No organization can succeed or become successful without hiring talented, skillful, and ambitious employees. It is for this reason that employees of an organization are treated as assets and are rated highly, time and again, by some famous entrepreneurs and businessmen. The hiring of talented human resources is hard and requires a lot of patience, skills, endurance, and tolerance.
A Human Resource Director is the functional head of the HR department of an organization and oversees all the recruitment processes along with ensuring employee well-being. He or she could be considered as the one-stop solution for all the employee grievances and acts as an ombudsman. The position of HR Director is a reputed as well as a celebrated designation that commands a high level of authority as well as remuneration. The interview process for such a high position would majorly contain opinion-based questions wherein you are supposed to share your approach and views.
21 Best Interview Questions To Study
1) How Tough Has Hiring Become In These Days?
This is a job-specific question that requires you to share your views and opinions in relation to the hiring industry and problems faced by the recruiters.
Sample Answer
In my humble opinion, the recruitment process is the same as before and I see absolutely no change in the toughness or difficulty level. With the advent of technology, hiring has now become dependent upon a variety of software such as ATS (Applicant Tracking System), BambooHR, and other similar technologies. At the same time, growth in job-seekers, as well as entrepreneurs, has made it tough to make the right match and achieve perfection in the hiring process. However, if an HR manager works diligently and smartly scrutinizes the resumes and job applications, he or she might be able to save a lot of time, energy, and financial resources.
2) What Do You Mean By Employee Burnout and Its Consequences?
Since you are appearing for the position of director, you will encounter a lot of opinion-based questions, wherein you are supposed to explain as well as devise solutions to the problems. The level of efficiency and relevancy of the solutions provided by you would decide your selection.
Sample Answer
Employee burnout is a common situation nowadays. Business organizations tend to work in a dynamic environment wherein even a small economic, political, or legal change can turn their entire business upside-down. It is for this reason, that organizations prefer to assign lots of tasks and duties to their employees so as to preserve their valuable and precious working capital. This leads to over-stretched employees wherein they are burned out by performing heavy volumes of tasks and duties day after day. The direct consequence of such a situation is a reduction in the customer base of the organization.
3) Isn’t It A Wastage Of Time, Energy and Resources, When You Hire A Fresher And Train Him or Her?
This is a practical question wherein you are expected to share your own opinions and viewpoints.
Sample Answer
If that would be the case then I am afraid there would not be a single experienced professional. Sir, I am totally against this viewpoint and opinion. When you hire a young professional, you tend to not only absorb his energy and ideas but also train him as per the need and requirements of a particular organization. It is always nice to write easily on plain paper than writing on messy and already used paper. Hence, I always lay focus on hiring freshers and prefer to train them adequately so that they are able to learn organizational values and develop a sense of belongingness towards the organization.
4) How Can Having A Small Team Of Personnel Affect An Organization Negatively?
This is a practical and situation-based question wherein you are expected to share your own opinions and viewpoints.
Sample Answer
Sir, this is an extremely critical and interpretative situation, which can lead to losses as well as gains for an organization. When organizations tend to have a small team of professionals working towards achieving a particular goal, an organization tends to save its salary/wage bill. However, on the other hand, the allowance expenditure of an organization increases considerably, as inadequate members of a team will not be able to achieve a target within the deadline, without working overtime. Further, there are high chances that over-stretched employees would not be able to deliver expected performances. Hence, it is necessary to strike an appropriate balance, otherwise, this may contribute negatively.
5) What Is The Best Indicator Which Shows That An Organization Needs To Re-structure Its Employees?
An interview for a position similar to that of a director requires you to think analytically and tactically. The majority of questions asked in the interview session would largely be opinion-based, wherein you are supposed to share your own ideology and viewpoints.
Sample Answer
Sir, In my humble opinion, a rise in the level of customer complaints is the best indicator that you need to make suitable tweaks and changes to your organizational structure as well as the employees directly involved in the production process. This is because the direct effect of a burned-out employee or a negligent employee is on the product/service delivered by the organization. An inferior product or a sub-standard service would always lead to widespread criticisms as well as consumer complaints.
6) How Do You Handle A Dishonest Recruiter?
There have always been situations wherein recruiters or HR managers, tend to take bribes or undue favors from candidates on the pretext of giving them jobs. Handling and managing such unethical employees is the duty of an HR Director and you are supposed to share your own strategy to tackle such a situation.
Sample Answer
Our human resource industry is an industry capable of fulfilling dreams and aspirations. However, like every industry, this too is marred by some unethical and unprofessional people that ruin young talents. I am pretty strict in this regard and if I ever come across any such unscrupulous element under my supervision and control, I would immediately fire him or her from the job and would also file a police complaint in regards to the same.
7) What Motivates You To Work?
This is a common interview question through which an interviewer wants to know the primary motivational factor that motivates you and prompts you to work hard and achieve your goals and objectives in a time-bound manner.
Sample Answer
Sir, I believe, this is a highly subjective question and an appropriate answer to this question depends largely upon an individual’s preferences, desires, and the conditions in which he or she lives. For me, it is my desire to become successful in life and earn widespread recognition from all the spheres. This not only motivates me to work hard but also helps me to stay motivated throughout the entire course of my working day.
8) Are You Interested In Extending Training To Young Professionals?
For employees working at a higher position and level, it is necessary for them to train and educate young professionals and freshers. This might be an additional duty on your part but you are expected to perform it. Hence, always answer this question in a positive manner.
Sample Answer
Yes sir, absolutely. I would love to train, groom, and impart whatever knowledge I have acquired throughout the years for the benefit of the organization. This would not only help me to learn more but also help the organization to receive the services of a qualified and trained employee. Be assured, I would never refrain from extending any training service to the employees.
9) Can You Work Under Pressure Situations?
This is a common interview question wherein an interviewer wants to know whether or not you can work under stressful and hectic working conditions. You are always expected to share a positive response in regards the same.
Sample Answer
Yes sir absolutely. I have the physical as well as mental strength to work for long hours in a day without adequate breaks or intervals. I have developed these strengths of mine by indulging myself into consistent yoga and meditation activities for about 5 days a week. Be assured that, I would never complain of the work load or high volumes of files to be executed in a working day.
10) How Important Is The Carrot And Stick Policy While Managing Employees?
This is a practical question wherein you are expected to share your own opinions and viewpoints.
Sample Answer
I believe, if this policy is implemented in an efficient and trusted manner, an organization would be able to reap high level of benefits through them. Giving rewards to a meritorious candidate and punching a negligent candidate not only improves the productivity level of the employees but also helps an organization to achieve its own goals and objectives. However, this policy must not lead to any exploitation of an employee and must take care of their personal interests as well as benefits.
11) How Do You Handle Complaints Of Harassament and Teasing From Employees?
Being an HR Director, you are supposed to handle and resolve complaints relating to harassment, bullying and teasing at the workplace. Hence, share your strategy for the same.
Sample Answer
Sir, such unethical activities conducted at a workplace not only destroys the confidence level of an employee but also hampers their productivity considerably. Harassment and bullying can be considered as termites which have the ability to eat out the intellectual as well as the thought process of an employee completely. This seriously affects their mental well-being, with situations even worse in case of female employees. I am pretty strict about the same, and would never allow anything under my jurisdiction. If I ever come across any such thing, I would straight away fire such an employee and even file a police complaint.
12) How Can You Prepare Efficient Interview Questions For A Particular Job?
An HR director has the sole responsibility of finalizing as well as approving the interview questions that are to be asked in an interview session. Hence, share your viewpoints and strategy using which you would prepare a question set.
Sample Answer
In order to do so, first of all, I would like to understand the nature of the job and the primary purpose that an organization wants to achieve through it. Post this, I would understand the qualifications and certifications required for the job. After getting all the relevant information, I would design a questionnaire that would contain questions, of the following nature:
- Tests the grip of the candidate on his or her core profile
- Evaluates his or her personality
- Checks and examines the intellecutual ability as well as critical thinking of the candidate
- A question thourgh which a candidate is able to clear his or her doubts and apprehensions in relation to the job as well as the business organziation.
13) Rate Your Communcation Skills On A Scale Of One To Five.
Being a person associated with the HR department, you are supposed to have superior communication skills. Explain your answer in a logical manner by giving all the reasons or rationales, and than give yourself a score.
Sample Answer
Sir, being in the industry for almost an entire decade, has promoted and honed almost all of my inter-personal as well as communication skills. I have the ability to generate fluent speeches with perfect use of tone and variations, that not only impresses but also influences. In addition to this, I have also been a regular speaker at a local confederation. Considering all the facts, I would like to rate myself with a 4.8.
14) Who Do You Prefer – Referred Employees or Non-referred Employees, and Why?
This is a practical question wherein you are expected to share your own opinions and viewpoints.
Sample Answer
Sir, I prefer referred employees. This is particularly due to the fact that when close contact of an employee is already working in the organization, it leads to fewer chances of migration and switch-overs. Further, an organization would also be able to test its character pretty easily and can be assured to some extent about the employee’s integrity, honesty, and straightforwardness.
15) Monetary Benefits and Incentives Leads To Additional Financial Burden On the Organization. Comment On The Statement.
Throughout an interview session, you will always encounter a few questions and situations, that would test your intellectual ability as well as your grip on the core principles. Be calm and composed while answering such questions.
Sample Answer
Sir, employees are no less than assets of the organization. Without efficient and talented employees, an organization would not be able to achieve its goals and objectives. Hence, it is absolutely necessary and vital to keep them satisfied and content. The best way to keep them satisfied is by extending them monetary benefits and other lucrative incentives. By receiving them, they would get motivated and would work with a higher level of zeal, passion, and perseverance.
16) When Can You Start?
It is common for interviewers to ask this question so as to get a quote of your availability. There is nothing technical in this question and you are expected to share a genuine response in regards to the same.
Sample Answer
Sir, I am currently working with an organization. However, since I was desperate for a job change, I had already submitted a notice to them so as to relieve me from my duties. The entire process would take at least 14 days and after that, I hope I would get my relieving letter. Considering all the facts and making all the calculations, I believe, I will be able to join the organization on or after (____mention the date of your joining_____)
17) How Many Stairs Do You Need To Travel To International Space Center?
Getting interviewed for the position of director is not a cakewalk. You would certainly encounter a few questions that have the ability to unsettle you completely and make you feel irritated or even frustrated. Your entire body language is put on display through these tricky questions and an interviewer wants to examine your presence of mind as well as intelligence level. Hence, always prepare for these questions and try to remain calm and composed while answering.
Sample Answer
Sir, the distance of the International Space Center from the earth is approximately 400 Kms. In order to cover this distance, we would approximately need 1,300,000 feet of the staircase. A typical staircase is around 9 to 12 feet long. However, I seriously doubt the cost-benefit ratio. I believe the construction cost of such stairs would exceed the cost of making a journey through rockets.
18) How Do You Negotiate Salary With An Employee?
This is a practical question through which an interviewer wants to understand your hold and grip on the basic human resource procedures.
Sample Answer
Negotiating salary is a tricky process. Throughout my tenure, I have encountered more than 500 employees, belonging to different backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, and financial conditions. It has been observed that most of the candidates who have superior educational qualifications tend to negotiate more aggressively as compared to candidates with less experience or qualifications. In my opinion, I always give the candidate an offer to share his or her own viewpoint first in regards to salary. Then, I prefer to close the deal by finalizing the salary which is near to the median salary offered in the industry. If I perceive that any candidate is too greedy or a mercenary, I prefer to reject him or her outright.
19) What Is Your Major Strength?
Be it the position of a director or a supervisor, you will always find this question in an interview session. This question helps an interviewer to thoroughly examine your personality as well as mindset. Hence, always prepare sincerely for this question.
Sample Answer
Sir, being in the profession for the last 10 years, I believe, I have developed a lot of strengths in me as well as honed my skills quite efficiently. However, since I am being asked to share a single strength, I would like to share the most dominant and closely related strength in me. I am a detail-oriented person. I would never start a project without getting complete information in regards to the budget, objectives of the project, the duties to be performed and most importantly the personnel that I am supposed to hire. This not only enhances my own individual performance but also helps an organization to achieve its goals in a time-bound manner.
20) Why Do You Want To Work With Us?
This is a common interview question through which an interviewer wants to know your seriousness and commitment towards the organization. Through this question an interviewer wants to know do you really prefer working in this organization or this is just a backup option for you.
Sample Answer
Sir, this organization is roughly 25 years old and has been growing at a steady rate with operations now spread in more than 15 countries, affected through more than 2500 branches. With the presence of more than 50,000 loyal customers, it is undoubtedly a highly successful and competent organization. In addition to this, I have observed that this organization places a lot of emphasis upon the contentment and satisfaction of its employees by implementing employee-centric policies. I really wish to be a part of this organization and contribute with all my skills, labor, and perseverance.
21) Do You Have Any Questions For Us?
It is a common habit for the interviewers to ask this question towards the fag end of an interview session. Through this question, a candidate not only gets an opportunity to ask a few questions from the interviewer but also gets a chance to clear all his or her doubts in relation to the organization, its policies, its working hours, etc. Hence, this question must not be skipped at any cost, as that would severely hurt your selection chances.
Sample Questions
- What are the work timings of the organization?
- Is it the organization’s policy to extend paid leaves during maternity/paternity period?
- What are the various health benefits extended by the organization to its employees?
- Please enumerate a list of all the allowances given by the organization to its employees.
- After how many years an employee can get promotions and regular pay hikes?
Download the list of questions in .PDF format, to practice with them later, or to use them on your interview template (for HR Director interviews):
References
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