Preparing for a Project Manager interview? Understand the core questions you might be asked, such as handling project mishaps, fostering collaboration, task prioritization, personal mistakes and managing remote teams.

Key Insights

  • Project Manager interviews often focus on communication and problem-solving skills, as well as concrete accomplishments on past projects.
  • Interviewees might be asked about their handling of problems on past projects, emphasizing problem-solving skills and learning experiences.
  • Building an environment of collaboration is a common topic, highlighting conflict resolution, team management skills, and the ability to motivate team members.
  • Interviewers often probe your strategy for prioritizing tasks, seeking insights into your task management skills and the application of project management education.
  • Being honest about past mistakes and showcasing growth and improved risk management are often expected in responses.
  • With the rise of remote work, demonstrating proficiency with remote work tools and strategies for managing remote teams is an important aspect of the interview process.

What to Expect in a Project Manager Interview

Communication is the essential skill of a Project Manager. Your job interview is an opportunity to demonstrate that you’re a good communicator and an effective Project Manager. 

While strong people skills are essential to acing your interview, you’ll also need to be able to show concrete accomplishments on past projects. 

Project Management Bootcamp: Live & Hands-on, In NYC or Online, Learn From Experts, Free Retake, Small Class Sizes, 1-on-1 Bonus Training. Named a Top Bootcamp by Forbes, Fortune, & Time Out. Noble Desktop. Learn More.

Top Interview Questions for Project Managers

Question #1 Tell Us About a Time Something Went Wrong in a Project You Were Managing

Project Managers can not avoid problems. This question allows you to describe your problem-solving skills. Project Managers are also problem solvers, so you can use this question to tell a story about how you successfully solved a problem on a past project. 

Avoiding an answer that places the blame on other people is recommended. For example, your problem shouldn’t be managing difficult team members. You may consider describing a problem created by you to allow yourself to describe what that taught you as a Project Manager. It is recommended that you focus on 

Question #2 How Would You Create an Environment of Collaboration?

A Project Manager is responsible for managing the team and completing the tasks that make up a project. This question is an opportunity to speak about your conflict resolution and team management skills. 

You’ll want to focus on your actions as a Project Manager to build teamwork and collaboration. This question is a chance to discuss your communication plan and how you motivate your team members.

Question #3 What is Your Strategy for Prioritizing Tasks?

You will likely be asked about your task management skills. Project Managers are professional multitaskers, and you’ll need a clear strategy to juggle everything successfully. 

In this question, you will want to pull from personal experience or hypothetical situations to explain how you have done this in the past or plan to do it in the future. Questions like this are a great reason to put some energy into your project management education. 

Question #4 What was one of your biggest mistakes on past projects?

Project Managers make mistakes. It’s best to use this question as an opportunity to be honest about past mistakes. You can also use it as a moment to discuss your approach to risk management. Share honestly about how you’ve grown as a Project Manager by describing how you overcame this mistake. 

Question #5 How would you manage a remote team or project?

Working from home is part of the post-COVID new normal. You’ll need the training and skills to lead remote teams on essential and complicated projects—a strong familiarity with remote work tools such as Zoom, Asana, and Trello. 

You’ll want to provide details about how your project management strategy differs on remote projects. For example, you might describe the concrete steps you take to ensure regular communication and accountability.