Project Manager Interview Questions

PROJECT MANAGER INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Text copyright 2013 Sandra Arps
All Rights Reserved
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Table of Contents
I. Acing the Interview ............................................................................................................ 6
II. The Process ..................................................................................................................... 7
Background ....................................................................................................................... 7
The Interview Process ...................................................................................................... 7
III. Interview Preparation ...................................................................................................... 9
Research the company ................................................................................................... 13
Research your interview partner ..................................................................................... 13
Practice interviewing ....................................................................................................... 13
Interview Times are important ......................................................................................... 14
What to bring to an interview .......................................................................................... 14
Get Directions Where will the interview take place? .................................................... 15
IV. The Interview Itself ........................................................................................................ 16
How to act during the interview ....................................................................................... 16
Avoid salary discussions ................................................................................................. 17
Closing the Interview ....................................................................................................... 17
V. After the Interview .......................................................................................................... 18
Debrief ............................................................................................................................ 18
Update the recruitment agency ....................................................................................... 18
Thank you note ............................................................................................................. 18
VI. Interview Q&A Framework ............................................................................................ 20
Different types of questions ............................................................................................ 20
Tips & Tricks! ............................................................................................................... 22
VII. Example Interview Question & Answers ...................................................................... 23
1. Question: Tell me about yourself: ............................................................................ 23
2. Question: Why do you want to leave your company? /
Why have you left your company?............................................................................... 24
3. Question: Why do you want to work for our company? ........................................... 26
4. Question: Tell me about your strength?................................................................... 27
5. Question: Tell me about your weakness .................................................................. 28
6. Question: Tell me what motivates you? ................................................................... 29
7. Question: Can you please tell me why should we hire
you? ............................................................................................................................. 30
10. Question: What kind of projects have you managed
and what was your success in them? .......................................................................... 33
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Table of Contents continue:

11. Question: Can you please provide an example of a
project, which was going off track, and how did you get it
back on plan ................................................................................................................ 34
12. Question: Can you please describe with which project
management methodologies are you familiar? ............................................................ 35
13. Question: What project management software have
you used? .................................................................................................................... 36
14. Question: Which techniques do you use for project
management? .............................................................................................................. 37
15. Question: Describe a challenging situation in your
recent project and how you have overcome it? ........................................................... 39
16. Question: Describe a time when your workload was
heavy and how you dealt with it. .................................................................................. 40
17. Question: Describe a recent project where you were
responsible for managing multiple people, streams or
teams. What were some of the key challenges and how
did you handle those challenges? ............................................................................... 41
18. Question: Can you describe a situation where the
stakeholder consistently changed requirements and
increased scope? How did you ensure stakeholder
satisfaction while maintaining the goals of the project? ............................................... 42
19. Question: Can you describe a time when you had to
balance quality management with a challenged project
schedule? .................................................................................................................... 43
20. Question: Can you describe a time when you had a
difficult situation working with a vendor? What was your
approach to resolve the issues while maintaining a
positive relationship? ................................................................................................... 44
21. Question: How do you manage difficult people or a
problem with an employee reporting to you? ............................................................... 45
22. Question: Can you describe a situation where you had
a conflict in your team? How did you handle it? .......................................................... 46
23. Question: Youve been appointed as a Project
Manager to a project where the team morale is low. What
do you do to uplift it?.................................................................................................... 47
24. Question: Can you tell me what do you do when
project priorities constantly change? ........................................................................... 48
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Table of Contents continue:
25. Question: How do you handle pressure and stress? ............................................. 49

26. Question: Describe the most complex project you
have managed from start to finish. .............................................................................. 50
27. Question: You are starting a new project, which
includes offshore development. How do you manage
communications? ......................................................................................................... 52
28. Question: What is velocity? How do you estimate your
teams velocity? ........................................................................................................... 54
29. Question: What have you learned from your mistakes? ........................................ 55
30. Question: How do you set and manage expectations
(with customers, your managers and your team)? ...................................................... 56
31. Question: Describe the four phases of team building
and how do you use it as an advantage on your project? ........................................... 57
32. Question: Please can you describe your current
salary/wage and benefits package? Including: base
salary, superannuation, bonus or commission, vehicle /
phone allowances, other benefits? What are your
minimum expectations in the role you are now seeking? ............................................ 59
33. Question: What notice are you required to give and
what is your availability? .............................................................................................. 60
VIII. Questions you want to ask .......................................................................................... 61
Your Question can be: .................................................................................................... 61
IX. Summary....................................................................................................................... 62
X. Interview Prep Checklist ................................................................................................ 63
XI. Important Project Management skills ............................................................................ 65
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I. Acing the Interview
Welcome! My name is Sandra and I will walk you through

these guidelines, which will provide you all the knowledge and
skills you require in order to successfully ace your interview
and get the job as a Project Manager.
If you would like to read more about me, please access the
following link, which will direct you to my LinkedIn profile:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/sandraarps
The success of your interview will depend on how well you

prepare. Once, youve worked through this guide you will learn
the fundamentals of preparation to make a lasting
impression on the interviewer and to get that all-important job
offer.
Im looking forward to going through this guide with you!
Best Regards,
Sandra Arps
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II. The Process
Background
In todays competitive business climate, there are many

Project Managers applying for a limited number of project
management jobs. It is essential for you to prepare for the job
interview in order to get a competitive advantage over your
peers.
I cannot lay enough emphasis on how much good interview

practice and the investment of time in preparation will help in
securing the project management position you have applied
for. If you understand the reason why some of the questions
are being asked, you will have the opportunity to influence the
conversation to your advantage.
Please read, absorb and work carefully through this guide and
you will definitely be rewarded with success.
The Interview Process
The interview process can be lengthy and stressful. Only a

few years ago, a single interview may have been all that was
required in order to get the job as a Project Manager.
Nowadays, it is quite common to have several interviews up
to three or four for a single job. Dont be surprised to find
yourself in a situation where you have several interview
sessions with your future employer to evaluate your fit to the
company.
Please note, that at the end of an interview, you will get the
opportunity to ask questions. This is a most valuable opening,
not to be wasted! Most interviewees dont use this chance, or
they ask questions to which you can easily find the answer on
the Internet. This does not resonate well with the person
interviewing you. It might be perceived as disinterest in the
company, and give the impression that you would apply for
any job advertised on the market. With a little preparation, you
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can use this opportunity for questions to your benefit!

Therefore, always have pertinent questions prepared, which
you want to ask your future employer and to which you cant
find out the answer easily. You will find some example
questions later on.
Last, but not least, you need to follow up after the interview via
email by thanking the interviewer for their time and re-iterate
your interest in this position. Imagine the interviewer has
interviewed 20 Project Managers for one vacant position. By
sending a follow up email, you will remind him of your interest
in the company and this position. This will give you a definite
competitive edge!
Finally, remember the person interviewing you will often be

just as stressed and nervous as you are. Your future employer
will only have a couple of hours in order to make a decision
whether you are the right person for the job. If he / she hires
the wrong person, this might have negative consequences for
his or her career! Keep this in mind during the interview
process and you can keep your own nervousness at bay.
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III. Interview Preparation
How to get ready for an interview

It is vital that you prepare in advance for the interview. There
should be no last minute, hurried prep on the day. Start with
the activities listed below at least a couple of days before the
interview. This will help you to prepare for the meeting, give
you confidence and calm your nerves when the real interview
is taking place. Here you go:
First of all, you need to analyse the job description:

1. Review the job description from the newspaper or from
an online website. If you dont have the description, ask
the recruiter for the details of the role and the details of
the person who is likely to interview you.
2. Analyse paragraph by paragraph, what your future

employer is seeking in a candidate
Create a table
Create a table with one row for each of the paragraphs in the
job description. For each paragraph, tabulate:
3. The skills being expressed or implied as a requirement
4. How your current skills match to these requirements
5. An example of a project where you have demonstrated

these skills
At the end of the table list your skills, professional and

personal qualities.
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Example: advertised project management role matching your skills, backed up by

examples of your experience:
Role description by Match your skills Your experience

paragraph detailed example
My client is a Financial Ive been working in the Retail Bank X: I led the
Services organisation financial industry for more following projects:
with a strong standing than 4 years. Im familiar a) Several legacy
within the industry. with their processes and migration projects of
can speak their language. I different forms and
can apply and transfer my sizes. Main benefits
experience to a new achieved: reduction in
environment and assist my cost due to simplified
future employer in environment: $8m.
improving their business.
b) Recent Project X:
size $8m, team of 30,
distributed teams. This
was a new product
development, which
increased companys
market share by 3%
Excellent verbal and I have excellent On a daily basis Im
written communication communication skills with involved with the project
skills and the ability to all stakeholders and on all team discussing and
interact professionally levels managing project
with a diverse group of matters. This includes
executives, managers, business owners and
subject matter experts, developers.
technical and business
staff. Currently, Im preparing
and presenting monthly
status updates for the
Steering Committee
members and the
Executive Team.
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Strong experience with I am PMP certified and I have implemented
project management have used PRINCE 2 PRINCE 2 on several
methodologies like methodology on several government-led projects.
PRINCE 2. projects. In addition, Im familiar
with the agile method
which I used on smaller
projects for Company X.
Extensive experience in I have extensive The largest outsourced
vendor management. knowledge in vendor project I led was Project
management including: X: It had a budget of
vendor selection $14m, a project team of
processes, contract 45 people to develop a
negotiations and new Online Banking
relationship management. I System. A Partner X in
also have experience with China provided the
outsourcing work to India service.
and China.
To continue
Exercise: Match your experience and skills to the advertised role you are applying for:

What is required for the
role you apply for?
1. Requirement 1 Your matching skill 1 Your experience
example 1
2. Requirement 2 Your matching skill 2 Your experience
example 2

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TIP
If you notice that you have a gap in a certain requirement area, do not try to hide or ignore
this fact in the hope that the interviewer will not ask you a question about this. All the
requirements posted in a job description are important and the interviewer will definitely
ask pointed questions about your proficiency in these areas. My best advice here is to do
as much research on the Internet as you can until your interview date arrives. If you can
demonstrate, during the interview that you are knowledgeable in this area and that you are
familiar with the topic, then this will usually get you over the hurdle. Otherwise, please
openly acknowledge your gap along with an assurance of your willingness and aptitude to
learn the necessary skills. This will increase your chances, as honest self-assessment and
communication are highly valued.
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Research the company
Start your research by looking for the company on the Internet. Google the name of the
company on the Internet. You can generally find information on the companys website
in the About Us menu section. Make a particular note of information about the
organisational structure of the company, the annual report and any recent news or
reports regarding the company. Incorporate this information in your conversation with
the interviewer. By including this information during the interview, you demonstrate that
you have done your research and that you are really interested in working for this
company.
Research your interview partner
Find out the name of the person who will interview you. Generally you can find this
person on the business networks such as LinkedIn (www.Linkedin.com). Here, you can
find out how long the person has worked for the company and what responsibilities this
person has. You can also check out personal details at social networks such as
Facebook. Note all his or her professional / personal characteristics and achievements
to get an idea of preferences. Is he / she a modern manager an advocate of an open
style of management - with open teamwork? Or is he / she traditional and prefers the
old school structure of a fixed hierarchy of accountability? It is likely the person who will
interview you will become your new manager, and knowing his views and opinions will
help in answering his or her questions better.
You can also search in your personal network for people who have worked or are
working at the company and who can provide you with insight on the company and its
culture.
Practice interviewing
The best preparation for your interview is to work through the questions provided in
ChapterExample Interview Questions and Answers and to enact a practice interview
with someone you know. Ask your friend, partner or family member to interview you.
Believe me, it is a totally different experience and it will greatly improve your confidence
during the real interview
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Appearance and Tips
Wear appropriate clothing suited to the interview you have applied for. For a Project
Management job, you cant go wrong by dressing in conservative business attire. Make
sure you have the right clothes dry-cleaned and ready ahead of time.
Avoid smoking prior to the interview have fresh breath! Have your shoes polished and
your fingernails clean.
Interview Times are important
Always try to get an interview time midweek and in the morning hours. Research has
shown that interviews conducted on Monday mornings or Friday evenings are usually
unsuccessful, dramatically reducing the chances of getting a job!
What to bring to an interview
It's important to know what to bring to an interview. Keep the following with you:
A small folder which includes
Copies of your resume
A list of references
Questions you have for the interviewer
Blank paper where you can write notes
A working pen
Examples of things to take note of during the interview include:
Details of the upcoming project
Size of the project team
Reporting structure of the Project Management team etc.
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Get Directions Where will the interview take place?
It's important to know where you need to go for your job interview - ahead of time. Use
Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/) to get directions if you are not sure where to go.
Make sure you arrive at the reception of the building 15 minutes before the interview.
Never ever arrive late it is not respectful to the person you will meet and will have a
negative impact on their assessment of you.
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IV. The Interview Itself
How to act during the interview
Below you will find some tips on how to behave during the interview. Further details on
how best to answer the interview questions will be provided in Chapter VII.
Smile and greet everyone you meet politely, pleasantly and enthusiastically,
including the receptionist
Watch your body language - shake hands firmly and make eye contact as you
articulate your points
Its a good idea to place your hands in your lap, or one hand on the table. Make sure
your body is facing towards the interviewer
Dont use the words OK or yeah throughout the conversation - dont use any
slang
Relax and lean forward a little towards the interviewer, so that you appear interested
and engaged. Pay attention and look interested
Listen and ask questions (see Chapter VII). Make sure you have a good
conversation with the interviewer. Dont let this be a pure question and answer
session
Apply the 50/50 rule on how much you should speak
Never speak ill of your former or current employer
Never ever come across that you are begging for this job.
Think of this interview as a research activity where you want to find out more about
the company and their future projects.
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Avoid salary discussions
Try to avoid the question of salary until the end of the interview process when they
have decided that they really want you. This will increase your bargaining power. During
the negotiations for salary, try not to be first to mention a fixed figure. Instead, ask the
interviewer what the company is willing to pay for such a role. If you cant avoid it give
a range rather than a set figure. Keep in mind that the Salary is not the total
compensation package. While negotiating the remuneration package always take the
following (if offered) into account:
Bonuses
Flexible working conditions
Car parking
Health insurance
Memberships etc.
Closing the Interview
If the interview goes well, you can ask for the job at the end of the interview. For
example, Given my skills and experience is there an opportunity for me to start at your
company? or Can I ask when is the latest that I can expect to hear from you?
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V. After the Interview
Debrief
Please take notes after the meeting what went well and what didnt. Gather your
thoughts and impressions and assess on how you performed in the interview. Write
down the questions that were asked and the answers you provided. Also note how long
the interview took and with whom you had the interview. Make notes about the
company, culture and your level of interest in the position. You can use these notes to
improve your interview skills.
Update the recruitment agency
After the interview, let the recruiter know whether or not you believe the job is an
excellent fit and whether you are interested in the position.
Thank you note
Follow up with a Thank You note via email reiterating your interest in the job and
working for this company. Include some marketing on your side stating the experience
and skills you have and the contribution you would make to this company. This will help
you to stand out amongst the crowd. Your name will stay longer in the interviewers
memory due to the repetition of your name and skills. If other candidates have provided
a similar performance, then this Thank You note will get you the job! Below you will
find an example of a Thank You note:
Dear Mr Smith, / Hi John,
I would like to thank you for your time, talking to me about the Project Management
position in your organisation yesterday.
Based on the conversation we had, I do believe that I can help you with your Project X.
Ive managed and delivered a similar project in the past and would be able to apply my
experience and knowledge to implement your project successfully.
Please let me know if you need further information about my background and
qualifications.
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Again, thank you for your time. Im looking forward to hearing from you soon regarding
your hiring decision.
Kind Regards,
Your Typed Name
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VI. Interview Q&A Framework
Different types of questions
There are different types of interview questions that you will be asked during the
interview process. You will be asked about your employment history, your leadership
skills, your ability to work in a team, your motivation, as well as other questions related
to your skills and ability. Typically you can categorise these questions in two groups:
1. Behaviour Questions
Behaviour questions are being asked in order to understand how you handled a
situation in the past and then relate this answer to your likely behaviour in the future. For
example: How do you handle a stressful situation? Do you delegate activities; do you re-
prioritise items, or do you wait until the situation resolves itself?
Based on your answer, your interviewer will draw a conclusion on how you will handle a
situation in the future.
2. Knowledge Questions
Knowledge questions are related to your experience. For example: Can you please
explain PRINCE 2 methodology to us? What is your experience with it?
This will give your interviewer an insight on how well you know the subject.
Framework applied
When you answer interview questions try to implement a structure around it. This will
make the conversation so much livelier and interesting for your interviewer. In addition,
provide examples and proof of what youve done and what you can bring to the new
company. Your interviewer will feel confident that you are the right choice for the job as
you demonstrate your abilities to deliver projects successfully. Use the following
framework when answering a question:
Interview Answer Structure:

1. Statement Provide a statement to answer the question
2. Example Provide an example to support the statement above
3. Result / Benefit What kind of benefits resulted out of this
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Applied Example:
Interview Question: Why do you think you are a good Project Manager?
1. Statement Im an experienced Project Manager as I have worked in the industry for

more than 6 years.
2. Example Ive been involved in very complex:
IT Technologies (mention tools and technology you were involved)
Civil Constructions (describe the environment)
Business transformation processes (describe the change to the business)
Ive managed large projects, which have ranged in scale (go into project specifics here)
than talk about specific projects (name of the project here) and add all the details in. For
example: I had a project team of 8 members, the project had a budget of $2m, and the
goal was to deliver X.
3. Result/Benefit Ive implemented this project on time on a very tight budget using
(name project methodology here) Method X/PRINCE 2. The benefit to the business
was: X (growing revenue, being compliant on time and not losing license, headcount
savings, faster to market and therefore competitive advantage, develop a new product
or service).
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Tips & Tricks!
Here are some tips and tricks, which will help you to master the interview questions.
Make sure you apply them:
When answering questions, make sure your answer will take at least 2-3 minutes.
Otherwise you will miss out on marketing time.
When preparing for the interview, make sure you use a stopwatch in order to time
your answers. This is a good way to test on how long you speak and how fast you
answer.
Try to follow the above answering structure where possible. It will give you credibility
as you back up your statements with examples. It will help strengthen your case of
being the best person for this job.
Always use examples rather than general statements. Your conversation will
become much more interesting for the interviewer.
In the next section you will find some common interview questions with some example
answers. Please note that the example answers are there to provide guidance for you
on how to answer the question. Further work from you is still required you need to
substitute the projects mentioned below with the projects youve worked on and the
experience you have gained. Please make sure your answers to the questions are at
least 2 minutes long.
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VII. Example Interview Question & Answers
Below you will find a selection of the most asked interview questions. Ive put an
example answer to it which will help you to understand on how to answer the interview
questions best.
1. Question: Tell me about yourself:
Background:
Always be prepared to answer this question. This is one of the most common questions
to start an interview process. Make sure you have prepared an answer by outlining your
skills, knowledge and experience. This will help you to market and to sell your skills as
Project Manager. Your future employer is after information on how you can add value to
the company. Try to conclude your answer with a question in order to get the initial
discussion going.
Statement:
Im an experienced Project Manager with a record of successful project delivery. I'm
efficient and highly organised. This enables me to be as productive as possible on the
job.
Example:
At my last Company X, I was involved in the merger of two insurance companies. As a
Project Manager I was responsible and accountable for a budget of $30m, my project
team was 80 members strong. The project needed to be delivered on a tight timeline
due to legislative changes.
Benefit:
Ive delivered this project within the 10-month deadline and under budget. The company
achieved business benefits due to FTE savings of $1.5m in the first year.
Conclusion:
I'd like to discuss how I might be able to do something similar for your company
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2. Question: Why do you want to leave your company? / Why have you left your
company?
Background:
There are 3 rules with this question: keep it simple, honest and positive. Good reasons
for leaving your job can be:
Career growth
Your company is restructuring
Moving or finding a job closer to home
Looking for new challenge
If you are in a situation where you are or were unemployed for a time mention the
reason. Always frame the answer positively and make sure your time off has some
learning activities involved.
Example for career growth:

Statement:
I had a fabulous time at Company X
Example:
I started out in the Project Manager area. I have been promoted several times,
developed new skills and formalised my Project Manager skills. After 6 years, I feel that
it is time to look for a new challenge and Im using this as an opportunity to grow and
learn. Im very selective where I go with my next move because it is important move
where I can grow as a professional and enhance my skills.
Benefit:
Im looking for an opportunity to take all the skills and experiences that I have learned at
(Company X) and apply this in a new environment where I can make a real difference to
the particular organisation.
Company restructure example:

Statement:
I was made redundant due to a restructuring in May. After some consideration I decided
to turn this situation into an opportunity for my personal and professional growth.
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Example:
I fulfilled my childhood dream travelling through Europe and to experience and learn
about foreign cultures. Since Im back, Ive completed several Project Manager
educational courses online in the area of financial management in order to brush up my
skills.
Benefit:
Im looking forward to use my experience with different people and cultures in a new
environment where I can make a real difference.
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3. Question: Why do you want to work for our company?
Background:
This is an important question, as the future employer wants to know if you really want to
work here or if you are just applying for any job. Interviewers want to hire people who
are like-minded and want to work for the same company. Therefore be passionate!
Demonstrate your research! Can you add value to the company? Use your matching
skill table, which you have prepared earlier.
Statement:
Im really interested in working for your company.
Example:
Im familiar with some of the people who work for you; or I have conducted web
research and found / believe that the products / services are impressive and very
interesting. Your company is leading the market and was ranked highly at the Choice of
Employee of the year. From my understanding this company has a very dynamic, very
competitive, and fast business culture. And your company has the reputation for hiring
top talents.
Benefit:
I do believe my Project Manager skill set would fit very well with your job requirements
and Im sure I can help you to be more productive and efficient in your project delivery.
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4. Question: Tell me about your strength?
Background:
Describe your skills and experience here. Provide three or four statements and back
them up with examples. Employers normally like to see examples in the area of:
Great communicator
Team player / team leader
Hardworking
Motivated and determined
Using consultative approach
Mentored and coached teams
Statement:
My key strengths are: great communicator, good team leader, hardworking and
motivated to achieve my goals. In addition I have a strong knowledge of IT systems and
have managed projects for over 6 years.
Example:
All those strength have been developed over the last years. I started at Company X with
small projects in the area of XX. Not all projects were easy to manage and I did make
mistakes in the beginning especially when it came to managing staff. But I learned
quickly and improved my project management skills over the last couple of years. Now,
Im at the point where I manage large, complex, multimillion-dollar projects, with diverse
development sites.
Benefit:
This enabled my last company to simplify their environment and save $4m in the first 8
months.
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5. Question: Tell me about your weakness
Background:
This question is about dealing with weaknesses and how you handle and correct them.
A good example to bring is a weakness in skills which you have already addressed by
training and turn the answer into a positive outcome.
Statement:
Im now at a level within Company X where Im dealing with very influential and senior
business executives.
Example:
Ive decided to do my MBA for personal reasons, and also to develop stronger business
acumen and knowledge to hold my own while dealing my peers and seniors.
Benefit:
Im paying for this myself. Ive made this commitment to myself to develop and improve
my skill set.
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6. Question: Tell me what motivates you?
Background:
This is a psychological question. The interviewer wants to know if you think more about
short term or long-term goals.
Statement 1:
I like to be involved in constant changes. [Change is the only constant and I have the
urge to be involved].
Example 1:
As a Project Manager Im heavily involved in implementing new ideas and projects and
see them deployed and realized. I want to use my Project Manager skills and talent in
order to work on exciting and challenging projects.
Benefit 1:
I was motivated both by the challenge of implementing the projects
ahead of schedule and by managing the teams that achieved our goals
Statement 2:
My career is important to me. Im really into developing myself. I want to get into senior
management level and take on more responsibility.
Example 2:
Im taking on an Executive Leadership course for Project Managers to work at a more
strategic and senior level; thats what motivates me.
Benefit 2:
This will help me grow and achieve my goals.
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7. Question: Can you please tell me why should we hire you?
Background:
This is a value proposition. How can you add value to the company? Use the table
where you have matched the job description to your skills earlier on. This is exactly the
information they are looking for in this question. In general - people will hire you for the
following reasons:
You do the job well
You fit into the company culture
You are passionate about your job
Statement:
Based on my past projects and experiences I do believe that I can add and bring value
to your company.
Example:
In the job description you highlighted that you are looking for someone with the following
skills. Refer now to your table which you prepared for the interview in Chapter III.
Benefit:
I do believe that my skills and experience will meet your expectations and will
compliment your team to deliver the required results.
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8. Question: Can you please tell me how you will contribute to this company?
Background:
The best way to answer this is to give example of what you have achieved in the past,
and to relate this to the future. Relate your abilities to the employer's goals. You will
want to let the interviewer know that you have the skills necessary to do the job they are
hiring you for.
Statement:
Im an experienced Project Manager who worked for X number of years in the industry.
Im familiar with different project management methodologies and processes.
Example:
Ive delivered many successful projects in the past like Project X, Project Y which were
very complex in nature and provided the expected benefits to companies Ive worked
for. Ive also trained and mentored others in the Project Manager discipline up-grading
their capability.
Benefit:
I do believe that my knowledge and skills will greatly improve the quality and the
delivery of your projects.
31
9. Question: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Background:
Your interviewer wants to know if you have clear goals in life. In reality, most people
have no idea what they will do in 5 years time. You can answer this question in two
ways:
You want to become an expert in your field and would like to stay in the area. -
Advance from being a Project Manager to become a Senior Project Manager or
Program Manager; or from being an IT Project Manager to become a Business
Project Manager.
Or you want to leave your area moving from a Senior Project Manager position
to a senior management position.
Statement 1:
I want to become an expert in the Project Management area.
Example 1:
In 5 years time, I see myself progressing in the Project Management area. Taking on
larger and more complex projects and learning new skills to the benefit of (the
company). I find this advertised Project Management job extremely interesting and
motivating.
Benefit 1:
I am willing to invest my next 5 years gaining further experience on the job and towards
professional advancement. To sum it up I want to be an expert in project management
Statement 2:
In five years time I see myself in a senior management position.
Example 2:
Having more responsibilities, coaching other employees and managing teams. I am
interested in pursuing my career based on (this companys) goals.
Benefit 2:
Im planning to acquire an MBA qualification, which will assist me in this endeavour.
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10. Question: What kind of projects have you managed and what was your success in
them?
Background:
This question focuses on your experience and of what youve done in the past. Describe
the projects you are involved with. For example: What was the project duration? Which
technology has been used? Was it a green field or a maintenance project? Was there
anything special about the project? What was the budget and how many people were
reporting to you?
Statement:
In the last 5 years I managed a number of different projects in terms of size and scope.
Here are some of the more complex projects I managed:
Example:
The project delivered a new product offering in the insurance market, which provided
the customer with a simple and easy way to secure current lifestyles. The product
offering was developed based on Blue Ocean Strategy to tap into a new unknown
market. Key challenges were the outsourced development of IT components to India.
Total project cost $8m, project size of 30 people in Australia and 2 teams in India.
Benefit:
The company was selling this new product and secured a total profit of $4m premium in
the second year.
33
11. Question: Can you please provide an example of a project, which was going off
track, and how did you get it back on plan
Background:
Projects are not always on track due to underestimated tasks, resourcing issues or
environmental issues, which are outside a Project Managers' control. This question will
give the interviewer an inside view on how you deal with this situation. What kind of
leadership style are you using? An authoritarian leadership style; whether you are telling
your team what to do, or a more participative/democratic leadership style that includes
your team in the decision making process. There is no right or wrong answer in this
question; it rather depends on what kind of personality the interviewer is looking for.
Statement:
Ive been faced with the situation where my project went off track and where I had to
take some extraordinary measures in order to deliver it.
Example:
It was a data warehouse project for Company X where I had a major resourcing issue in
my team. Three key resources departed during the delivery stage within a week, which
had a high impact on our timeline and scope. I took stock and to figure out what exact
impact this situation had on the project. I started brainstorming on possible options for
solving this issue. My options were either de-scoping some functionality, or hiring
additional resources. Based on the proposed options, the Business Sponsor decided to
hire additional developers who helped us in delivering the project. The project did go
over budget by 5% but was on schedule and delivered the stated business benefits.
Benefit:
To sum up, the key activities I perform when a project runs over board is to:
Take stock
Carry out an impact analysis
Brainstorm ideas
Provide possible solutions to stakeholders
Execute their decisions
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12. Question: Can you please describe with which project management methodologies
are you familiar?
Background:
A project methodology is a process on how projects will be delivered. Common
methodologies are PRINCE 2, PMBOK, Agile Project Management (like Scrum) or a
combination of Process-based management (like CMMI) methodologies. Apart from the
obvious which methodology have you worked with your answer will offer insight
whether you are flexible in your methodology and can adapt easily to a new process or
you are keen in implementing your preferred methodology (which might not be desired).
Statement:
Over the last couple of years Ive worked with different methodologies.
Example:
The Company X Im currently working for has a customised version of agile. The project
lifecycle is split in phases and approval - including funding that will be released once
the required activities and mandatory artefacts have been completed in the current
phase. Earlier I was working on a Government project which used PRINCE 2 for project
delivery.
Benefit:
Regardless which project methodology the company has, Im quite flexible in terms of
methodology and approach. Im good at organising and believe I have good
communication skills, which can be applied to any methodology.
35
13. Question: What project management software have you used?
Background:
There are literally 100s of different software products on the market. Please check the
following link for further information:
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_project_management_software).
When asked this question, name the tools you are familiar with and youve worked in
the past. Generally MS Project and Excel are the ones which are commonly used. But in
the agile world Jira and Greenhopper are frequently in demand.
Statement:
The software tools Im familiar with are MS Project, Excel and Jira.
Example:
I used MS Projects mainly on projects following a waterfall or PRINCE 2 methodology
as these tools are well aligned for these processes. Ive planned and executed my
projects, which included activities, dependencies, resources and budget information.
The tool was very strong in areas of monitoring and executing tasks from a project
management perspective. In projects, which are more aligned to the agile methodology,
Ive used Greenhopper and Jira. Both of these tools support collaboration and can be
used to monitor team performance and project progress.
Benefit:
I believe that Im tool savvy and that I can learn any tool quickly. Do you mind me asking
which tool you are currently using? Do you have any preferences?
36
14. Question: Which techniques do you use for project management?
Background:
Before answering this questions make sure to verify with your interviewer if this
question is related to Software tools or techniques to assist with managing your project.
If this question is looking for techniques you might want to mention the following when
planning and managing projects:
Tool When
Brainstorming (is a group or individual Initial concepts, ideas, structures
creativity technique by which efforts are
made to find a conclusion for a specific
problem by gathering a list of ideas
spontaneously contributed by its
member(s))
Fishbone Diagram (also called Ishikawa Gathering and identifying all
diagrams or cause-and-effect diagrams) elements, especially causal and
are diagrams that show the causes of a hidden factors, troubleshooting,
certain event problem identification, diagnosis
and solutions
Critical Path Analysis flow diagram (helps Identifying and sequencing parallel
to plan all tasks that must be completed and interdependent activities and
as part of a project, it helps to identify the stages
minimum length of time needed to
complete a project)
Gantt Charts (is a type of bar chart that Scheduling and timescales,
illustrates a project schedule) financials, monitoring, forecasting,
reporting, format of
communication, progress reports,
updates
Statement:
When working on projects Im using different tools and techniques, which will help me in
planning and managing my projects.
Example:
In the beginning of the project I perform brainstorming activities with my team in order to
come up with new ideas and concepts, which might address stakeholder problems in a
37
totally different or unconventional way. For scheduling and budgeting I'm using Gantt
Charts which also help me when reporting and presenting project status and progress to
team and management. It also assists me when calculating my critical path, showing
the interdependencies between activities and possible projects. When issues or risk
emerge, I generally use a fishbone diagram, which helps me with root cause analysis.
Benefit:
These are my common tools and techniques, which I use in order to manage my
projects, which help me to deliver my projects successfully.
38
15. Question: Describe a challenging situation in your recent project and how you have
overcome it?
Background:
This is a behavioural question where the interviewer will examine on how you dealt with
a situation in the past and works as a predictor on how you are likely to handle a
situation in the future.
Make sure you answer the question on a positive note.
Statement:
When you are working in a Project Manager role you nearly always face challenges in
your projects. Some are more difficult than others.
Example:
In my last project, I had the challenge not only to deliver the project but also to introduce
a new agile project methodology and process within the organisation. We had several
staff members in the team who were not comfortable with this new process and were
holding onto the older process which caused confusion amongst the project team. In
order to solve this issue, I had a separate meeting with these team members. We
discussed their concerns, benefits of the new process to them and provision of
supportive options during the time of change.
Benefit:
After the discussion the situation improved and the staff members were integrated into
the team delivering the Project X successfully.
39
16. Question: Describe a time when your workload was heavy and how you dealt with it.
Background:
Here your interviewer wants to see how you acted under a certain situation in the past in
order to predict on how you are likely to handle a similar situation in the future.
Statement:
For Project Managers it is quite common to work under heavy workload especially
when it comes to the delivery of the project.
Example:
When I was working on the Project X, one of my key staff members fell ill for some time.
We had to distribute his workload within the team. We worked hard for long hours, in
order to cover for this person. We caught up every morning for short meetings to
discuss and to re-prioritise the upcoming work for the day.
Benefit:
Despite having one resource less on the project, we implemented the project
successfully. This was mainly due to the teams contribution in taking over extra work,
re-prioritisation and team updates each morning.
40
17. Question: Describe a recent project where you were responsible for managing
multiple people, streams or teams. What were some of the key challenges and how did
you handle those challenges?
Background:
This question focuses on results and demonstrates your experience.
Statement:
Challenges can arise when teams are co-located.
Example:
In my last project we had a team that was split over two locations. Communication was
definitely challenging. We overcame those by having daily e-meetings and providing
updates. We used webcams and video conferencing systems in order to bring the team
closer together and to establish a form of job co-ownership. Both teams felt they were
part of one project.
Benefit:
Ive implemented the project successfully. The communication techniques we used have
now been adapted and implemented to other projects within the organisation.
41
18. Question: Can you describe a situation where the stakeholder consistently changed
requirements and increased scope? How did you ensure stakeholder satisfaction while
maintaining the goals of the project?
Background:
This question will focus on dealing with change, managing stakeholders expectation
and delivering the project successfully.
Statement:
Changing requirements are part of most projects. It is important to manage those
changes and to have a close relationship with your stakeholders.
Example:
On Project X we had a workshop with our customer where we worked out a set of
requirements. We locked down those requirements. During the duration of the project
the customer frequently changed his mind. With every change suggestion I provided
the customer with an impact analysis including additional cost and benefits. Some of the
new requirements got included and earlier scope was changed. The project itself did
take longer than originally estimated but it included the new expanded scope.
Benefit:
The project was delivered in accordance to the stakeholders new requirements and
was seen as a success.
42
19. Question: Can you describe a time when you had to balance quality management
with a challenged project schedule?
Background:
This question will test your sense for quality and the sense for urgency. The interviewer
will examine you on how you balance both. The key here is that the Project Manager
only provides a situation analysis to the Business Sponsor. In the end the Business
Sponsor will make a decision on what needs to be done based on the analysis provided.
Statement:
It is important to have an agreed quality management plan in place, which describes
under which conditions the project can be implemented and deployed.
Example:
For example the project should not been delivered with high priority issues or defects.
If there is a need to deploy the project due to pressing timelines, then an impact
analysis needs to be performed and agreement from all stakeholders needs to be
sought. We had some major software issues in my last project at Bank X. The project
was about to deliver a new online home loan product, which was already advertised and
press conferences were scheduled. I had some unpleasant meetings with the executive
team explaining the situation and providing my view on why we should delay the
product launch for thousands of customers.
Benefit:
In the end we delayed the launch by 2 weeks delivering a better quality product to our
customers. The analysts / market reacted positively on our action which strengthened
our position in the market.
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20. Question: Can you describe a time when you had a difficult situation working with a
vendor? What was your approach to resolve the issues while maintaining a positive
relationship?
Background:
A number of projects depend on suppliers and vendors. Both sides should benefit from
the relationship. The issue here is that clients will always try to maximise services at a
minimal cost while vendors are interested in increase costs for additional services. It
can be a very challenging situation for the Project Manager who depends on third party
relationships in order to deliver the project successfully.
Statement:
Most of the projects Im involved with are dependent on suppliers and vendors.
Example:
My personal goal is to establish a win- win situation where both parties will benefit
from this relationship. It is important to establish clear roles and responsibilities
including defining an escalation path before entering into this relationship. Clarifying this
is the beginning, will help addressing issues, which may arise in the future; and will help
both parties to establish a common ground of understanding. In my last project, I had to
deal with an outsourcing company who provided people power in order to assist with the
project delivery. Apart from the contract negotiations, we established clear roles and
responsibilities, which would help us to escalate issues in the future. This arrangement
helped me later when dealing with poorly performed job provided by the vendor
company.
Benefit:
Within a couple of days we solved this issue and we were able to get a resource
replacement without compromising the project delivery or relationship with the vendor.
44
21. Question: How do you manage difficult people or a problem with an employee
reporting to you?
Background:
This question will test your people management and leadership skills. When managing
difficult people, it is important that you make sure their goals and objectives are
measurable, specific, quantifiable and in writing for accountability. Failing to do so, will
not improve the situation.
Statement:
When dealing with difficult people it is important to document everything to establish
facts. In a few cases the only option is to terminate their employment, but it may not be
necessary; instead in most cases I try to provide a plan for improvement.
Example:
On one of the larger program portfolios I was dealing with a Project Financial Analyst
who didnt communicate well with Project Managers. Her communication style was very
direct forcefully instructing them on how to provide the requested financial data. This
didnt go down well and complaints arose. In order to have a fact based conversation
with the Analyst, I started documenting each issue related to the situation. Rather than
criticising her forceful attitude, I provided examples on how to communicate her
requests in a milder manner, while still getting the required results. We worked out a
plan, which included mentoring and training in order to overcome these issues. The plan
was monitored on a regular basis.
Benefit:
The Financial Analyst started to change her communication style to a more consultative
approach. She started listening to the Project Managers first and assisted them with
their financial problems instead of telling them what to do. The entire change and
performance management process took several months, and required a lot of energy
from my side, but in the end we accomplished a good working relationship.
45
22. Question: Can you describe a situation where you had a conflict in your team? How
did you handle it?
Background:
This question will test your leadership and conflict resolution skills. The researcher
Thomas Kilmann (http://www.kilmann.com) has proposed five different ways of
addressing conflict:
Competing: power oriented mode in which you try to win
Accommodating: unassertive and cooperative. Opposite of competing, the

individual neglects his / her own concern
Avoiding: unassertive and uncooperative not dealing with the conflict

(postponing an issues to a later time or withdrawing from a situation)
Collaborating: is both assertive and cooperative opposite from avoiding. It

involves an attempt to work with others to find a solution. A win-win solution for
both parties.
Compromising: find a mutually acceptable solution that partially satisfies both

parties
When answering this question, make sure you do not blame or bad mouth
somebody. In general the best possible outcome for both parties is the Collaborating
resolution, but it depends on the situation you are in.
Statement:
When addressing conflict situations I have found that open collaboration is the most
effective form of addressing it.
Example:
Please refer to example given in question 21
46
23. Question: Youve been appointed as a Project Manager to a project where the team
morale is low. What do you do to uplift it?
Background:
This question probes your team building and engagement skills. Activities that generally
uplift the team spirit are:
Praise wherever you can (it costs nothing)
Never criticise or correct this is the biggest de-motivator always talk about
possible solutions to problems
Give small recognitions such as movie tickets, dinner vouchers etc.
Celebrate occasions such as birthdays and make social contact - Friday late
afternoon meetings, common lunch every 4 weeks
Be open and communicate both success and failure
Statement:
Sometimes project teams can be affected from poor team morale due to causes which
are outside a Project Managers control.
Example:
Once, I was working on a project where team morale was very low due to the
restructuring of the organisation, which included several redundancies of staff members.
Though I was not able to do anything about the restructure, I encouraged the team to be
open with their communication and listened to their concerns. I praised people wherever
I could and made sure that people didnt work long hours over extended periods. I
organised lunch and learn sessions on Fridays where we exchanged experiences and
promoted things that worked well.
Benefit:
We established team camaraderie, which uplifted the mood and helped us to focus on
our project and on our people rather than on the environment, which we were not able to
influence or control.
47
24. Question: Can you tell me what do you do when project priorities constantly
change?
Background:
In project management you have the iron triangle of scope, cost and time. If you
change one side of the triangle such as re-prioritising scope then this will affect time and
cost. The interviewer would like to know on how you would handle such a situation.
Statement:
Re-prioritising scope of a project always has an impact on time and cost. Therefore, it is
essential to analyse the change and its impact before making any decisions.
Example:
At Project X we had one stakeholder who consistently changed his mind on how we
should develop the new online-shopping application. First, he wanted to include videos
and forums where customers could exchange ideas. Later on, he changed his mind to
include a delivery service. Each of the changes was analysed and an impact analysis
was provided on cost and time and its benefits to the Steering Committee. Some
changes were adapted while others were rejected.
Benefit:
The project got delivered to the new scope at a higher cost. However, the additional
business benefits of providing the delivery service capability have outweighed the
additional costs.
48
25. Question: How do you handle pressure and stress?
Background:
Everybody gets stressed. The interviewer would like to know on how you deal with it.
Stress is generally good for you; as long as you know how to manage it. Recovery
phases between periods of stress are key and vital for achieving a good and
sustainable performance at work and in your life. When answering this question, make
sure you highlight your recovery phases. For exampletaking regular timeouts, leaving
the office during lunch and performing regular exercise like having a run in the park.
Statement:
As a Project Manager you experience many stressful situations, some of them you can
influence where as others are beyond your control.
Example:
When I notice that a stressful situation starts impacting my performance, I close my
eyes, take a couple of deep breaths to detach myself from the situation. I then review
the activities that need to be done and possibly re-prioritise or re-scope them. When I
work long hours, I make sure that I have regular breaks, get up from my desk and walk
around to get a new perspective.
Benefit:
In general I try to go to the gym on a regular basis in order to be fit in life and at work.
49
26. Question: Describe the most complex project you have managed from start to finish.
Background:
This question is focusing on your experience. The more complex and larger a project is
the more formality is normally around it. Start explaining the project first in terms of:
purpose and objective, scope, complexity [e.g. working with new technology, number of
resources, budget and timeline] and the key challenge you needed to overcome.
Statement:
One of the more complex assignments I was involved with was a new software
implementation project where I had the role as Project Manager.
Example:
The insurance Company X bought automated testing tool software in order to improve
the quality of their software releases. My role was to implement this tool in the IT
department. At that time, testing of software was done manually with little or no
documentation. The developed software suffered from quality issues with several
defects, resulting in many customer complaints. The project scope was:
to install and configure the tool for 20 testers and developers
provide training on the tool
facilitate workshop on new usage models
develop new procedures and process around test management
provide ongoing consulting and support to manage the change
I had some challenges to overcome, for example the automated software couldnt
recognise some of the objects we used in our programming language and some change
management challenges with the teams. Some of the older people in the team did not
want to learn or touch an automated testing tool. We agreed that those testers would
focus on the management and planning of the tests rather than on the test script
development and execution. The project itself took 6 months to implement and had a
budget of $300K.
Benefit:
Once we had implemented our project we were able to see the dramatic benefits. With
50
the new testing software we were able to run tests overnight, saving time and improving
the quality of the software. The team could test more and better in the available time,
with a positive impact on customer satisfaction.
51
27. Question: You are starting a new project, which includes offshore development. How
do you manage communications?
Background:
Communication is the key to the successful delivery of an offshore project. Make sure
you have a communication plan in place which outlines:
Communication medium: written communication generally works better when dealing

with non-native English speakers. Use wikis, blogs, intranet, and email. If using verbal
communication try to use Skype / webcams in order to assist with face-to-face
communication.
Frequency: outline how often you will communicate
Time: make sure you schedule meetings in common time zones
Syntax & language: use easy words and short sentences when dealing with none native
English speakers
Go To contact: identify a leader in the offshore team and establishing him/her as the
Go-To person rather than the entire team.
Statement:
At Company X I managed a project that included offshore developers in India due to
lower hourly cost rates. Good practices to establish, when working with an offshore
team are identifying a good leader among the offshore team as the Go-To contact,
establishing a communication plan, managing scope, having lots of deliverables which
can be tested, and monitoring the schedule to avoid slippage.
Example:
To ensure the success of the project I engaged the offshore developers as part of my
team. I established a detailed communication plan, which outlined different stakeholder
groups and their communication requirements, frequency and medium. For example: A
team meeting, with core members were scheduled every day in a video conferencing
room at a time where both teams would find comfortable to attend. A project wiki was
set up including a team forum where people could post progress and updates. We used
Skype and webcams instead of telephones in order to support face-to-face
communication.
We developed standards for emails and meetings (always have an agenda, always
52
state the objective of the meeting, and always provide meeting minutes in order to assist
non-native English speaking team members). The key for making this project successful
was that I identified and nominated an offshore leader who was my primary contact and
spokesperson there. I communicated with her on a daily basis and she provided me with
regular status updates.
Benefit:
The outsourcing development work output substantially increased the profitability of the
project which would not have been possible otherwise.
53
28. Question: What is velocity? How do you estimate your teams velocity?
Background:
In project management terms, velocity is the amount of work a team can complete in a
specific period of time. The amount of work can be specified in requirements, user
stories or backlog items.
It is calculated by the sum of the estimated of the to be delivered features per iteration.
It can be measured in story points, days, or hours; everything is acceptable.
Statement:
On my last project I was working with a project team that was using an agile method in
order to deliver their Year End Processing project.
Example:
In order to establish the velocity of my team I use the following guideline:
I plan the initial velocity at 1/3 of available time in order to account for meetings,
research, design, rework, and documentation. If I have 5 developers for 4 working
weeks (5 people * 20 days) than I have 100 days available. I would plan 1/3 of the days
e.g. 30 days worth of work performed in this iteration. Once completed the iteration, we
would assess and evaluate it and use the findings as a guideline for the second
iteration. Within a short time velocity typically stabilises and provides the basis for future
planning and estimating.
Benefit:
I believe that velocity is an extremely simple method to measure the rate at which teams
consistently deliver value to the business.
54
29. Question: What have you learned from your mistakes?
Background:
This is a behavioural interview question.
Everybody makes mistakes the key is to see, acknowledge and learn quickly from
them. This will form the augmentation of your experience. Senior Project Managers get
hired because of their experience and knowledge which they have gained over the
years. If you can openly admit to have made mistakes in the past then this will viewed
positively marking you as someone with integrity and character.
Statement:
Ive made mistakes in the past and I believe the key to correcting them is to admit them
and to learn from them quickly.
Example:
A few years ago I was leading a project where I had to make a decision terminating the
contract of one of the project team members. I was not aware that this person had a
very close relationship to our CEO. This person was taken off the project, but was
offered a very senior position in the company instead. It did cause a lot of distraction
and trust issues in the project team and with some of the stakeholders. I shouldnt have
reacted so quickly, trying to get this person away from my project instead I should
have given this person some tasks where she would have little stakeholder contact and
little impact on the project.
Benefit:
My lesson learned from this Dont make quick decisions on the spot without evaluating
the impact. It will come back to you.
55
30. Question: How do you set and manage expectations (with customers, your
managers and your team)?
Background:
Expectations are generally unstated but are critical to the success of your project. For
example your customer wants to be involved in your project - in all the details, not at
all, wants the project done regardless on the quality or wants to set an example.
The success often is not related on how well you executed the contract (Statement of
Work) but on how well you fulfilled your customers expectations! Fulfilling the
expectation of customers, team members and managers is therefore critical to the role
of a Project Manager. It will establish trust and credibility. The best way to do this is to
communicate frequently and to establish realistic expectations. Monitor these
expectations through probing questions. If the expectations differ from yours, you need
to find the basis for it and correct your course of action.
Statement:
I believe that good expectation management is the key to a project's success.
Example:
When starting out with my projects I make sure to have informal meetings with my
customer, manager and team members to understand their expectations. This helps me
to better understand on how to deliver the project. On one project, I had a customer who
didnt get involved into the project he just wanted me to do it as quickly as possible
on a different occasion I had a customer who wanted to have daily updates and wanted
to be included in every decision. While both projects were very similar yet different
treatments were required in order to complete each of them successfully and to make
the end customer happy.
Benefit:
Successful completion is not realising the end goal or final delivery; it is more about the
journey on how you delivered it and how you engaged your stakeholders and managed
expectations.
56
31. Question: Describe the four phases of team building and how do you use it as an
advantage on your project?
Background:
The different phases of team development (according to Bruce Tuckman) are:
Forming: Project team get to know each other and establish objectives clearly.
Storming: Characterised by conflicts and competition between team members. In

order to move to the next stage team member needs to be focusing on solution.
Norming: Team members actively acknowledge ideas and contribution. A team

starts to form.
Performing: A team has been established and performs well.
Adjourning: This is the fifth stage when teams break up after a finite length of
time. This includes recognising team members and saying goodbye.
Use those phases to your advantage when you are executing a project.
Statement:
The four stages of team development are: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing
with a fifth stage called adjourning where the teams will be released.
Example:
When Im leading a project Im using the above framework in order to develop a high
performing team. In the forming stage, I try to have a project kick-off meeting which is
not only work related. It will be a small celebration, where people will socialise and get
to know each other. In the storming phase, people might have some anxiety about the
project goals and its possible realisation. Some team members start questioning roles
and responsibility. In this phase I support team members and share my vision and goals
of the project. If conflicts arise, I make sure that they are fact based and solution
oriented. In the norming stage, the team slowly comes together and my leadership will
change to a more to a more participatory style. The fourth stage is the performing stage
where the team performs well together. In this stage I normally have some breathing
space, can delegate more activities and focus for example on future work or on some
analysis work. The last stage is called adjourning where the project will be closed and
released into a Business As Usual state. Generally we have a closing event like a
57
dinner where we acknowledge team performance and say good-bye to the team
members.
Benefit:
I found that this framework provides guidance in developing a high performing project
team, which will work well and achieve the project goals.
58
32. Question: Please can you describe your current salary/wage and benefits package?
Including: base salary, superannuation, bonus or commission, vehicle / phone
allowances, other benefits? What are your minimum expectations in the role you are
now seeking?
Background:
Salary questions will normally asked at the end of the second or third interview. If your
interview partner asks what kind of salary you expect try to ask the following:
What kind of remuneration where you planning to spend on this job role? -> This will
allow you to know what the budget for this role is. Based on this, you could negotiate
your salary:
Interviewer: The budget for this role is around: $80.000 - $90.000.
Your answer to this could be:

Based on my experience and skills, I see myself on the higher end e.g. $90.000
When discussing salary remember not only your salary counts. You can get
remunerated in company shares or have benefits in using a company car / laptop /
mobile phone. Discounts for gym membership or using childcare centres are also
possible. Spend some time evaluating what the lowest possible $$ you would settle for.
If they dont tell you the range of the role you could answer the following:
Statement:
Im aware what the market is currently offering for such a job position.
Example:
Im currently on $X, plus superannuation, plus 20% bonus.
Benefit:
And I would hope for an increase.
59
33. Question: What notice are you required to give and what is your availability?
Review and decide the following:
When can you start your new role?
Have you planned any holidays or breaks in the near future?
What stage are you at with other opportunities that you are being interviewed for?
What is your notice period?
Make sure you know the answer to the above questions before you go into the interview
meeting.
60
VIII. Questions you want to ask
This is an opportunity to ask more about the company and the project management job,
but be careful:
Do not ask questions you could have found the answer to, on the Internet.
Do not ask questions about salary and vacations during a regular interview its
considered to be rude.
Your Question can be:
1. Background information about your superior e.g. Can you please tell me about your
background?
2. What opportunity is there for career advancement?
3. What are the promotion opportunities?
4. Information about the project (s) for which the position is advertised e.g. size of team
& location, environment / technology / size in dollar terms / timeline, scope
5. What kind of challenges does the company experience with project delivery /
execution?
6. What kind of governance process does the company use?
7. What kind of project management method does the company prefer?
8. Reporting structure of Project Managers
9. Ratio of contractors vs. permanent staff
61
IX. Summary
You have now successfully worked through the interview guide and have spent time
familiarising yourself with the interview process, the questions that are likely to be asked
and the expectation your interviewer is likely to have about you.
I promise that you will stand out among your fellow candidates during the interview. In
case you should not get the job, ask your interviewer for the reason. It might not be your
performance but other influences where you have no control such as the budget was cut
or the project was put on hold. Be positive the next opportunity will come along.
I hope you find this e-book useful. I have collected the possible questions over a couple
of years and find them useful when hiring Project Managers. They help assess the
experience level of the job applicant and their culture fit within the company.
Good Luck and all the Best!

Sandra Arps
62
X. Interview Prep Checklist
Please use this table in order to prepare for your interview meeting. It will help you
getting the job youve applied for.
Time Description Done
A couple of
days
before
1. Get the job description
2. Find out the name and the role of the person who will
interview you
3. Research hiring company (size, number of employees,

news, annual report on the website available?)
4. Research interviewer profile, how long has he / she been

with the company, what are his / her job responsibilities; is
it likely you will report to him / her? (www.LinkedIn.com)
5. Match your skills, ability and experience with the job

description
6. Create a map or folder and include the following: two print

outs of your CV, including a print out of your references, a
notepad and a pen
7. Answer all sample questions which are provided in the

guide including the questions you are planning to ask your
interview partner
8. Trial interview: ask your friend or family member to

perform an interview with you to get a feeling for the
situation
9. Find out location, date, time and place of the interview
63
Time Description Done
10. Find out how you will get to the interview place and how
long it might take (Google maps)
11. Decide what to wear and if possible have it dry-cleaned
On D-day
12. Arrive 15 min prior to the meeting to make sure you will be
on time
13. You are well prepared, be confident and smile. Treat this
as an opportunity for you to find out as much as possible
about the company and the project
Post
Interview
14. Analyse what went well and which questions you were
having problems with. Write the question (s) down and
prepare a better answer to it
15. Inform your recruitment agency about the interview and

provide an update on the interview
Next Day
16. Send a Thank You note to your interviewer
64
XI. Important Project Management skills
Skill Explanation
Leadership Inspiring others and to create a vision to reach goals
Good Most important skill: a Project Manager needs to

Communication communicate successfully to all stakeholders - preferably
with all levels within the organisation e.g. Project Team
members, Business Sponsors and Executives.
Analysis Impact analysis the project might have on the environment

or project portfolio.
Analysis of risk / issues within the project
Team Work Without the a team the project will not be successful
therefore it is important that the Project Manager is a good
team leader who will bring the team together working
towards a common goal
Conflict Able to assist in managing and resolving conflicts

resolution skill
Negotiation skills Maintaining relationship with people involved in the project
Relationship Capable of working at all levels within the organisation and

management building a relationship with them
Budgeting Knowledge of basic financials is very important. The Project

Manager needs to prepare the budget and monitor it on a
regular basis
Timeliness Every day a project gets delayed will cost the company $$.
Therefore executing activities on time and delivering the
project on time will save the company money
Problem solving A project rarely goes off smoothly. Can you come up with
ideas on how to solve problems quickly?
65
Skill Explanation
Commitment As a Project Manager you are the leader and you need to
be committed to complete the project. If extra effort is
involved then you need to show this. For example the
project needs to get deployed on the weekend then you
must be present on the weekend
Methodologies / There are a number of different project management

Process methodologies and processes out there like PRINCE 2,
agile or the traditional waterfall approach.
Different industries will prefer diverse methodologies.
If you change your industry e.g. switching from finance
industry to construction make sure you brush up your
skills. Further information can be found at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_management
66

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What are the different types of project manager interview questions?

What are the different types of project manager interview questions?

What are some important project management skills?

What are some important project management skills?

PROJECT MANAGER INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Text copyright 2013 Sandra Arps

All Rights Reserved

Table of Contents continue:

Table of Contents continue:

25. Question: How do you handle pressure and stress? ............................................. 49

I. Acing the Interview

Welcome! My name is Sandra and I will walk you through

The success of your interview will depend on how well you

II. The Process

In todays competitive business climate, there are many

I cannot lay enough emphasis on how much good interview

The Interview Process

The interview process can be lengthy and stressful. Only a

can use this opportunity for questions to your benefit!

Finally, remember the person interviewing you will often be

III. Interview Preparation

How to get ready for an interview

First of all, you need to analyse the job description:

2. Analyse paragraph by paragraph, what your future

3. The skills being expressed or implied as a requirement

4. How your current skills match to these requirements

5. An example of a project where you have demonstrated

At the end of the table list your skills, professional and

Example: advertised project management role matching your skills, backed up by

Role description by Match your skills Your experience

Role description by Match your skills Your experience

Role description by Match your skills Your experience

Research the company

Research your interview partner

Appearance and Tips

Interview Times are important

What to bring to an interview

A small folder which includes

Copies of your resume

Questions you have for the interviewer

Blank paper where you can write notes

Examples of things to take note of during the interview include:

Details of the upcoming project

Size of the project team

Reporting structure of the Project Management team etc.

Get Directions Where will the interview take place?

IV. The Interview Itself

How to act during the interview

Apply the 50/50 rule on how much you should speak

Never speak ill of your former or current employer

Avoid salary discussions

Flexible working conditions

Closing the Interview

V. After the Interview

Update the recruitment agency

Thank you note

Dear Mr Smith, / Hi John,

VI. Interview Q&A Framework

Different types of questions

Interview Answer Structure: