New Manager Mock Interview
Practice 40 New Manager interview questions covering leadership transition, team dynamics, and first-time management challenges.
Question 17 of 40
If a project was threatening to run over budget or over deadline, how would you handle the situation?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Experienced
Community Answers
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
If this is your first management role, it may be easier for budget or time overages to sneak up on you. The interviewer wants to know that you understand the warning signs of a budget that is about to go awry and that you can course-correct when needed.
When a project threatens to run over deadline or budget, there are a few options available to you:
1. Lower your costs or increase hours spent on the project
2. Revisit the project scope and make reductions/cuts to ensure your deadline or budget is met
3. Ask the required stakeholders for more time or more funding
Each of these options has its challenges as well, so it's time to show the interviewer that you have strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Express how you would handle the situation while highlighting your professionalism and confidence.
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"First, it's important that I carefully track a project's budget and carefully review the workflow and timelines regularly. These actions can prevent a project from going off-track in the first place. However, if the situation were to still go off track, I would approach the project stakeholders and be transparent about the situation. When a project threatens to run over budget, I could choose to make a case for more funding, or I can pivot by lightening the project scope or reassigning resources. Above all, I would handle the situation by thinking critically and acting quickly. Once the project is complete, I would do a full review and assess where I went wrong so that I could correct my actions for future projects."
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Jaymie
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Anonymous Answer
I would have to look at what the final outcomes are - is there room in the budget, or is there an opportunity to increase the budget? Is there a way the deadline can be extended?
In either situation I would have to look at how much flexibility is available; budgets are not much in a non-profit so perhaps there are places where costs can be reduced. Higher cost activities, see if there is a way to reduce the costs but still achieve the same learning goals.
Is the deadline firm, speak to a senior manager/stakeholder if a new deadline would be possible
Jaymie's Feedback
Your response demonstrates your ability to critically think and problem-solve. Well done!
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