17 Senior Planner Interview Questions and Answers

As a senior planner, you are responsible for the overall planning and execution of projects. You work with clients to identify their needs and develop a plan that meets those needs while staying within budget. You also work with other team members to make sure that the project is completed on time and to the client’s satisfaction.

If you’re looking for a job as a senior planner, you’ll need to be able to answer questions about your experience, skills, and what you can bring to the table. In this guide, you’ll find interview questions and answers that will help you prepare for your interview.

Are you comfortable working with a team of planners to create a single plan for an organization?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your interpersonal skills and how you collaborate with others. Your answer should include a specific example of when you worked on a team to create a plan for an organization or company.

Example: “In my current role, I work alongside two other senior planners to develop the annual budget for our city. We each take turns presenting our ideas for the budget and then discuss them as a group. This process helps us ensure that we’re all in agreement before moving forward with creating the final budget.”

What are some of the most important skills for a senior planner to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills necessary to succeed in this role. Use your answer to highlight some of your strongest skills and how they relate to the job description.

Example: “The most important skill for a senior planner is communication. This role requires me to work with many different departments, so I need to be able to communicate effectively with everyone. Another important skill is organization because I am responsible for managing large projects that require extensive planning. Finally, creativity is another essential skill as I often need to come up with new ideas and solutions to problems.”

How do you prioritize your work when you have multiple projects due at the same time?

The interviewer may ask you this question to understand how you manage your time and workload. Use examples from past experiences where you successfully managed multiple projects at once, and highlight the skills or strategies you used to stay organized and on schedule.

Example: “In my previous role as a senior planner, I had three major projects due within one week of each other. One project was for a new shopping center that required me to create floor plans, site maps and renderings. The second project was for an apartment complex that needed blueprints and construction documents. The third project was for a hotel that needed architectural drawings and design concepts.

I started by creating a timeline with all of the tasks I needed to complete for each project. Then, I prioritized each task based on its importance and urgency. For example, I completed the most urgent tasks first, such as drafting the construction documents for the apartment complex. After completing these urgent tasks, I focused on the important ones, like finalizing the architectural drawings for the hotel.”

What is your process for creating a budget for a new project or initiative?

The interviewer may ask you this question to understand how you approach budgeting and financial planning for a project or initiative. Use your answer to highlight your ability to create budgets that are realistic, accurate and achievable while also considering the needs of stakeholders.

Example: “I start by researching the current state of the project or initiative’s finances. I then analyze the costs associated with each department involved in the project or initiative and determine what percentage of funds they will need to complete their work. From there, I compare my estimates against the available budget to ensure we have enough funding to cover all expenses. If not, I discuss ways to reduce spending or increase revenue to make up the difference.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to change your original plan and explain why you made that decision.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your decision-making skills and how you adapt to changing circumstances. Your answer should include a specific example, the original plan and the steps you took to change it.

Example: “In my last position as a senior planner, I had to make several changes to my initial plans for a new shopping center. The client wanted to add an additional floor to the building, which required me to rework many of the other aspects of the project, including parking spaces, lighting and landscaping. While I was disappointed that we couldn’t build exactly what the client originally requested, I understood why they made the decision and worked with them to create a final design that met their needs.”

If hired, what would be your priorities during your first few months on the job?

This question helps the interviewer determine how you plan to make an impact in your new role. Prioritizing is a skill that senior planners need, so it’s important to show the hiring manager that you can do this effectively. In your answer, explain what steps you would take to get up to speed on the company and its processes.

Example: “I know I have a lot to learn when starting a new job, so my first priority would be to understand the current projects and initiatives. I also want to meet with all of the stakeholders involved in these projects to gain a better understanding of their goals and expectations. After getting familiar with the company culture, I would start planning for upcoming projects and develop strategies for meeting deadlines.”

What would you do if you were given a budget but no specific deadlines or timeframes for your projects?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you prioritize your projects and manage your time. Use examples from previous experience to show that you know how to plan a project’s timeline, budget and resources.

Example: “In this situation, I would first evaluate the client’s needs and expectations for the project. Then, I would create a timeline based on the goals of the project and the available resources. Next, I would estimate the costs associated with each task in the project and develop a budget based on those estimates. Finally, I would present my findings to the client so they could approve or request changes.”

How well do you handle stress and pressure?

Senior planners often have to make important decisions quickly. Employers ask this question to see if you can handle stress and pressure well. In your answer, share a time when you had to make an important decision under pressure. Explain what steps you took to ensure that you made the best choice possible.

Example: “I find that I perform my best when I am calm and collected. When I feel stressed or overwhelmed, it’s hard for me to think clearly. To help myself stay calm in these situations, I take deep breaths and remind myself that I prepared for this job by getting the education required. I also try to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to any problem. By taking my time and thinking through all of my options, I can usually come up with a good solution.”

Do you have experience using project management software?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn about your experience with the software they use at their company. If you don’t have prior experience using project management software, consider asking what kind of software they use and if you can get training before starting work.

Example: “I’ve used several different kinds of project management software in my career, including Microsoft Project, Basecamp and Trello. I find that each system has its own strengths, so I like to use a variety of tools depending on the needs of the projects I’m working on. For example, I prefer Trello for smaller projects because it’s easy to use and doesn’t require much training. However, I also enjoy using Microsoft Project when I need more advanced features.”

When working with teams, how do you ensure everyone is on the same page and working toward the same goals?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your leadership skills and ability to collaborate with others. Your answer should demonstrate that you can work well with others, communicate effectively and achieve goals as part of a team.

Example: “I find it important to clearly define the objectives of each project before beginning any work. This helps me understand what my team members are working on and how I can support them throughout the process. In addition, I hold regular meetings with my team to discuss our progress and make sure we’re all on track to meet deadlines. These two strategies help me ensure everyone is aware of their responsibilities and contributing to the overall success of the project.”

We want to increase our social media presence. What would be your strategy for doing so?

Social media is an important aspect of marketing, and the interviewer may want to know how you would use social media to increase their company’s visibility. Give examples of how you have used social media in the past to promote your projects or a specific brand.

Example: “I think it’s important to create a strategy for each platform that fits with the company’s goals. For example, I worked on a project where we wanted to reach millennials, so we created content that was relatable to them. We also made sure our posts were optimized for search engines so people could find us when they searched relevant terms.”

Describe your process for evaluating the success of a project.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your planning process and how you measure success. Use examples from past projects where you used a specific method or system for measuring the success of a project, including what factors contributed to its success or failure.

Example: “I use several methods to evaluate the success of a project. First, I look at whether we met our goals and objectives. Then, I consider if we achieved any cost savings or revenue increases as a result of the project. Finally, I assess if the project helped us meet any other company goals.”

What makes you stand out from other planners in the industry?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your background and how you’ve developed as a planner. They want to know what makes you unique, so share any special skills or experiences that helped you develop professionally.

Example: “I have a degree in urban planning, but I also have experience working with clients on marketing campaigns. This has given me the opportunity to work with other departments like public relations and advertising to create cohesive marketing strategies for my clients. In my last role, I worked with a client who wanted to expand their business into new markets. We created a campaign that focused on digital media and social media platforms to reach our target audience.”

Which planning method do you prefer and why?

This question can help the interviewer understand your planning style and how you approach projects. Your answer can also show the interviewer what kind of experience you have with different methods, which can be helpful if they’re looking for someone who has a lot of experience with one method or another.

Example: “I prefer to use the critical path method because it helps me see all the tasks that need to be completed in order to meet project deadlines. I find this method especially useful when working on large-scale projects where there are many moving parts and dependencies between tasks. This method allows me to plan out my work more effectively so I can stay organized and complete my assignments on time.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of communication for planners?

Communication is a vital skill for planners, and the interviewer will want to know how you use communication in your work. Your answer should show that you understand the importance of effective communication and have strategies for improving it.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of communication is clarity. When I communicate with my team members, clients or stakeholders, I make sure to speak clearly and avoid jargon or confusing language. If someone asks me to clarify something, I do so as soon as possible. I also try to be proactive about communicating information rather than waiting for others to ask questions. For example, if I learn new information during a project, I share it with everyone involved.”

How often should you update your plans?

This question can help the interviewer determine how often you update your plans and when it’s necessary. Your answer should show that you know when to update your plans and what factors influence this decision.

Example: “I usually update my plans every six months, but I also consider other factors like budget changes or new information about the client’s goals. For example, if a project is going over budget, I’ll check with the team to see if there are any ways we can reduce costs without sacrificing quality. If we’re on track for meeting our deadline, then I may not need to make any updates until the next scheduled review.”

There is a conflict between two team members on how to complete a project. What do you do?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle interpersonal conflicts and your ability to resolve them. Use examples from past experiences where you helped resolve a conflict between team members or other colleagues.

Example: “In my last role, there was a disagreement between two planners on how to complete a project. One planner wanted to use data from previous years to predict future outcomes while the other wanted to use more recent data. I met with both planners separately to discuss their concerns and find out why they had different opinions. After hearing both sides of the argument, I decided that using older data would be better for this particular project because it would give us a larger sample size. The project went smoothly after we agreed on our approach.”