Every project manager knows the drill when they go for a job interview. They know that they are going to be asked these crazy questions that have nothing to do with the job that they are applying for. They’ll have an answer ready for any questions that have to do about when they were a kid, or about their spirit animal, or what their least favorite state to visit would be. However, if you want to stand out from all those other project managers, you are going to want to know the answers to the real questions that the interviewers are asking.
Here are 5 questions every project manager should be prepared to answer:
1. What do you do when you realize a project is off deadline?
This question normally accounts for ninety percent of a person’s evaluation, so if they cannot answer it completely, they do not have a chance. The answer should include every single step in explicit detail.
2. The project team is not working well together. What are three different ways to address this?
Every candidate can give one or even two ways to address issues like this. It is the extraordinary candidates that will be able to give all three answers that the interviewer is looking for.
3. What do you do when you are overwhelmed by all the moving parts in a project?
This question allows the interviewer to see what each candidate is like when they become overwhelmed. Some may follow the blueprints exactly, while others may throw those blueprints out the window and fly blind. It is also a good indication of whether this person is capable of knowing when to ask for help.
4. What’s the most difficult issue you’ve dealt with while managing a project and how did you solve it?
This question will allow the interviewer to see what the candidate thinks is critical. What might be difficult for one could be all in a day’s work for someone else. It also shows their thought process, creativity, and how their sense of urgency is.
5. What would you do if your project was in trouble?
A red flag would go up if a candidate stated that their projects were never in trouble, because that is just never realistic. This question allows for a lot of back and forth conversing as to how things were handled and how things could have been handled better.
If you can answer these questions during a job interview, then you have a good chance at getting the job. Yes, you will still need to answer all those other questions as well, but these are the ones that you need to have specific answers for. These are the ones that count.
Call us at 407-316-8544 to discuss our project management processes with us in detail. Our construction management specialists are top of the line when construction project management is concerned. We’ve been involved in many central Florida area construction projects and we enjoy seeing the improvements we make to our beautiful area.