Essential Questions for an HR Interview

Every job interview is a chance for a candidate to gather more information about the role, the company and, most importantly, whether or not the opportunity would be a good fit for them. Does it align with their style, values, goals, and career path?

When interviewing for a human resources position, here are some helpful questions to ask:

Questions to Think of Asking for an HR Interview

“What do you see as HR’s most important role at your company?”

Understanding the function of HR within an organization provides important insight into what can be expected from a position. It also clues you into how company leadership views HR: Is it a dynamic department with a true seat at the leadership table or it is perceived as more administrative or logistical?

“What does an average day in this job look like?”

The responsibilities of a position should be clearly outlined in its job description – if not, you should see this as an up-front red flag – but even so, ask the hiring manager to walk you through the day-to-day tasks involved. The reality may be much different than you envisioned. And if not well then, it’s a win-win!

“What do you see this company looking like in five years?”

A company that is actively growing or changing will face different talent acquisition and management challenges than one that expects to basically maintain the status quo. Not that there’s necessarily anything wrong with the status quo, but having this information clarified will be a further step in your decision-making process.

You may also learn more about a company’s goals, mission, and vision with this question. For example, if a top HR priority in the next five years is bringing in more diverse candidates, this tells you the organization values diversity and inclusion.

“What is the potential for growth in this position?”

While there’s nothing wrong with simply settling into a role – after all, that’s what you’re being hired for – find out how your interviewers see the position growing and if there will be opportunities for future advancement. Otherwise, you could wind up unfulfilled, stagnated, and unhappy.

“With respect to your time to hire and my competing opportunities, could you please share the hiring timeline for this role?”

This question is meant to determine if a role is a high priority for an employer. If so, they won’t mind sharing their hiring timeframe. If a recruiter responds by saying they’re “just looking for the right person,” or something similarly vague, it’s a red flag. This signals that they’re in no hurry to fill the job. It could be next week, next year, or never.

Want Further Insight Prior to Your Next HR Interview?

Bottom line: It all comes down to seeking out as much transparency as possible from an employer and making the best determination that a job will be the right fit. At Key HR we are key to your future. To learn more about us or for further talent management career insights, contact us today