Common project management interview questions

You’ve passed your project management qualification, you’ve applied for your new role, and you now find yourself headed to an interview for your next project management position.

You need to make sure you're well prepared for your interview and are able to talk succinctly and passionately about the world of project management. After all, you've spent the time and effort gaining your all-important qualifications, an interview is the perfect time to show off your knowledge and prove your skills! 

We're experts in project management and often get asked if we know what sort of questions may come up in a project management interview. 

Top 10 questions asked in a project manager role interview:

1. What experience and certifications do you have?
2. What is the most complex project you have worked on and why?
3. Name five things that you are not.
4. What is your greatest strength?
5. What project management methodology do you prefer to work with?
6. How would you rank yourself as a leader?
7. Are you quick to criticise? What value do you place on this?
8. What are the main elements of strong communication?
9. How would you deal with a problem team member who consistently fails to meet targets?
10. How would you deal with a situation where you disagree with your boss on an important project?

Remember, the key in project management interviews is to keep your answers concise but comprehensive. Make sure you're prepared to talk about some of the situations you've previously encountered where you have applied your skills and knowledge.

What are interviewers looking for?

Generally an interviewer will be searching for required traits and the natural skillsets, rather than listening to every single aspect of a project life cycle you have worked on in the past. If this is your first project management role, think about examples where you have used your soft skills and would be able to apply them to a new situation. 

One main area they’ll be looking for you to cover and discuss are what strengths you feel you’ve developed in your project experiences, such as delegation, practicality, clarity, communication and conflict management.

Preparation

It's worth reading the job description closely. What sort of personal traits is the employer looking for? What skills are needed for the role? Pick out your own skills and experiences and relate them directly to the questions asked. 

If you can also talk about the difficulties you’ve experienced in projects, their resolution and how you’ve learnt from them, this well-rounded approach shows how you’ll be able to use this knowledge in the new position and are eager to continually develop.

All in all, it's important to be yourself and showcase your personality. Remember, communication is the golden rule in project management and you need to communicate well with the interviewer. They're often looking for people who can work with team members of all disciplines and capabilities, as well as communicate with stakeholders of the project. 

How can we help?

If you'd like more help and advice about your job search, including interviews, our Career Services experts are your go-to for all your resources. We'll give you advice on securing that interview through updating your CV, cover letter, and LinkedIn profiles. Our top interview tips alongside these common project management interview questions will ensure you're prepared for your job interview.

Still looking to get certified in project management and help start your new career? Get in touch with our career consultants today.