RH Interview Questions

readme.md

Interview question

Where are you based?

I'm currently based in São Miguel do Oeste, my hometown, which is located in the south of Brazil. I have been working remotely since the pandemic.

Are you currently employed?

Yes, I am currently employed at Softplan as a Senior Backend Engineer focusing on developing solutions using AI. I am part of a team that creates AI-based solutions for the company's products.

Softplan is one of the largest SaaS technology companies in Brazil, known for delivering products in areas like legal, government, law, and construction.

Can you tell about your background? Can you please tell me a bit about yourself? Tell me about yourself.

I have over 18 years of experience as a software engineer.

I hold a Bachelor's of Information Systems and a postgraduate degree in Software Engineering.

Over the years, I have contributed to several projects across multiple domains using AI, web, mobile, and desktop technologies.

Currently, my main focus is backend development with an emphasis on AI at Softplan, mainly in Python, my main stack. I am responsible for designing and implementing end-to-end solutions, sometimes working on both the backend and frontend with different stacks and frameworks.

I am interested in open source initiatives and actively share my personal projects on GitHub. I also maintain a personal blog where I document insights and experiences from my professional journey.

When I'm not working, you’ll find me exploring different hobbies or traveling to new places, all while delving into self-development topics that inspire growth and innovation.

Do you have any preferences in frontend or backend developer?

My preference leans towards being a full-stack developer, capable of handling both domains. However, if I had to choose one, I would prefer backend development due to my strong expierience and interest in systems architecture, microservices, and containerization.

Can you walk me through your most recent project? - What is your main role and the main technologies you use? Can you tell me about your current company? What are you doing there, what is your current challenge?

One of my most recent projects involved developing a service that utilizes Large Language Models (LLMs) and prompts to perform tasks like summarization and structured data extraction, which will then be seamlessly integrated into an Electronic Patient Record (EPR) application via a RESTful interface.

I've been working on this project for 1 month now. The main idea behind this service is to provide a unified way to create prompt-based features to improve system functionality.

My main role involves choosing the right LLM and keeping it up to date, writing robust prompts for the tasks, defining the service architecture of the Python project and writing the project, extracting text from files using OCR, writing Java code for the ERP project.

In this project, the biggest challenge is to choose the right LLM and write robust prompts to perform the tasks. Another challenge is to rule out the use of prompts to solve the problem. Some problems can be solved with traditional methods.

I am collaborating closely with product managers to align on feature requirements, back-end and front-end developers to integrate APIs smoothly and conducted regular meetings with . I also provided code reviews for my peers.

Is there anything that you consider important to analyze, understand when deciding whether or not to work for a company?

Having a flexible work schedule is important because it helps balance work and personal life. Autonomy to propose ideas and technical tools aligned with the product. Easy access to decision-makers for quick communication and problem-solving and being part of an engaged and collaborative team.

What is your most important piece of work or the one you're most proud of? Explain how you overcame a major obstacle.

One of the most challenging moments in my career was when I had to build a speech-to-text solution that ran efficiently on a CPU, four years ago. To tackle this, I leveraged a robust open-source library and trained a model in Brazilian Portuguese. Despite not having a background in AI, I stayed focused by researching open-source projects that could accelerate development. Through this approach, I successfully implemented the solution using existing open-source work. This experience taught me to be pragmatic and persistent, support open-source projects, collaborate with external developers, and enhance existing solutions rather than reinventing the wheel.

Currently, are you learning something new?

At present, I’m actively expanding my skill set in several areas. I'm learning Vue.js to keep my front-end development skills sharp and responsive to modern frameworks. Additionally, I'm diving into Lua by exploring its official documentation to study a new programming language. Professionally, I'm focusing on understanding of how Large Language Models (LLMs) work under the hood, which is crucial for enhancing our application's capabilities.

What do you like the most in your currently company?

A harmonious balance between professional and personal life. The responsibility for proposing the tools and technologies to be used in a project. Easy access to the people who make decisions related to the product, this makes it quick and easy to remove any obstacles.

In which sectors do you have experience?

I have been working across multiple industries by developing tailored software solutions for the legal, governmental, construction, farming, retail, and supermarket/wholesale sectors.

What motivated you to consider another job?

My decision to seek a new opportunity was driven by my desire for new challenges and the chance to work within an international team. I am eager to apply my skills on international companies and collaborate with diverse colleagues around the world.

Explain your daily.

My daily routine involves exploring data and developing machine learning models, using advanced frameworks and LLMs, and ensuring that the solutions are built from end-to-end.

I meet regularly with other technical teams to make decisions about integration, deployments and development of new features.

I conduct code reviews and provide guidance to my coworkers on coding standards, architecture, design patterns, and best practices to ensure high-quality code is delivered.

I am also responsible for reporting the progress of tasks and projects, as well as proposing new tools and technologies to managers and decision makers.

What do you think is important to stay motivated in your daily work?

To stay motivated in my daily work, I believe it's essential to maintain a balance between professional and personal life, have the autonomy to explore innovative solutions and propose them to decision-makers, set clear goals that align with both the team and management, establish achievable milestones that provide a sense of progress and accomplishment, and be part of a strong and engaged team.

What Are Your Salary Expectations? What is the salary range you're looking for?

What Are Your Salary Expectations? What is the salary range you're looking for?

My expected salary is between $85,000 and $95,000 per year (considering my experience and qualifications | reflecting my skills and the value I can bring to the organization).

• 50.00 per hour
• 8,000.00 x 12 = 96,000.00 per year

When are you available to start?

I am available to start within three weeks of receiving an offer.

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Reverse Question

There is any doubt about my profile or experience that I can clarify?

Besides the technologies mentioned in the job description, is there anything else you highly value in your team?"

What do you expect from this professional during their first few months on the team?

Prompt

I am getting ready for a RH interview for a Software Developer role. Can you provide a short and concise answer to the question: {question}

Alternatives:

• Can you provide a set of potential answer for this question:
• Can you provide a sample answer to the question:

Q: Why should we hire you?

R: Based on my experience as a backend developer, I have worked on projects that required optimizing API response times, reducing them by 40% in my last role. I know that scalability and performance are crucial for this position, and my skills in [specific technology] will help the team deliver efficient solutions.

https://github.com/viraptor/reverse-interview/blob/master/README.md#expected-usage

Q: Tell me about a time you failed

R: Early in my career, I underestimated the complexity of a system migration and didn’t allocate enough time for testing. As a result, we had unexpected downtimes. I took responsibility, worked with the team to fix the issues, and implemented a more structured testing plan, which reduced future errors by 30%. This experience taught me the importance of risk assessment and proactive planning.

Why do you wanto to work with us?
What is your biggest weakness?

Q: Describe a situation where you had to carry out a complex task under the pressure.

A: Last year, my team and I had to develop a content recommendation system for our company's summit event within one month. It was challenging because it required using new technologies that I hadn't worked with before, integrating with the main company system, and running without delays. To manage the pressure, I broke down the tasks into manageable parts and focused on achieving the bullet point. Additionally, every few days, I reported my progress and any obstacles to my manager.

Q: Can you tell me a time when you had work on a challenging team project?

A: Four years ago, I worked on a speech-to-text project where we needed to build a transcription service running on the CPU to transcribe Brazilian audio. My role was to propose the tech stack and develop this service. It was challenging because four years ago, there were not many tools and libraries available in this area. My team and I found an open-source library and trained a model to support this task. I wrote about this challenge on my personal blog, and you can find some related contributions on my GitHub.Four years ago, I worked on a speech-to-text project where we needed to build a transcription service running on the CPU to transcribe Brazilian audio. My role was to propose the tech stack and develop this service. It was challenging because four years ago, there were not many tools and libraries available in this area. My team and I found an open-source library and trained a model to support this task. I wrote about this challenge on my personal blog, and you can find some related contributions on my GitHub.

Q: What kind of work environment you are looking for?

A: I am looking for a work environment that is collaborative. I want to be part of a team where we can share ideas and support each other. It's important for me to learn from my colleagues and contribute my skills.

Prompt

I am preparing for a HR job interview for a Software Developer role. Give a few ways to answer this question: 

{question}

- Context: (use if necessary / you can put here highlights about what are you expecting)
{context}

Instruction:
- Use B1/B1 English level
- Be straightforward and informative in your responses

What do you want to take on this role?
How do you think you will fit in with our company culture?

Building Strong Responses
Break down the ideal response into three parts:

• Reason for leaving (“I’m looking for new challenges…”)
• Connection to the new role (“This position aligns with my career goals…”)
• Positive closing statement (“I’m excited about this opportunity because…”)

I saw this (position) as a great opportunity to take on new challenges and further develop my skills in a role that feels like an excellent fit for my next career step.

What is your weakness?

• "I'm aware that I sometimes struggle with delegation. I have a tendency to want to ensure every detail is perfect, which can lead me to take on more than I should. I'm actively working on trusting my team more and developing clear processes for delegation."
• "One area I'm focused on improving is my delegation skills. I've realized that my desire to maintain a high level of control can sometimes hinder team efficiency. I'm learning to prioritize tasks and empower others by providing clear guidance and support."
• "I can sometimes find it challenging to delegate, as I'm very passionate about the quality of my work. However, I understand the importance of empowering my team and am actively practicing strategies to improve my delegation abilities, such as setting clear expectations and providing constructive feedback."
• "While I excel at diving deep into complex problems, I've identified that I can sometimes struggle with delegation. I'm making a conscious effort to build trust within my team and refine my ability to clearly define tasks and provide the necessary resources."
• "I've recognized that I have a tendency to hold onto tasks, which can sometimes limit my team's growth. I'm committed to developing my delegation skills by focusing on clear communication and providing opportunities for my team members to take ownership."

💼 Salary & Benefits

1. My expected salary range is...
2. I’m open to negotiation depending on the overall package.
3. I’m looking for a competitive compensation.
4. I’d be happy to discuss numbers once I know more about the role.
5. Could you tell me more about the benefits package?

Answers

My expected salary range is...

• My expected salary range is between $60,000 and $80,000 per year, considering my experience and qualifications.
• My expected salary range is around $50,000 to $70,000, depending on the company's standards and industry averages.
• My expected salary range is $80,000 to $100,000 annually, reflecting my skills and the value I can bring to the organization.

I’m open to negotiation depending on the overall package.

• I’m open to negotiation depending on the overall package, including benefits, vacation time, and professional development opportunities.
• I’m open to negotiation depending on the overall package, as I believe the total compensation should reflect the role's responsibilities and industry standards.
• I’m open to negotiation depending on the overall package, particularly if there are opportunities for bonuses, stock options, or other incentives.

I’m looking for a competitive compensation.

• I’m looking for a competitive compensation that aligns with industry standards for someone with my experience and qualifications.
• I’m looking for a competitive compensation package that includes a fair salary, benefits, and opportunities for growth and development.
• I’m looking for a competitive compensation that reflects the market rate for this role, considering factors like location and industry.

I’d be happy to discuss numbers once I know more about the role.

• I’d be happy to discuss numbers once I know more about the role, its responsibilities, and how it contributes to the organization's goals.
• I’d be happy to discuss numbers once I know more about the role and the company's expectations, as this will help me provide a more accurate salary expectation.
• I’d be happy to discuss numbers once I know more about the role and the team I’ll be working with, as this will give me a better understanding of the position's requirements.

Could you tell me more about the benefits package?

• Could you tell me more about the benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off?
• Could you tell me more about the benefits package and how it supports employees' well-being and professional growth?
• Could you tell me more about the benefits package, such as flexible working hours, gym memberships, or other perks that come with the job?

📈 Career Growth

1 - I’m looking for long-term growth opportunities.
2 - I’d love to know more about how the company supports professional development.
3 - Where have previous employees in this role moved on to?
4 - I’m interested in mentoring or leading teams in the near future

Answers

I’m looking for long-term growth opportunities.

• I'm excited about the potential for advancement within the company.
• My goal is to continually develop new skills and take on new challenges.
• I'm looking for a company that invests in its employees' future.

I’d love to know more about how the company supports professional development.

• What training programs or workshops are available to employees?
• Are there opportunities for continuing education or tuition reimbursement?
• How does the company approach mentorship and career coaching?

Where have previous employees in this role moved on to?

• Can you share any success stories or testimonials from past employees?
• What are the typical career paths for someone in this position?
• Are there any notable alumni from this department?

I’m interested in mentoring or leading teams in the near future.

• I'm eager to share my expertise and experience with others.
• Leadership roles excite me, and I'm looking for opportunities to grow into those positions.
• I'm passionate about helping others develop their skills and achieve their goals.

🛡️ Softening & Politeness

1. I completely understand this may not be the right time to talk numbers...
2. Would it be okay if I asked about the benefits and salary?
3. I hope we can find a number that works for both sides.
4. That sounds great, but I’d like to understand more before deciding.

Answers

I completely understand this may not be the right time to talk numbers...

• Perhaps we can discuss compensation at a later stage in the process.
• I'm happy to focus on the role and responsibilities for now.
• Let's prioritize getting a better understanding of the position first.

Would it be okay if I asked about the benefits and salary?

• Could you share some details about the compensation package?
• I'm interested in learning more about what the company offers.
• Would you mind if I inquired about the financial aspects of the job?

I hope we can find a number that works for both sides.

• I'm looking forward to negotiating a mutually beneficial agreement.
• Let's work together to find a fair and reasonable solution.
• I'm confident we can come to a compromise that suits everyone.

That sounds great, but I’d like to understand more before deciding.

• Can you provide more information about the expectations and responsibilities?
• I'd appreciate it if you could elaborate on the role and its objectives.
• What are the short-term and long-term goals for this position?

What's your decision-making process?