HR Interview questions and answer between hr and candidate 240 question : Introducing yourself in interview

Meeting 1 : 

Mahesh : Hello Mrs. Yogesh. I am Mahesh .

Interviewer : Hello Mahesh. It’s great to meet you. You are interviewing for the marketing position, is that correct?

Mahesh : It’s a pleasure to meet you, too. But actually, I am here for the sales position.

Interviewer : That’s right. I’m sorry. We are interviewing people for several different positions at the moment. So, were you able to find our office easily today?

Mahesh : Yes. I had no trouble. Somebody from your HR team gave me directions.

Interviewer : Glad to hear it. Let’s get started with the interview.

Meeting 2 :

Interviewer : Hello Mahesh. My name is Yogesh and I will be conducting your interview today.

Mahesh : Hello Mr. Yogesh . It is a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for the chance to interview today.

Interviewer : We are glad to have you. You have a very impressive resume and I am looking forward to getting to know you better.

Mahesh : Great.

Interviewer : Before we get started, would you like anything to drink? Tea, water, or coffee?

Mahesh : I am fine but thank you for asking.

Interviewer : Okay, good. Shall we get started then?

Mahesh : Sure.

Interviewer : How did you hear about this position?

Mahesh : I heard about this position from a friend of mine.

Interviewer : Does your friend work here?

HR Interview questions

Mahesh : Yes. My friend, Yogesh, works in the business planning and strategy department.

Interviewer : Yogesh ?

Mahesh : That’s he.

Interviewer : I’ve worked with Yogesh on a few projects. She is very bright and talented. How do you know Yogesh ?

Mahesh : We met in a hiking club. Our group meets twice a month on Sunday to go hiking.

Interviewer : Interesting.

Interviewer : How did you learn about the job opening?

Mahesh : I found out about this job online.

Interviewer : Did you see it on our website or a job search website?

Mahesh : It was a website for job seekers.

Interviewer : And what did you find attractive about this position?

Mahesh : First, your company has a great reputation. That was a big reason why I applied for this job. But also, I thought that my skills and abilities fit the job requirements very well.

Interviewer : How so?

Mahesh : Well, the job posting mentioned that the person must be outgoing and comfortable dealing with all kinds of people. And that is exactly the kind of person that I am.

Interviewer : Great.

Interviewer : Mahesh, how did you find out about this job opening?

Mahesh : I have been interested in working for your company for a while, and I went to your company’s website to see if there were any available positions. That is when I saw the job posting for this job.

Interviewer : Why have you been interested in working for our company?

Mahesh : I know that your company has been an industry leader for a long time and you have a reputation for letting employees be creative.

Interviewer : That is true. We like to give our employees the freedom to work in their own way. We believe it makes them more productive, more creative, and happier.

Mahesh : That is exactly the kind of work environment that I prefer. 

Interviewer : What can you tell me about yourself?

Mahesh : I am originally from Mumbai, but my family moved to Bangalore when I was 15 years old and I have lived in Bangalore since then. I am a very outgoing person who loves to be around other people, and I enjoy doing physical activities.

Interviewer : What kind of physical activities do you like?

Mahesh : I like to do anything outside like mountain biking, kayaking, or fishing. But I would have to say that my favorite activity is walking my dogs in the park near my house.

Interviewer : Oh, you have dogs! What kind of dogs do you have?

Mahesh : I have two golden retrievers.

Interviewer : Does caring for two pets affect your ability to work late if needed?

Mahesh : No, it doesn’t. My husband has a flexible schedule, so he is always able to take care of the dogs when I am busy.

Interviewer : That’s good to hear.

Interviewer : Can you tell me a little about yourself?

Mahesh : I am a hardworking guy who likes to compete. At work, I want to do the best work possible, and I want my team, department, and company to do well and to beat the competition.

Interviewer : Outside of work, what kind of competitive things do you do?

Mahesh : I enjoy playing sports. I play on a baseball team with my friends every weekend and recently I have taken up golf.

Interviewer : I love golf!

Mahesh : I haven’t been playing long, so I am still terrible at it.

Interviewer : That is how everyone is at first. If you keep practicing, you will get better and it will be more enjoyable.

Mahesh : I hope so.

Interviewer : Anyway, it is good that you are competitive because our industry is very competitive and we need people who are driven to succeed.

Interviewer : Please describe yourself.

Mahesh : I grew up in Mumbai, India. I majored in chemistry with a minor in English. After I graduated from university, I got a job as a high school chemistry teacher, but now I am looking for a job at a company in the private sector.

Interviewer : Why are you trying to leave your job as a high school teacher?

Mahesh : I enjoy working with kids, but I think my skills are better suited for research.

Interviewer : Why do you think that?

Mahesh : I think working in research would allow me to work more creatively than working as a teacher. Also, I am interested in trying something new and having a chance to use my knowledge of chemistry.

Interviewer : Then, why did you decide to become a high school teacher after you graduated?

Mahesh : At the time, I thought it was the best choice for me and I wanted to help students enjoy chemistry as much as I do.

Interviewer : I see.

Interviewer : How would you describe yourself?

Mahesh : I would say that I am a very friendly person who is easy to work with, but I would say that I am not very talkative. I prefer to listen rather than speak.

Interviewer : How do you think that affects your relationships with co-workers?

Mahesh : I think it helps me create strong relationships with co-workers. My co-workers seem to like me because I listen to their ideas and feelings.

Interviewer : Would you feel comfortable leading a meeting or giving a sales presentation?

Mahesh : Of course. I said that I am quiet, but I am not shy. I feel comfortable talking with other people and speaking in public. I just think that it is very important to be a good listener.

Interviewer : I agree with that and I am glad to hear that you feel comfortable speaking in public because giving presentations is a big part of this position. 

Interviewer : How would your former boss describe your personality?

Mahesh : I think my former boss would describe me as active and helpful. She always used to say that I was a great team player.

Interviewer : Why did she say that?

Mahesh : She said that because I enjoy working in a group, and I like helping my co-workers. For example, if I finish all of my work for the day and I am getting ready to head home, but then I see a co-worker working late, I will usually offer to stay late and help them.

Interviewer : That is very kind of you.

Mahesh : I believe that co-workers should help each other whenever possible. It creates a better working environment for everyone and helps the group produce better results.

Interviewer : I couldn’t agree with you more.

Interviewer : How would your former co-workers describe you?

Mahesh : I think that they would say that I am a hardworking person but also fun to work with.

Interviewer : And why do think they would say that?

Mahesh : My colleagues always know that I take my work seriously. I want to do my best and I want my projects to have good results. However, I do like to joke around and have fun when it is appropriate. I think humor can improve results, productivity, and the work environment.

Interviewer : Can you explain why you think that?

Mahesh : Humor helps people stay relaxed. I think a relaxed and fun working environment where people enjoy working together is better than an uptight and stressful working environment. If people are stressed and burnt out, I think they are more likely to make mistakes and less likely to come up with new and creative ideas.

Interviewer : That’s an interesting point.

Interviewer : How would your family describe you?

Mahesh : My family would say that I am generous, talkative, and goofy.

Interviewer : How does this compare with how you are at work?

Mahesh : At work, I am still generous and a bit talkative, but I tend to be more serious. I think that the workplace requires more seriousness than when I am at home with my family or out with my friends.

Interviewer : Okay. And why would your family say that you are generous?

Mahesh : I like to share. I think it is better to enjoy things with other people rather than alone. Also, making other people happy makes me happy too. This also applies to work as well.

Interviewer : That’s great to hear. We try to create a family-like environment at our company. We want everyone to get along, help each other, and be generous.

Mahesh : I would have no problem doing that.

Interviewer : What are your hobbies?

Mahesh : My hobbies are reading, studying English, and doing yoga.

Interviewer : What kind of things do you enjoy reading?

Mahesh : I read the newspaper every morning, but that is for work and to stay up to date with the latest news. But for fun, I enjoy reading novels.

Interviewer : Do you read novels in English?

Mahesh : Sometimes. But it definitely takes me a little longer to read books in English than in Spanish which is my native language.

Interviewer : That’s natural. Did you also say that you do yoga?

Mahesh : Yes. I do yoga at least 3 times a week. I think it is great for staying fit and for relieving stress.

Interviewer : That sounds good. Maybe I should start yoga.

Mahesh : I highly recommend it. 

Interviewer : What kinds of things do you like to do outside of work?

Mahesh : Since my family lives far away, I enjoy spending time with my friends.

Interviewer : And what do you usually do with your friends?

Mahesh : During the week, we often get dinner together and talk. We like to talk about our jobs, celebrities, and current events. On the weekends, we like to go to the beach or do something outside.

Interviewer : It seems like you enjoy being around people.

Mahesh : Definitely. I am an extrovert. I get energy and feel better when I am with other people.

Interviewer : So, I take it that you prefer to work on a team instead of working alone.

Mahesh : Absolutely.

Interviewer : That’s great because most of our work here is done in groups. So, being able to work with others is very important here.

Mahesh : That is one of my strengths.

Interviewer : What are your interests?

Mahesh : I am interested in many things, but I would say that my biggest interests are sports and psychology.

Interviewer : Psychology?

Mahesh : Yes. That is one of the reasons that I am applying for this marketing position. I am fascinated by why people act in certain ways and why they make certain decisions.

Interviewer : Do you think this interest would help you in this position?

Mahesh : Absolutely. If you can understand why a person makes a decision, then you can use that information to influence them. So, I think that psychology and marketing are connected.

Interviewer : That’s very interesting. Can psychology also help you deal with your co-workers?

Mahesh : It can, but I think it is harder because with a co-worker you are dealing with just one individual and every person has different traits and characteristics that make them unique.

Interviewer :  I see. I wish we had more time to talk about his. It is very interesting.

Interviewer : How long have you been looking for a job?

Mahesh : I left my previous job six months ago, but I have only been looking for a job for 2 months.

Interviewer : What were you doing during the four months that you were out of work but not looking for a job?

Mahesh : I was spending time with my family. I have two kids, who are 7 and 10, and I wanted to spend some more time with them.

Interviewer : I understand. Did you feel like you did not have enough time to spend with your family at your previous company?

Mahesh : Yes, and that is the main reason that I decided to leave. My previous company often asked employees to work up to 80 hours a week.

Interviewer : Well, our company encourages employees to work no more than 60 hours per week. Working overtime is sometimes necessary, but we want our staff to have satisfying lives outside of work as well.

Mahesh : I heard about that, and it is a major reason why I applied for this position. Plus, your company has a great reputation in the industry.

Interviewer : What are you interested in?

Mahesh : I have been interested in playing the guitar since I was young. And recently, I have started learning how to play the drums.

Interviewer : That’s impressive. You must be very talented.

Mahesh : No. I am just okay, but I think that music helps keep me balanced. Playing music relieves my stress and helps me forget about work.

Interviewer : Do you get a lot of stress from work?

Mahesh : Not really. But I think it is important to have a good work-life balance and to have hobbies outside of work. I don’t think that it is healthy to focus only on work.

Interviewer : I agree with that. So, do you think you have a good work-life balance?

Mahesh : Most of the time, I think I do a good job. Sometimes, I will become very focused on a project or some task and I need to remind myself to take a break and do something else.

Interviewer : I am the same way.

Interviewer : Why haven’t you gotten any offers yet?

Mahesh : What do you mean?

Interviewer : You said that you have been out of work for 3 months. I was curious why you haven’t received any offers yet.

Mahesh : Well, I have only been interviewing for jobs for the past couple of weeks. And actually, I have received callbacks from 2 different companies asking for a second interview.

Interviewer : I see. And will you go back for a second interview?

Mahesh : I have interviews scheduled for next week, but I wanted to see how this interview went first.

Interviewer : Why is that?

Mahesh : To be honest, this position would be my first choice. I feel that I am a perfect fit for your company and for the position.

Interviewer : How do you stay healthy?

Mahesh : I try my best to exercise at least three times a week and I try to avoid eating fast food or junk food.

Interviewer : It can be hard to avoid eating fast food or junk food, especially when you have to work long hours. How do you do it?

Mahesh : Every Sunday, I prepare a lot of healthy food and snacks for that week. It saves me a lot of time during the week and makes it easier to eat well.

Interviewer : That is a really good idea. I should do that too. You also mentioned you try to exercise. What kind of exercise do you do?

Mahesh : Well, I hate going to gym, so I try to find some activity that is more fun. I play soccer with my friends and go on hikes on the weekend. During the week, I don’t have as much time to exercise, so I usually just take walks with my girlfriend in the evening.

Interviewer : I understand. It can be hard to find the time to exercise during the week.

Interviewer : What do you like to do when you are not in the office?

Mahesh : Honestly, I prefer to stay home.

Interviewer : What do you like to do at home?

Mahesh : Quite a few things. First, I really enjoy reading at home. I go to the library and check out three or four books each month. Second, I like to work in my garden. I started a garden about three years ago and I grow all sorts of vegetables. And third, I like to play with my cats.

Interviewer : All of those sound nice. How did you get into gardening?

Mahesh : One day, I was just looking at my backyard and I thought it looked really empty. Then suddenly, I had the idea to start a garden. I went to the store that day and I bought all the supplies and started planting.

Interviewer : That’s amazing.

Mahesh : That is my style. I like to take action. When I decide to do something, I do it 100%.