Part 3: Top Project Management Interview Questions and Answers in 2021
Congratulations
on landing an interview for a project management position! Project managers are
essential to the smooth operation of practically any type of organization,
whether it is a tiny nonprofit, a rising startup, or a large corporation with
thousands of employees. Whatever organization you're meeting with, they're
clearly in need of assistance, and you're one step closer to proving you're the
right fit.
You
may have begun by preparing to answer basic interview questions, but if you
want to stand out from the crowd, there are a few unique questions that you
should be prepared to respond to as a project management candidate.
In the previous article (Top project management interview questions and answers in 2021; Part 2: Top Project Management Interview Questions and Answers in 2021), we talked about Project Manager Interview Questions and Answers on Scenario-Based, Domain Knowledge, and Skills-Based Project Management, Clear Communication, Consistency & Integrity, Customer Orientation, and Developing Others. In this article, we'll continue discussing the following Project Management Interview Questions:
- Interview
Questions for Project Managers on Effective Delegation
- Interview
Questions for Project Managers on Goal Focus
- Interview
Questions for Project Managers on Managing Ambiguity and Risks
- Interview
Questions for Project Managers on Prioritizing and Time Management
- Interview
Questions for Project Managers on Proactive Decision Making
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Interview Questions for Project Managers on Effective Delegation
Effective
delegation is one of the most crucial success factors for a project manager.
How well can you get tasks done with the help of others? The delegation must be
accomplished through empowerment rather than interference or loss of control.
The following questions will help you figure out if you're an excellent
delegator:
27. How do you handle delegation?
This
is a question aimed at eliciting information about your leadership skills.
Explain what has worked best for you in the past and provide examples of how
your delegation strategy has worked well. Even if you've never formally led a
team before, it's critical to identify a previous example of how you delegated.
28. How easy is it for you to levels of responsibility?
Any
project manager must be able to delegate responsibility with ease. Ensure to
bring up a relevant example that demonstrates to the interviewer that you are
confident transferring responsibility.
29. How do you keep track of and review the tasks that have been allotted to you?
As
a project manager, it's critical to regularly stay on top of your team's tasks
and responsibilities. Discuss specific instances of how you accomplish this,
such as organizing quick meetings, using project management software, and so
on.
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Interview Questions for Project Managers on Goal Focus
Project
managers must maintain a laser-like focus on their objectives. To succeed, you
must have a laser-like focus. Candidates must align resources to meet critical
objectives, plan and discover ways to improve and increase efficiency and
monitor and fine-tune execution with agility, hard effort, tenacity, and sound
judgment. The following are some of the most frequently asked questions in this
area:
30. What are your six-month career and project objectives?
If
you have any short-term project goals, be honest about them, as this shows the
interviewer that you care about your work and are goal-oriented. When it comes
to outlining your professional ambitions, don't forget to mention the
organization you're interviewing with. You may not have a specific firm in mind
when speaking with a recruiter for job placement, and that's fine—be clear
about the type of role you see yourself in.
31. What methods do you use to set goals for your team? And how do you keep track of your progress toward these objectives?
Setting
objectives, whether they be deadline goals or overall project goals, is an
essential component of project management since it encourages team members and
keeps projects on track. Make sure to share specific instances of how you've
set goals for your team in the past and how you've kept track of them. For
example, you may have developed a project completion target for a specific
project that required everyone to finish their portion by a particular
deadline. Perhaps you checked in with team members frequently to see if any
barriers preventing them from making the deadline and if so, you gave
alternatives.
Interview Questions for Project Managers on Managing Ambiguity and Risks
Uncertainty
is something that a project manager must cope with. In ambiguous situations,
it's critical that you can assess and prioritize risks and take necessary
action. In changing environments, it's also crucial to managing others'
worries. The following scenario-based questions are frequently asked to assess
skill in this area:
32. Describe two areas in your current project where you have a lot of ambiguity. How do you deal with these ambiguities?
Nobody
expects a project to run smoothly. What the interviewer is looking for is how
you handle any situation that could lead to a setback. A good project manager
should have a few tricks up their sleeve at all times.
33. How do you keep track of project changes?
Change
is unavoidable, but it's critical to respond rapidly to such changes as a
project manager. Explain to your interviewer how you stay on track with your
team when project modifications arise.
Interview Questions for Project Managers on Prioritizing and Time Management
A
project manager is responsible for a variety of tasks and issues. To be a good
project manager, you must carefully select your battles. Because resources are
constantly limited, they must be prioritized. Time is a valuable resource for
the project because it cannot be easily replaced after being lost. As a result,
one of the most important abilities for any project manager is project time
management. The following questions are used to determine whether you are
capable of taking on the duty of developing efficient methods of task
execution:
34. How do you keep your project on track at all times?
Explain
how you keep in touch with your team during a project. Your interviewer wants
to learn about your work process and observe how meticulous you are. You might
say, for example, that you believe effective and regular communication is
critical to maintaining a project on track.
35. As a manager, what tools do you use to plan your own and your team's activities?
Project
managers employ various tools and techniques to keep organized, ranging from
meetings to project management programs and everything in between. To
demonstrate your understanding of project management software and other tools,
make a list of as many tools as you can think of.
Interview Questions for Project Managers on Proactive Decision Making
A
project manager must be able to recognize and avoid issues from negatively
affecting the project. It is critical that the candidate demonstrates the
ability to take the initiative, avoid procrastination, and make complex
judgments. As a result, candidates are frequently requested to offer instances
and real-life scenarios from their projects and personal lives in which they
took proactive actions. Here are several examples:
36. Give some examples of proactive decision-making in your previous projects and your daily life.
As
a project manager, it's critical to take the initiative, and your interviewer
wants to see how you do it. Consider particular project examples that required
a lot of proactive decision-making, but don't be hesitant to include
non-workplace instances as well.
37. Can you tell me about a moment when you made a difficult decision that backfired?
This
is a difficult question for candidates to answer since it reveals how honest
you are with yourself and forces you to discuss when you failed. Your
interviewer wants to see how you deal with setbacks since they will come no
matter how brilliant you are at your work. They're more interested in learning
what you've gained from these encounters. Explain how you used those obstacles
to better as a project manager overall when you share your instances.
Conclusion
As
you prepare, go over the information above and review the job description for
the specific role. Then explain to the interviewer why you'd be the ideal
choice—and demonstrate it by how you act before, during, and after the
interview. Keep in mind the most crucial talents, attributes, and points you're
trying to express, no matter which questions you get in the interview.
SPOTO PMP training courses, exam dumps, application services, and recertification services can also help you master and build these skills and prepare you to get through the interview and into the job!