20

YOUR NFP NAME

Expert Tips to 20
Crack a Project
Manager Job
Interview
Table of Contents
Introduction: Understanding the 01
Role
Before the Interview 02
Technical skills in Project 03
Manager
Demonstrating Soft Skills 04

Answering Behavioral Questions 04

Asking the Right Questions 06

Presenting Relevant Certifications 07

Post-Interview Best Practices 10

Ready to ace the Interview? 12

Introduction:
Understanding the Role
Navigating a Project Manager job interview can be
challenging, given the dynamic nature of the role. However,
with expert advice, your chances of success increase
manifold. These tips delve deep into the nuances of the
profession, addressing both technical and interpersonal
skills

Core Responsibilities of a Project Manager

Plan and Develop the Project Idea
Create and Lead Your Dream Team
Monitor Project Progress and Set Deadlines
Solve Issues That Arise
Manage the Money
Ensure Stakeholder Satisfaction
Evaluate Project Performance

From demonstrating your understanding of the project

lifecycle to showcasing your leadership qualities, every
aspect is crucial. This guide aims to equip aspiring Project
Managers with insights and strategies, ensuring they not
only answer questions effectively but also leave a lasting
impression.

1
Follow these expert recommendations, and you might just
crack that Project Manager job interview!

Before the Interview

A. Research the Company and its Projects

A company’s website, blog, and social media are great

ways to learn about a company, but you’ll also want to get
an external perspective. Search for general news
coverage and specific industry publications for recent
updates about the company and its competitors. Scanning
customer forums and product reviews can also help you
gauge a company’s or their products’ reputation.

B. Reviewing Relevant Methodologies (e.g., Agile,

Waterfall)

Agile and Waterfall are two different management

methodologies best suited for different types of projects.
If you clearly understand the project outcomes from the
beginning, Waterfall may be the best fit. Waterfall is a
better method whena project must meet strict regulations
as it requires deliverables for each phase before
proceeding to the next one

2
Agile is flexible and requires a collaborative and self-
motivated team, plus frequent check-ins with business
owners and stakeholders about the progress.

C. Tailoring Your CV/Resume for the Role

Every project manager’s resume will naturally look a little

different because no two project managers have exactly
the same experience. Some may include summaries.
Others won’t highlight their key achievements in a
dedicated subsection. Still others may choose a different
layout entirely. But regardless of the layout and content,
every project manager’s resume should include compelling
bullet points, quantifiable metrics, specific achievements,
and easy-to-scan section headings.

Technical skills in Project

Manager
Process Management: The ability to map vital and control
processes within a project ecosystem.
Project Initiation: Starting projects effectively to ensure everyone's
aligned on vision and approach.
Project Planning: Architecting a course that meets objectives,
within constraints.

3
 Latest technology: Use appropriate framework or technology to
arrive at the conclusion.

Demonstrating Soft Skills

Active Listening: Actively listens to each stakeholder’s concern
and take appropriate action on the same.

Business Communications: Use the appropriate language and tone

when communicating, elaborating or explaining the issues over a
phone call, email, chat, presentations, and other forms and any
channels of communication.

Relationship building within the team: Establishing a culture of

togetherness where people can work happily and comfortably
towards one common goal.

Decision Making: Decisions at every stage of the project should be

purely made on the facts and in the good of the project.

Answering Behavioral
Questions
A. Tailor answers to the job description

When you're answering questions during a behavioral interview, target

your answers related to the job description to see what the hiring
manager is looking for in an applicant.

3
4
For example, if the company lists in the job description that
they're looking for an applicant with three years of
experience and knowledge of graphic design programs
then they'll want to test you on the functionality of
programs, how you interact with clients, and when have
you applied your knowledge in a real-life situation.

B. Note your projects and major accomplishments from

past positions

Find out which projects you're proud of accomplishing

throughout your career and highlight what career moves
led you to where you are today. Your answers to these
questions should end with how you'll overcome a challenge
and what results in the past back up your statement. If you
increased sales output for your organization, let the
interviewer know how you got there and what can you do
to ensure you'll drive consistent results.

C. Use the STAR method to formulate your responses

The STAR method (situation, task, action and result) is the

primary way for you to give an all-encompassing response
to behavioral interview questions. Also, the STAR method
can display how you'll manage tasks, tasks with coworkers
and perform despite variables listed by the by the
interviewer.
5
This method also helps you break down your responses, so
they can be clear when telling the story about a situation
you encountered when working for a previous employer.

Asking the Right Questions

Craft your questions around the things you identified
above. So if you know that being able to work from home
one day a week is a deal breaker for you, be open about it:
“I’d like to work from home one day a week.

Is that a common working pattern in your organization?” A

closed question like this (where they can really only answer
yes or no) is a good way to get the information you need. If
they are hesitant, or if they say no, you can follow up with:
“Would that be something you’d consider for me if I was
successful in securing the position?”

Here are some other, more general questions you can ask
in the interview to get a feel for the culture of an
organization:

1. What training can I expect to receive in this role?

2. What support do you have for new starters? Is there a
mentoring scheme?

6
 3. What kind of projects will I be working on?
4. How big is my team? Is that the only team doing this
kind of work?
5. How long do most people stay in their roles here?
6. Do you encourage promotion from within?
7. What happened to the last person in this role – why is
there a vacancy?

Presenting Relevant
Certifications
Consider the following certifications that can help you get a
job as a project manager:

1. Certified Associate of Project Management (CAPM)

The CAPM is an entry-level certification for people starting

their careers in project management. This certification
teaches you the best practices for managing projects, the
fundamentals of project management and the project
manager's role in the organisation. This certification
focuses on project scope, cost, quality, resource
management and scheduling.

7
2. Project Management Professional (PMP)

The PMP certification from Project Management Institute

(PMI) evaluates your ability to manage people, business
procedures and goals. This certification shows potential
employers you have the experience, education, and
competency to lead and direct projects. Many industries,
domestic and abroad, recognise this credential. After
completing the PMP certification, you can use agile
methods and predictive or hybrid approaches and prove
your project leadership experience and expertise.

3. Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP)

Another certification from PMI is the Agile Certified

Practitioner. Agile is a project management style that
releases projects in cycles. This certification proves your
experience working in an agile team, and validates your
knowledge of agile techniques and principles.The PMI-ACP
spans approaches such as Kanban, scrum and test-driven
development (TDD). Agile allows businesses to react faster
to market demands and creates market differentiation.

8
4. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)

Certified ScrumMaster is a certification from Scrum

Alliance. It helps project managers learn agile methods and
tactics. It teaches you to guide your team effectively with
scrum principles, such as daily reviews. By completing the
course, you learn about team accountability, events and
artefacts, which helps you apply the scrum techniques.
CSM training gives you the confidence to apply these
techniques in your job and expand your career
opportunities.

5. Certified Project Manager (CPM)

The International Association of Project Managers (IAMP)

offers the CPM, which is a mid-level certificate. It is ideal
for project managers who want to learn project
management processes for different industries, such as
marketing, finance and information technology (IT). Many
jobs require this certification because it shows a
candidate's project management capabilities and helps
build interpersonal skills.

9
Post-Interview Best
Practices
Post-interview etiquette and practices can be as crucial as
the interview itself, especially in roles like project
management that emphasize relationship-building and
effective communication. Here are best practices to
consider:

Send a Thank you Note: Within 24 hours, send a thank-

you email to your interviewers. Express appreciation for
their time, reiterate your enthusiasm for the role, and
briefly mention a key discussion point from the
interview that underscores your fit or interest.

Reflect on Your Performance: Take some quiet

moments to assess your interview. Were there
questions you could've answered better? Any
surprises? This reflection helps you prepare for future
rounds or other opportunities.

10
 Follow Up Appropriately: If you haven’t received
feedback within the timeline mentioned, it’s acceptable
to send a gentle follow-up email. However, avoid being
overly persistent, which might come off as desperate.

Stay Engaged: Continue your job search and attend

other interviews. This not only keeps your options open
but also provides more practice and insights for
subsequent interviews.

Prepare for the Next Round: If there’s a second round,

delve deeper into the company's culture, ongoing
projects, and advanced methodologies. Anticipate more
specific and challenging questions.

Seek Feedback: If unsuccessful, it's professional and

proactive to politely ask for feedback. This can provide
valuable insights for future interviews.

Remember, the interview process is also an opportunity for

you to gauge if the company aligns with your values and
career goals. Whatever the outcome, use the experience as
a growth opportunity.

11
Ready to ace the
Interview?
Familiarize yourself with the company's mission, values,
and recent projects. Review the PMBOK Guide, understand
project management methodologies, and know key
performance indicators. Showcase your problem-solving
abilities, communication skills, and adeptness in managing
diverse teams.

Illustrate your experiences with real-life scenarios,

demonstrating your capacity to meet deadlines, manage
risks, and ensure project success. Anticipate questions on
stakeholder management, scope control, and budgeting.
Stay updated with the latest tools and technologies. Dress
professionally, exude enthusiasm, and listen actively.
Research, rehearse, reflect, and resonate with the
interviewer's expectations. Embrace the opportunity with
confidence, knowing that you've done everything to
prepare. The project manager interview is not just a
challenge; it's a chance to shine. You are ready.

12