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Recruiter Interviews

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Recruiter Interview Questions

Hiring agencies and corporations look for someone with good listening and communication skills when hiring a recruiter. Be prepared to answer questions about your ability to listen to a potential candidate. Expect questions about your relationship with past managers, how you deal with rejected candidates, and when a candidate may reject a job offer from you.

Top Recruiter Interview Questions & How To Answer

Question 1

Question #1: What was your relationship like with your past managers?

How to answer
How to answer: This question is designed to see how well you, as a recruiter, work with managers and how you view your relationship with them. Answering that you feel that you and your managers work as partners and together in a proactive, positive manner.
Question 2

Question #2: How did you tell a potential candidate that they didn't get the job?

How to answer
How to answer: The hiring agency is looking for how a recruiter can handle delivering rejection to a candidate and their ability to use soft skillsto share that information. Answer by stating that you contacted the potential candidate to tell them the news, explained why they didn't get the job, and shared tips to enhance their next job interview.
Question 3

Question #3: What did you do when a qualified candidate rejected your job offer?

How to answer
How to answer: Occasionally, a candidate will reject a recruiter's job offer. Answer that you contacted the candidate to find out why they rejected the job offer. If the rejection had a valid reason — say the salary was too low — make it clear that you went to your hiring manager to help negotiate the salary the candidate was asking for.

60,890 recruiter interview questions shared by candidates

The most unexpected interview question was actually an answer that I received when asking why the previous recruiter was terminated. Though I understand the reasons that individual was terminated, the operative behavior/correction strategy I heard about was an eye opening shocker. I include that comment paraphrase below from the Recruiting Manager:
avatar

Senior Recruiter

Interviewed at Murphy Oil Corporation

3★
Apr 23, 2013

The most unexpected interview question was actually an answer that I received when asking why the previous recruiter was terminated. Though I understand the reasons that individual was terminated, the operative behavior/correction strategy I heard about was an eye opening shocker. I include that comment paraphrase below from the Recruiting Manager:

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Glassdoor has 60,890 interview questions and reports from Recruiter interviews. Prepare for your interview. Get hired. Love your job.