Top Project Management Interview Questions and Answers

 

According to a study conducted by Project Management Institutes, India has a major demand for project managers. Project management offers an extensive range of opportune moments in all industry verticals. In particular, ten years down the line requirement for project managers meanwhile may be more than seventy lacs. I have enumerated the Project Manager interview questions & answers for the year  2023  in this piece. This will make you confident and prepare you for the project manager interview for this coveted job

Indian industries have a huge demand for project managers. Large corporates & multinationals are allocating huge funds to big projects. This is necessitating for large-scale recruitment of project managers.

1. Tell us about yourself?

There are several ways you may respond to this question. Do not give your complete employment or personal history. Generally, one effective way is, to begin with, the present then some details about your past and lastly end with the future in mind. Talk about your present job and its scope. Describe your present role and any big accomplishment. Subsequently, Then describe past experiences and background as to how you got there with relevance to your present role applied for. Finally, transition into what kind of work you expect to do next and why you consider yourself the best fit for this job. Preparing for project management Interview questions and answers will help you in answering this type of question.

2. How will you define a project?

A project is a scheduled activity or task to launch a product, render services or results. Like production, this is not routine work. This may be a one-time activity. Projects can be feasible for meeting deadlines, goals and budgets. A project for a particular product may result in a part product or a complete product. Examples may include developing a computer /information technology system, developing a new product or constructing a road or a bridge. In particular, any project passes through a few easily identifiable sets of activities during its lifetime. Project management follows a golden 6 P rule which elucidates that proper planning prevents poor project performance. Prepare for the project management interview questions and answers well in advance.

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3. What is the role of a project manager?

 

A project manager plans. organises and executes projects. There are restrictions like scheduling and budgeting. Project managers define the projected goals, lead the project team and are in constant touch with the stakeholders. On the other hand, They lead the team right from the inception of the project till its completion or closure. The project manager is responsible for the project’s success or failure, be it constructing a building or a highway, developing a computer system or software or launching a new product. Preparing for the project management interview questions and answers will help you a lot.

4. What are the Tasks & Responsibilities of a Project manager?

Any project has five basic phases in the project management process eg. Project -initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, controlling &closure

A project manager has the responsibility of defining the project’s scope. Resolving challenges swiftly. You must prepare for a project management interview with questions and answers in advance

5. A Project manager requires what skills?

To be successful as a project manager, he or she should have an array of skills eg:-A a project manager utilises the skills of the project team members. You can reply confidently to this question if you prepare for a project manager interview. In other words, it means the achievement of results within budgeted costs and scheduled time. A project manager balances the constraints of budgets, schedules, resources, scope, and quality and takes calculated risks. As a rule The project manager besides being a thorough professional needs to have additional skills for being effective. Excellent leadership qualities, positive attitude and core personality characteristics help drive the team to reach desired objectives and goals as required. Prepare for the project management interview questions and answers well in advance

6. What are processes and process groups?

A process is a clarified way of doing things. They are a set of instructions to be followed to complete a task and achieve the results which are desired. The process defines the actions to be taken sequentially. A project management structure includes forty-nine processes approximately. Process groups are a set of processes which are pertinent to various stages of a project. In other words, a process group is a bundle of numerous collective methods utilised across the different levels of a project eg. planning process group and initiating process group. This is one of the often-asked interview questions for project managers.

7. What are RAID and its relationship to project management?

RAID is an abbreviation which stands for risks, assumptions, issues and dependencies. These are easy yet efficient project management techniques to run a program. A project manager should take recourse to the least risks in any action by performing a RAID analysis. A project manager can keep a tab on the possibilities, impact, mitigation and triggers. Notwithstanding these assumptions, these can go erroneous. Conversely, Dependencies and issues also limit the choices of action many a time. Prepare for the project management interview questions and answers well in advance

8. What is WBS(Work Breakdown Structure)?

The WBS or Work Breakdown Structure is used to analyse the project’s core activities along with the different sub-activities which are required to complete each training. The breakdown goes down to levels where the work defined is understood clearly. Nonetheless the assigned work may not be broken further. If the designated work details and the relevant dependencies are known, time and effort estimates may be accurately forecasted.

9. How do you differentiate between a Program, Project and Portfolio?

Programs follow high-level plans which are strengthened by various more detailed plans. A portfolio is simply a collection of projects also programs which helps an entity achieve a common strategic goal or high-level business purpose. Prepare for the project management interview questions and answers well in advance

10. Who is a stakeholder?

In a project a stakeholder is Any person representing an organisation or entity with a vested interest or stake influenced positively or negatively by a project is coined as a stakeholder. The authority of a stakeholder is predominant in the planning and execution of any project.

11. What is the use of Stakeholder analysis using the Powergrid?

Stakeholder Management is a subject that successful people leverage to win support from others. This ensures that their plans & projects succeed. Stakeholder analysis warrants listing all prospective project stakeholders associated with the project. A power interest grid aids in the categorization of stakeholders as per their importance in the project. You can utilise the opinions of the dominant stakeholders to shape your projects in their infancy. Their expert input can improve the project quality. Prepare for the project management interview questions and answers well in advance

12. What are organisational influences?

All organisations have a typical way of performing collectively., influencing the planning and execution process. These collective influences as a rule need to be borne in mind when estimating and planning activities relating to projects. These are often called organisational environmental factors.

13. Please explain the project life cycle.

Usually, the five stages of project management are project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, managing and lastly closing. Accordingly, projects have distinct phases when the scope of activities required to carry out the project work differs. Initially, there is a start phase subsequent organising and preparation phase. This is followed by the carrying out of the actual execution as part of the project. The closing phase confirms that the temporary activities interconnected to the project are closed systematically. The phase change junctures are named varyingly as phase gates, milestones, kill points or exits. If a project needs to be closed, the decision is taken in these stages, based on its performance. Prepare for the project manager interview questions and answers well in advance

14. What measures will you implement if your project is not moving as planned?

If you’ve found out that your project is over budget or not reaching the objective as planned, afterwards you may take recourse to the following steps:-

• Identify the source of the problem
• Backtrack to your original goal or plan.
• Upgrade your resource allocation
• Intimate your clients and stakeholders regarding the situation.
•  

 15 . How to make incompetent team members in a project efficient?

  There are manifold ways to assess the performance of project team                        

   members. Therefore the following recommendations are advised:-

• Creation of guidelines for performance in all roles.
• Guiding underperforming project team members.
• Training along with simulations may help team members in improving their skill sets for better performance.
• Appreciation of team members who excel in work in front of the whole team.  
• Development of plans for the improvement of weak team members.
  • Moreover, conduct feedback sessions after the completion of any task before moving to the next task    

16. What is a Fishbone diagram or Ishikawa?

The fishbone diagram or Ishikawa is a cause-and-effect diagram, which assists managers in tracking down the defects, failure variations, and the reasons for imperfections. The diagram resembles a fish’s skeleton having problems with its head part. This tool’s usefulness and clear presentation are advantageous in studying complicated situations and including a few unseen variables advancing them. This allows the project manager to scrutinize past symptoms and counter the rudimentary issues. Prepare for the project manager interview questions and answers well in advance

17. Name the stages of the team development process.

There are five stages which have been cited. These include 

• forming, 
• storming, 
• Norming,
•  performing and adjourning.
• This sequence makes sure that all the team members are performing well and that the project’s goals are achieved.

18  What is Pareto Principle analysis?

In the first place the Pareto Principle analyses and prioritises the tasks based on their significance, rather than their urgency. as the 80/20 rule. The Pareto Principle theorises that 80% of the results from a given situation are wholly determined by 20% of the workforce.

 

Q 19. Enumerate a few techniques for assessment of the scope of a project.

Ans. The following techniques are used including value analysis, requirement analysis, system analysis, product breakdown, value engineering, alternative analysis etc. Prepare for the project manager interview questions and answers well in advance

20. What do you mean by scope management? Scope management entails the following:-                                              

• Collecting requirements
• Defining scope
• Creating WBS
• Verifying scope
• WBS   
•        

21 What is SOW?

A statement of work abbreviated as SOW is a business agreement that outlines ie. what products, services or results are expected from the project deliverables and project goals. Most SOW is specified by the customer who has requested the project.

 22. Outline Time Time and Material contract.

With a time and materials contract instead of putting forward a specified amount for the entire project, a contract will represent the rough scope of the task along with a quotation for fixed hourly wages adding the cost of materials. The contractor as a guarantee may associate a maximum project price, cited as not to exceed clause.

23. What is the difference between Trend Analysis and Variance analysis?

Ans. Trend analysis is a method you can utilise to determine the frequently repeated patterns in the project or what happens over some time. This will help modify the project down the line. On the other hand Variance analysis is the process of evaluating the variation between the intended performance and the performed tasks. Prepare for the project manager interview questions and answers well in advance

24. How are change requests suggested by clients to be handled?

When executing change requests the following steps are to be followed:-Be in control of a thorough effect analysis of the change request from various angles of the project. It is crucial to inform all the stakeholders of a change request’s effect analysis findings and implement them after their consent. The sponsors and customers are to be notified.

25. What do you understand by a project charter?

.A project would be initiated with the initial requirements as observed by stakeholders and the end product of the project are also listed here.

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26. What do you perceive about plan baselines?

Ans. Baselines are the initial version of all plans before the project implementation starts. Project baselines are the initial versions of all related plans of a project be it the quality plan, schedule, communication plan or whatsoever. Prepare for the project manager interview questions and answers well in advance

27. Please clarify the Triple Constraint Triangle of Project management.

. Triple Constraint Triangle hems in the three utmost essential restrictions of a project. cost, time and scope, which are the particular limitations A project manager can handle these three constraints by asserting uniformity through trade-offs.

28. How to avert Gold Plating?

Ans Primarily to prevent gold plating, avert adding any feature without getting approval from the client. Secondly, it is imperative to assess the extent of the project objectively. An unprejudiced auditor can spot gold plating instantly by comparing the result to the scope baseline. Prepare for the project manager interview questions and answers well in advance

29. What do you fathom from performance reports?

The function of performance reports is to present the project’s current state and actual performance in comparison to the defined baselines. The project team members create many performance reports. While supervising and monitoring the projects which include projection reports, Status reports, progress reports etc.

30. Give out three differences between risks and issues.

Ans  The three differences between risks and Issues are:-

• Risks can be helpful and detrimental, but the issues are strongly negative.
• Risks typify probabilities that may develop in a project.
• The risk register records issues which have taken place.

31. Individualise risk probability and risk impact

Risk probability expresses the possibilities of a risk which may arise in a project, whereas risk impact refers to the cost incurred from borrowing from lenders or creditors that could happen in a project.

32. Describe formal strategies and motivational theories for your team members.

One of the basic skills of a project manager is to keep motivating their team always. Some motivational techniques and theories like Mc Clelland’s theory, Vroom’s expectancy theory, Maslows’s theory, and Hertzberg’s approach will help in boosting the team’s morale and consequently lead to the success of the project.

33. What are the knowledge areas relevant to do a project?

Ans. Knowledge areas denote technical subjects that are necessary for project management accomplishment.

34. What do you denote by effort variance?

Ans. It is the gap between estimated effort and desired effort.

35. What is Earned Value Management?

At every checkpoint, the Actual Cost(AC), Planned Value(PV) and Earned Value(EV) are monitored. Performance Management Baseline (PMB) is the aggregate of all planned values. Variances from the baselines are determined. Going forward Cost Variance and Schedule Variances are calculated. If the Planned Value equals the earned Value then the project is on the right track, if not then action has to be taken immediately to rectify the fault.

36. What is quality control?

To ensure that quality necessities are being met the QualityControl mechanisms include inspections.

37. Describe control on change methodology

Changes should be controlled through the integrated control process. Any change request will have to be audited by The approved changes will only be in the document changes leading to project execution.

38 How do you spell out a Milestone?

A milestone is a point in the project schedule when a task or a part of an objective or a part of the planned services is accomplished.

39. Name the activity time estimate done.

The methods used for estimating activity time. analogous estimates and parametric estimates are Three-point estimates,

40. How do you calculate by the 3-point estimating method?

There are two formulae to calculate three-point estimation.

1. PERT Distribution or Beta E=(P+ 4M+))/6.
2. Triangular Distribution E=(P+M+O)/3.

Where O stands for the optimist, P stands for Pessimist and M stands for most likely

41. What are the significant aspects of a Human Resource plan for the project management team?

The most important aspects of an HR plan are the acquisition of a team, formation of the team, assigning roles & Responsibilities to team members, and appraisal policies. Recognising & Rewarding team members should be transparent and shared with the team. Prepare for the project manager interview questions and answers well in advance

42. Define a risk factor

This is a document /register which contains all the established risks of a project.

43. Describe the types of risks you may experience in a project.

These risks may be classified as External, Internal/Organizational, technical etc.

44. Describe 10 knowledge areas of Project management.

The 10 knowledge areas are:-

1. Project Communications Management

2. Project Schedule Management

3. Project Integration Management

4. Project Risk Management

5. Project Procurement Management

6. Project Stakeholder Management

7. Project Resource Management

8. Project scope management

9. Project Cost Management

10. Project Quality Management. Prepare for the project manager interview questions and answers well in advance

45. How will you motivate your team and get their approval for achieving planned results as a Project manager?

The plan to achieve outstanding results:-

1. Engaging cooperative approach

2. Implementation of RACI task responsibility

3. Achievement of SMART Goals

4. Analyse work done and furnish real-time feedback. 

 

 46. Detail 3 Project management leadership styles.

  The 3 Project Management Leadership styles are Laissez-faire, Democratic & Autocratic.

47. What should be the favoured communication style in a project?

  The project manager has to adapt to one of the four communication styles viz. Personal, Functional, analytical, and Intuitive. Prepare for the project manager interview questions and answers well in advance

 48. In Procurement Management name any 5 Bid documents you would use.

•       Invitation for Bid (IFB)
•       Invitation for Quote( IFQ)
•       Procurement Statement of Work(SOW)
•       Request for Proposal(RFP)
•       Request for Information

49. Define the details of 3 kinds of contracts you would employ when working with suppliers.

Fixed Price Contracts, Cost reimbursable Contracts, and Time and Materials contracts.

50. What is a cost Reimbursable Contract?

A Cost Reimbursable Contract is one in which reimbursement for expenses which the contractor has already paid while performing a task related to the project and specified in the agreement along with an additional fee as agreed upon. Prepare for the project manager interview questions and answers well in advance

 Best Institute to Take a Project Management Course

 

Henry Harvin, since its founding in 2013, has grown to provide more than 800 training packages in 27 distinct categories. It is one of the best Ed-tech companies, that offers training and consulting services. They consistently try to transform the development of both people and enterprises through their first-rate material and top-notch mentors. Reputable publishers such as Hindustan Times, The Hindu, News World India, and many others have given Henry Harvin credit for its quality and innovation. The fact that it has won awards for Best Education Company and Best Corporate Training Platform of the Year 2021, makes it one of the best places to enrol for project management courses.

Why Henry Harvin?

• According to Insight Success, Henry Harvin is among the top 30 most reputable companies.
• Their PMP course curriculum is designed according to PMBOK by industry experts and is intended to make you job-ready.
• Learn from professionals with more than 10 years of experience in the field.
• Live Projects and Internship support to help you gain practical experience.
• They conduct masterclass sessions, to enhance your interview skills
• Placement assistance post training to help you find a desirable job.

 

Learning Benefits:

• Enhance your business skills and project management capabilities.
• Acquire knowledge of Gantt charts, project management, resource management, risk management, value management, integration, change, and other cross-cutting knowledge and skills.
• improves your capacity to understand, and resolve project management problems.
• Develop abilities like leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, and customer-focused management.
• Acquire time management skills that will increase your output.
• Obtain the PMP certification, which is recognised as the industry’s gold standard in project management, to further your career.

Other Project management courses offered by Henry Harvin

• Agile Project Management Course
• Associate in Project Management(CAPM) Course
• Postgraduate Program in Project Management
• Comp TIA Project+ PKO-005-Course

Conclusion

After consulting with various HR Project managers the above set of questions and answers have been framed. For a fresher or an experienced person the above guidelines will prove beneficial for handling the interview and coming out as a successful Project manager.