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HR Manager Interview Questions

Stephen Rampur Nov 7, 2018
HR manager interview questions and answers are general in nature, as the job largely involves administrative responsibilities.
The job of an HR manager is one of the most important in any organization, regardless of the industry. If you are planning to enter this managerial position related to the field of human resources, you need to be well aware of the HR manager interview questions and answers that might be thrown to you.


The job responsibilities of an HR manager mainly relate to handling the human resource department of the company. The processes he has to oversee are normally related to recruitment and selection, performance appraisals, employee payroll, termination, etc.
Sometimes, he may even be required to carry out administrative tasks in a small company. Therefore, he should have working knowledge and understanding of the processes of the organization in general.

Sample Questions

  • Tell me about yourself.
  • Tell me something about ... (a labor law, the hottest news in the corporate world, etc.).
  • What are your strong and weak points?
  • How long have you been working in a managerial position?
  • How many employees did you handle in your previous assignments?
  • Which leadership style do you think you possess?
  • Can you rate your employee management skills on the scale of 1 to 10? Why have you rated yourself on this specific scale?
  • How will you handle deadlines?
  • Tell me about one experience where you being an executive, had to take important decisions for the process.
  • If the company goes on a trip, and the bus fails, what will you do in such a situation?
  • Why did you choose to study human resources?
  • How would you deal with employees not performing up to the mark in spite of them being capable of the same?
  • How did you carry out the performance appraisal process of your previous company?
  • Are you aware of the Americans with Disabilities Act? What are the main aspects of this act?
  • What do you expect of your subordinates?
  • How will you generally address to a worker's concern regarding employment discrimination?
  • Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
  • What are the standard steps in the procedure of employee termination?
  • What trainings have you attended to hone your skills in this field?
  • Did you ever consult the Director about an issue which you were not able to manage?
  • What do you think I am going to ask you after this question?
  • How difficult is it to handle a change in policy?
  • What is the main attribute that you see in potential candidates before hiring them?
  • Have you been involved in labor negotiations? Describe your experience.
  • Which employee training methodologies do you prefer, and why?
  • If a company is experiencing employee turnover at an increasing rate, what policies will you suggest so that the rate would be low?
  • How would you handle a workplace conflict between a boss and his subordinate?
  • Can you give us an insight of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967?
  • Why do you think we should select you over other candidates who have more experience than you in Human Resource Management (HRM)?
  • How would you determine a salary for a position in the administration department?
  • Our company is facing the problem of 'XYZ'. How do you think we should deal with the situation?
  • Which employee appreciation and incentive methods do you think are most effective to motivate employees?
  • Is there anything that you would like us to ask you or you would like to tell?
The last one of the list is usually the trickiest question that may be asked, and it is also the last one, which the interviewer may ask you. Interviewers normally expect a witty answer to this question, which if given acceptably, can certainly fetch you the position. These are just some simple interview questions for a human resource manager.
This session is generally conducted by the HR director and other members of the top management, so it is important for you to answer professionally. Remember that a majority of the questions would be associated with real life corporate problems and solutions.
Also, note that the questions asked are uncertain and can vary from situation to situation, and also on the type of responses you give.