How to Answer: Tell me how you communicate with others. What kind of communicator are you?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Project Manager job interview.
10. Tell me how you communicate with others. What kind of communicator are you?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
It is vital that a project manager be able to effectively communicate with many different kinds of people, including stakeholders, vendors, and employees, among others. Your interviewer wants to know if your specific approach aligns with the requirements for the open role.
Written by Karrie Day on April 23rd, 2023
How to Answer
Before the interview, brush up on the various communication styles out there (for example: assertive, direct, analytical, intuitive, functional, formal, personal) and identify which relate to you. This will help you frame your response with communication vocabulary that will likely resonate with your interviewer.
I typically encourage my project manager clients to demonstrate that they are comfortable communicating using a variety of styles. This demonstrates flexibility and the ability to customize their approach based on the details of the situation. For example, you might describe the communication style you use to resolve issues within your team different than the style you use to communicate with senior management.
Written by Karrie Day on April 23rd, 2023
1st Answer Example
"In general, I believe that I am a very strong communicator and that this allows me to do my job well. I tailor my communication style as needed. For example, when I talked to the sponsor of the last project I worked on, I communicated the big picture and didn't delve into the nitty-gritty details. When I talked to remote team members, however, I focused on expectations, processes, details, and timelines. I consider my communication style to be a mix of assertive, functional, and personal. Assertive because I clearly state my opinions and advocate for the project's needs while being respectful of others, functional because I am detail-oriented and like to communicate step-by-step processes, and personal because I pick up on emotional language as well. In the past, my unique communication style has worked well and I believe it will allow me to excel within this role."
Written by Marcie Wilmot on January 5th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"I like to keep people updated as necessary. I utilize modes of communication that work depending on the person I am communicating with. As most people have differing levels of availability, I recognize that before communicating information. For example, if I am communicating with a CEO, I give regular updates in snippets so that it is fast and easy to read. If I am communicating with a coworker, I communicate on regular intervals such as weekly to keep the project or initiative going. I communicate via in-person, over Microsoft teams or email as necessary."
Written by Jessica H. on May 9th, 2023
Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback
Anonymous Answer
Amanda's Feedback
About the Author
I began my professional career as an IT Business Systems Analyst. I enjoyed the role, but I knew early on that I wanted to explore project management after moving through the analyst ranks. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to partner with several talented project managers while I was working to grow my own skill set. I learned a lot from them about how to approach strategic planning, communication, conflict resolution, and how to motivate various personality types to perform their best under pressure. I learned even more from their failures.
It was clear that project management was as much an art as a science, and I eventually got my shot at taking everything I had observed over the years and blending it into my own style for steering projects and programs successfully. While project management was not my ultimate career goal, I greatly value my time managing projects. I have utilized the skills I worked to refine in project management in every position I have held since. For example, I use the communication, strategic thinking, and tactical planning skills I regularly leaned on as a project manager each time I work with one of my coaching clients.
Whether working as a project manager is a career goal of yours, or you fell into it through circumstance, you’re in good company. Over 16 million professionals claim the title of project manager, and project management isn’t going anywhere. In fact, the number of project managers is expected to grow by 7% over the next 8 years according to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics. According to the Project Management Institute, the global outlook is even more impressive boasting up to 33% growth through 2027. Regardless of the specific location, there will likely b a strong demand for project management skill sets in the years to come.
As a coach and writer for MockQuestions, I want to help you successfully navigate your upcoming interview for a project manager position. While some project manager skills are specific to the industry, location, and types of projects involved, many skills and behavioral traits are universally applicable to project management roles. This article will help any project manager prepare for a successful interview, and I encourage you to check out all of our sets dedicated to project management listed below.
Learn more about Karrie Day