Top 30 Project Management
Interview Questions and
Answers
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Interviews can make even the most confident of us nervous.
Especially, if it for a responsible position as project manager, then
they are bound to make our heart rate speed up. But, don’t worry.
You can help yourself and bring down your nerves by anticipating
the questions and preparing for them beforehand.
Below are the top 30 project management interview questions and
sample answers to help you with this preparation:
1. Tell us about yourself
Most project management job interviews start with this
question. ‘Be relevant’ is the mantra to do well in this
question. Give a brief introduction of your background and
educational qualifications. If you are an experienced
manager, emphasise on the projects that you have done
that are relevant to the job you applied for. If you are a
fresh graduate, you can tell them about any college
projects that you have done. Treat this question as an
opportunity for self-promotion to show the employer why
you are fit for the job.
2. What, according to you, is an important
skill for a project manager to succeed?
Well, if you are a project manager you might already be
thinking that there can’t be one skill that is enough to be
successful. And, you are right. Your answer could be
leadership skills, communication skills, or time
management skills. What the interviewer is looking for is
the justification for the answer. So, before you blurt out
anything, have your reasons ready.
3. How do you begin a newly assigned
project?
Through this question, the interviewer is essentially trying
to check your clarity of thought. He/she wants you to
describe the important first steps you need to take to
ensure the success of a project. A good manager would try
to understand ‘what’ of the project before ‘how’. What it
means is you first try to understand what is the objective
or purpose of the project before diving into how to
achieve the goals of the project. Hence, anything on the
above lines would get you some brownie points.
4. Where do you see yourself in five years’
time?
This is a top project manager interview question. The answer shows whether
you have realistic expectations from the job you are applying for. It helps the
interviewer check if your personal goals align with that of the company.
If you are applying for an entry-level position, it might be too ambitious to
say ‘I want to be the CEO of this company’. It helps to research on the
employee growth in the company and estimate where you could reach with
your best performance in the next 5 years. On the other hand, if you are
applying for a senior position, you can talk about how you wish to take the
company forward and what your contribution towards that would be.
5. How important is it for a project
manager to be ‘proactive’?
By very nature, projects are unpredictable. Hence, it is
essential that a manager anticipates problems that can
occur and plans ahead. Your answer then has to reflect
the importance you attach to proactive project
management. Show the interviewer that you can handle
risks and rise to the challenges that can occur during the
course of the project.
6. Can you describe some of the projects
that you handled in your previous job?
They don’t want the entire list. Pick some examples based on the following criteria:
1. How recently have you worked on it? (Don’t talk about a project that happened years
ago)
2. Has it been successful? (Don’t talk about the one in which failed. For obvious reasons,
it doesn’t help)
3. Is it relevant to the job you are applying for?
The whole point of this question is to test your approach and your
work ethic. So, make sure that answer reflects those. Most people get
carried away by this question and rattle off a lot of details. Please be
concise and give only relevant details.
7. What are the knowledge areas relevant
to doing a project?
This is a kind of question for which you need to have the
answer ready. PMBOK guide describes 10 knowledge areas.
Read about them in detail and try to paraphrase in your
own words.
8. Describe all the steps involved from the
time of project initiation to project
completion.
The best answer for this question would be scenario-
based. Sometimes, the interviewers themselves give a
hypothetical project and ask you how you would handle it.
For each stage phase the project follows, briefly mention
the following: The main objective of that phase
The key people involved Your role in each of those phases
9. What qualities are required to be an
effective project manager?
This question is different from the one in which you are
asked to name only one skill. Apart from technical skills,
mention leadership skills, time management skills,
decision-making skills, prioritization skills, risk
management skills etc. The follow-up question can be
about how a certain skill helps. So, do prepare a
justification for each of the skills you talked about.
10. Did your colleagues or your manager
ever challenge your decisions?
Many people think that it’s better to say ‘no’ to this
question and move on to the next. But, disagreements in
projects are quite common. So, it is extremely unlikely
nobody disagreed with your decisions (Especially, if you
are a senior project manager). So, it’s better to say yes
and go on to describe how you handled the situation.
Show that you are a person who can take feedback
constructively and can take everybody along with you in a
collaborative manner.
11. How do you ensure your team stays on
track to meet project deadlines?
A sample answer can be ‘I clearly communicate what the
expectations are before the team starts to work on the
task. I regularly take updates on the progress and if there
is a lag anywhere I make myself approachable for the
team members to discuss their problems. Also, I
appreciate and give feedback once the project is
completed to keep them motivated’
12. Do you know anything about Pareto
principle/analysis?
This is again a knowledge-based question. The Pareto
principle states that 80% of the results come from 20% of
the actions. This is a statistical analysis that is used by
project managers to prioritize work. If you have enough
experience as a project manager, most likely you have
used this principle or at least a variation of it. Apart from
explaining what it is, talk about how you used it in your
previous job (if you did)
13. Do you think integrity is an essential
quality of a project manager?
Of course, you have to say ‘yes’. Go on to describe why it
is so. Any company wants an employee who shares the
values and principles of the company. If you are in a
responsible position such as a project manager, you are
expected to show the way for others to follow. Earning
the respect of your team members and the trust of your
bosses can only happen when you are ethically upright.
14. If the customer is not happy with the
result and does not accept the product.
What would you as a project manager do?
Keeping customers happy is important for the companies.
Hence, your answer should showcase that you value
customers as well. You can start by explaining that during
the course of the project you regularly interact with the
customers so that they are on the same page as the
project team. Despite this, if the customers are unhappy
with the result, say that you will try to clearly understand
what modifications they want and try to incorporate
them. In case the changes cannot be made, you will try to
convince and explain to the customer that the project fits
in with the agreed scope.
15. How should a project manager
communicate a failure to his team?
A good project manager is optimistic. The way you handle
failure reflects the true leader in you. If your team worked on a
project and it ultimately failed, they are bound to be unhappy.
But as a manager, it is your duty to ensure that failures don’t
affect the morale of the team. You can tell the interviewer that
instead of blaming a particular person or a group, you make it a
collective responsibility. Also, mention that you communicate
to the team members to learn from the mistakes they made in
this project and not repeat them in the future.
16. What was the biggest challenge that
you faced while working on a project?
‘I didn’t have the right team’. ‘I don’t deal well with changes’.
‘My boss wasn’t very supportive’. These would be bad answers
to give your future employer. As a project manager, you are
expected to manage people and handle risks. So, don’t tell your
interviewer that you fall short in those two areas. Give an
example of a situation in which the challenge was due to the
external factors. It can be about when the project was abruptly
shelved or when the funding for it has been stopped. Don’t
forget to mention how you handled the situation and what you
learned from it.
17. What kinds of projects interest you the
most? Why?
The one word that you need to focus on for this pm
interview question is ‘relevance’. Do your research about
the company and the role you are applying for. Your
answer for this should be about the kind of projects that
the company can offer.
18. What are different kinds of project
management tools you worked with?
When the interviewer asks this question, it is to know
whether you can use Lean, Kanban, Agile etc. If the
company uses particular project management software,
read up on it. Further, do mention how your knowledge of
a specific project management tool can help their
company.
19. What kind of people do you find
difficult to work with?
This is a potential trap. ‘I get along with everyone’. Say
this and you will open a floodgate of questions. Focus on
why you are being asked this question. They want to
check your people management skills. You can talk about
how you are strictly professional and do not let your
emotions get the better of you while working with people.
Bring out your maturity, emotional quotient while
answering this question.
20. Are there any projects that you do not
want to work on?
If you say you are fine with any project, it might imply
that you do not know yourself enough to answer this
question. Instead, it is better to be honest and
communicate your preferences. But, if you are applying
for a software project manager position and say you hate
software development, slight chance you will get the job.
So, be a little smart.
21. How do you keep your team members
motivated?
One of the important roles of a leader is to keep the
morale of the team members high. Show the interviewer
that you are team player and work collaboratively. Tell
the interviewer that you would like your team members to
look up to you for advice. Also, they should feel free to
share their ideas and suggestions with you. Instead of
imposing decisions, you allow the team members to
contribute and make it a collective effort.
22. How do you monitor and review the
delegated responsibilities?
This is an extension of the question on how you ensure
that your team members meet deadlines. Talk about
clearly defining the responsibilities, arranging regular
meetings, empowering the team members to approach if
there is any concern and constant updates on the progress
of the work.
23. What motivates you to give your best to
your projects?
The answer varies from person to person. But responses
can be ‘I like to be out of my comfort zone and hence love
challenging projects’. ‘Projects which help me learn and
evolve, pushing my potential’. ‘I am attracted to success
and achievement. The thought of reaching the project
goals within the stipulated time motivates me’. Think
about the answer that you want beforehand so as to
justify your statements with real-life examples.
24. How do you deal with changes to your
project?
Changes and modifications are a part and parcel of most
projects. An employer wants a project manager who is
flexible and adaptable to changes. The best answer can
be about how you actually put in place a change
management process even before the changes occur. At
the same time, showcase that you are not a person shy to
say ‘no’ when you feel that a certain change is not
suitable for the project.
25. How good are your communication
skills?
Project managers need to have good communication skills.
So, don’t be too honest and say that communication skills
are your weakest area. The answer has to either ‘good’ or
‘excellent’. But, don’t sound overconfident while saying
so. If they ask for examples, be ready with two or three
examples in different settings to justify your point.
26. What is your work style?
It is another question to check if you fit in with the
company’s culture. It also indicates whether you are self-
aware to communicate your work style. Though it sounds
vague, this question provides an opportunity to show how
you can be an asset to the company. You could talk about
your emphasis on speed and efficiency, how you like to
work collaboratively, your way of communication etc.
Further, you can mention about how you organize your day
and how many hours you work.
27. How do you improve your knowledge
regarding project management?
Companies want their employees to be fully invested in the
jobs that they are applying for. There are many software tools
coming up and many processes being invented regularly in the
project management landscape. Hence, project managers need
to continually upgrade their skills to be relevant. Basically, tell
your interviewer about what you are doing to grow in your
field. It could be certification courses you are taking or
workshops/courses you are attending. Also, you can talk about
your interactions with project managers and people in the field
to stay up-to-date with the latest.
28. Why do you want to work with this
company?
You need to go prepared for this interview question. If
their working style suits yours, you can discuss it. If the
job you are applying for is the next logical step for your
current job, tell them that. Or, even something like you
being attracted to their work culture or vision, can be a
good response. Better yet, you can say how the job and
the company align with your personal growth. This shows
that you are looking for a long-term collaboration with the
company.
29. Did you face any problems with your
co-workers in your previous company?
You might or you might not have faced issues with your
former colleagues. But, if you mention that you did, don’t
be too negative. You can discuss the problem. However,
put your emphasis on what you did to resolve the
problem. Give it a happy ending. You can also talk about
what has been the learning and how you would handle
similar kind of people in the future. It shows your
leadership skills.
30. Do you have any questions?
Most of the applicants will say ‘no’ to this answer. But, by asking questions
you can stand out from the crowd. It also shows your interest in the company.
Your questions can indicate that you want to know a little more about the job
you applied for. Or, you can ask them some questions about the organization
itself.
A project management interview need not be dreaded. The above sample
project management interview questions and answers should help you face
the interviewer confidently. However, there can’t be a single right answer for
any of the questions. Use the answers as guiding tools but make sure you take
into consideration your own experiences, background, strengths, and
weaknesses while answering the PM interview questions. Good luck with your
job hunt.
Tell us about your experience in managing different projects and how this can
contribute to our position.
It is important to structure your interview answer because this is a multi-layered and
fairly complex question. Start by explaining how you will answer the question. This
keeps your answer on track and to the point.
"I will begin by giving you a short description of my last three projects. I will then
detail the skills and abilities I developed as a result of each project and then
demonstrate the value of these skills to this position."
You can then go on to provide a brief but concise summary of each project.
"I was the project manager for the XYZ project and this involved ..."
Then describe the skills you acquired during the project.
"I encountered a number of difficulties on this project that required an innovative
approach. I used group problem solving sessions as one of these approaches. This
worked well because it helped each team member to clarify their particular project
role and responsibility and we were able to develop plans and realistic schedules that
the whole project team contributed to ..."
Demonstrate how these skills will benefit the position and company.
"Projects now are faced with tighter budgets and fewer resources. This approach
maximizes the available resources and keeps everyone focused and motivated for the
duration of the project..."
Describe how you recently managed a diverse
project team towards a common goal
Focus on your ability to delegate in a fair and practical
way, how you clearly defined project roles and
responsibilities, kept personality clashes and conflict to a
minimum and monitored and fed back to the project
team. Outline your management style and why it worked.
Describe the most complex project you
have managed from start to finish
Provide a comprehensive answer remembering to explain the project as you
would to a client and not to somebody who has been involved in the
project.
The more complex a project, the more formal processes and
techniques are needed to effectively manage the work. Explain the
purpose, value and implementation of the most critical aspects of the
project including managing the project work plan, the project
schedule, the project risks, the project issues and closing the project.
Be enthusiastic about your accomplishments and specify how your
experience will benefit the company. Point out where you made a
difference on the project in terms of expenditure, quality, efficiency,
customer satisfaction and business and organizational success.
Standard Project Management Interview Questions:
How do you determine realistic schedules for the project?
Explain your methods for resource allocation.
How do you manage suppliers?
How do you inform all the stakeholders of the progress of the project on a
regular basis?
How do you monitor risks to the project and mitigate them?
What tools do you use to monitor and control projects?
What project management methodologies are you most familiar with?
What project software have you used?
What change management processes have you used to ensure that change is
introduced properly?
What are the practices you follow for closing a project and meeting the
conditions required to establish closure?
What specific training have you had that would be relevant to this project
manager job?
Summary
Answer your interview questions in a calm and assertive tone. Take
time to gather your thoughts before answering, it is a key project
manager skill to be able to process the facts before responding!
Most project management candidates handle the questions designed
to evaluate their technical proficiency well but tend to slip up on the
project management interview questions that explore the behaviors
or competencies required for a project manager position.
Behaviors or competencies are important because over 80 percent of
candidates lose the job offer due to their inability to demonstrate the
required project manager behaviors.
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About The Author
Madhavi Bodepudi studied organizational psychology and she
believes that success in the corporate world depends on Kaizen
(Japanese philosophy on continuous improvement). As such, she
follows up on the latest tools and techniques to improve
personal and professional efficiency. She regularly writes blog
posts on Project Management and Quality Management. In her
free time, she mentors students preparing for various
international tests.
References: https://www.greycampus.com/ , https://corpslakes.erdc.dren.mil
