Sample Interview Questions for Recruiter Position (with Answers)

This post presents exhaustive samples of interview questions for recruiter position and answers that you can apply to practice your responses for the actual interview.

If you are scheduled for an interview for the job of a recruiter, you can increase your chances of passing it by boosting your preparation with commonly asked interview questions for the role.

When you practice with commonly asked recruiter interview questions before the interview date, you will be able to build the confidence and knowledge you need to speak convincingly at the interview and increase your chances of being hired for the recruiter position.

What do Interviewers look for in a Recruiter?

Here are some of the important qualities interviewers want to see in a candidate for the position of a recruiter:

1. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

2. Experience working in a fast-paced atmosphere.

3. Attention to detail and accuracy.

 4. Experience in the field or with recruiting roles that can provide constructive feedback on resumes, cover letters, etc.

10 Most Common Recruiter Interview Questions and Answers

Here are some of the commonest recruiter interview questions (with suggested answers) that you can practice with in your preparation for the interview:

1. How would you describe yourself in few words?

I’m a hardworking learner who loves to help people.

2. Do you have any fears or phobias? If so, what are they?

I don’t really have any fears or phobias other than not being good enough. But I know that I am amazing at what I do!

3. What one thing you would change about yourself if you can do so?

I wish I could be more confident in my music.

4. What’s your greatest achievement to date?

I had an amazing year in the orchestra program. It was a challenge but I pushed through and am proud of the results!

5. Where do you like to spend your holiday time? Where do you like to see on vacation? What is your favorite vacation memory?

I enjoy going back to places where I have performed or where I have been before so that I feel connected.

My favorite vacation memory was performing at the New Orleans Jazz Fest all summer long while going around in a car with my dad and brother.

6. Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is really a great place to grow up because of all the amazing music opportunities.

I learned to play piano from my mother and from taking lessons at the Indianapolis Arts Center when I was 7 years old.

I spent hours there each week learning how to play Chopin and Beethoven. After that I started taking voice lessons too and eventually switched over to playing the flute when I was 9.

More Recruiter Interview Questions and Answers

7. If you could go back in time where would you go and why?

It depends on the time. I would like to eat at a diner with my family (I miss them so much all the time), but I would also like to see my grandma who passed away last year.

She was so amazing and I wish that I had known her more. But all my memories of her are great ones!

8. Tell us about a time when you felt discriminated against on the basis of race, gender, religion or sexual orientation.

I felt discriminated against at college because I am black. I fit in well with the other students but there was one student in particular that would stand out.

He would say inappropriate things to me which was not good for me. I learned how to deal with it from my family and friends.

9. What is the hardest thing you’ve done? Describe it in detail, including the emotions you were feeling at that time and how you dealt with those emotions.

Getting up every single day and facing rejection from peers because of my race had been a hard thing for me throughout high school.

I had to get up and face the day because I have to go to school whether I want to or not!

10. If you could be in any other profession, what would it be?

I would love to be a police officer because I don’t believe that the ones that are on our streets today are doing things correctly. They require extra training and assistance.

More Sample Recruiter Interview Questions

Here are more samples of commonly asked interview questions for the recruiter position to aid your preparation:

Sample Behavioral Interview Questions for Recruiter Position

1. Tell me about a situation when you were challenged most and how did you handle that?

2. What makes a job “The One”?

3. What are three things you want to be sure to do after your first day on the job?

4. When was the last time you let someone down?

5. When was the last time you messed up?

Sample Case Interview Questions for Recruiter Position

1. Who do you know in this company?

2. If you have failed in your job before, tell me about it. What did you learn from that experience that might help others do better in their jobs with your employer/organization/company/institution, etc.?

3. How would you design a new kind of product for this company, or what kind of service would you change or implement in this organization if hired?

4. Tell me about an employee at the company who inspires you. What does he/she do and how does he/she do it that inspires you?.

Sample Competency Interview Questions for Recruiter Position

1. Tell me about a time you’ve overcame adversity.

2. What are your greatest strengths?

3. What are your least liked tasks?

4. Why are you looking for a new position?

5. What motivates you to be at the top of your game every day?

Sample Problem-solving Interview Questions for Recruiter Position

1. What is your favorite type of work?

2. Can you name some time management tools or systems that you’ve previously used? 

3. What was your first job?

4. What motivates you?

5. Why do you want to work here as a recruiter?

Sample Situational Interview Questions for Recruiter Position

1. Describe to be how you have negotiated a deal with someone before.

2. What would you do if you became the leader of your team?

2. What’s your idea of a perfect day?

4. Tell me about an instance when something was really hard for you, what did you do?

5. Describe to me the perfect boss.

Sample Communication Skills Interview Questions for Recruiter Position

1. What are your opinions on the significance of workplace communication?

2. What have you felt is a time where you have failed to communicate across a divide? How did it go and how would you handle it differently next time?

3. What is your experience with cultural differences in communication styles and what does that teach you about how to work with people from other cultures?

4. What have you felt is a time where you have failed to communicate across a divide? How did it go and how would you handle it differently next time?

5. What do you believe is the most effective way to communicate with a high-profile client?

Sample Interpersonal Skills Interview Questions for Recruiter Position

1. What strategies have you used in the past to motivate someone to complete a task?

2. How would you handle a difficult customer with an unreasonable request?

3. What was your most successful experience of influencing someone else’s behavior?

4. What was your most disappointing experience of influencing someone else’s behavior?

5. What is the most difficult part of motivating people?

Sample Company Culture Interview Questions for Recruiter Position

1. What is the mission and values of this company?

2. What is the company culture like?

3. What are the top three things you have to offer the company?

4. How can you best describe the company’s position in your industry?

5. What is the company’s management style?

Sample Technical Questions for Recruiter Position

1. What is your personal opinion on a company policy to provide recruiters with candidate performance rates?

2. When participating in an interview, how should candidates prepare themselves prior to speaking with a recruiter?

3. Can a person become successful by being an introvert and learning soft skills?

4. How has success influenced your own personal career development?

5. What are some best practices for working within an organization that implements flexibility and job sharing as part of their core values?

6. What are three attributes that you like to see in a new hire?

Recruiter Interview Success Tips

Here are useful tips you can apply to ensure a successful recruiter job interview:

1. Get Information about Interviewers or Potential Employers

Before going for the recruiter job interview, you should research the company, position, and interviewer(s), and get other related information.

Knowing about the background of your interviewer will give you a good idea on how to prepare for the recruiter job interview and your response.

You can get the above information through the following sources:

LinkedIn: Most companies are present on LinkedIn. You can find out who is currently working there by looking at the employees section of your target company’s LinkedIn page.

You can also look at the company’s recent employees and see how long they stayed in their position.

Company Website: Most companies have their own website where you can learn more about their culture and values, mission and vision, current projects and tasks, etc.

Glassdoor: This is an online platform that allows employees to share information about the workplace. You can search for information about any company listed on Glassdoor.

Facebook: Another way to find out information about your interviewer is to check his/her social media accounts such as Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

More on Recruiter Interview Success Tips

2. Doing a Good Research about the Company

Doing a good research about your target company is also important. You should know what products and services the company offers and its main market.

For example, if you are interviewing for a marketing position, you should know more about the company’s marketing product or service.

Knowing about the company will help you stay focused in your interview and give you the opportunity to show how qualified and experienced you are for that specific position.

Doing your research on the company will also give you information regarding their culture, values, benefits, hierarchy, and mission/vision statement.

3. Doing A Good Research About The Job

In addition to knowing about the company and the position, you should also do a good research about the job itself so that you will know more about your potential work tasks, how you can help the company accomplish their goals, how you can improve their business…etc.

4. Do your Homework before the Interview

You should always do your homework before an interview because it will help make a great first impression with your potential employer.

You can use Glassdoor to read reviews from other employees who have interviewed for that company for the recruiter position.

Conclusion

To improve your chances in a job interview for the position of a recruiter, you need to prepare very well for the interview to beat other candidates.

This post has provided valuable samples of recruiter interview questions (and answers) that you can use to enhance your preparation for the interview, including tips to help you come out successful at the interview and get hired for the recruiter position.