GENERAL INTERVIEW QUESTION AND ANSWERS
The job selection process, especially in India, comprises of the following rounds.
- A written test
- A group discussion
- Personal interview with a panel
- Technical/Role-specific interview (this might take place before the personal interview sometimes)
- HR interview
As a candidate, here you are supposed to give a brief introduction, answer a few HR interview questions and answers about your job role or career and in the end, discuss salary, perks, benefits, deductions, company rules and regulations, conditions etc. with the HR person.
Tell me something about yourself in brief
This is one of the most frequently asked questions during an HR round interview.
Your answer has to be short, crisp and to the point. Here are some possible high-impact answers to help you leave a great impression.
Here are some possible high-impact answers to help you leave a great impression.
“THANK YOU, SIR/MA’AM FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. I AM FROM XYZ CITY AND BELONG TO A NUCLEAR FAMILY.
MY FATHER IS A CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE AND MY MOTHER IS A VICE PRINCIPAL AT A PRIVATE SCHOOL.
MY YOUNGER SISTER WILL APPEAR HER CBSE 10TH BOARD THIS YEAR.
I CARRY OUT ANY TASK ASSIGNED TO ME WITHOUT HESITATION, PROVIDED THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE CLEAR. IN THE CASE OF DOUBTS, I NEVER HESITATE TO PUT FORTH MY QUESTIONS.
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FAST LEARNER, AND I LOVE TO KEEP UP MY PROCESS OF LEARNING TO FIGURE OUT BETTER WAYS OF SOLVING PROBLEMS.
MOREOVER, I LOVE TO COMPETE WITH MY OWN PAST PERFORMANCES THAN COMPETING WITH MY PEERS, AS I BELIEVE THAT IMPROVEMENT IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN PERFECTION!”
Don’t make the mistake of sharing too much personal information in any of your HR interview questions and answers round.
You will not be left with enough time to sell your experience and relevant technical skills.
Describe who you are or Tell me about your background
In an HR round, you will surely face this question among all other HR interview questions and answers asked to you, and I am sure you treat it as the easiest of all questions. Well, it’s not!
Never underestimate the possibility of scoring better points with a crisp answer, if you feel confident.
It can become a fate-changer for applicants having fewer than 5 years of total job experience.
“I AM A B. TECH IN COMPUTER SCIENCE/B. COM IN ECONOMICS. I ALSO HAVE AN MBA OR I HAVE COMPLETED A CERTIFICATION COURSE IN DIGITAL MARKETING FROM ABC ACADEMY.
WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW?”
In case your degree is not as relevant as it should have been, but you feel that you have the potential to shine through, you can give this answer.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
This is a very common question asked by HR personnel to candidates.
Remember that interviewers these days hardly ever get impressed by flowery responses.
“I HAVE SEVERAL STRENGTHS NAMELY – I AM PATIENT, COMMITTED, HONEST AND SELF-MOTIVATED.
I AM THE BIGGEST DREAMER I HAVE EVER COME ACROSS! I FORGIVE EASILY AND HATE TO KEEP GRUDGES IN MY HEART.
MY GREATEST WEAKNESS IS THAT I DON’T LIKE GETTING INTERRUPTED WHEN I AM SERIOUSLY INTO SOMETHING.
ANOTHER ONE OF MY WEAKNESSES IS THAT I TRUST PEOPLE VERY EASILY.
You have changed jobs/jumped ship too many times already, why so?
This question is asked exclusively to experienced professionals who have switched jobs more than two times in their entire career. Freshers can skip to the next question.
“YOU MAY LABEL ME A ‘FREQUENT CAREER-CHANGER’ BUT I GENUINELY FEEL THAT TODAY I AM A FAR BETTER EMPLOYEE.
MY SWITCHES HAVE HELPED ME DEVELOP BETTER INTERPERSONAL SKILLS, GAIN DIVERSE SKILLS AND ADAPT TO RAPIDLY CHANGING BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTS.
I CAN SOLVE PROBLEMS MORE EFFICIENTLY AND CREATIVELY, AS I HAVE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH AMBIGUITY AND UNCERTAINTY. MY FIRST JOB HELPED ME DEVELOP PATIENCE.
What are your strong points? or What are your strengths?
Don’t just talk about your strengths, your interviewer genuinely wants to know about your strong points.
“I AM PASSIONATE TOWARDS MY WORK AND ALSO A GOOD LISTENER, WHICH MEANS, I TAKE MY INSTRUCTIONS SERIOUSLY.
I AM NOT A PERSON WHO LEAVES THINGS MIDWAY. I NEVER LOSE FOCUS, EVEN IF I AM UNDER STRESS OR HAVE STRINGENT DEADLINES TO MEET.
I LIKE TO FINISH EVERY SINGLE TASK ON MY TO-DO LIST COMPLETELY. OPTIMISM, ENERGY AND MY ABILITY TO LEARN QUICKLY LET ME HIT THE GROUND AND RAPIDLY SOLVE PROBLEMS.
