What is the most significant issue you have encountered in your HR career?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
How to Answer
Answer Example

The interviewer is looking to learn what type of problems you have encountered in your time in HR. They are also trying to gain insight into your problem-solving skills.

Since this question is asking about something you have experienced, your answer is essentially a story. Start by telling the interview about the problem you faced, then discuss how you approached it and what the positive outcome was. You may want to consider using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

"A few years ago, my company sold about 25 of our locations. The employees at those locations were transferred to the new company that had bought them, but as a result of having fewer employees overall, there were layoffs at our corporate office. This meant my workload increased significantly as our team worked to close out those properties and transfer all of the employees' records to the new company. It also meant I had angry, scared, or depressed employees coming by my desk daily to ask how their termination was going to work. I had to find a way to juggle the high volume of work on my desk with being available and empathetic to the people who were looking to me for help and often just someone to listen to them. As I found myself struggling to manage both, I realized my other teammates were likely in the same position. I pitched an idea to my manager where we would have 'office hours' all day with one team member in a private office ready and waiting to talk to anyone who needed us. We rotated shifts, allowing each of us to spend a couple of hours a day being there for the people being laid off and the remainder of the day focused on our processing work at our desks."

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How to Answer: What is the most significant issue you have encountered in your HR career?

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

18. What is the most significant issue you have encountered in your HR career?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

The interviewer is looking to learn what type of problems you have encountered in your time in HR. They are also trying to gain insight into your problem-solving skills.

Written by Tiffany McPherson on May 23rd, 2022

How to Answer

Since this question is asking about something you have experienced, your answer is essentially a story. Start by telling the interview about the problem you faced, then discuss how you approached it and what the positive outcome was. You may want to consider using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

Written by Tiffany McPherson on May 23rd, 2022

Answer Example

"A few years ago, my company sold about 25 of our locations. The employees at those locations were transferred to the new company that had bought them, but as a result of having fewer employees overall, there were layoffs at our corporate office. This meant my workload increased significantly as our team worked to close out those properties and transfer all of the employees' records to the new company. It also meant I had angry, scared, or depressed employees coming by my desk daily to ask how their termination was going to work. I had to find a way to juggle the high volume of work on my desk with being available and empathetic to the people who were looking to me for help and often just someone to listen to them. As I found myself struggling to manage both, I realized my other teammates were likely in the same position. I pitched an idea to my manager where we would have 'office hours' all day with one team member in a private office ready and waiting to talk to anyone who needed us. We rotated shifts, allowing each of us to spend a couple of hours a day being there for the people being laid off and the remainder of the day focused on our processing work at our desks."

Written by Tiffany McPherson on May 23rd, 2022

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