- Tell me about yourself. …
- Can you tell us about the last project you worked on? …
- Tell us about a time something went wrong in a project you were managing. …
- How do you prioritize tasks in a project? …
- What was your most successful project? …
- What’s your experience with budget management?
You have an interview scheduled for a project management role you’re super pumped about. While you’re excited to be moving onto the next step in hopefully landing the job of your dreams, you also have those inevitable pre-interview jitters.
What should you wear? What if you get lost on the way to the office? And—perhaps the most nerve-wracking question of all—what the heck are they going to ask you?
Of course, you should prepare for those inevitable, standard interview questions—you know, the ones like, “What’s your biggest weakness?” and “Why do you want this job?”
But, you also know that there will be plenty of questions related specifically to the position, such as your relevant skills and experience. The thought of answering those in a way that impresses your interviewer? Well, that makes your stomach drop to your shoes and your heart start racing.
Hey, there’s no need to start huffing and puffing into a paper bag quite yet. We’ve pulled together seven common project manager interview questions—as well as some quality answers—that you can use to prepare for your upcoming project management interview. You’ve got this!
PROJECT MANAGER Interview Questions & ANSWERS! (How to PASS a Project Management Job Interview!)
How do you handle underperforming team members?
If a team is struggling, it is the project managers responsibility to help. This question is an opportunity to demonstrate your management and leadership skills. You can show how you are committed to the success of your team.
Example: “There was a time when my integration developer was having a hard time extracting data from a client website. I tried to give him time to work on a solution, but eventually, we started missing deadlines. I scheduled a meeting with him so we could discuss what was going on. Since I am not an expert developer, I had one of our senior integration developers join us. Instead of doing the part herself, the senior member helped my developer work out a plan to extract the data so he could learn the process. He ended up completing the task the next day and never had issues with it again.”
Have you ever had a project that did not meet the deadline or budget?
Missing the deadline or budget are two common issues that project managers encounter. Here, you can show how you handle project setbacks. You can use the STAR method to answer this question:
The STAR method allows you to clearly explain a real-life situation and how you overcame it.
Example: “I was working on a project with a client, and they wanted to add a certain feature to their custom software that would put them over the allocated time. As the project manager, I needed to decide whether we should add this feature and miss our deadline or spend less time on another part of the project.
I met with my team to understand how much time it would take to add the feature. Once I had a very thorough answer for the client, I presented them with the options. They decided that they would accept a later deadline for the feature. We ended up delivering the finished product a month later than the original deadline, but the client was happy with the outcome.”
What project management methods do you use?
There are several project management styles, like Scrum and Waterfall, that companies use based on the project. Your style will determine how you will best fit the companys current methods. You should talk about the style you use or if you use a variety depending on the project.
Example: “Since I have worked primarily in the software industry, I have found the Agile method works best for my projects. With Agile, I can create shorter delivery cycles so the client can see my teams work and give us constructive feedback. It creates a more collaborative environment where I can work to create goals with my team based on their feedback.
I have also studied the Lean method in my own time and tried to incorporate some of it into my style. I try to eliminate waste in time and budget in all of my projects and always find ways to improve the process.”
Example: “In my last internship, I was given a project with a tight budget and short timeline. At first, I was worried about how I would be able to complete it in time, but then I realized that I could use existing resources more efficiently. For example, instead of hiring new employees, I asked other departments if they had any extra staff members who could help me out. This helped me save money while still completing the project on time.”
Example: “Yes, I am familiar with the PMI and its standards. I took a course on project management last semester where we discussed the PMI and its standards. I also worked as a project manager at my internship last summer, so I was able to apply many of the standards outlined in the PMBOK.”
Example: “I would first try to understand both sides of the issue. I would then speak with each person individually about their concerns. After that, I would meet with them together to discuss solutions. If they are still unable to come to an agreement, I would involve my supervisor or manager.”
Example: “I am passionate about project management because I enjoy helping others achieve success. Throughout my studies, I have learned many techniques for managing projects effectively, including setting realistic goals and creating action plans. I also understand the importance of time management and budgeting when working on projects. These skills make me an ideal candidate for this internship because I know I can help your team succeed.”
Example: “A strong project plan includes clear goals and objectives, specific tasks, realistic timelines and sufficient resources. I also believe it’s important to have regular communication with team members throughout the duration of the project so everyone stays informed about what’s happening. Finally, I think it’s essential to regularly evaluate the progress of the project to make sure we’re on track.”
7 project manager interview questions and answers
What they’re asking: Expect a fair share of behavioral interview questions—these are questions that ask you to recall and explain specific examples and experiences—during your project manager interview. This question, in particular, is a way for the interviewer to gauge what sort of project management experience you have under your belt, what sorts of projects you excel at managing and how much passion you have for the role.
How to answer: With any sort of behavioral interview question, you want to be as specific as possible. You don’t need to go into painstaking detail, but you should be prepared to elaborate with real situations and explanations. Try something like this:
“I really enjoyed managing the implementation of [new software program] at my last company. It gave me an opportunity to evaluate and refine any processes that weren’t really working for us. Additionally, I enjoyed being able to collaborate with every department in our office to ensure their needs were being met. It was challenging but definitely rewarding!”
Project Management Interview Questions
Here are a few questions that you are likely to encounter in your interview as a project manager. Use this list for inspiration when preparing stories based on your past experiences.
FAQ
What does a project management intern do?
What questions do they ask in an internship interview?
- Tell me about yourself. …
- Why are you interested in this internship? …
- What attracted you to our company? …
- What skills can you bring to the company? …
- Do you work better alone or with a team? …
- How would others describe you?
How do you prepare for a junior project manager interview?
- What was the most elaborate project that you oversaw? …
- Can you describe your history of managing teams? …
- How would you resolve a dispute between coworkers? …
- Which preventative measures would you implement to ensure that projects remained within budget?
How do you introduce yourself in project management interview?
- What was the most elaborate project that you oversaw? …
- Can you describe your history of managing teams? …
- How would you resolve a dispute between coworkers? …
- Which preventative measures would you implement to ensure that projects remained within budget?
