10 Interview Questions to Answer If You Want to Be an HR Manager

10 Interview Questions to Answer If You Want to Be an HR Manager10 Interview Questions to Answer If You Want to Be an HR Manager So youve been in HR for a few years now, and youre eagerto move to the next level. Its no wonder - with 10,000+ jobs available and a median salary of over $86,000 , HR Manager is a highly desirable position (enough to have cracked the top five of our 2018 Best Jobs in America list).But of course, before you can enjoy the perks that come with the position,you need to actually get the job. As an HR expert yourself, you already know that the best way to do that is to brush up on your interview skills. Its always a good idea to prepare for the most common interview questions - but if you want to really wow the hiring kollektiv, youll need to go a step further and research interview questions that specifically speak to the role youre applying for.Check out these common interview questions for HR Managers that weve rounded up - as well as tips on how to answer them.Many people lean towards one management style in particular, and its perfectly fine to share that. But remember that as you move to a new company with a new culture and people to boot, whats worked for you in the past wont necessarily be the right choice. As one interview candidate notes, one has to adjust to each individual, and also adjust to the team as a whole. Describing your own personal management style while also indicating an openness to flexibility is key here.Increasingly, HR isnt just about administering benefits or settling employee disputes - its about driving business results through effective people management. To wow your interviewer(s), discuss the core initiatives youd implement at the prospective company, how you would meaaya success and how the initiatives wouldimpact the bottom line.Everyone has parts of their job they arent crazy about. However, its important to avoid coming across as overly negative or unwilling. If you do nt like recruiting for example, you shouldnt say I hate recruiting and leave it at that. Instead, you might want to say something more along the lines of Recruiting isnt my passion, but I know what an important role it plays to a companys success so I dont mind taking it on as one of my responsibilities.This question is important on a couple of fronts For one, it allows you to describe what you personally need in order to do your job successfully, which is important in determining whether or not the company youre interviewing with is the right fit. In addition, though, its also a good starting point for you to talk about how you would shape the workplace and company culture if given the job.In the HR field, you often have to make tough calls. One of those, unfortunately, is job eliminations, whether through layoffs or firing. That probably shouldnt be the first move you make (a performance improvement plan , for example, can be just what you need to bring an underperforming employe e up to snuff). But when that doesnt work out, or an employee does something particularly egregious, there comes a point when you need to let an employee go for the good of the company - and its important to communicate to your potential employer that you understand that.This question is frequently asked in interviews regardless of the role, but as a soon-to-be HR Manager, its especially important to demonstrate effective conflict resolution . Nail this question by describing the specific action you took to overcome a difficult situation, how you showed level-headedness and what the results were.Establishing and enforcing policies and processes is a key component of HR, but that doesnt mean they should be set in stone. In answering this question, youll want to talk about how and why deviating from the norm was the right decision, and how that impacted policies moving forward.Its not always easy to stand up for the right thing, but if youre in HR, its expected of you. You cant answ er this question simply by commenting on unethical practices that youve witnessed - you need to talk about a time when you saw something going wrong and took concrete action against it. If you dont have a relevant, first-hand experience to share, make sure to brainstorm a hypothetical scenario beforehand and think of how you would remedy the situation.This is another good opportunity for you to show off the ideas you have for the company youre interviewing with. Ask questions that demonstrate an understanding of the type of candidates they need and their current pain points. If the company strives to become more data-driven, for example, you may want to ask what experience the candidate has with reporting and analytics. Still drawing blanks? Try asking one of these oddball questions for a response recruiters wont soon forget - just make sure to justify why you think its valuableIf youve been in HR long enough, you likely have your own thoughts on where the industry is heading. However, it never hurts to show that you keep up with the latest industry research and findings. Cite information from your favoriteHR newsletters, trade magazines or conferences. A few trends that are supposed to be particularly important in 2018 artificial intelligence, transparency and lateral movements, says Glassdoor Chief Economist Dr. Andrew Chamberlain .