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HR Consultant Mock Interview

Question 1 of 40 for our HR Consultant Mock Interview

HR Consultant was updated by on March 31st, 2021. Learn more here.

Question 1 of 40

When a major HR problem arises, what is your first reaction?

When things go south in the workplace, the HR professional is often the first place a company will look for answers. To get a feel for how you handle problems within the workplace as an HR Consultant, your interview will be looking to hear that you have your emotions under control and that you are ready to step into action at any given moment. Your job is people, and people are unpredictable. Your interviewer also wants to hear that your reactions to problems reflect maturity and professionalism. Demonstrate that you take a systematic approach to problem-solving rather than react impulsively when an HR-related problem occurs.

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How to Answer: When a major HR problem arises, what is your first reaction?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a HR Consultant job interview.

  • 1. When a major HR problem arises, what is your first reaction?

      How to Answer

      When things go south in the workplace, the HR professional is often the first place a company will look for answers. To get a feel for how you handle problems within the workplace as an HR Consultant, your interview will be looking to hear that you have your emotions under control and that you are ready to step into action at any given moment. Your job is people, and people are unpredictable. Your interviewer also wants to hear that your reactions to problems reflect maturity and professionalism. Demonstrate that you take a systematic approach to problem-solving rather than react impulsively when an HR-related problem occurs.

      Written by Rachelle Enns on August 31st, 2021

      Answer Example

      "My first inclination in the event of a major problem is to roll up my sleeves and jump in to fix it or help mitigate some of the potential blow out. This initial reaction is especially true when the problem involves an employee's wellbeing, or if there is a risk of harassment or a confidentiality breach."

      Written by Rachelle Enns on August 31st, 2021

      Experienced

      "When a major problem arises, my first instinct is to jump in and fix the issue. I am a doer and also think in a reverse-engineering manner. I start with the desired result and work my way backward, figuring out where the roadblock initially occurred. After this initial reaction, I work closely with others in a team effort to get things figured out."

      Written by Rachelle Enns on August 31st, 2021

      Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

      Anonymous Answer

      "I start by asking questions to slow the person down who is reporting the situation to me (they are often emotional). I am calm when I ask questions, but I respond with empathy to what I have heard. I speak slowly and tell them what I am hearing is important, and I want to get all the facts down, so I will take notes. If the person affected is reporting the situation to me, they often need to be taken care of before addressing the issue."

      Rachelle's Feedback

      Your method comes from a place of care, empathy, compassion, and understanding. Well done.
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