{"id":2087,"date":"2022-12-15T11:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-15T16:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theforage.wpengine.com\/?p=2087"},"modified":"2024-08-01T10:13:13","modified_gmt":"2024-08-01T14:13:13","slug":"project-manager-interview-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theforage.wpengine.com\/interview-questions\/project-manager-interview-questions","title":{"rendered":"10 Common Project Manager Interview Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As you\u2019re preparing for your project manager<\/a> interview, you may wonder what kinds of questions you\u2019ll encounter outside of the typical \u201cWhat is your greatest strength<\/a>?\u201d type of interview question. While there\u2019s no way to predict exactly which questions the interviewer will ask, here are 10 common project manager interview questions, along with some tips on how to answer them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10 Common Interview Questions for Project Managers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Below are 10 possible project manager interview questions you may encounter. While not every question has a sample answer, each includes an outline of how to craft your response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Tell me about the last project you worked on.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In some respects, asking you to describe the last project you worked on is similar to \u201cTell me about yourself<\/a>.\u201d The hiring manager<\/a> wants to learn more about you as a professional. But when they ask you this project manager interview question, they\u2019re trying to learn more about you as a project manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, talk about the last project you managed, whether that was in a paid position, internship<\/a>, or even a school project. Your answer should be detailed without rambling. And, when possible, explain what the outcome was.<\/p>\n\n\n

The most recent project I worked on was overseeing the rollout of the new website. It was every page of the site, including the e-commerce side of things. There were a lot of moving parts, but I made sure everyone stayed on task and hit their due dates, so we were ready to go on launch day. We rolled the new site out on time, and it\u2019s about a half-second faster (which is pretty noticeable!). And the e-commerce side has a new checkout page that\u2019s far easier to navigate than the old one. Since launching, we\u2019ve seen a 25% drop in abandoned carts.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

2. Tell me about a time when something went wrong when you were managing a project.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While it would be nice if every project you managed ran perfectly, that\u2019s unlikely to happen. The hiring manager is trying to figure out how you handle the inevitable roadblock, snag, or mistake. The trick is to explain what went wrong without placing blame and discuss how you course-corrected.<\/p>\n\n\n

I was overseeing the build-out and redesign of a client\u2019s office space. Initially, things went well. I got the permits with ease, and the workers were on time and did their job. Basically, things were rolling along. But as we approached the end of the build-out, there were supply chain issues. While that\u2019s expected, it messed up my timeline. I always build in extra time for the unexpected, but these were pretty significant delays, and it ate up more time than I would have liked.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

I was able to call in a few favors with some suppliers to get what we needed sooner rather than later, and that helped the contractors get enough work done to pass inspection and open the office on time. That said, I did have to explain to the client that not everyone would have new chairs when they moved in, and a few people had to work off folding tables for a few weeks.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

3. How do you prioritize tasks and set timelines for a project?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Prioritization and time management<\/a> are highly desired soft skills<\/a>, no matter the role you\u2019re applying for. But if you\u2019re applying for a project manager role, the interviewer isn\u2019t asking about your general ability with these skills. They\u2019re wondering how you\u2019ll use them as a project manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Your answer should have two parts. First, talk about how you measure the urgency or importance of individual tasks. Is one task more vital to the project than another? Does task X have to be completed before anyone can start task Y? You might meet with stakeholders or the people working on the project for their input.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second part focuses on time management. Once you know the order of the tasks, how do you decide how much time to allot to each one? Do task timelines overlap? How do you know when it\u2019s appropriate to overlap versus using a sprint where the team only focuses on one thing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Describe a project plan.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This straightforward project manager interview question gets at whether or not you understand the basics of project management<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the easy (and technically correct) answer is, \u201cThe project plan is the plan for the project,\u201d the hiring manager is looking for a bit more information. In general, a project plan includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n