Here are 15 questions you can use to learn more about candidates during interviews. Each question includes information about why the question can be useful, along with tips for getting the most out of the question. In addition, the questions come with example answers that demonstrate the type of responses you might look for in candidates. To start, think about a project that was particularly challenging or complex. This will show that you are capable of managing difficult projects. Then, describe how you successfully navigated the challenges and delivered the project on time and within budget. Be sure to highlight any specific successes, such as meeting tough deadlines or reducing costs.

It helps to drill down into specific aspects of the project management experience of your candidates. But there’s often money involved, so they better know how to handle a project budget. In the present world, project managers often choose their teams from a global workforce and are expected to manage teams remotely. You should be equipped with the knowledge and skills to work with team members virtually.

How do you set project goals? How do you monitor the progress of those goals?

I try to rationalize status, progress and alternative solutions to a problem. For instance, I create dashboards that track issues, wait time, issue assignee etc in a project to monitor how well the project team is resolving issues.

Encourage candidates to share experiences of how they resolved conflicts. Get them to be specific, so you understand the context in which the conflict occurred, how it was resolved and the outcome. Watch how to become a project manager for candidates who give vague answers or don’t have good examples. It might indicate that they choose not to deal with these issues or don’t have skills or experience with conflict resolution.

How will you identify stakeholders and why do you need to know more about them?

The essential advantage of this tool is its clear depiction and effectiveness in studying complicated issues with hidden elements. This enables the project manager to go beyond the symptoms and treat the root problems. Any project has restrictions and hazards that must be handled to be successful in the end. Project managers should know that time, scope, and money are the three critical restrictions. These are sometimes known as the project management triangle or the three restrictions. Here are a few questions that you are likely to encounter in your interview as a project manager.

Their answer to this question will show if they have had to manage such a team and if they are sensitive to what’s required. Project managers aren’t the only hires that need targeted interview questions. Here are several sets of questions tailored to specific IT disciplines. When answering this question, candidates should provide examples of how they have motivated team members and the results of those efforts. There is no right answer here, but you want to hear about more than just a list of skills.

Additional Behavioral Project Manager Interview Questions

You’re not looking for accurate answers, of course, but the question should give you a good idea of how the candidate uses critical thinking, logic and creativity to arrive at an answer. Get candidates to open up about experiences in which they might have had trouble delegating tasks. This can provide insight into their level of honesty and ability to learn. Also encourage them to describe how they go about delegating tasks. I’ve dealt with both scope creep and gold plating on several projects.

This will demonstrate your commitment to continuous learning and improvement. You also need to consider the skills and experience of your team members. Some tasks may require specific skills that not everyone on your team possesses.