Questions to Expect in an Interview for a Remote HR Job

Remote job interviews can be different not only in how they are conducted (via phone or video chat), but also in the type of questions asked. Remote interviewers often ask questions geared toward remote work and the different challenges and benefits presented by it.

Remote human resources jobs can be on the front lines of a remote organization. If you’re interviewing for a remote HR job, it’s wise to be prepared for the questions you may be asked.

Below we go over a few questions you can expect in a remote HR job interview, along with some tips on how to most effectively answer them to land the HR job of your dreams.

Questions to Expect in an Interview for a Remote HR Job:

What do you like most about the HR role?

A question like this can be asked of any job in any industry. Its purpose is to find out what drives you and motivates you to work in your chosen industry.

This is a chance to let your passion for this job shine through. You could talk about how you love recruiting top-notch candidates, planning company-wide events, or dealing with the administrative details that a lot of people hate. Saying something like, “Since I love interviewing candidates, I was happy to see that it’s a big component of this position,” can communicate to the interviewer that you’re interested in this particular role, as opposed to any HR job out there.

Why are you looking to work remotely?

If you’re asked this question during your remote HR job interview, it’s a good idea to focus on the aspects of remote work that benefit both you and the employer. Sure, it may be great that you can pick up your kids after school, but a more effective answer will talk about how you get your best work done in a home office that is free of typical office distractions.

You could also touch on how remote workers are happier and more loyal to their employers.

How do you navigate interacting and communicating with employees in a remote role?

Remote jobs are unique in the fact that a lot of personal and/or sensitive conversations will happen via the phone or email, instead of face-to-face. Without body language and facial expressions to help, HR candidates need to be adept at communicating well without seeing the other person.

Additionally, you’ll need the ability to communicate complex topics to employees, such as payroll, health insurance, and taxes. Focus your answer to this question on how you use communication tools in a remote environment and give examples of how you communicated effectively via email or the phone in the past.

How does conflict within the workplace make you feel?

Dealing with conflict in the workplace is a component of an HR job. A question like this is trying to determine your comfort level with tricky topics.

This is a great time in your remote HR job interview to talk about how you realize conflict is an inevitable part of any organization, and how you’ve kept your emotions in check when dealing with conflict in previous jobs. If you have any examples of how you successfully navigated conflict in a job, share them.

What role does the HR department have in helping create a remote company atmosphere?

Creating camaraderie and unity in a remote workplace can be challenging. With employees working from their individual home offices, or some at home and some in the office, it can be difficult to make everyone feel like part of the team. Traditional workplaces can have events on-site and allow employees to walk into someone’s office or cubicle for a chat.

Talk about your ideas for how to help create a remote company environment that is fun and friendly. Share some examples of what you’ve done in the past, whether your were a planner or participant.

Tell me about a time an employee had a complaint about their role or their boss. How did you handle it?

If you’ve had a previous HR job, it’s likely you’ve dealt with this issue before. If you don’t have work experience in HR, think about a time you may have had a conflict yourself with a boss or coworker. The interviewer is going to be looking to see how you managed the complaint and what actions you took to remedy the situation.

They’ll want to see that you were proactive, professional, and ethical in your dealings. Focus your answer on how you listened to both sides of the situation, and how you navigated doing so in a remote HR position, whether it was through email, phone, or a video chat.

Looking for a remote job in human resources? Check out these remote HR positions hiring now! 

Photo Credit: bigstockphoto.com

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By Rachel Jay | Categories: Work Remotely

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