17 Workday Consultant Interview Questions and Answers

Workday is a cloud-based software application used by businesses for human capital management and financial management. As a Workday consultant, you will help clients with the technical aspects of Workday, including configuration, testing, and troubleshooting.

Workday consultants need to have strong technical skills and be able to communicate clearly with clients. If you’re interviewing for a Workday consultant job, you can expect to be asked questions about your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and experience with Workday.

To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve compiled a list of sample Workday consultant interview questions and answers.

Are you familiar with the Workday application?

The interviewer may ask this question to determine your level of experience with Workday. If you have not worked with the application before, consider describing a time when you learned a new software program quickly and effectively.

Example: “I am familiar with Workday because I used it at my previous job. However, I had never used the system before starting there. After two weeks on the job, however, I was able to use all of its features efficiently. I attribute that to my ability to learn new systems quickly. In fact, I can usually figure out how to navigate any new software within one week.”

What are some of the features of Workday that you are familiar with?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to gauge your knowledge of Workday and how you use its features. When answering this question, it can be helpful to list out some of the most important features that you have used in previous positions or discuss what makes them beneficial.

Example: “I am familiar with all of the main features of Workday, including the Time Off Manager, Budgeting and Forecasting module, HRIS system and Financials module. I find these features extremely useful because they allow me to complete my work more efficiently and effectively. For example, when working on projects related to budgeting and forecasting, I can use the financials feature to access company data and create reports based on specific criteria.”

How would you help a client who is struggling to implement a new HR system?

This question can help the interviewer assess your problem-solving skills and ability to work with clients. Your answer should include a specific example of how you helped a client implement a new HR system, including what steps you took to ensure they were successful.

Example: “I recently worked with a small business that was looking for an affordable HR solution. They had been using spreadsheets to track their employees’ time sheets, which made it difficult to manage payroll and other HR functions. I recommended Workday as a more efficient option because it could automate many of the company’s HR processes. The company implemented Workday successfully, saving them money on payroll expenses.”

What is your process for gathering information about a client’s current HR system and business needs?

The interviewer may ask you this question to understand how you approach a new project and the steps you take to complete it. Your answer should include details about your research methods, communication skills and attention to detail.

Example: “I begin by meeting with the client’s HR team to learn more about their current system and business needs. I also review any documentation they have on their previous systems and processes. After these initial meetings, I create an outline of what I need to know from the client and develop questions that will help me gather all the information I need to make recommendations for a new system.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to help a client make a difficult decision about their employees.

This question can help the interviewer understand how you use your problem-solving skills to help clients make important decisions. Use examples from previous work experiences where you helped a client solve a challenging issue and discuss the steps you took to help them come up with solutions.

Example: “In my last role, I had a client who was having trouble deciding whether or not they should hire more employees for their company. They were already experiencing some challenges in managing their current staff, so they weren’t sure if hiring new employees would be beneficial. I first asked them what their goals were for the company and what they hoped to achieve by adding more employees. After that, we discussed different strategies they could implement to manage their existing staff better.”

If a client asked you a question about the application that you didn’t know the answer to, how would you find the information they needed?

This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills and ability to learn new things. Your answer should include a specific example of how you would find the information needed for the client’s question.

Example: “If I didn’t know the answer to a question, I would first try to find the answer myself by searching through the application or asking my colleagues who have more experience with Workday. If I still couldn’t find the answer, I would ask my client if they could provide me with additional details about their business so that I can search for answers in other resources like industry forums or websites.”

What would you do if you noticed a discrepancy in payroll data while performing an audit?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your problem-solving skills and ability to notice details. Use your answer to show the interviewer that you can use critical thinking skills to solve problems, communicate with others and make decisions.

Example: “If I noticed a discrepancy in payroll data during an audit, I would first try to understand why there was a difference between two sets of data. If it’s because of human error, I would work with my team members to correct the issue. However, if it’s due to a technical glitch or system error, I would report the issue to my manager so they could inform their superiors. They would then decide how to proceed.”

How well do you write and communicate? Provide an example of a written document you created for a previous employer.

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your writing and communication skills. Use your answer to show that you can write clearly, concisely and grammatically correct documents. You can also use this opportunity to discuss a time when you had to communicate important information to a large group of people.

Example: “I have always been good at communicating with others in both written and verbal forms. In my previous role as a workday consultant, I was responsible for creating training manuals for new employees. I wrote the manual so it was easy to understand and included visuals where appropriate. The company ended up using my manual as a standard for all future employee trainings.”

Do you have experience working with large data sets?

This question can help the interviewer determine your experience with a specific type of work. If you have relevant experience, share it and explain how you handled the situation. If you don’t have direct experience, you can talk about what you would do if faced with this challenge.

Example: “In my last role as a consultant for an IT company, I worked on several projects that required me to analyze large data sets. One project was for a major retailer who wanted to improve their inventory management system. The first step in this process was analyzing all of the data they had collected from their current systems. This took some time, but once we analyzed the data, we were able to create a new system that improved efficiency.”

When performing an HR audit, what is your process for reviewing and verifying employee information?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to understand how you approach your work and the steps you take to complete it. Your answer should show that you have experience with HR audits, including what information you review and how you verify it.

Example: “I start by reviewing employee data such as contact information, job titles, hire dates, salary information and any other relevant details. I then compare this information against company records to ensure accuracy. If there are discrepancies between the two, I will reach out to employees for clarification or additional information. For example, if an employee’s email address has changed since they were hired, I would want to make sure they still receive important communications from the company.”

We want to make sure our employees are happy with our HR system. How would you go about conducting an employee satisfaction survey?

An interviewer may ask you this question to see how you would implement a company’s HR policies and procedures. In your answer, try to show that you can work within the guidelines of an organization while also being empathetic to employees’ needs.

Example: “I think it’s important to conduct employee satisfaction surveys regularly so that we can make any necessary changes before they become major issues. I would create a survey with multiple-choice questions about their experience using Workday. Then, I would send the survey out to all employees and wait for them to respond. After collecting the data, I would analyze the results and present my findings to management.”

Describe your experience working with other consultants and teams to complete projects.

Workday is a cloud-based software that allows companies to manage their finances, human resources and other operations. As a consultant, you’ll need to work with teams of developers, project managers and others to ensure the success of your projects. Your answer should show the interviewer that you can collaborate effectively with others.

Example: “I’ve worked on several large projects in my career as a consultant. In these situations, I’ve found it helpful to create a team of consultants who are experts in different areas of Workday. For example, one person may be an expert in financial management while another is more experienced in HR. By creating a diverse team, we’re able to complete our projects faster and more efficiently.”

What makes you the best candidate for this job?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their company. Before your interview, make a list of all the skills you have that are relevant to this role. Focus on soft skills like communication and teamwork as well as hard skills like computer software knowledge.

Example: “I am passionate about helping businesses succeed. I’ve worked with many companies in my career, and I know what it takes to implement new systems and processes. My experience working with Workday makes me an ideal candidate for this position. I understand the system well and can help your team use it effectively.”

Which HR software systems have you used in the past?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with Workday and how it compares to other systems you’ve used. Your answer should include a list of software systems you’ve worked with in the past, along with any notable experiences or achievements that helped you use them effectively.

Example: “In my last role as an HR consultant, I primarily used SAP SuccessFactors for employee onboarding and training, Oracle’s PeopleSoft system for payroll management and Microsoft Dynamics 365 for talent acquisition and development. While these systems are all effective at helping businesses manage their HR processes, they don’t offer the same level of functionality as Workday. In my current role as an HR consultant, I’m using Workday exclusively.”

What do you think is the most important skill for a successful Workday consultant?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you have the skills and abilities needed for this role. You can answer by identifying a skill from the job description and explaining how you use it in your work.

Example: “I think one of the most important skills for a Workday consultant is communication. I’ve found that being able to communicate clearly with clients, my team members and other stakeholders is essential when working on projects. It’s also important to be organized because there are so many different aspects to consider when implementing new software. Having an organized system helps me stay focused on the project at hand.”

How often do you perform audits for your current or previous employer?

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with workday audits. They want to know how often you perform them and what kind of results you’ve had in the past. Use examples from your previous job or a time when you performed an audit for a client.

Example: “I usually perform workday audits once per quarter, but I have also done them as frequently as every month. In my current position, I do quarterly audits on all clients. However, if there is ever a concern that something might be wrong with their system, I will perform an audit sooner than expected.”

There is a bug in the system that you cannot fix. What would you do?

This question is a great way to test your problem-solving skills. It also shows the interviewer that you are aware of potential issues and how you would handle them. In your answer, try to show that you can think critically and solve problems efficiently.

Example: “If I encountered this situation, I would first make sure that there was no other way to fix the bug. If there wasn’t, I would contact my manager or another senior consultant for help. They may be able to find a solution or at least give me advice on what to do next. If they cannot provide any solutions, I would create a new project in Workday where I could document all bugs and their solutions.”