Prepare for your Senior Human Resources Specialist interview. Understand the required skills and qualifications, anticipate the questions you may be asked, and study well-prepared answers using our sample responses.
The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience with the laws that govern human resources professionals in the United States. The Fair Labor Standards Act is a federal law that regulates minimum wage, overtime pay and other labor practices. If you have experience with this law or other federal labor laws, share what you’ve learned about them and how they apply to your work.
Answer Example: "I am very familiar with the Fair Labor Standards Act because I’ve used it many times when creating employee policies at my current job. I also took a course on labor law at my university, so I understand the nuances of each law and how they relate to each other. For example, I know that the FLSA doesn’t cover independent contractors, so I make sure to include that information in our policies."
This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills and abilities needed for this role. Use your answer to highlight some of your most important qualities, such as communication skills, problem-solving ability and leadership skills.
Answer Example: "Successful senior human resources specialists need to have a combination of both technical and people skills. They need to be able to understand and apply human resources policies and procedures accurately, while also being able to communicate effectively with employees about these policies. They also need to be able to solve problems quickly and efficiently, as well as understand how to use data to make decisions. Finally, I believe that success in this role depends on having strong leadership skills. A senior human resources specialist needs to be able to motivate and inspire their team members while also leading by example."
Employers ask this question to see if you can write clearly and effectively. They want to know that you can create professional emails, memos and other documents for your coworkers and managers. When answering this question, think of a time when you wrote a document that helped someone understand something more clearly. Explain how you could use the same skills in your new role.
Answer Example: "I would rate my written communication skills as exceptional. I have been in human resources for over 10 years, and during that time I have developed a keen understanding of how to communicate effectively with others. My written communication skills are some of my strongest. I am able to express complex ideas in an easy-to-understand manner, which makes it easy for others to understand what I am trying to say."
This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with a specific type of human resources work. Payroll is a critical part of a company’s operations, so it’s important for an HR specialist to have experience working with it. If you have no experience working with payroll, consider discussing another type of human resources task that is similar.
Answer Example: "In my last role as a senior human resources specialist, I was responsible for managing the company’s payroll. I worked closely with our accounting department to ensure that we were following all federal and state laws when it came to employee compensation. This included ensuring that all employees had correct information on their W-2 forms at the end of the year."
