A project manager should also be knowledgeable in his/her field, a good problem solver and calm under pressure. Remember; use every question as an opportunity to show why you are the right person for the job. Some questions will be negative, for example, “can you give me an example of a time you made a tough decision and it backfired? ” So, you do need to be honest and reveal the incorrect decision you made.

• Often though, by having trust in your team and strong communication, delegation becomes easier and improves over time.
• To help prepare you for your project manager interview, below is a list of some of the most asked questions, followed by sample answers.
• A process is the particular way tasks are done to successfully complete a project.
• This could be a time when you had to work long hours or solve a difficult problem.

We had contingencies in place but I was keen to still deliver under budget. So, in the extended downtime we had, I ran comprehensive cost-saving exercises and worked closely with the how to become a project manager architect to implement cheaper alternatives that didn’t compromise on the finish. Ultimately, this question shows how you engage with those higher up the project ladder than you.

What jobs can I do with my degree?

You can use examples from your own experiences, challenges that you have faced, and how you dealt with them. Prioritising tasks is possibly an essential step that likely aids in the effective completion of tasks within a specified time frame. Meeting deadlines potentially necessitates a careful mix of scope and schedule management. Leadership – Managing and motivating teams is a key part of successful project management, so employers look for capable leaders. Progression – a lot of prospective employers want to see that you are interested in moving forwards through the company and that you don’t see this role as just a quick career stop. Make it apparent that if you are successful in this interview, you will be part of the company long-term.

• Finally, by having a flexible approach to the project, you are not set in your ways and blinkered by your own thinking.
• A lot of project manager interview questions will require you to implement the STAR method, so you should also practice forming your answers around a situation, task, action and result.
• Compiling a list of potential stakeholders with some involvement in the project is known as stakeholder analysis.
• Project managers are the backbone for the day-to-day management of project work and must be competent in managing the scope, schedule, finance, risk and quality of any given project.

So, here is a list of some of the most common questions used in a project management interview. It is a good idea to prepare answers to these questions, and to keep practising them. Of course, this is not a definitive list, but we think it is a good place to get started. I was managing a project for a client who had specific requirements that continually changed. Every week they would change their mind on what they required, but I focused on completing the project successfully, on budget and on time whilst motivating my team.

How do you form a Team?

These are the potential challenges that may positively or negatively influence the project, causing the final product to deviate from the original deadline. While doing the analysis of the potential risks, it may be crucial for project managers to devise a plan to cope with the risks identified if they occur in the future. There are a wide range of project management tools available, some designed for a specific industry, others used more generically. Each organization will have its own preferred system so this question is designed to establish if you have proficiency in the software it uses or something similar.

I also collect and analyse data to monitor the progress of projects. ‘I ensure projects are delivered on time by holding weekly meetings to identify potential risks and roadblocks. By identifying potential problems in advance, I am able to develop solutions that ensure projects are not side-tracked.

Management and leadership questions

Interviewers ask this question to gauge your expertise with different project management methodologies. This is another performance-based question that allows you to showcase your dedication to your work. This could be a time when you had to work long hours or solve a difficult problem. It’s also a chance for you to show that you’re a team player and you’re willing to step up and cover whatever needs to be done in order for an event to come together.

‘One of the key ways I manage risk is to identifying risk in advance. By identifying risks early, I find I am much more likely to achieve positive outcomes. I also hold weekly meetings with project teams to discuss potential risk and develop actionable plans to combat risk.

Management interview questions

Always allow yourself extra time for public transport and traffic problems. You also need to answer all of the interviewer’s questions in a confident manner. Make sure you do not interrupt the interviewer or talk over them. However, do not be afraid to let your personality shine through.