Example response for question delving into Stakeholder Management with the key points that need to be covered in an effective response. Customize this to your own experience with concrete examples and evidence

•  Difficult Hiring Manager: Provide a brief overview of the situation and the specific challenges posed by the difficult hiring manager
•  Communication & Relationship Building: Explain how you established open and effective communication with the hiring manager, building a positive relationship
•  Understanding Needs & Expectations: Describe how you actively listened and probed to understand the hiring manager's needs and expectations
•  Managing Expectations: Discuss how you set realistic expectations with the hiring manager regarding the recruitment process and timelines
•  Collaboration & Problem-Solving: Highlight how you collaborated with the hiring manager to address any issues or concerns, finding mutually beneficial solutions
•  Providing Expertise & Guidance: Explain how you leveraged your HR expertise to provide guidance and advice to the hiring manager, ensuring compliance and best practices
•  Maintaining Professionalism: Discuss how you remained calm, composed, and professional throughout the interactions with the difficult hiring manager
•  Successful Outcome: Summarize the positive outcome achieved through your efforts, such as successfully filling the position or improving the hiring manager's satisfaction

  What the Interviewer is trying to find out about you and your experiences through this question

•  Conflict resolution skills: Assessing how well you handle difficult situations and interpersonal conflicts
•  Communication skills: Evaluating your ability to effectively communicate and manage expectations
•  Problem-solving abilities: Understanding your approach to resolving challenges and finding solutions
•  Relationship-building skills: Assessing your ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships
•  Adaptability: Determining how well you can navigate and adjust to challenging situations

  How to avoid some common minefields when answering this question in order to not raise any red flags

•  Blaming the hiring manager: Avoid blaming or badmouthing the hiring manager as it shows a lack of professionalism and ability to handle conflicts
•  Lack of problem-solving skills: Avoid not providing a clear solution or strategy to handle the difficult hiring manager
•  Inability to adapt: Avoid not demonstrating flexibility or adaptability in dealing with different personalities and situations
•  Lack of communication skills: Avoid not emphasizing effective communication and collaboration with the hiring manager to resolve conflicts
•  Negative attitude: Avoid displaying a negative or confrontational attitude towards the hiring manager

 Related

  Other questions asked for the Recruiter in Human Resources function. View details for the Recruiter here

• Tell me about your experience in recruiting.
• How do you source candidates for open positions?
• How do you assess candidate qualifications and fit for a role?
• What methods do you use to screen resumes?
• What questions do you typically ask during interviews?
• What steps do you take to ensure a positive candidate experience?
• How do you handle candidate rejections?
• What metrics do you use to measure recruiting success?
• How do you stay updated on current recruiting trends and best practices?
• How do you ensure compliance with hiring laws and regulations?
• How do you manage multiple open positions and prioritize your workload?
• Tell me about a successful recruitment campaign you led.
• How do you build and maintain relationships with external recruitment agencies?
• What strategies do you use to promote diversity and inclusion in the hiring process?
• How do you handle confidential candidate information?
• What strategies do you use to attract top talent?
• How do you conduct interviews?
• What applicant tracking systems have you used?
• How do you evaluate a candidate's cultural fit within an organization?