HR Questions with Answers(III)

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

One reason interviewers ask this question is to see if you’re settling for this position, using it merely as a stopover until something better comes along. Or they could be trying to gauge your level of ambition.

If you’re too specific, i.e., naming the promotions you someday hope to win, you’ll sound presumptuous. If you’re too vague, you’ll seem rudderless.

Reassure your interviewer that you’re looking to make a long-term commitment…that this position entails exactly what you’re looking to do and what you do extremely well. As for your future, you believe that if you perform each job at hand with excellence, future opportunities will take care of themselves.

Example 1: I am definitely interested in making a long-term commitment to my next position. Judging by what you’ve told me about this position, it’s exactly what I’m looking for and what I am very well qualified to do. In terms of my future career path, I’m confident that if I do my work with excellence, opportunities will inevitable open up for me. It’s always been that way in my career, and I’m confident I’ll have similar opportunities here.

Example 2 : In the coming years I see my self as a very responsible team leader working on some very big web applications which will be used by millions of users like google.com

In 5 years I envision myself as a vital contributor to a strong company andmoving up within. I will do my best to shine as a star employee and givethe best I can. My goal is always to improve upon myself and go up as I reach for the stars.

In Five years I see myself Knowing everything there is to know about the job and company and I see myself contributing extensively for the growth of the company and myself too.


On a scale of one to ten, rate me as an interviewer.

When the interviewer asks this question, she will EXPECT you to be surprised and slightly flustered.

She is waiting FOR YOUR RESPONSE. Instead, if you are prepared you can SURPRISE her - and insread of sounding flustered simply, repeat the question back to her with a smile and add:

"How do I rate you as an interviewer?Well,....... this has been one of the toughest interviews I have ever been through.And......I hope I am successful so that I won't have to go through another one!!No, all the questions were different and very original - unlike, the usual monotonous questions you are always asked at interviews.This question is a good example of that.

Totally different!

And I understand why you asked it. You want to discover if I can think on my feet and whether I am capable of responding calmly and confidently to situations or questions that may be totally unexpected. I think I could quite easily handle such situations.

"Never be negative. The interviewer will only resent criticism coming from you. This is the time to show your positivism.However, don’t give a numerical rating. Simply praise whatever interview style he’s been using.If he’s been tough, say “You have been thorough and tough-minded, the very qualities needed to conduct a good interview.”

If he’s been methodical, say, “You have been very methodical and analytical, and I’m sure that approach results in excellent hires for your firm.”In other words, pay him a sincere compliment that he can believe because it’s anchored in the behavior you’ve just seen.


Do you have any questions for me?

You could ask the interviewer “What brought you to company X and what keeps you motivated to stay part of the team instead of working for one of your competitors?”This has always elicited positive responses from the interviewer about their history with the company (and people generally like to talk about themselves) and it is always perceived by the interviewer that I am loyal and looking for a long term relationship with my employer. The interviewer usually seems to open up to me more after this question. The key is sincerity in the question.

Here are few questions which could be asked during the HR Interview.

How often are performance reviews given?
Do you have plans for expansion?
What are your growth projections for next year?
Does your company encourage further education?What is the usual promotional time frame?
Does your company offer either single or dual career-track programs?
Do you fill positions from the outside or promote from within first?
What is the next course of action? When should I expect to hear from you or should I contact you?
How they differentiate themselves from other competitors.
How they acquire the right talent to get them to the next level.
What kind of responsiblities/challenges will i have if i am employed.

Beyond that, I think “What do you like about working at the company?” is a great one. If the interviewer has stuck you with a lot of negative-type questions, turn it back on him, “What would you change about the company if you could?”


The salary question# What kind of salary do you need ?

Most people will tell you that whoever answers this question first loses. But that's not necessarily true. When an interviewer asks your salary requirement, try first to gently deflect the question by inquiring about the salary for the position.If the interviewer presses you for a number, give a range. To decide on a range, think about the salary you want, your salary at your most recent position and the industry-standard salary for the job.

The best answer is:“I would expect to be paid competitively and commensurate with the level of skill, experience and responsibility that this particular job requires.