The recent spike in competition has led people to take on more than they can handle in order to prepare for competitive exams with the hope that they might land up with a better pay structure. Job search is never an easy process but it has become even tougher during the Covid-19 Pandemic. An emerging op opportunity has driven several professionals to seek a career in Payroll.

We know how tough it can be to find the right job, especially when the economy isn’t doing well. We’ve compiled a list of questions and tricks to help you prepare for the interviews. Preparation and practice before the interview will leave your interviewer with a strong positive impression of your candidature. Generally, Interview questions are classified into categories such as situational, informational,, behavioral and functional which may be split into different parts and rounds of the interview process carried on by the company.

Before you start preparing for the interview, you should carry out the following activities. It will give youa sense of direction while preparing for the interview:

• Analyze the job description

When you preparing for the interview, first of all, read carefully the job description carefully. This helps you to understand what the manager is looking for in a candidate. If any job description concentrates mainly on the technical features of the payroll position including tax legislation, and such, be prepared to answer a higher number of questions in that domain. Be sure to prepare for both technical and non-technical questions.

• Research the company

Needless to say, research the company well in advance. Have an idea of its recent actions, basic facts, values, work environment and more. Regardless of how the interview goes, be sure to mention to the interviewer why you want to work with them specifically. That could be a turning point for your interview.

• Retrospect:

Now that you know what the company is looking for, think about your own requirements and expectations. Conduct a SWOT for yourself and think about your own goals and visions. This will be incredibly helpful when answering Behavioral as well as Informational Questions. Once you’ve gone through the above process, it is time to tackle the interview questions.

There are several types of payroll interview questions such as situational, informational, behavioral and functional.

1. Informational Questions:

The interview starts with informational questions which help the interviewer to know more about the candidate and offers an insight into their mind. Some common questions are:

• Tell me about yourself.
• Why do you want to work in Payroll?
• Why did you leave your previous job?
•  Where do you see yourself in the long-run (career-wise)?

• Functional Questions –

In this category, the managers take the interview in order to examine the knowledge of the candidate about payroll and aspects relevant to the job. Some common questions are:

• What are the differences between a contractor and an employee?
• Which payroll systems have you worked in your past company? Explain briefly
• What are the methods for managing Payroll?
• What do you understand by FICA and how it is calculated?
• Tell about some examples of voluntary deductions, and involuntary deductions.
• What software programs have you used in the past company which is part of your payrollduties?
• Describe Fair Labor Standards

• Behavioral Questions –

Some managers use behavioral questions to know how you would approach difficult and different situations expected to arise during the job. These focus on giving the interviewer an insight into your emotional control and stress management abilities. Some common questions are:–

• Describe a time when you felt that your ethics were challenged or you faced a moral dilemma (preferably work-related).
• Give me an example of a mistake you made at your last job. How did you resolve the situation?
• Tell me about your experience while handling a challenging situation in the past company?
• How did you approach someone when you had to deliver bad news to them?
•  How do you stay current on compliance changes and regulatory?
• How do you set goals for yourself? Give me one example.
• How would you motivate your employees and team for a challenging project?

• Situational Questions –

These types of questions are the same as behavioral questions but there is one difference that includes hypothetical component. Some common questions are:

• If you discovered any mistake on a co-worker’s year-end report then what would you do?
• How do you handle it if an employee asks for reimbursement for a questionable business expense?
• What are your next steps if an employee is angry due to payroll making a withholding error?
•  How would you inform the company employees if the payroll is going to be delayed for any reason?

• Workplace Fit Questions –

 In this category of questions, the managers know about the candidates whether it is suitable for the organization culture or not. Some common questions are:

• What do you to manage stress on the job?
• Do you prefer to work in a more team-oriented environment or work independently in our organization?
• How do you prefer to communicate with management or colleagues?
•  How would your colleagues describe you?

Conclusions – These are the questions which are asked in interviews which help you prepare for an interview on the payroll in any company. You should prepare this type of questions which increases the possibility of selection in any company.