How to Tackle Unusual HR Interview Questions About Your Background and Personal Choices?

I am an MBA HR fresher and completed my BE in Electronics and Communication during my graduation. During my campus interviews, I encountered some questions that I found challenging to answer, and I am seeking guidance on how to handle such situations.

Handling Questions About Engineering Background

In one of my MBA (HR) campus interviews, a recruiter from a telecom company asked me a question regarding a job offer related to my engineering background from my graduation degree (B.E. in E.C.). I found it awkward because I was there for the position of an HR manager. How should I respond to such a query in the future?

Responding to Questions About Alcohol Consumption

In another interview, I was asked if I drink alcohol. My response was a simple "NO." However, the HR representative mentioned that in their team of 10 members, 9 are male and 1 female, and they all drink together as part of their team culture. The HR person then asked if I would accept a drink if offered, to which I replied that while I would follow professional advice, in my personal life, I believe it is not necessary to do everything others do.

Unfortunately, despite these experiences, I have not been successful in securing a job opportunity.

I appreciate any guidance or advice on how to handle similar situations in the future.

Thank you.

You should have answered the first question as follows:

Aspirations in HR Management

You should have said that your aspirations are to become an HR Manager and not a network engineer. You pursued your BE because you wanted to gain knowledge of technical aspects in Telecom, and you are very interested in the Telecom industry from an HR perspective.

For the second question, you answered correctly. That may not be the reason for rejection.

Regards,

The questions you've been asked are very common and will only increase as time goes by. Gone are the days when an interview only comprised how a certain job, task, function, or activity was conducted. Today, most interviews are designed to test a person's personality, communication skills, their response to stress, their fight or flight instincts, sense of humor, conflict resolution skills, and perhaps the most important of all - the ability to think on their feet!

That is why there are no right or wrong answers to these questions. All that matters is whether the response fits into the culture of the organization where you are interviewing.

For instance, if you went to an SME and stated that you insist on following due protocol and chain of command in escalating a matter, chances are that they would look at you as if you came from Mars. Alternatively, if you gave that response at Infosys, they would snap you up in a nanosecond. I realize this is an oversimplified and radical example, but it is purely to illustrate my point. Of course, there are myriad factors that impact hiring.

Why does this happen? Like I said, you as a linear and structured-thinking person are a better fit for the structured, tiered, formal, and procedure-oriented world of a behemoth like Infosys. Whereas, in the fast-paced, owner-centric, and extremely dynamic world of an SME or SMB, your thinking and attitude may be perceived as a hurdle and obstacle. But, it doesn't mean that your answer is wrong or that your thinking is wrong. It's just that it is suited for a certain type of company and not for another.

The key to answering such questions is never to answer them as you would a technical question. Instead, try to create a visual of what the interviewer has just said to you. Then, convert that visual into a running movie and visualize yourself therein. Once you have your visual in your mind, almost always smile at the interviewer and say something like "that would be a new experience for me, wouldn't it? I too am interested in seeing how I would behave." And when you've said that, always have a light and genuine smile. Remember, these questions are to assess you as a person, not whether you are an engineer who can make a toaster fly to Mars in 45 minutes and return an hour later.

I hope my reply helps you in your internal deliberations. Good luck and remember the No 1 Rule in an Interview - Have FUN! - They are Definitely NOT the End of the World!!

Feedback on Interview Process

Thank you, sir, for your response. However, in the feedback provided to the placement team at my college, they specifically mentioned the reason for my rejection.

Regards,
Mayur Shinde