How well do you work under pressure?

Focus on giving an example of working under pressure related to your role as Project Manager. You might have had a project that was in danger of going over budget or missing a deadline because of unforeseen circumstances. Using the STAR method is an excellent way to formulate your response to this question. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Briefly describe the situation, explain your role, the measures you took to solve the issues, and the outcome. The interviewer wants to hear that you can effectively work under pressure as a Project Manager.

If you want to be considered for the position, avoid saying you do not work well under pressure. Project Managers need to be calm and focused on the task at hand when faced with stressful situations.

"I work very well under pressure as it forces me to be decisive and focused on the task I am assigned. A month ago, I was assigned a project that was due in five days and was on schedule. Another Project Manager in my department had a project that was due two days before mine. I was familiar with the project because he had consulted with me on it. When I got to work that day, my supervisor told me that my colleague was in the hospital and would not be able to complete his project. My supervisor advised me I was assigned both projects with no deviation on the deadlines. Instead of letting the stress get to me, I developed a detailed time management plan, had a team meeting, and delegated tasks where I could. With the help of both teams, I was able to deliver both projects on time and budget."