"I am always open to trying new programs because they are so helpful when I'm running a project, in many cases helping me to communicate my expectations and keeping everyone on the same page in terms of deadlines and responsibilities. Having said that, though, my favorite project management program right now is Smartsheet. I like it because it's similar to Excel, which I'm used to working in, but it performs complicated formulas across multiple pages for me. It also shows tasks in Gantt, calendar, and card views, and notifies everyone in real-time if I make any changes. So I really like using Smartsheet, but I also have experience in using monday.com, Zoho Projects, Basecamp, and Trello and I stay up on industry blogs in case other tools come along that look useful to me."

While it is entirely possible to manage a project using a well-maintained spreadsheet, many companies require the use of software solutions that support project management. Some integrated systems (Jira, Monday, Wrike, etc.) also support other important business functions such as forecasting, purchasing, sales, CRM, product development, and team communication. Additionally, some project management tools are developed specifically for the industry they support (IT, construction, marketing, etc.)

Your interviewer asks this question to learn more about your experience managing project information within these important tools. The more experience you have leveraging the features they offer, the easier your onboarding process will be if hired.