Tell me about the types of projects you've handled in the past.
Describe the types of projects you have experience leading. Discuss the various industries you have worked in as well as the general length of time and budgets associated with the projects you led.
Remember to review the details of the job description and research the company thoroughly before your interview. This will help you customize your response and demonstrate skills that are relevant to the types of projects you will be assigned to manage if hired.
It's important to do some research prior to the interview so you know what kinds of projects you'll be working on if this company hires you. Customize your response to show that the skills you have are relevant to the types of projects you will be assigned to manage.
"I've managed many different kinds of projects at this point in my career. I have experience leading small to mid-size cross-functional product development teams. I have also worked on several internal enterprise projects that vary in length. I have managed budgets ranging from 50 thousand to over 5 million.
Most recently I worked on a project whereby my team and I helped our client create a company-wide portfolio management office. This entailed designing and putting in place new structures and processes that took into account the needs of the performance reporting and strategic planning teams. I believe that I'll be able to use the same skills that enabled me to successfully complete that project within budget and under the deadline in this position as well."
Not all projects are created equal. While all project managers share a variety of universally applicable skills, there are some skills and experiences that are unique to the industry, company, and size of the projects managed. For example, the estimation, approval, execution, and support phases for construction projects are vastly different than similar phases of IT software development. Your interviewer wants to learn more about your experience to determine if your areas of expertise are in alignment with the needs of their company.
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I've managed many different kinds of projects at this point in my career and have created a standardised process that I typically follow no matter the project topic. However, I worked on a project where my team and I helped our client with a new system roll-out (PeopleSoft to Success Factor). This entailed putting in place new processes, data migrations, creating test scripts. I will be able to use the same skills that enabled me to successfully complete that project within budget and under the deadline in this position as well.
Rachelle's Feedback
When the interviewer asks about the projects you have handled and you state, 'I've managed many different kinds of projects...' this isn't very helpful for the hiring authority's discovery process. Try unpacking this sentence further by giving concrete examples. The ultimate goal is to show a connection between the projects you've managed throughout your career and the projects present in this new role. Your story of the new system roll-out is a specific example that allows the interviewer to picture you in action in the workplace. Be sure that the connection between this project and the hiring company's project needs is crystal clear.
Anonymous Answer
I have managed a wide variety of projects throughout my career, but I have extensive experience managing software development projects in the financial technology space. Recently I managed a project developing a custom Pension Administration and Actuarial application that allowed the business to integrate 3 separate business process streams into one application. It also allowed the business to become more proactive with their customers, allowing them to add value-added services such as predictive communications based on upcoming member events such as retirement, while also providing new functionality such as a Self Serve Member Portal. In addition to several financial software development projects, I have led several infrastructure-related projects as well.
Amanda's Feedback
Well done! You've done a great job sharing a broad overview of the kind of projects you've worked on as well as more specific detail about your most recent project. It gives the interviewer a clearer idea of your level of expertise while leaving room for follow-up questions.
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