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Project Manager Mock Interview

Question 21 of 50 for our Project Manager Mock Interview

Project Manager was updated by on May 9th, 2023. Learn more here.

Question 21 of 50

What do you do to ensure a project doesn't go off track? If it does, how do you fix it?

"Most importantly, when a project begins I spend time determining the extent of its scope. This allows me to easily identify and avoid scope creep later on, which helps to keep a project on track. Once the project's objectives have been clearly stated and individual goals/expectations created, I use an online project management program to record, track, and share all of this information. I also include benchmarks, which assist me in seeing how the project is progressing. All of these elements work together to ensure that my project stays on track and if it starts to veer off course I quickly become aware of that and can work to resolve the problem."

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How to Answer: What do you do to ensure a project doesn't go off track? If it does, how do you fix it?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Project Manager job interview.

  • 21. What do you do to ensure a project doesn't go off track? If it does, how do you fix it?

      How to Answer

      Explain to the interviewer what tools and techniques you might use to monitor a project's progress. Begin with proactive methods such as establishing a strong communication plan, or nailing down a clear scope agreement. Next, describe methods you use when a project is in flight. Finally, discuss your go-to tools for getting a project back on track when unexpected challenges arise.

      Written by Karrie Day on April 24th, 2023

      Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

      One of a project manager's biggest responsibilities is to make sure that projects stay on track to meet their deadlines. Your interviewer knows projects are easily knocked off course and wants to learn more about how you plan for success and handle progress concerns during a project.

      Written by Karrie Day on April 24th, 2023

      Answer Example

      "Most importantly, when a project begins I spend time determining the extent of its scope. This allows me to easily identify and avoid scope creep later on, which helps to keep a project on track. Once the project's objectives have been clearly stated and individual goals/expectations created, I use an online project management program to record, track, and share all of this information. I also include benchmarks, which assist me in seeing how the project is progressing. All of these elements work together to ensure that my project stays on track and if it starts to veer off course I quickly become aware of that and can work to resolve the problem."

      Written by Marcie Wilmot on January 5th, 2021

      Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

      Anonymous Answer

      "I have had the unfortunate experience of having several projects "go off the track" earlier in my career and can confidently say it is easier to prevent that occurrence than it is to fix it. I have found that with proper planning, change management practices, and regular status checks to compare our target vs actual, utilizing software to track tasks, and regular in-person status meetings I can anticipate issues and problems that have the potential to cause a project to go sideways well in advance. Once a project does go sideways the utmost importance is getting back to green which requires an action plan to remediate the issue and incorporate steps to prevent this issue(s) from occurring again."

      Amanda's Feedback

      Good! You've focused more on what you do to ensure a project stays on track or how you fix it rather than the actual problem. Keeping the focus on the positive action is important for a question like this. If possible, illustrate how you put these safeguards or solutions into practice by talking about a specific time when your safeguards helped you anticipate and mitigate a big problem early on or how you were able to salvage a project with a clear action plan. Anytime you can provide a real-world example that illustrates your ability to use your skills it gives your answer more impact, making you a more memorable candidate.

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    About the Author

    Karrie Day

    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