Human resource management is considered the backbone of every industry. Be who you are don’t try to be someone else that’s the key. Here I have listed 13 Mostly Asked HR Interview Questions and Answers for your clear understanding.

1. Tell us something about yourself.

The  first question, you can expect during any interview you face. This usually  and mostly asked interview question to start the communication and set the ball rolling for the interview. You can answer this question by providing some information about your work experience, technologies you have worked upon, educational qualifications. If you are a fresh graduate, you can provide some information about your family also.

2. What do you know about us?

Research the company and its business a LOT before appearing for the interview. Also, find out a bit about the technologies they work upon. You don’t need to know everything inside out but having a fair idea about the company makes you appear interested in the position, to be taken seriously.

– Browse through the company website and make sure you know what the company does and make sure you do so in short.
– Discuss the positives aspects of the company, the interviewer should feel that you have done your homework.

For e.g. I see that your company has shown a lot of growth in past years if I talk  about share prices and you can quote more based on your research to answer such mostly asked interview question.

3. Can you perform under pressure?

Yes, expect pressure in everything you do. It is important to maintain your performance and develop strategies to deliver under pressure. You can then go ahead and talk about your way of dealing with pressure and performing under it.

DON’T forget you will be tested as you will be asked to quote examples how you have handled pressures.Be prepared with jaw-dropping examples to impress to an interviewer.

4. Tell us some of your strengths.

It is important to study the requirements of the position before you appear for the interview. List out your strengths and offer the ones that this role demands.

Need some inspiration?  Here are a few sample answers to get you started:

If you’re still struggling for good strengths, consider trying to fit one or more of these(but remember, no more than three…) work strengths into your answers.(And obviously make sure they apply to you!):

5. Tell us some of your weaknesses.

Be careful do not offer a weakness which will directly affect your selection but at the same time saying that you do not have any weakness will not be right too. Every human being has weaknesses, so it is perfectly OK for you to have some too.

– If you do not wish to discuss your weakness, you can say, I cannot compete with Rajnikant 😛

For e.g. I have been cooking for 2 years I  still can’t cook to impress others.

6. What are the most important things for you as a manager?

A manager should motivate his team to be happy, putting his team first  and keep performing and the project he is working on with his team is successfully finished with minimum problems.

Will you be happy to relocate, if required?

Again, a question for you to answer based on your position. If you are anticipating this question in the interview, it is better to discuss this with your family also before you go to face the interview.

7. Will you be happy to relocate, if required?

Be prepared for this anticipated question ask yourself ,discuss with your family before you go to face the interview.

This might be a tricky question to test you whether you are a flexible person or not.Always say yes if you need the job.

8. What kind of a salary are you looking for?

Most of the big companies will have a fixed remuneration for each level. You may say as per company norms.

However, if this is negotiable So, know your lower limit (amount below which you can’t go) and also know the maximum salary in the industry for the position then put forward a figure which is not very exact. It is better to mention a range. For e.g. if you are expecting something around 55 K, say that you expect something in mid-fifties. Don’t keep the range too broad otherwise, you will be offered something towards the lower end.

If you are a fresher, most of the times you will have to accept the company’s offering for the position. However, if you find it too less, you can definitely discuss that during the interview.

9. Why should we hire you?

– Here you should discuss the profile you have applied for and your strengths/experience with which you can add value to the job

– Discuss your achievements at your previous job, and say that I have developed my skills to suit my current profile, but I want to develop myself further and face new challenges, and for that, I need to change my job.

– I will always be willing to change roles share responsibilities to suit company requirements.

10. Why do you want to work for us?

-Start by discussing the profile you have applied for and go on to say that the organisation would provide an opportunity to enhance your knowledge and help you to grow professionally.

-Discuss how you would be of use to the organisation and how you plan to develop your professional competencies.

11. Tell us something about your hobbies.

Answer it with honesty, as they can go deeper into this discussion. You can include:

– Reading books,

If your hobby is the book reading, read some serious books. A few fictions may not suffice. What books you have to read. Books are written by Dr.Abdul kalam (Wing of fire, Ignited minds), Mr.Nandan Nilekani (Imagining India), Robert covey (7 habits of highly effective people) etc.

– Blogging,
– Listening to music,
– working out in the gym
– Reading newspapers,
– Shopping,
– Watching movies

12. Do you have any questions for us?

This is usually the last question you can expect during an interview. It is extremely important to have some intelligent questions to ask the interviewer otherwise you may just sound dull and uninterested. Research the company a bit and discuss if they have been in news recently. You can also discuss the growth prospects for you within the company etc.

13. Sell me a pen in the job interview?

Step #1.  Ask the person what they do.

You want to understand what kind of person you are selling to. How will they use your product?  If they are in management, they probably sign important documents and checks.
Listening to them will give you background and hints as to how to most effectively persuade them to buy this pen.

Step #2.  Acknowledge how important their job is and get them talking about the last time they used a pen.

Link their job importance to their use of your product. Signing checks are important. They don’t want to be wasting time looking for a pen or using one that is running out of ink. Their signature is important and should look strong.

Highlight a feature of the pen you are selling, and associate it with a signature fitting for the work they are doing. For example, if they are signing important legal documents they should sign in your pen’s strong blue ink, so they can distinguish the original document from a copy.
Gauge their reaction to the usefulness of the pen and the power it wields.

Step #3.  Highlight an emotional use for the pen. 

In step #2 you sold them on the importance and practical uses of your product. Now in the next step, sell them on the emotional benefits of your product. Using the pen for writing a handwritten note.

Tell them a story. Highlight how you have started writing your spouse, parents, and friends handwritten notes. Get them thinking about someone in their life that they appreciate, and that they would like to thank.
Make an emotional and personal connection with the pen. The handwritten card and bright blue signed ink can be their trademark.

Step #4.  Hand them back the pen and close the deal.

Close with connecting to the things that they connected most strongly to.
If they seemed to resonate more with step #2, tell them it’s time to buy the pen and get back to work signing contracts.
If they told you their mother’s birthday is tomorrow and they haven’t gotten her a gift yet, tell them it’s time to buy the pen and write her a special card.

Read More…What Qualities Employers Expect From Freshers