Why the hiring manager asks what HR asked you? (interview, work, interest)

[Berteau]

I've had this happen a few times where during block interviews the hiring manager or higher up asks me what HR asked me in my preceding interview with her. My suspicion is that they are trying to evaluate the performance of HR by seeing what kind of questions they are asking. But then sometimes I can't remember exactly what they asked and wonder if they want to test my memory. Does anyone have any insight?

[leadingedge04]

Never heard of that before. No idea.

[joe from dayton]

No idea; HR doesn't conduct hiring interviews where I am at. Maybe they don't want to ask the same questions again?

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by joe from dayton

No idea; HR doesn't conduct hiring interviews where I am at. Maybe they don't want to ask the same questions again?

Same here, HR sits in on the interviews, but the hiring manager creates and asks the questions here. In your case, I would suspect that if HR asks some pre-screening questions, they just happen to be the same as the hiring manager, because they are appropriate for the job. I doubt there is any other reason for it.

[macroy]

Originally Posted by Berteau

I've had this happen a few times where during block interviews the hiring manager or higher up asks me what HR asked me in my preceding interview with her. My suspicion is that they are trying to evaluate the performance of HR by seeing what kind of questions they are asking. But then sometimes I can't remember exactly what they asked and wonder if they want to test my memory. Does anyone have any insight?

Unless the questions are so unique and specific, it's likely that interview questions simply overlap. So if HR asks you to talk about your past experience, and the hiring manager does the same thing - it's simply two people that want to know the same thing.

Would it be easier if they sat in the interview together? Probably for you. But their schedules likely didn't work out that way, or both have discussion areas the other person has zero interest in.

I've been interviews that lasted an entire day and you meet with more than 10 people (some 1-on-1 and some in a group). I'd be more surprised if you didn't end up repeating yourself.