17 Project Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Project managers are responsible for the successful planning and execution of projects. They work with clients, team members, and other stakeholders to ensure that all aspects of the project are completed on time and within budget.

If you’re looking to become a project manager, you’ll need to be able to answer project manager interview questions that assess your skills and experience. In this guide, we’ll provide you with a list of questions commonly asked in project manager interviews, along with sample answers to help you prepare.

Are you comfortable working with a team of people to complete a project?

Project managers often work with a team of people to complete projects. Employers ask this question to make sure you’re comfortable working in a collaborative environment and that you can communicate effectively with your team members. In your answer, explain how you enjoy working with others on projects and what strategies you use to collaborate with your team.

Example: “I love collaborating with my team to complete projects. I find it motivating to see everyone’s unique perspectives and ideas when solving problems or coming up with solutions. I always encourage my team members to share their thoughts and opinions during meetings so we can all learn from each other. I also like to hold regular one-on-one meetings with my team members to get to know them better and understand their goals.”

What are some of the most important skills for a project manager to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills they’re looking for in a project manager. When answering this question, it can be helpful to list several skills and explain why they are important.

Example: “I believe that communication is one of the most important skills for a project manager to have. It’s essential to keep your team members informed about what’s going on with the project so everyone knows what their responsibilities are. Another skill I think is important is time management. As a project manager, you need to be able to manage your own time as well as the time of others on the team. This helps ensure projects stay on schedule.”

How do you handle difficult clients or customers?

As a project manager, you may need to interact with clients or customers. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the skills needed to handle challenging situations. In your answer, share two or three strategies that you use to help you work well with others.

Example: “I find it helpful to meet with difficult clients in person. I schedule weekly meetings with them so they can give me feedback on how things are going and what they would like to see changed. This helps me understand their perspective better and gives me time to come up with solutions for any issues they’re having.

Another strategy I use is to involve my team more when working with these clients. If I know there’s a problem, I’ll bring my team together to discuss possible solutions. We then present our ideas to the client and let them choose which one they prefer. This allows my team members to feel included and also shows the client that we value their opinion.”

What is your experience with project management software?

This question can help the interviewer determine your comfort level with using project management software. If you have experience using a specific type of software, share what you like about it and how it helped you in your previous role.

Example: “I’ve used several different types of project management software throughout my career, but I prefer to use Basecamp because it’s easy to navigate and has all the features I need for managing projects. For example, when I was working on a large construction project, I needed to communicate with many people at once. With Basecamp, I could create a group message that included everyone who worked on the project so we could discuss any questions or concerns we had.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to manage a difficult client or customer.

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your interpersonal skills and how you handle conflict. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation and what steps you took to resolve the issue or challenge with the client or customer.

Example: “In my previous role as a project manager, I had a client who was very demanding and would often change their mind on projects without notice. This made it difficult for me to plan ahead and meet deadlines. However, I remained calm and explained that changing directions so frequently could impact our ability to complete the project by the deadline. The client understood and we were able to find a compromise where they agreed to give us at least two weeks’ notice before making any changes.”

If hired for this position, what would your first steps be?

This question is a great way to see how the candidate plans their projects. It also gives you insight into what they consider important when starting a new project. Your answer should include your plan for organizing and delegating tasks, as well as any specific goals you would set for yourself or the team.

Example: “My first step would be to meet with my client to discuss their expectations and goals for this project. I would then create a timeline of all necessary steps and delegate each task to my team members based on their strengths. I would also hold weekly meetings to check in on our progress and make sure everyone has everything they need to complete their work.”

What would you do if you were given a budget that was less than what you needed to complete the project?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle challenging situations. In your answer, explain what steps you would take to complete the project with the budget that was given to you and highlight your ability to make decisions under pressure.

Example: “If I were given a budget that was less than what I needed to complete the project, I would first meet with my team to discuss our options. If we decided it was best to continue with the project as is, I would find ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality or efficiency. If we decided to change the scope of the project, I would work with my team to create new goals for the project.”

How well do you handle stress?

Project managers often have to make important decisions under tight deadlines. Employers ask this question to see if you can handle stress well and still perform your job duties effectively. In your answer, share a time when you had to manage a stressful situation successfully. Explain what steps you took to remain calm and complete the project on time.

Example: “I find that I am able to stay calm in high-pressure situations because of my ability to prioritize tasks. When I first started as a project manager, I was managing multiple projects at once. One day, one of my team members called me panicking because they forgot to submit an important report. I told them not to worry and that I would take care of it. I stayed late that night to ensure all reports were submitted on time.”

Do you have any questions for me about the position or company?

This is your chance to show the interviewer that you’re interested in their company and want to learn more about it. It’s also a way for you to ask any questions you have about the position or the hiring process. When preparing for this question, make sure you read through the job description thoroughly so you can come up with relevant questions.

Example: “I was really excited when I saw this position open because of my interest in working for an environmentally-friendly company. I noticed on your website that you offer free public transportation passes to employees, which is great. I’m wondering if there are other perks like discounts at local businesses?”

When given multiple tasks to complete simultaneously, how do you prioritize your work?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach your work and determine which tasks are most important to complete first. Use examples from previous projects or experiences to explain how you decide what to do next, especially if there is no specific order in which you prefer to complete your work.

Example: “I always prioritize client satisfaction because it’s essential that I meet their needs and expectations. If a client has questions about my progress on a project, I make sure to answer them as quickly as possible so they feel comfortable with the process. After meeting client needs, I then focus on completing any urgent tasks before moving onto less pressing ones. This helps me ensure that all of my work is completed within deadlines.”

We want to be able to quickly adapt to changing market conditions. How would you adjust your plans if conditions changed?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you would react to unexpected changes in a project’s environment. Use examples from past projects where you had to adapt your plans and still meet your goals or objectives.

Example: “In my last role, we were working on a project that was supposed to take six months to complete. However, after three months, our client decided they wanted us to add more features to the project. I met with my team members to discuss what resources we needed to make this change happen. We then presented our new plan to the client, who approved it. In the end, we completed the project within the original timeline.”

Describe your process for testing new features or products.

This question can help the interviewer understand how you use your skills to test new features or products and ensure they work as intended. Describe a specific process you used in the past for testing, such as using checklists or other tools to make sure you thoroughly tested all aspects of a product before releasing it to clients.

Example: “I always start by creating a checklist that includes every feature I need to test. Then, I assign each task on the list to my team members so we can all work together to test each aspect of the product. After everyone completes their tasks, I review the entire checklist to make sure no one missed anything. If everything looks good, then I release the product to our client.”

What makes you an ideal candidate for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications for the role. They want to know what makes you a good fit for their company and how you can contribute to their team. Before your interview, make a list of all your skills and experiences that relate to the job description. Use these to explain why you are qualified for the position.

Example: “I am an ideal candidate because I have five years of experience as a project manager. During my career, I’ve managed many projects with varying budgets and timelines. I also have extensive knowledge of various software programs that help me manage projects efficiently. These tools include Microsoft Project, Basecamp and Trello.”

Which project management method do you prefer to use?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with different project management methods. It can also show them how you might approach a project if they hired you. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention which method you find most effective and why.

Example: “I prefer using Agile because I like that it’s flexible and allows me to work on projects in small increments. This helps me stay organized and makes sure we’re meeting deadlines while still making progress. I’ve found that Agile is great for managing large projects because of its flexibility. I can adjust my team’s workflow as needed depending on what stage of the project we’re in.”

What do you think is the most important thing to remember when managing a project?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to assess your leadership skills and how you prioritize tasks. Your answer should show that you understand what’s most important when managing projects, which can help you make decisions throughout the process.

Example: “I think it’s most important to remember that communication is key. When I’m working on a project, I always make sure my team knows exactly what their responsibilities are and when they’re due. This helps me ensure everyone understands their roles and makes sure we’re all on the same page. It also allows us to ask questions if something isn’t clear.”

How often do you update your project plans?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you prioritize your work and manage your time. Your answer should show that you are organized, detail-oriented and able to meet deadlines.

Example: “I update my project plans at least once a week. This allows me to stay on top of any changes or updates from team members and ensures I’m meeting all deadlines. If there’s an urgent change in the project plan, I’ll update it immediately so everyone is aware of what’s happening. For example, if one of our subcontractors needs more materials for their part of the project, I’ll make sure we have enough budget to cover the additional cost.”

There is a member of your team who consistently disagrees with your decisions. How do you handle this?

An interviewer may ask this question to assess your leadership skills and ability to collaborate with others. In your answer, try to show that you value the opinions of others while also demonstrating how you make decisions on behalf of the project team.

Example: “I would first meet with my colleague one-on-one to discuss their concerns about my decision. I want them to know that I respect their opinion and am open to hearing what they have to say. After our meeting, I would then decide whether or not to change my decision based on their feedback. If I do change my mind, I will let everyone else on the team know why I made the switch.”