15 Project Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Q: What is your process for setting project goals?

A: The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's process for setting clear, attainable goals.
What to look for in an answer:

 Established process for setting goals

 Knowledge of SMART goals
 Willing to set and reach goals

Example:

"When setting new project goals, I always set SMART goals, which stands for specific,
measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. All goals should fit these five criteria to be
successful. If the goal is too general, it will be hard to attain. If you can't measure it by setting
certain criteria for success, you won't know when you've reached your goal. If it is too hard to
achieve, it will discourage people. If it's not relevant to our industry or company goals, it's not
important. Finally, if there are no deadlines, it can stretch on forever."

Q: Have you worked on a project that didn't meet the set deadline or budget? What happened?
A: The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's experience and ability to stick to deadlines
and budgets. What to look for in an answer:

 Strong conflict resolution skills

 Experience as a project manager
 Ability to adhere to deadlines and budgets

Example:

"The last project I worked on, the client wanted to add a new feature to a structure we had
already started building. It would extend our deadline by at least two weeks and our budget by
$5,000. I informed the client of these changes and they were happy to accept them, so we
went ahead."

Q: Do you think building a relationship with your project sponsor is important?

A: The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's interpersonal and communication skills.
They should be able to build a strong relationship with their project sponsor, as they are the one
that owns the project and provides the resources. What to look for in an answer:

 Understanding of the importance of building a relationship with their project sponsor

 Strong communication and interpersonal skills
 Ability to build strong, professional relationships with colleagues.

Example:

"I do think it's important to build a professional relationship. They are putting a lot into the
project, so they deserve to know what's going on. I try to update my sponsor as much as
possible by keeping an open line of communication with them. I usually set weekly meetings
to discuss any updates and address concerns they may have."
Q: What do you consider your most successful project?
A: The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's experience and measure of success. What
to look for in an answer:

 Passion for their work

 Proven success as a Project Manager
 Good measures for success

Example:

"I was the Project Manager on a new hospital we were building for the community. I had to
tweak our timeline and budget a lot, but everything ran smoothly. We were under budget and
finished the hospital earlier than expected, so the client was really happy. Being able to come
in under budget on such a big project makes it the most successful one in my eyes."

Q: How would you describe your leadership style?

A: The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's leadership skills and ability to adapt to
different environments. What to look for in an answer:

 Established management style

 Ability to adapt their management style when necessary.
 Experience in a management role

Example:

"I would describe my leadership style as collaborative. My team members are industry experts,
so I always want to hear their ideas and opinions. Creating open discussions with my team
also helps them feel inspired and willing to do their best work, so it creates a more productive
workplace."

Q: If someone on your team was underperforming, what would you do?

A: The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's interpersonal and leadership skills. What to
look for in an answer:

 Strong interpersonal and communication skills

 Ability to be empathetic.
 Commitment to creating a successful team

Example:

"If I noticed a team member was underperforming, I would schedule a meeting with them to
discuss what's going on. I would discuss their work and ask why they think they're
underperforming. If they have a problem, such as lack of training, I would work with them to
come up with a solution. I would then monitor their performance for a few weeks to ensure
our solution worked."

Q: What project management software do you have experience with?

A: The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's experience with software you use in your
workplace. What to look for in an answer:

 Experience with the same software you use

 Willingness to learn how to use new software
  Knowledge of common project management software

Example:

"In my previous roles, I have used Asana, FunctionFox, and ClickUp. These programmes have
helped me stay organised and collabourate more efficiently with my team members. I would
be happy to learn how to use any other software you prefer as well."

Q: How do you handle conflict between team members?

A: The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's ability to step in and resolve conflict
professionally when necessary. What to look for in an answer:

 Strong conflict resolution skills

 Understanding of when to allow team members to resolve conflict on their own
 Ability to remain calm in stressful situations

Example:

"If my team members have a conflict, I encourage them to resolve it on their own before I
intervene. This allows them to work on their communication skills and build stronger
relationships. If the conflict gets physical or my team members can't seem to resolve it on their
own, I will intervene and act as a mediator."

Q: Before starting a project, what documents do you need?

A: The aim of this question is to test the candidate's technical knowledge. What to look for in an
answer:

 Knowledge of the necessary documents for project initiation

 Experience as project manager
 Confidence in their knowledge

Example:

"Before starting a project, you must have a business case file, a project agreement, and a
stakeholder register. The business case file will include all the details of the project, such as the
budget, purpose, and goals. The project agreement is a contract between the client and us.
The stakeholder register will include the details of the stakeholders and their engagement with
the project."

Q: Do you know what the acronym RAID stands for and how it's used in project management?
A: The aim of this question is to test the candidate's technical knowledge. What to look for in an
answer:

 Ability to identify what RAID stands for (risk, assumptions, issues, and dependency)
 Understanding of how to perform a RAID analysis
 In-depth industry knowledge

Example:

"RAID stands for risk, assumptions, issues, and dependency. It is a risk analysis that helps
project managers think of and track the potential risks of a project so they can avoid or solve
them. A RAID analysis is important as it ensures a project goes as smoothly as possible."
Q: What is the biggest mistake you've made on a project? What did you learn from it?
A: The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's ability to admit to their mistakes and learn
from them. What to look for in an answer:

 Honesty when answering

 Ability to learn from their mistakes
 Experience as a project manager

Example:

"The biggest mistake I've made on a project was creating a timeline and budget that weren't
realistic. The client had a budget and timeline in mind, and I wanted to make him happy. I
overworked my team to try to fit that timeline and we still ended up going over. I learned to be
more firm with clients when setting realistic timelines and budgets. I still aim to make clients
happy, but I don't want my team or my work to suffer in the process."

Q: What skills do you have that make you a good Project Manager?
A: The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's skill set and determine if they would be a
good fit for your team. What to look for in an answer:

 Possession of skills you're looking for in a project manager

 Understanding of the role
 Experience as project manager

Example:

"My greatest skills as a project manager are my communication and organisational skills. As I
typically work with a large team, having good communication skills is important to ensure we
complete every project smoothly. My organisational skills help me multi-task to meet strict
deadlines. They also help me keep track of every aspect of each project."

Q: What are the main phases in a project's life cycle?

A: The aim of this question is to test the candidate's technical knowledge and understanding of a
project's life cycle. What to look for in an answer:

 In-depth industry knowledge

 Understanding of a project's life cycle
 Experience as a project manager

Example:

"The phases of a project's life cycle include initiation, where we discuss how feasible a project
is. If it's feasible, we move on to planning. After planning, this takes us to the execution phase,
where we can act on the plans we made. Throughout the project, we are in the monitoring
phase to track our progress. The final phase is closing, where we finish up the project and
send it off."

Q: How has your educational background or experience prepared you for this role?
A: The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's educational background and experience to
determine if they have the correct credentials. What to look for in an answer:

 Relevant degree or diploma for your industry

  Experience in a similar role
 Project management certification

Example:

"I took a three-year project management programme at the University of Toronto. This taught
me the foundations of project management. I then attended Northeastern University for a
year and a half and got a master's of science in project management. As I don't have any work
experience as a project manager yet, I feel as though my education has helped prepare me for
the job by giving me the necessary knowledge."

Q: What types of projects have you worked on?

A: The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's experience and see if it fits your needs.
What to look for in an answer:

 Experience with the same type of projects you work on

 Knowledge of different types of projects
 Willing to take on new projects

Example:

"As I have worked in IT project management for five years, I have worked on a variety of
project types. I mainly have experience waterfall and agile project management, but I also
have experience with scrum, kanban, and lean project management. I love to learn, so I would
be happy to work with any project methodology you prefer as well."