You’ve almost made it! After an intense couple of months of sending your CV to different companies that you hope to work for, finally, you’ve received a call back that your resumé has been shortlisted, and you’ve been invited for an interview with HR. Generally, it can be tough for candidates to know what to expect during HR interview questions for freshers. These days, the interview style is changing rapidly. Gone are the days when your technical skill set dominated the conversation. It’s all about you as a person now, but don’t worry because we’ve got your back!
A typical job interview lasts between 45 minutes and 1 hour. For this assessment, any organisation’s Human Resource (HR) team has a set of questions to ask all the interview candidates to understand their aspirations. There are key questions that hiring managers will ask you during your job interview. These questions could vary depending on the type of job you’re applying for, but some common questions are asked by most interviewers during the newest hire process.
In the HR round of a job interview, the questions are designed to see how you could handle certain situations at work. The aim is to see how your past experiences translate into what you will do in future roles. Here’s a guide to some of the most common HR interview questions and my answers.
We’ll look at the top 30 HR interview questions to prepare you for any question a potential employer might ask:
This is one of the first HR interview questions for freshers that the interviewer asks. This question aims to understand some background about you and your dreams and contextualize it with the company values.
Answer:
First of all, I would like to thank you and ____________ (company) for giving me this opportunity to present myself in front of you and accept my candidature.
Coming to myself, As you know my name is _________, which means __________. I have humble beginnings from _______ (town/city) and grew up understanding the importance of working hard. My father was a ____________ and always taught me different lessons about the true nature of goodwill and hard work.
I began showing interest in _________ (sales/marketing/etc) during my school years. Studying _______ opened my world to the immense possibilities in this field, and I immediately got excited to finish my schooling and enter this work.
Apart from this, I have a special interest in __________ (hobby) and have successfully participated in various competitions where I have shown my talent. My interest in sports manifested in me playing ________ (football/cricket) throughout my childhood and am an avid supporter of _______ (sports team)
This is another one of the many HR interview questions for freshers that most people fumble at. However, it is extremely easy to understand the answer to such types of hr interview questions for freshers. They aim to understand how you would fit into the company, so talking about its ethos and values is a good start.
Apart from this, many freshers think that because they have no work experience, no company will be willing to hire them. However, being fresher is a strength you have. You are like a blank canvas ready to start your masterpiece. So, you should sell yourself like that.
Answer:
Sir/Ma’am, as you must have figured from my resumé that I am a fresher in this line of work. However, I believe this puts me at an advantage as I will bring to your company the urge and the dedication to learn new things and put them to use. I may not possess the practical knowledge in this field. However, throughout college, I persisted in learning in-depth about the topics and developed a deep theoretical understanding of important topics used in this field.
This is one of the types of HR interview questions for freshers that is bound to come in every company you face an interview with. One of the most liked questions by interviewers allows them to understand how you rate yourself. More importantly, here they judge if you are aware of what you are good at and anything you know you can improve yourself.
However, a smart thing that many interviewees do is, to appear more appealing, they try to showcase their weaknesses as positives. It is also essential to mention that you recognize your weaknesses and actively work to overcome them. Let’s take a look.
Answer:
I consider my strengths to be:
1. I am a good communicator who has helped me take on leadership roles in my college.
2. I am a keen observer acutely aware of people’s problems and their strengths.
3. I flourish when I work with a team that is given a particular task to be done within a specified period.
4. I am a quick learner and go out of my way to ask questions to better my understanding.
5. I try always to be a positive influence on people and spread joy around me.
For my weaknesses,
1. I am a perfectionist and am obsessed with attention to detail. This sometimes derails me off the project as I begin to address small issues within the projects minutely.
2. To grow fast in my career, I take on more responsibilities than I can handle.
3. I thrive on feedback on my performance. If I don’t receive them, I sometimes miss my mark and get drifted in the way I’ve been working.
These types of HR interview questions for freshers intend to quiz you on whether you have done some homework or background research on the company. Here, the interviewer expects you to explain why you think you would be a valuable addition to the company.
Here, you don’t always have to only talk about good things about the company. Big firms are always open to criticism about their functioning and admire the people who provide them with new directions. So, if you have some faults that you have found with the company’s workings, you can politely mention them. Otherwise, you can always use this answer if you don’t find any errors.
Answer:
I have always looked upon your company as the pinnacle of innovation. Your recent strides in the market have proved to be a major success, and I can’t think of any other company where I could develop my initial skills, which will help me in the long run.
Also, read: How To Write a Powerful Resume Headline
One question always pops up in the list of HR interview questions for freshers. Companies always try and understand the long-term goals of every interviewee. It gives them an understanding of whether you are a valuable addition to the company and can work long.
Answer:
Currently, my short-term goal is to nail this interview and get placed in a reputed company like yours, and my long-term goals are to climb up the ladder and see myself as a respectable executive within the company.
Sometimes, during an HR interview, questions for freshers become challenging. This is a commonly asked interview question that interviewers use as an example to test the humbleness of an interviewee. Here, they ask you to think about what you would rate your skills. While some people think it’s better to say no, you can try providing a positive response.
Answer:
Yes, I do believe I am overqualified. However, I always think that there is always something to learn everywhere. And I see a lot of exposure that I can gain for my development with your organization. So, I do not mind taking a low job to learn more.
These types of HR interview questions for freshers hinder the area of your motivation. The interviewer asks you this question to find out what will drive you once you join the company to do good work for them.
Answer:
I am always motivated to do a task to the best abilities. My father had told me at a young age that whenever you do a task with your name attached to it, you must do it with 200% of your dedication because it might continue to live longer than you. You must do it to your best abilities for it to be memorable.
This is one of the HR interview questions for freshers where almost everyone gives the name of some celebrity or life coach that has helped millions of people do good work. Or they might use the name of the company CEO to impress the interviewers.
However, your answer should be unique and guaranteed to impress your interviewers.
Answer:
While there are countless individuals that I have met in my life who can be a source of inspiration for me- from my teachers to my parents however the biggest inspiration I get is from myself. You see, I try to picture myself in 10 years and create an image of my life there and work tirelessly to reach that image. However, I have already constructed another image for myself as I reach that image, which is ten years away. So, I always try to achieve higher than what I have made for myself and that picture of me in 10 years keeps me motivated.
Related Article: How to Write Career Objective in Your Resume as a Fresher
While most people understand this as an activity of the interviewer to test your language skills, HR interview questions for freshers are asked to understand the individual’s definition of success.
Answer:
Success for me is a journey that is full of obstacles. These obstacles come in the form of learnings which I turn into springboards during my run to the finish line. But I believe that if today is better than yesterday, I have succeeded in my work and life.
These types of HR interview questions for freshers aim to judge your decision-making skills. So you can use this question as a platform to share some of the tough decisions you have had to make in your personal life- be it home, friends, love life, work-life, etc. However, if you have none, you can use this answer too.
Answer:
Tough is for the weak. I always calculate my decisions by making a cost-benefit analysis of the available options. Putting the benefit to the cost of the decision helps me greatly in breaking down the toughness of the decision and allows me to weigh the pros and cons easily.
These HR interview questions for freshers test the comfortability of the many changes that the company will bring to your life. The biggest is that it might ask you to move from your hometown to a completely different city in a different part of the country.
Answer:
I’ve always had an urge to travel the world since my childhood. So, I don’t think relocation will be a major problem. It will be an adventure that I will look forward to. Though I will miss my family and friends back in my hometown, the internet world has made it easy to stay connected from any part of the country.
HR questions for freshers are mostly filled with questions that seek the length to which you would go to complete tasks for the company. Here is a good time to reaffirm your commitment to your goals and make them believe that you will work your best.
Answer:
Like I have said, I always complete all the tasks assigned to me with due diligence. And if those tasks sometimes need me to come in on the weekend, I will not hesitate as my priority is always good quality work.
These types of HR interview questions for freshers aim to help the interviews judge your temperament and ability to work in stressful times. Always understand that every field will have intense moments, and you will be required to continue working in these stressful times. They can be personal or professional. But it would be best if you always continued working.
Answer:
I have always loved playing the ___________(instrument). I love it so much that I do not even panic or come under stress when playing to a large crowd. This is because I love playing the __________. Similarly, I love working in ____________ (sales/marketing/etc), so I will never feel under pressure. If we love what we do, the pressure doesn’t affect us as it does to those who don’t love what they do.
These next set of HR interview questions and answers for freshers are five of the top questions that the interviewers ask to understand your thinking style and how those thoughts differentiate you from the others.
This is one of the popular HR round questions for freshers. The purpose of asking this is mainly to judge your self-awareness and how well you can put it into words.
Answer:
I believe confidence is the trust we have within ourselves and our ability to complete a task. Overconfidence is the ego within us that surfaces when we think too highly of ourselves and begin to exaggerate our abilities.
Usually, if your job profile is artistic in nature, you will be asked some questions by HR to judge your creativity level.
Answer:
Creativity, I believe, is in each one of us, from the drawing of a car by a 3-year-old to the famed Michelangelo of the Sistine Chapel. Creativity comes to us the minute we open our eyes and see the world as we only fixate on what attracts our attention.
Answer:
I am an avid reader and love reading _________ (author). Also, I a a big movie buff and try to catch the latest film in the theatres every Sunday with my friends and family. I am also a swimmer and love to relax by the pool on a sunny day.
Answer:
I have always wanted to start a company of my own. But currently, I am a fresher and intend to gain some valuable skills for my overall development. Thus, I think I am not entirely ready to begin a company of my own. However, the dream is still alive.
Answer:
My primary aim is to learn from the company. So, I expect a lot of feedback on my work. As I had explained, I thrive on feedback as I understand the things I am doing wrong and, therefore, can put my mind to making them right.
Answer:
In 10 years, I see myself in a leadership position at your firm. I’m hoping to not only gain more knowledge in my domain but also become an inspiration to my subordinates. I want to be able to mentor or guide people. Hence, being in a leadership position will help me achieve this goal.
This is one of the crucial interview questions for freshers. So, it would be best if you did not let this opportunity get out of your hand. It would be best to ask any questions that pop up in your head about the company or go with this answer.
Answer:
I would like to know what qualities you look for in a fresher applying for this position. And if you can give me some suggestions or advice for my career at your firm.
You need to answer this question tactfully, as, through this question, HR will judge whether you are willing to develop your skills for better performance or will stay in the same position.
Answer:
As fresher, you are more than willing to upskill yourself and learn X, Y, and Z skills (skill names) required for this role and improve your ability to perform better.
HRs ask this question to gauge your interests and what difference you bring to the table as fresher. Your answer will show your vision and strategy for your first job.
Answer:
I expect my first job to be full of learning and new experiences. I would like to learn and gain practical experience from my colleagues and seniors to do my job well and give positive results.
This question is asked to know your reaction and your views in a situation where you face criticism on the professional front or have a different opinion from others. So, answer this question after thinking.
Answer:
I will accept any constructive criticism positively, and when faced with a situation of a different opinion, I would like to hear the other party’s opinions. And after putting my opinions and understanding the difference of views, we can discuss and come up with a solution.
Never try to deride an experienced professional while answering this question, instead, highlight your skills and abilities. Be confident in your knowledge and stay positive, because there is a reason why you have been called for the interview.
Answer:
I, as a fresher, consider myself the best choice for this position because I can bring various new ideas to the table, have more flexibility in terms of doing work, and I also consider myself more adaptable to dynamic changes in our industry.
HRs ask this question from the freshers to know whether they are planning to stay in the company or would work for a while and leave. However, lying is never a solution so answer the question truthfully.
Answer:
While answering this question, you can highlight any projects or group work you did that taught you something new. This will highlight your theoretical knowledge and teamwork.
Answer:
I worked on various projects with my classmates and by myself too. During that time, I learned to put my theoretical knowledge into practical work to get results; and working in a team taught me to take collective responsibility as a team and as a member of a team. Which I think will also help me perform well in this job position.
This question is for candidates who have done any internship related to the job they are applying for. If you haven’t done any internship, then don’t worry HR wouldn’t ask you this question. But if you have done internships, highlight your experience and the work you get to do.
Answer:
During my internship, I got to work on different projects, from which I learned A, B, and C, skills which can help me excel at my work in the role I’m applying for. And the experience I gained during my internship prepared me as a professional and sharpened my communication and collaborative skills.
This question asked shows the candidate’s awareness, and in-depth research is done on the job profile, the responsibilities of the position, skills required, company expectations etc. So, answer wisely and do your research well before the interview and highlight all the required points while answering.
No doubt, this is a tricky question; HRs ask this question to the freshers to contemplate how candidates put a price on their worth. So, before answering, you need to do market research on the expected salary given to freshers for the job position you are applying for. Then you can quote the expected range to HR, but always remember, as fresher, your first aim should be to grab any good opportunity that comes your way. After that, you can work on the rest of the things.
The purpose of asking this question is to judge the position of the candidate, so answer wisely. If you show too much eagerness and say Yes immediately, it will give the upper hand to the interviewer. So, take a pause, think about your options, and then answer.
HR interview questions for freshers revolve around factors that help the interviewers understand your personality and attitude. So, be yourself. Using these answers as a guide when you falter while answering the questions during the HR round would be best.
Making the right first impression is the key to any job interview. In addition to crafting an effective resume, showing up on time and dressing appropriately, it’s important to prepare for any and all questions that might be thrown your way.
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Ans. You may find the following questions common in an HR interview.
The HR may ask:
Ans. Some of the best ways to prepare for an HR interview are:
Ans. These tips will help a fresher to ace his/her interview:
Ans. You can appear for Mock Interviews with experts but there are also various ways of practicing for an interview at home. You can do it yourself.
Ans. These five questions are considered to be the most complicated questions asked during an interview:
Ans. Although it is a weakness, you should always present it in a positive tone. You should answer this question in the affirmative. Rather than clearly mentioning your drawback, prefer stating that you are learning the particular field. For example: “I possess fluent communication skills, but I am working on enhancing my writing skills.” is preferred over “My strength is I can communicate fluently, and my weakness is writing.”
Ans. As a fresher you should begin with a self-introduction following the basic information about yourself. State your academic and co-curricular achievements and explain your proficiencies in different fields. Refer to your existing knowledge and skills to make the HR realize that you are the best fit for this job. Be confident and answer smartly. Represent yourself as a good contributor to the company.
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