praise them where they deserve it or call out things they can do better, this way you make them aware that you know your stuff.
Other than that, here are some sample questions that you could start preparing for:
Technical:
- What does an employee onboarding process look like?
- How would you handle confidential information & maintain discretion of personal HR matters?
- What are HR Systems & Softwares you are familiar with?
- What strategies would you implement to improve employee engagement & retention?
Situational questions:
- If you were to provide a constructive feedback to an employee who poorly performed & started becoming emotional during review, how would you handle it?
- Describe a time when you had to collaborate with other departments, how did you make the best out of it?
- You receive a complaint from an employee alleging harassment by their supervisor, how would you handle the situation?
I am not much familiar with the HR Systems or Softwares that gets used currently, so I would turn to someone who is closely related to your field. A great way to network with HR Professionals is through LinkedIn, you can find some folks who are very active about socially sharing the knowledge, so you can follow those individuals and seek guidance from them in a professional manner.
I hope this helps you prepare for your interview, all the very best !
Best Regards,
Kelsi
Thank you, this is amazing! I really needed it.
Racheal
Rhianna Clancy
Human Capital Senior Manager
1
Answer
Updated
Rhianna’s Answer
Hi Rachael
Some great example questions here already given by Kelsi, you could also ask the recruiter before your interview what type of interview it is. For example, a competency based interview would include a lot of the situational type questions above - this could help you in your preparation.
I would recommend researching beforehand what HR software the company you are interviewing for uses, and you could learn more about it to have some knowledge during the interview. Some of the more widely used HR softwares include Workday, SAP, Oracle etc.
You can also prepare answers around what transferable technical / software skills you have. For example, if you're a regular user of Microsoft or Google there may be transferable skills you have which would enable you to pick up their specific HR software quickly.
All the best,
Rhianna
Some great example questions here already given by Kelsi, you could also ask the recruiter before your interview what type of interview it is. For example, a competency based interview would include a lot of the situational type questions above - this could help you in your preparation.
I would recommend researching beforehand what HR software the company you are interviewing for uses, and you could learn more about it to have some knowledge during the interview. Some of the more widely used HR softwares include Workday, SAP, Oracle etc.
You can also prepare answers around what transferable technical / software skills you have. For example, if you're a regular user of Microsoft or Google there may be transferable skills you have which would enable you to pick up their specific HR software quickly.
All the best,
Rhianna
Thanks for your encouragement!
Racheal
Louise Patrick MCIPD
HR Manager
5
Answers
Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Louise’s Answer
Boosting your skills with some fundamental knowledge of employment law can be a game-changer. Are there any law firms specializing in employment matters that provide complimentary educational webinars?
Also, consider following thought leaders in the HR and leadership arena on LinkedIn. Diving deep into their insights can not only enrich your understanding but also prepare you for interviews by showing your awareness of current trends.
Here are some of my top picks for you to explore: John Amaechi OBE, Simon Sinek, Michael Bungay Stanier, and Timothy R Clark. Their wisdom can be a great source of inspiration and learning.
Also, consider following thought leaders in the HR and leadership arena on LinkedIn. Diving deep into their insights can not only enrich your understanding but also prepare you for interviews by showing your awareness of current trends.
Here are some of my top picks for you to explore: John Amaechi OBE, Simon Sinek, Michael Bungay Stanier, and Timothy R Clark. Their wisdom can be a great source of inspiration and learning.
Raquel raquel.martin@sage.com
Tech
3
Answers
Madrid, Community of Madrid, Spain
Updated
Raquel’s Answer
To ace your HR interview at a tech company, start by preparing thoroughly!
Immerse yourself in knowledge about the organization. Understand its current standing - is it growing, has it gone global? Follow the influential figures of the company on social media and absorb as much information as you can.
Make an effort to familiarize yourself with your interviewer. If they have a background in economics, law, or any other field, it's beneficial to know. Craft intelligent questions that demonstrate your interest and make you stand out.
Research the company's culture and work environment. This will help you determine if it's the right fit for you.
Believe in yourself, you're going to do fantastic!
Best regards,
Raquel
Immerse yourself in knowledge about the organization. Understand its current standing - is it growing, has it gone global? Follow the influential figures of the company on social media and absorb as much information as you can.
Make an effort to familiarize yourself with your interviewer. If they have a background in economics, law, or any other field, it's beneficial to know. Craft intelligent questions that demonstrate your interest and make you stand out.
Research the company's culture and work environment. This will help you determine if it's the right fit for you.
Believe in yourself, you're going to do fantastic!
Best regards,
Raquel
Michelle Bharmal
Staffing
5
Answers
Ellicott City, Maryland
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Several firms you're interested in interviewing with might offer practice interviews on their own websites or on YouTube. It's also a good idea to use the tips mentioned earlier and rehearse responses to questions that are commonly asked during HR interviews. Be prepared with examples for all potential responses, instead of merely responding to the question at hand.
Here are some sample questions:
Could you elaborate on your skills and experience in managing employee relationships and resolving workplace conflicts?
What methods do you use to ensure adherence to labor laws and regulations, and how do you keep yourself informed about any legislative changes?
Could you share instances from your past where you've designed and executed successful recruitment and retention strategies to attract and keep top-notch talent?
Here are some sample questions:
Could you elaborate on your skills and experience in managing employee relationships and resolving workplace conflicts?
What methods do you use to ensure adherence to labor laws and regulations, and how do you keep yourself informed about any legislative changes?
Could you share instances from your past where you've designed and executed successful recruitment and retention strategies to attract and keep top-notch talent?
Amber Steeves
HRBP
33
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
Amber’s Answer
Type of questions in HR to prepare for:
1) Situational questions- the purpose is to understand how you think and respond to obstacles by asking these types of questions
I have an acronym that helps me to remind how to respond to these types of questions- BARF
B- background
A- action (what was the issue, what happened, what steps YOU took, things that might have happened during the course of the situation,
R- how did YOU resolve (try not to include others as the ones who got the resolution- you want to focus on what you resolved but you can share a group situation)
F- Follow-up to the resolution ( for example, xx things are going well or after a few months, i circled back and the resolution provided blank ROI
2) Background questions- make sure to research the role, do some homework about it and maybe try and reach out to folks doing that job
Except to share your background, what you know about the field, why you are the best person for the job, what you hope to accomplish in the role, why you applied for the job
3) not a question, but research is a huge part of HR and continuing to learn and expand your knowledge so I would recommend to have resources that centered around the field
1) Situational questions- the purpose is to understand how you think and respond to obstacles by asking these types of questions
I have an acronym that helps me to remind how to respond to these types of questions- BARF
B- background
A- action (what was the issue, what happened, what steps YOU took, things that might have happened during the course of the situation,
R- how did YOU resolve (try not to include others as the ones who got the resolution- you want to focus on what you resolved but you can share a group situation)
F- Follow-up to the resolution ( for example, xx things are going well or after a few months, i circled back and the resolution provided blank ROI
2) Background questions- make sure to research the role, do some homework about it and maybe try and reach out to folks doing that job
Except to share your background, what you know about the field, why you are the best person for the job, what you hope to accomplish in the role, why you applied for the job
3) not a question, but research is a huge part of HR and continuing to learn and expand your knowledge so I would recommend to have resources that centered around the field
Thanks, can't wait to put this advice into action!
Racheal