Interview Questions to Hire HR Generalist

HR Generalists are overall HR subject matter experts who don’t specialize in one particular area, such as payroll, benefits, or people and culture. They can advise on most HR-related topics and give general guidance.

When interviewing an HR Generalist, you should be looking for a candidate with an educational background in HR, plus CIPD, and demonstrated experience both in management and executive level. The ideal candidate should display strong management skills and in-depth knowledge of HR best practices.

Role Specific Questions

• What has been your biggest challenge when implementing a new HR initiative in a department?
• Why is culture and diversity important to a company?
• How do company benefits impact the lives of its employees?
• What are the key functions and accountabilities of the HR department's staff members?
• If you are advising team members on the company's grievance policy, what key points should you make clear, and how would you explain it to non-HR technical audiences?
• If the company you are working for is experiencing high staff turnover, what are the first steps you would take to identify and resolve the issue?
• How can human resources improve the outside view of a company's overall performance in the public eye?
• Why is it important to ensure feedback is collated from team members about their experiences working with the company?
• Tell me the steps you would take to implement an employee feedback incentive.

Behavioral Questions

• How do you keep up to date with HR industry best practices?
• Describe a time you had to maintain confidentiality.
• Tell me about a time you had to remain professional in an upsetting or difficult situation.

Conclusion

Most HR Generalists will be able to provide comprehensive answers and demonstrate in-depth knowledge of these subject matter questions. Look for answers using the star method, and identify where persons are using specific examples from their previous roles/experience to demonstrate their working knowledge.

Need an email template to move forward with your next steps? Whether it’s an acceptance email, rejection email, or more, you can find them here!

Learn more about Manatal here, or start your 14-day free trial here (no credit card required).