A project manager interview can be frightening when you don't know what to expect. While each interview is unique, you'll probably be asked about your interpersonal abilities, technical expertise, and experience in particular contexts. 

Reviewing specific often-asked questions can aid in making one feel and be prepared.

These are some sample interview questions for project managers that you might get. This list might be a jumping-off point for you as you compose stories about your prior experiences.

Tell us about yourself.

This frequent opening question allows you to introduce yourself and share your background on your terms.

How to respond: You might take numerous approaches to this issue. Starting in the present, moving on to your past, and concluding with your future is one helpful strategy. Describe your position and your responsibilities. Then, talk about prior experiences pertinent to the place you're looking for. Finally, describe the type of job you hope to accomplish in the future and why you are interested in the position you have applied for.

How do you prioritize tasks in a project?

For a project, it's essential to know what to prioritize. You may be asked what you select to prioritize and why. How would you balance working on several projects at once?

How to respond: Relate your response to the project's appeal. Deadlines, stakeholder needs, or identifying the actions that make up a vital path may all be factored in your response. You can use historical instances as a guide or go through fictitious scenarios.

Tell us about a moment when a project you were handling went wrong.

Project management entails some degree of setbacks. To understand what you do when things don't go as planned, hiring managers will want to hear how you've handled problems in the past.

How to respond: Since overcoming unexpected obstacles is an essential component of project management, you should be prepared with a few concrete examples for your interview. You can also describe the change management procedures you plan to use in your project.

What was the most recent project that you worked on?

Your most recent project may be discussed in an interview to gauge your familiarity with different project kinds, the methods of project management you've employed, the size of your team, and other factors.

How to respond: Describe the critical details of the project, such as the main objective, the size of the team, and your strategy. Talk openly about what worked well, and add anything you could have done better or something you learned. Here, having some measurements to demonstrate the project's outcomes can be helpful.

Which of your projects was the most successful?

This questionnaire can help employers understand what you define as success. Projects can be successful if they satisfy their objectives, timelines, and spending limits, but they can also be successful if they adapt to change.

How to respond: Use this chance to highlight your best qualities. Though modesty is a beautiful quality, don't undersell yourself. Consider the crucial actions you and the team made to achieve success. What did you do to keep the project on track or make it more productive if your team succeeded?

How have you managed budgets in the past?

Hiring managers may particularly inquire about abilities like budget management. Most of the time, it's not a deal breaker if you don't have any experience; they may be trying to gauge where you stand.

How to respond: Budget management entails cost estimation, choosing how to distribute funds, keeping track of how money was spent, and making plans for unforeseen costs. If you can give some examples from the past, that's fantastic. If you have little expertise, you can talk about what you know about budget planning or, if it's relevant, your personal budgeting experience.

How would you increase collaboration among your team members?

The success of a project frequently depends on the team leader's ability to inspire employees and create an environment where they feel comfortable raising any issues or queries.

How to respond: An illustration of a time when you successfully fostered effective communication among your team may be helpful. Consider any procedures or techniques you use to make individuals feel like they are pursuing the same objective. This could involve straightforward methods like introducing icebreakers at kickoff meetings or including communication frameworks within projects.

What is the best way to define a project plan?

Your technical knowledge of fundamental project management concepts may be tested during an interview.

How to respond: Start by describing the components you believe to be crucial to a project plan in response to the following question (like tasks, milestones, and team members). Then you can give an example of how you've usually put these into practice in the past.

How would you handle a challenging stakeholder?

This scenario question intends to shed light on your workplace abilities, which are essential to becoming an effective project manager.

How to respond: Your response here will likely include a significant amount of negotiation and communication. Your understanding of the requirements, capabilities, and resources available for the project may also influence your answer.

One of your team members requests more time to finish an assignment. How would you respond to this circumstance?

Such situational inquiries are frequently asked in project management interviews. Hiring managers will have a chance to see your cognitive process and assess your ability to think quickly.

How to respond: In the interest of the project, you will be asked to assist team members who have yet to be able to finish assignments on time. If the team feels overburdened, consider adding another member, putting time buffers during the planning process for certain activities, or negotiating with a stakeholder for more time or resources. Knowing the root cause of the problem will help you implement the right solution.

Describe your experience in this field.

Before the interview, become as knowledgeable as possible about the company's sector. By reading news articles, listening to podcasts, or getting in touch with project managers in related professions, you may learn the most pressing concerns and learn from their experiences.

How to respond: Be ready to discuss any industry experience you may have when you arrive. Mention any functional abilities or expertise as well. Background in academia or the workplace is excellent. If you don't have these, you might examine what you know about the field and your motivations for wanting to work in it.

What planning tools do you employ?

During an interview, you might be asked about your knowledge of various project management software.

How to respond: Make a list of all the project management tools you've used in the past as you prepare for your interview. Mention what you appreciate and how they could be made better. Typical project management tools like RACI charts or teamwork apps like Asana or Trello can be among them.

See if you can find what kind of tools you will be required to employ by studying. You might attempt to become familiar with the device or check your experience with similar tools.