Interviewers will ask you many different questions. The key to answering them successfully is simple: be prepared. Look at the job description, advertisement and the organisation’s website. What are they looking for from their people? Then consider your relevant skills and experience and how you can demonstrate them in the interview. It's wise to think outside the box. A project or work experience role that didn't seem important at the time may be an excellent subject to discuss. Here are just some of the questions your interviewer may ask...
Why have you applied for this role?
Explain your motivation for the role, what you know about the company, and why you think you're suitable for the position.
What attracted you to this organisation?
Show you're interested in the organisation and that you've researched them. For example, do you know the market they operate in? And who their competitors are? Knowing details like this is important when applying for HR roles, as making a difference means you really need to understand the organisation.
What story has particularly stood out to you in the news recently?
You need to show you have a wider interest in business and the news. Try to think of something topical that's interested you. If you’re stuck, ask for a minute to think about the question.
Tell me about a time you had to work under pressure.
You're interviewer is encouraging you to talk about a project or piece of work that you found quite stressful. How did you deal with the pressure? Did you give up and walk away? Or did you find a solution and get the job done? They want to learn about your resilience when under stress and how you cope when things go wrong.
Tell me about a time you had to resolve a conflict in a team.
The interviewer wants to know if you can deal with issues within a team. So, describe briefly the structure of the team and your role within it. If there was conflict, did you deal with it or ignore it? What was the outcome?
Can you give me an example of when you’ve had to give feedback to someone?
They're asking if you can show your coaching skills and ability to develop others. Do you shy away from giving feedback or are you good at tactfully giving positive and developmental responses? How did they take your comments and what was the result?