Recruiting coordinator is a fancy title for an administrative role in HR. Don’t you agree? As a recruiting coordinator, you’ll have to oversee the interview process.
Your role will be to oversee the candidate’s movements and help them in their interviews. There is a lot you can learn from this role.
It is a great starting point for anyone who wants to be in an HR position. Most companies consider it as an entry-level. Here are some of the questions to expect during the interview.
1. Why Are You Interested In This Role?
Once you settle in the office, the hiring manager is likely to start off with this question. It is a great ice breaker.
Avoid stating that you want the role for the money. Help the interviewer understand what drove you to choose the position.
Sample Answer
I have a passion for recruitment and administrative work. I understand that the position is an entry position. But, I know how a recruitment coordinator can impact the success of a company.
Of course, attaining this position is not the end of my journey. I hope to gain experience and understand the ins and outs of the recruitment industry.
2. What Are The Roles Of A Recruitment Coordinator?
This is a common question that most hiring managers tend to ask. What they are trying to assess is if you understand your responsibilities.
The answer you give out should align with the roles listed on the resume.
Sample Answer
As a recruitment coordinator, I understand that my role requires me to identify job openings. I’ll also write up job descriptions and post them on job boards and social media.
My role requires me to prepare interview questions and also assess cover letters. I’ll also prepare a list of the shortlisted candidates and give it to the hiring manager.
3. What Are The Qualities That A Recruitment Coordinator Need To Be Successful?
The best way to answer this question is to check your responsibilities. This will guide you to assess which skill is of value in your career.
Sample Answer
One of my roles as a recruitment coordinator is to assess a candidate’s cover letter and resume. This is a crucial step in the interviewing process.
Being keen on detail is a skill that is a must for any recruitment coordinator. Without this, you might miss important details that would have helped get the right candidate.
4. What Major Challenges Did You Face During Your Last Role? How Did You Manage Them?
Note that every career has its own challenges. What the interviewer is looking for is to see how well you manage challenges.
It will be of help if you include a real-life example.
Sample Answer
A major challenge I faced while working at company X was working with a large volume of data. It is impossible to memorize every single detail.
To avoid missing any deadlines, I chose to use a master sheet. This helped me stay organized and helped me not to miss any detail.
5. Describe Your Daily Routine As A Recruitment Coordinator?
When the hiring manager asks this question, they wish to assess how you prioritize your day. Avoid giving answers such as “I wake up at 6 am and go for a run.”
Only state activities that are related to your role.
Sample Answer
Once I clock in, I communicate with the hiring department to see if there are any open positions. If there is one, I’ll craft a job description and share it.
Often than not, once I share the opening, we usually start receiving applications after two hours. I collect the resumes sent in and start evaluating them.
Once I’m done, I’ll shortlist the candidates fit for the first interview. I’ll also coordinate the interview affairs for the day. This will make it easier for the candidate to know when they should come in for the interview.
There are times I usually sit in the interviewing panel. Once the interview process is over, I’ll repeat the same process and email the shortlisted candidates.
6. Describe Briefly About Your Experience?
This is another common question that most hiring managers ask. Every employer wants to hire a candidate who has had prior experience for the position they want.
If you do not have any experience, highlight a role you have done that is similar to a recruitment coordinator.
Sample Answer
I have four years’ experience in the recruitment industry. I have had the chance to work with Company X. During these four years; I have courses on communication skills.
A skill that has helped me relate well with my employers and candidates. I look forward to making use of these skills once I join your team.
7. What Kind Of Strategies And Mindset Is Required For This Role?
This type of question will help the interviewer have a glimpse of your personality.
Sample Answer
A strategy I often use in my role is being keen on detail. If I’m not careful while shortlisting the candidates, I may end up messing the process.
This is why I stick to using a calm mindset. There are times we may receive more than 100 applications, and we only need ten. If I panic, I may end up not being keen on my work.
But with a calm mindset, it is rather easy to use my strategy.
8. What Is The Biggest Challenge You Foresee In This Job?
Note that this is not a trick question. The interviewer knows that there are challenges you’ll face in the role. Ensure that you highlight how you will deal with the challenge.
Sample Answer
One particular challenge I foresee in this role is receiving a large number of applications. I understand that this is something I have no control of.
The only thing I can do when this happens is to remain calm and list down factors that will cancel out a candidate. By doing this, it will help make the work easier.
9. How Do You Stay Motivated At Work?
Do not start by saying that the salary motivates you to work. This kind of answer will lower the chance of you getting the job. A great way to answer this question is to assess what inspired you to be a recruitment coordinator.
Sample Answer
I’ve always had a passion for the recruitment industry. I often feel gratified when my employer commends me for my shortlisting skills.
After the interview, the hiring panel often comments on how well I chose the right candidates for the interview. This kind of comment brings me joy.
And it motivates me to work harder to bring in the best candidates.
10. Describe A Time You Failed In This Role And The Lesson You Learnt?
Only when you fail is when you learn something. Failure is inevitable, and the hiring manager understands this.
While answering the question, remember to include the lesson you learned.
Sample Answer
While I was working at company X, we received 300 applications, and we only needed 30 candidates. I got overwhelmed by this and panicked.
The interview was to be in the following week, so I had some time to go through the applications. However, I allowed my panic mode to take over.
I did not take the time to create a list of what I should check while going through the resume. Time flew by very fast, and I had not finished going through the resume for the interview.
We had to communicate with the applicants, which cost us more time. My employers were angry with me. I knew if the same mistake happened, I’d lose my job.
So I chose to be calm, wrote down my checklist, and the process became easier. Within three days, I had completed the process. We emailed the shortlisted candidates.
After two interviews, we were able to get the right candidate. From this, I learned the importance of remaining calm regardless of the situation as it will help me think straight.
11. Why Do You Feel You Are Most Suited For This Role?
The question helps the hiring manager know what makes you unique from the rest. Highlight your best qualities while giving out your answer.
Sample Answer
I have a four-year of experience in the recruitment industry, which has helped me learn the ins and out of the industry.
I have also taken a course in communication, which often comes in handy while relating with the candidates.
I have a keen eye that is paramount in my career. I look forward to making use of some of my skills and talents to help better this company.
12. Share With Us Your Greatest Achievement
The interviewer wants to assess a great thing you have done in your career that will be of benefit to them.
Sample Answer
While working at company X, I had the chance to get an award for employee of the month five times. My skills helped me stand out from my colleagues.
The award also assessed how well an employee relates with others, and I believe this is why I got the award a couple of times. My colleagues enjoyed working with me as I related with everyone pretty well.
I’d like to showcase my skills once I get the opportunity to work for you.
13. Where Do You See Yourself In Five Years?
While giving out the answer, avoid saying that you’ll be working in another company or that you’ll have started your own. The employer wants to hire a permanent candidate. Be cautious while answering this question.
Sample Answer
The good thing about being a recruiting coordinator is that it gives room for growth. In the next five years, I hope to have known the ins and outs of the recruitment industry.
This will help me qualify for an HR position in your company when an opening presents itself. Also, I’d love to further my studies as I’m certain it will come in handy in my career.
14. Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?
It is best to be honest, while answering this question. Let’s say you got fired. This is hardly a good thing, but you can use your failure and show the interviewer how you learned from it.
Sample Answer
The past year was hard for company X. Our employer laid off some employees to save on costs, and I was among them. I understood the nature of the situation, and this is why I’m searching for new employment.
15. How Do You Feel Working Late Hours or Weekends?
Do not forget to ask if this will be the norm. Also, remember to ask if they will pay for overtime. You do not want to work for an employer who will extort your service for free.
Sample Answer
I’m comfortable working extra hours as long as you let me know in advance. Do you offer overtime pay when this happens?
16. Describe Your Recruitment Process?
The hiring manager may ask this to assess how well you use recruitment principles in your work. This question gives you the opportunity to showcase any unique process you may have.
Sample Answer
I’ll start by designing a job ad. While doing this; I’ll ensure that all the expectations are clear. Before sharing it, I’ll double-check to see that I’ve included all the details.
If the company has a page, I’ll create content and highlight there is a job opening. I’ll email my potential sources, such as professors who may have students fit for the role. This will help extend my search.
Once I receive a couple of applications, I’ll shortlist them and invite the crème del crème. During the interview, I’ll ensure my question assesses the candidate’s strengths and weaknesses.
This will help me make the best decisions.
17. You have found a Great Candidate. How Do You Keep Them Interested In The Role When The Company Decides They Won’t Hire Them?
The hiring manager may ask this question to assess your decision-making skills. It also helps the interviewer know how well you navigate situations.
Sample Answer
I’d ensure that the candidate knows that I respect the effort they made while applying for the role. While talking with the candidate, I’ll ensure I present myself in a professional agreeing manner.
This will help ensure that the candidate does not feel as if I’m uncaring. I’ll also urge the candidate to apply for any new position that I know is available.
18. What Makes A Great Job Ad?
The hiring manager may ask this question to assess your competency.
Sample Answer
In the four years, I have been in the recruitment industry, I have noticed that most companies use similar templates. This will not make your Ad stand out.
Before I start designing the job Ad, I start by assessing my competition. This will guide me to know what I should include.
I could choose to design a unique design or include some humor in the ad. The second thing that would make a great job Ad is simplicity.
I know I do not have to include so many technical words while designing the ad.
19. How Do You Coordinate Interviews?
This is a great question that will help the interviewer assess your readiness for the job.
Sample Answer
I’ll start by talking to the interview panel. There are different ways I can do this. But more often than not, I often talk to them separately. My main query while talking to them is often about the interview date.
Once I’m done talking to them, I’ll then pick a date that suits everyone. There are situations when we may not find a date. When this happens, I usually involve the managers.
The managers will set a date while compromising a few things. The next thing I do is plan the interview day. During this stage, I usually assess how long the interview will last.
I also check on when the interview will last and the lunch breaks the interviewers will have. There are times I seek assistance from a hiring manager.
The next thing I do is assign blocks for the interview. The number of blocks we will use is solely determined by the number of applicants.
I then proceed to contact the candidates. I often start with the most promising ones. There are times I give them a choice on when they’d prefer to come, whether it is in the morning or afternoon.
Once I’m done contacting every candidate, I’ll have the schedule for the day. After this, I’ll send the schedule to the interviewers.
20. How Do You Stay Organized In Order Not To Miss Any Deadlines?
It will not be a great answer if you tell the interviewer that you rely on your brain to stay organized.
Sample Answer
I’m familiar with a couple of information systems. In fact, I usually use X. It is user-friendly and free. There are occasions when I use talent acquisition software solutions.
To ensure that I do miss any deadlines, I usually have a master sheet for every hiring project.
Conclusion
Jobs in recruitment are rather popular. Often than not, you’ll find yourself competing for the position with a dozen of people.
In order for you to connect with the interviewer, it is best that you learn as much as you can about them. Also, this will help you come up with the right answers.
I hope the twenty questions will come in handy in your interview. Best of Luck!
