How to Answer: As a Benefits professional, which publications and resources do you turn to the most?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Benefits Specialist job interview.
18. As a Benefits professional, which publications and resources do you turn to the most?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
There are countless resources for Human Resources and Benefits professionals to learn about new laws, best practices, and other industry happenings. The interviewer wants to know if you seek sources of knowledge to keep yourself up-to-date and if you are driven to continuously learn.
Written by Tiffany McPherson on May 16th, 2022
How to Answer
If you are not familiar with any HR or Benefits resources, you will want to do some research before the interview. You should know at least three different publications or websites with reliable information, and you should also know the details of at least two articles in depth.
In your answer, you can discuss resources you have found on your own or resources a past employer or HR expert has recommended to you. Mention why you like the specific resource(s) you mention and how it has helped you learn or stay up-to-date. A nice final touch is to ask the interviewer if they have any additional resources they think you might want to consider.
Written by Tiffany McPherson on May 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I understand how important it is as a Benefits Specialist to stay up-to-date on the current benefit laws, and I also want to continually educate myself on any HR changes and hot topics, so I follow a variety of resources. As a member of the local and state SHRM chapters, I regularly attend meetings and review the newsletters they send out. SHRM helps keep me aware of what is happening in Human Resources in general, and networking at the local meetings keeps me in touch with HR issues other companies in the area are facing. I also have a subscription to the Employee Benefit News magazine. Just a couple of months ago, an article in the magazine mentioned a temporary change to FSA laws due to COVID and I was able to bring it to my manager's attention. I'd also like to expand my benefits knowledge further this year by attending a seminar or two on FMLA. Are there any resources your team uses that you could recommend to me? I'm always looking for new sources of information."
Written by Tiffany McPherson on May 16th, 2022