You’re communicative and a natural leader. You’re eager to manage, organize, and problem solve. Sound familiar? Then a career as an HR Generalist might be a perfect fit. According to The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), this role “[runs] the daily functions of the Human Resource (HR) department including hiring and interviewing staff, administering pay, benefits, and leave, and enforcing company policies and practices.” To move from applied to hired, we’ve put together a list of common HR Generalist interview questions. Practice your responses to the following and you’ll ace your interview!
While you’re at it, you can check out our Human Resources job board. TemPositions’ HR Staffing Solutions wants to help you find the role of your dreams!
1. What’s your current impression of our employer brand and how would you improve it?
This is an excellent opportunity to show that you’ve done your research ahead of time. Speak to specific examples of company culture that you’ve been able to glean from their website, social media accounts, and other digital assets. When you provide advice towards improving the existing brand, remember to speak professionally. Give insights with concrete examples rather than relying on vague assessments.
2. What wellness event or activity would you implement within our company?
As far as HR Generalist interview questions go, this is a more creative query. You can either speak to prior initiatives that you’ve executed, or you can suggest new ones. How about a make your own smoothie bar? A cooking class? Meditation? Let your imagination run wild.
3. What attributes do you look for in an employee during the recruiting process?
This question can be answered in countless ways, so it’s best to prepare this one ahead of time. A future employer is looking for you to share your values through the lens of soft skills. If you need more inspiration, think about a colleague who you admire and write down a list of their best traits.
4. How do you stay up-to-date on location-specific labor laws and human resources regulations?
Employers are hiring you for your expertise. Demonstrate your awareness of the ever-changing HR landscape by referencing whatever sources you use to stay up-to-date. Referencing specific blogs and podcasts demonstrates a commitment to staying informed.
5. What is your preferred procedure for terminating an employee?
Experts recommend keeping it simple, using the phrase: “The decision has been made. Effective immediately, your employment is terminated” without further embellishment. For further reading, SHRM’s “Termination Tips for HR Practitioners” offers comprehensive advice as to how to go about termination effectively.
6. Describe an instance where you implemented a change in HR policy.
Glassdoor recommends the STAR method, which offers a great framework for your response. The STAR method is “a structured manner of responding to a behavioral-based interview question by discussing the specific situation, task, action, and result of the situation you are describing.” Walk the interviewer through each step, showing how thorough you can be.
So there you have it: HR Generalist interview questions and their answers. Whether you’re looking for a job in Human Resources or trying to hire HR staff of your own, TemPositions can help. HR Staffing Solutions’ human resources professionals are the best in the biz!
