Interview Questions

Question 1

Why do you want to work at Chatham House?

Answer 1

Combining my passion to pursue a career in HR with my ambition to make an impact

• positive impact on workplace as HR employee and wider community
• passion for understanding the world around me, challenges we face - degree - fascinated by the research that CH produces
• exciting time to join - centenary - turbulent times

Proud to work for such an influential organisation

• honour to be part of such a historic institution that has hosted many influential leaders and decision makers

Question 2

Why do you want to pursue a career in HR?

Answer 2

VALUE

• value the impact HR and an effective people strategy can have on an organisations performance
• constantly evolving backdrop
• changing employment laws, emerging research, changing working practices

EXPERIENCE

• highly relevant experience - administration - written and oral communication - attention to detail - working with people from all levels of an organisation
• HR experience - recruitment / disciplinary hearings / rewards and benefits / IPSOS
• more experience I’ve gain the more I’ve enjoyed

FUTURE
- never been a more exciting time to work in HR - the value HR can bring to an organisation is still being realised

Question 3

Why do you want to join the CH HR team?

Answer 3

Experience and skills highly suited to the role - been able to tailor my responsibilities to my interests

Enable me to combine skills, experience and ambition to be an experienced HR professional

Excellent administration skills / simultaneously manage projects

Help contribute to make a positive impact on the world we live in - fascinated by the work Chatham house does and will keep me motivated in my role

Question 4

What is the most challenging part of working in HR?

Answer 4

Challenging conversations that often present themselves at different stages of the employee life cycle - rejecting candidates, discuss performance, exiting employees form the organisation

Strong emotional intelligence

Keep emotions in check

I have demonstrated my ability to successfully do the above when assisting with a complex disciplinary hearing

Question 5

What can you do to improve the candidate recruitment experience?

Answer 5

Benefit both candidate and employer

• Being open and honest about the recruitment process and what’s expected
• providing good communication channels with timely responses for candidates to ask questions or express concerns
• offering multiples ways for candidates to express their suitability for the role
• providing timely feedback - candidates feel they have gained something valuable from the experience - recommend others to apply

Question 6

What do you know about IR35?

Answer 6

Law changing in April 2020

It has changed so in the private sector companies are now responsible for determining if IR35 applies it was down to contractors

If IR35 applies contractors have to go on the payroll if not they have to pay a sum to HMRC (national insurance and income tax)

IR35 applies if:

• not able to be substituted
• employee email
• client decides what work they, how and where

Public sector client decides - always has done

Question 7

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

Answer 7

Experienced qualification HR professional

In a leadership position

Providing valued and expert advise

Leading a progressive and effective people strategy - engaged and happy work force

Making an impact and contributing to the success of an organisation

Question 8

How is your skills set suited to this role?

Answer 8

Extensive administrative skills - prioritise tasks

Experience working in a variety of HR functions

• recruitment
• disciplinaries
• employee relations
• benefits and rewards

Clear written and verbal communication

Embracing positive change

Confidentiality

Relationship building

Attention to detail

Comfortable offering support and advice

ALSO

Initiative

Adaptable

Question 9

What will you bring to Chatham House?

Answer 9

Passion for HR

Drive to develop professionally and make the most of every opportunity

Motivation to contribute to achieving Chatham Houses mission

Strong values - integrity /teamwork / inclusivity / relationship building / ambition (challenge the process)

Question 10

Do you think you can perform the duties listed with complete confidence and responsibility?

Answer 10

Yes

• I read down the job description and felt confident I had all the skills required
• I have the relevant HR and administrative skills needed
• passion to developed professionally - demonstrated my ability to learn quickly
• I know there will be more for me to learn to carry out the processes but this has been reflected in my salary
• I would be an asset to the team both with my ambition to work for an influential organisation, hard work ethic and ambition to pursue a career in HR

Question 11

How does your academic and professional background relate to this HR position?

Answer 11

Geography degree - social science - full appreciation for the research that’s being undertaken and the value that is brings

Experience has highly suited to this position - administration - assisting CEO and other directors - working with people at all levels of an organisation

HR - recruitment - disciplinary - benefits/rewards - employee relations - employment law

Question 12

Give an example of when you have resolved a dispute ?

Answer 12

Assisted with disciplinary hearing

Taking notes and discussing outcome with leader

Complex case where employee implicated a lot of other people that then required further investigation

Stick to facts / keep emotions in check / be fair

Question 13

Why should we hire you?

Answer 13

Experience

Passion for HR

Desire to develop professionally

Drive to contribute to achieving the aims of Chatham house