MockQuestions

Project Manager Mock Interview

Question 33 of 50 for our Project Manager Mock Interview

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

Question 33 of 50

What is the biggest mistake you ever made during a project?

"I think it's inevitable that people are going to make mistakes, both myself as the project manager and members of my teams. I don't view mistakes as failures; instead, I view them as learning experiences. The mistakes I've made to date have taught me a lot and over time have helped make me a better project manager.

The biggest mistake I ever made occurred early on in my career when I was a project manager at an architectural firm. I knew I needed to put together a plan with a timeline that satisfied the client, who wanted things to move quickly. So I did just that, only I didn't run my plan and its deadlines by the teams who would actually be carrying out the work prior to presenting it to the client. Well, the client loved the timeline, but when my teams saw it they became stressed and later frustrated. This also clearly impacted the quality of the work too. In the end, I had to go back to the client and push out the dates, which wasn't very professional. I learned that I needed to have my teams review and approve the schedule before I shared it with a client. This was a valuable lesson that I have never forgotten."

Next Question

How to Answer: What is the biggest mistake you ever made during a project?

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

  • 33. What is the biggest mistake you ever made during a project?

      How to Answer

      Everyone makes mistakes so be truthful and tell the interviewer about a time when you messed up. It's important, however, to emphasize what you learned from the mistake you made and what you do now to ensure you don't repeat it. Own the error and explain how you resolved it.

      Written by Marcie Wilmot on January 5th, 2021

      Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

      An interviewer can learn a lot about a candidate with this question. Your interviewer wants to know if you have the ability to identify your mistakes, take accountability for them, and improve upon your actions in the future. Perhaps even more importantly, this question is used to test your integrity. Candidates that dodge this question, refuse to own even a small mistake, or offer an inauthentic response are likely to raise a red flag with their interviewer resulting in elimination from the interviewing process.

      Written by Karrie Day on April 25th, 2023

      Answer Example

      "I think it's inevitable that people are going to make mistakes, both myself as the project manager and members of my teams. I don't view mistakes as failures; instead, I view them as learning experiences. The mistakes I've made to date have taught me a lot and over time have helped make me a better project manager.

      The biggest mistake I ever made occurred early on in my career when I was a project manager at an architectural firm. I knew I needed to put together a plan with a timeline that satisfied the client, who wanted things to move quickly. So I did just that, only I didn't run my plan and its deadlines by the teams who would actually be carrying out the work prior to presenting it to the client. Well, the client loved the timeline, but when my teams saw it they became stressed and later frustrated. This also clearly impacted the quality of the work too. In the end, I had to go back to the client and push out the dates, which wasn't very professional. I learned that I needed to have my teams review and approve the schedule before I shared it with a client. This was a valuable lesson that I have never forgotten."

      Written by Karrie Day on April 25th, 2023

      Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

      Anonymous Answer

      "Earlier in my career, I took over a project mid-flight and trusted that the project plan including change management was properly thought out. Well, no more than 3 weeks in a big issue occurred. A key stakeholder demanded a change and when I went to enforce the change management process I found that there was none. Additionally, the project schedule had no baseline, and as such, I did not notice that this situation had already happened several times and was the main reason the project was in the red. Needless to say, from that point on verifying and reviewing the project artifacts already in place is a pre-requisite when taking over a new project."

      Amanda's Feedback

      Excellent answer! You've shared what happened, how it impacted the project, and how you've ensured that error doesn't impact future projects.

    • Next Question

    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