Human resource management systems (HRIS) are used in HR departments to ensure that the team can efficiently manage and retrieve necessary information. Any 591703576human resources13.02administrative assistant7.19hr assistant4.07human resources assistant3.13hr3.077994287647059.2521.4438.50HOURLY1592590042025-09-012025-09-302025-08-012025-08-312025-10-05HR assistant who assists managers and staff should be able to navigate this software. The candidate’s response should allow you to understand what programs they are familiar with and their proficiency level in each program. What to look for in an answer:

• Level of expertise with specific human resource management systems
• Examples of situations when the applicant has used these systems
• Critical-thinking skills

HR assistants typically perform the same duties every day, such as filing paperwork and assisting staff with general administrative questions. The ideal candidate will find ways to stay motivated while performing clerical tasks that can seem repetitive. The applicant’s response should allow you to gauge how much they enjoy office work as well as how they aim to improve their efficiency despite performing the same tasks each day. What to look for in an answer:

• Self-motivation
• Experience performing hands-on clerical tasks
• Understanding of the importance of time management and efficiency

In addition to managing their personal work schedule, an 591703576human resources13.02administrative assistant7.19hr assistant4.07human resources assistant3.13hr3.077994287647059.2521.4438.50HOURLY1592590042025-09-012025-09-302025-08-012025-08-312025-10-05HR assistant will likely need to access multiple calendars throughout the company, such as when scheduling job interviews for people across several departments. The ideal applicant will have experience working with the schedules of multiple employees and office spaces to ensure that there is never a conflict when they set up a meeting. What to look for in an answer:

• Confidence in oneself
• Experience coordinating appointments and accessing multiple calendars
• Excellent communication skills

HR assistants maintain sensitive files regarding visa and social security documentation, salary information and even banking information for direct deposits. They must quickly learn who has security clearance to access employees’ personal data. Does the applicant shred paperwork after it has been scanned into the computer? Identify the steps that the candidate takes to ensure that unauthorized individuals do not have access to employee files. What to look for in an answer:

• Experience handling sensitive files
• Ethical decision-making skills
• Understands the importance of employee confidentiality

HR assistants must stay on top of the payroll, which sometimes requires having time sheets turned in promptly each week. The candidate’s answer will allow you to gauge how well they handle stressful situations and solve problems. It can also show their ability to communicate with employees. What to look for in an answer:

• Demonstrates interpersonal skills
• Ability to handle stressful situations
• Experience creating incentives to motivate employees to submit paperwork promptly

HR assistants are responsible for helping onboarding specialists and HR managers to evaluate job candidates, make hiring decisions and welcome new employees to the company. This question allows interviewers to gauge a candidate's level of experience in a key area of human resources. It also helps interviewers determine whether a candidate could contribute to successful hiring procedures.

A candidate's answer should emphasize:

• Knowledge of onboarding procedures
• Ability to perform a supportive role
• Personability and teamwork

Here is one example of a quality candidate answer: