30 interview questions for an HR manager position

Recruiting the right candidate for a job can be challenging, especially when the open position is for an HR professional. 

And when it comes to recruiting an HR manager who’s able to oversee the crucial day-to-day functioning of your HR department, there can be even more pressure to get it right. 

With the countless candidates and variety of HR titles you have to sift through, finding the best person for the role can often feel like finding a needle in a haystack. 

Asking the right questions is the key to identifying the best person to fill the position.

With the right interview questions for HR manager recruitment, you can verify the experience of the candidate, determine their level of expertise in the area, and assess whether they would be a good cultural fit for the company. 

Just like the HR director interview questions, in this piece, you’ll find 30 questions for an HR manager interview across five key categories that will help you choose the perfect person for the role.

<<Download and print these HR job description samples to help attract the right candidates.>>

HR manager interview questions about experience and background

Interview questions for HR manager candidates are there to help you confirm that they have the right kind of experience and expertise for the role. 

What kind of experience should you look for in a potential HR manager? For this role, it’s useful to question candidates on their background in leading teams, navigating compliance regulations, and implementing specific HR initiatives. You’ll also want to make sure that they stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends.

Here are some examples:

Question 1

Explain your previous experience in leading HR teams. How have you successfully managed different HR functions in your career?

Question 2

How do you ensure compliance while balancing organizational needs?

Question 3

How do you stay up to date with the latest HR trends and industry best practices? Can you share an instance where you implemented a new HR strategy based on emerging trends?

Question 4

Share an example of how you have implemented diversity and inclusion initiatives in your previous roles. What challenges did you face, and how did you address them?

Question 5

Illustrate a scenario where you successfully improved employee engagement within a team or organization. What strategies did you employ?

Behavioral interview questions for an HR manager position

A candidate might have the right qualifications and experience but, in an interview environment, it can be difficult to verify how they’ll respond to the day-to-day challenges and pressures that come with the role.  

Since an HR manager is a leadership role, the ideal candidate will show clear leadership qualities and set a good example for the rest of the HR team. They’ll demonstrate sensitivity and empathy towards people, handle difficult situations with tact, and keep a cool head under pressure. 

As such, during an interview, it’s helpful to ask behavioral questions around challenging scenarios that tend to come with the role. These questions are a good way to assess the soft skills of a candidate.

Below are some examples of behavioral questions you can use when conducting an interview:

Question 1

Describe a time when you had to handle a difficult situation with a team member. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?

Question 2

How do you prioritize your tasks when faced with multiple deadlines or high-pressure HR situations?

Question 3

What do you think are the most important qualities in a leader?

Question 4

Describe a challenging HR project you initiated and successfully implemented. What was your approach, and what were the results?

Question 5

Discuss a situation where you made a critical HR-related decision under uncertainty. How did you ensure the decision’s success?

HR manager interview questions about communication skills

Because an HR manager’s work and day-to-day responsibilities are focused on people, strong communication skills are indispensable. They allow HR managers to promote collaboration between team members and different departments within the organization. 

Advanced communication skills are also necessary for delivering difficult news to team members—often one of the most challenging aspects of the role. In these situations, an HR manager needs to be able to communicate with tact, empathy, and sensitivity.  

A good HR manager is diplomatic, able to stay calm during conflict and find common ground between opposing parties. 

The examples below will help you determine whether a candidate has the essential communication skills that the role demands: 

Question 1

How do you ensure effective communication between HR and other departments within an organization?

Question 2

Describe a time when you had to convey complex HR policies or procedures to non-HR team members. How did you ensure their understanding?

Question 3

How do you handle conflicts arising from miscommunication within a team or between departments?

Question 4

Illustrate your approach to delivering difficult news or sensitive information to people.

Question 5

Discuss a situation where you successfully navigated a crisis affecting morale or engagement. How did you communicate effectively during the crisis to maintain trust and support among team members?

HR manager interview questions for performance management

A good leader is able to bring the best out of their team. 

And since performance management is an integral part of HR, this is even more important for an HR manager. They need to ensure the organization receives good, measurable returns from investing in its people. 

The questions below will help you assess a potential hire’s experience in performance management:

Question 1

Describe your approach to establishing KPIs for people. How do you ensure that these metrics align with both individual and organizational goals?

Question 2

Can you share an instance where you successfully managed underperforming team members? What strategies did you employ to improve their performance, and what were the outcomes?

Question 3

Discuss your process for conducting performance appraisals or reviews. How do you ensure fairness and objectivity in evaluations while providing constructive feedback?

Question 4

Explain your approach to fostering a culture of continuous improvement within a team or organization. How do you encourage people’s development through performance management?

Question 5

Describe a situation where you had to handle conflicts arising from performance evaluations or management. How did you address the disagreements or disputes?

<<Download and print these HR job description samples to help attract the right candidates.>>

HR manager interview questions for recruitment

An HR manager is an important hire because they are instrumental in bringing in more of the right people to your organization. 

They’re able to assess the needs of the company, come up with an effective recruitment process, and know how to develop an enticing employer brand that draws in top talent.

That’s why it’s essential a candidate for the position has strong recruitment skills. The questions below will help you assess their aptitude in that area:

Question 1

Explain your process for identifying talent gaps within an organization. How do you strategize recruitment to fill these gaps?

Question 2

Describe your approach to conducting interviews, providing interview feedback, and selecting candidates. How do you ensure a fair and effective recruitment process that’s beneficial to candidates and the organization?

Question 3

What experience do you have in developing a positive employer brand?

Question 4

Discuss a situation where you successfully onboarded a new hire and ensured their smooth integration into the company culture.

Question 5

Describe a time when you had to manage a high-volume recruitment drive. How did you ensure efficiency and quality in the recruitment process?

HR manager interview questions for training and development

Depending on the size of the organization, an HR manager can oversee putting initiatives in place that promote learning and development. 

The following interview questions will help you evaluate your candidate’s experience and abilities around building training and development programs, from onboarding training to more specialized professional development initiatives:

Question 1

Explain your strategy for assessing training needs within an organization. How do you tailor training programs accordingly?

Question 2

Describe a successful training program you’ve designed and implemented. 

Question 3

How do you ensure continuous learning and skill development among people in an organization?

Question 4

Discuss a time when you had to manage a tight training budget. How did you optimize resources while ensuring quality training?

Question 5

Explain your approach to evaluating the return on investment of training initiatives. How do you measure their impact on the performance and productivity of a team?

Recruiting the best HR manager for the job

Selecting the right HR manager candidate to hire can be a challenging task. 

Because the role demands leadership experience, familiarity with HR tech, and expertise in a variety of HR functions—like performance management, recruitment, and learning development—the interview process requires a thorough assessment of a candidate’s experience, behavioral traits, and skills. 

Finding a candidate who excels in all these areas, and more can seem difficult. But these interview questions can serve as a guide for recruiting an HR manager throughout your interview process and increase your chances of recruiting the best person for the job. 

<<Download and print these HR job description samples to help attract the right candidates.>>