HR Business Partner Interview Preparation Guide

If you are interviewing for the post of an accountant, it is okay to say that your language skills are not very good. Though they do not hamper the discharge of your duties in any significant manner, add that you are working to address this weakness because you realize that good language skills are necessary at work.

"Amongst the feedback I received, I was told that I wasn’t assertive enough. Though I was performing well at my job and meeting targets, my boss once told me that I would do even better if I was more assertive at the workplace," is a good way to position a weakness in a constructive manner.

"While working for one of my previous employers, there was something I required from another department. Instead of speaking to the department head, I told a member of the team who was my friend. I expected him to go and tell his boss about it, but he didn’t. As a result, the goods weren't delivered and we missed our target date. There was a great deal of confusion over the episode but thankfully it was all sorted out. From that day on, in all professional matters, I make it a point to communicate directly with the department head," is a good response.

Come up with a tactful reason as to why you're leaving. It could be your desire to take on more responsibility and grow in a career, relocate, make a career change or improve your work/life balance. Never badmouth your current employer; if you do, you'll come across as immature.
Why should we hire you, when your academic performance is poor?
Given that Wipro is one of the few tech companies where the 60% marks eligibility rule doesn’t apply, you may be asked to explain a lukewarm academic performance. The best way to handle this is to say you prioritise practical expertise over bookish knowledge. Draw attention to any projects that you may have undertaken that have helped shape your understanding of the field or any internships you may have done. You can also talk about participating in extra-curricular activities like sports or college festivals, which have helped you build soft skills that are essential to succeed at work.

This question serves two purposes. First, you get to see if the candidate will be a good fit with your company’s culture. Second, the candidate’s answer may bring some insights on how to shape the company to be a better workplace.

What the recruiter really wants to know is why the candidate thinks he or she should be hired, said Sameer Khanna, head of HR at Ericsson. So if you are asked this question, describe your skills but don’t make the mistake of hard-selling yourself or going over the top with the answer. “Talk about what you can bring and tie that in with the specifications of the role itself so that the interviewer knows you’ve properly understood the job description,” said Khanna. Another great way to answer this tricky question is to highlight skills from your resume that would be appropriate for the role you are being interviewed for. “Most resumes are two-three pages long, so picking up the most essential and relevant parts would contribute to a great answer,” said Khanna.

My greatest satisfaction comes when I’m able to deliver a solution to a complex problem. Even better, I’m thrilled when I observe, through my advice and counsel, that a leader comes to a decision on his or her own by simply talking through a complicated situation.

I would say that my forte is business transformation. I am not a policy or procedural HR Business Partner, but instead, I like to roll up my sleeves and provide tangible value to a specific issue. I don’t believe in doing something just for the sake of doing it, though. Any action I take must provide positive results and be relevant to the business leaders I support.

HR plays a crucial part in safeguarding ethical practices. This question allows you to know if the candidate has what it takes to be a component HR manager. If you have time, prepare a scenario in case the candidate doesn’t have a relevant, first-hand experience to share, which is possible.

More and more leaders are expecting HR to come up with initiatives to drive business results. This question allows you to better understand the value the candidate could bring to your company.

A hiring manager wants to learn as much about you and what you're like as a person as possible, which is why she/he wants to know what you do outside of work, in your spare time. Note: there are some activities that are better off kept private -- if you 'love to party' or 'play cards', don't mention it. However, stick to passions that are genuine and activities that may indirectly help you achieve success at work. For instance, exercise and fitness-related hobbies can demonstrate energy as well as the ability to manage stress. Volunteer work is a sign of good character and an empathetic nature. Always be prepared for follow-up questions: If you say you love golf, you may be asked what your handicap is.