How to Answer: What is your process for learning a new line of business?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Project Manager job interview.
20. What is your process for learning a new line of business?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Some project managers ensure the successful delivery of solutions that serve lines of business they are not experts in. In these cases, they are expected to quickly learn their customers' basic operations to assess their project plans' impact. Interviewers ask this question to ensure a candidate has a strategy for obtaining this information.
Written by Karrie Day on April 26th, 2023
How to Answer
Describe the meetings you would hold and the associated activities you would complete to about the business operations of the groups your project will support. Remember to highlight activities you could complete autonomously in addition to meetings, shadowing, or interviews. Project managers are often required to dig in and quickly analyze the workflows and artifacts of a business with limited supervision.
Written by Karrie Day on April 26th, 2023
Answer Example
"The first thing I do when I have the opportunity to learn a new business area is research. I focus on understanding industry standards, industry terms, and common challenges. I then meet with my new stakeholders or clients to discuss the scope of the project, goals, timing, and any other concerns.
If time permits, I like to shadow the people in the end-user roles my solutions impact the most. This helps me understand how the delivery of new solutions will affect them going forward. I also gain access to their systems and documentation and review them on my own."
Written by Karrie Day on April 26th, 2023
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