77 Senior Project Manager Interview Questions & Answers
Below is a list of our Senior Project Manager interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view 5 answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.
Table of Contents
Senior project manager interviews can be challenging. Interviewers tend to ask fewer theoretical situational questions that begin with phrases like 'how would you handle', or 'imagine a time when' in favor of questions that are a direct test of your experience. Essentially, senior project manager interviews typically force candidates to prove their behavioral patterns and ability to perform under specific conditions.
To prepare, it is important to take the time to walk through the last few years of your career retrospectively. Make a list of the projects you managed and the basic details for each. Additionally, it is helpful to make a list of stories that represent your greatest successes, challenges, and even failures. Consider using the STAR Method to organize the details of your project management journey. This will ensure you are prepared to clearly communicate the details in a way that demonstrates your ability to add value at a senior level.
Not all senior project manager roles are created equally, and the jump between a project manager and a senior project manager can vary wildly between companies and industries. When preparing your list of projects and related stories, be sure to focus on the following areas:
Scale
Your interviewer needs proof you can effectively manage the budget, team, scope, and stakeholder relationships associated with the role.
Leadership
It is critical for interviewers to identify candidates with leadership styles in alignment with their teams and managerial structure. They seek candidates with the poise necessary to effectively communicate with executives and senior stakeholders. Additionally, many senior project managers play a key role in the professional development of junior team members.
Expertise
While some projects can be managed by anyone with a decent senior-level project management toolkit, many companies are looking for candidates who are experts at managing specific types of projects. For example, a company may seek someone who is adept at managing SaaS projects in a startup environment. They may require specific credentials such as PMP certification or a Six Sigma Black Belt. Be prepared to demonstrate how your experience is in direct alignment with the specific types of projects you will be asked to manage if hired. This article contains several role-specific questions that will help you prepare for this aspect of your interview.
In summary, the senior project manager interview is about proving you have the ability to effectively manage the right level of projects, proving you are the right kind of leader, and demonstrating your experience is a match for the expertise required for the role. Preparing to discuss these three aspects of the senior project manager role in your interview will help boost your confidence and convince your interviewer you are the right candidate for the job.
Behavioral
1. If I were to ask one of your current co-workers to describe you in three words, what would they say?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Companies work hard to create and maintain a specific culture within the cross-functional teams that senior project managers typically have responsibility for. This question may be asked in an interview to determine if a candidate is a personality fit for the teams they will work with directly.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to scan the posting for the job you are interested in for the personality traits they are seeking in a candidate. Align your response with one or more of those traits if they describe you well.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"It might depend on who you ask, but I think all of my coworkers would agree with 'tenacious' because I chase whatever I am assigned with determination. They would also say I am 'direct' because it is my natural communication style. Finally, I think they would say that I am 'lighthearted.' I like to work hard and try to inspire others to do the same. However, I enjoy a positive and vulnerable environment in which my teams and I laugh often and do not take ourselves too seriously."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Behavioral
2. What attributes should a successful senior project manager display regularly?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior project managers bridge teams, stakeholders, and customers together. They are responsible for the management of resources and large budgets. They solve complex problems. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate understands what a successful senior project manager looks like.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include a mix of management, leadership, and service-oriented skills in your response. Senior project managers are well-rounded and expected to excel holistically.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"A senior project manager should be organized and properly utilize resources such as labor, time, equipment, and money. They should lead by example, inspire others, settle conflicts, and be prepared to serve their team in whatever ways necessary for success.
Senior project managers should be able to facilitate complex and difficult discussions. They need strong business acumen and expertise in whatever domain the projects they lead to serve. They should be able to effectively analyze complex problems and develop solutions with their teams.
Finally, senior project managers need excellent customer service skills and the ability to build and maintain strong relationships. They should be able to communicate effectively across a wide range of titles and personalities within a business."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Behavioral
3. Imagine that an individual on your team is experiencing burnout. How would you handle this situation?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Burnout is a common issue that manifests itself during long projects or with stressed or bored team members. Interviewers ask this question to determine how a senior project manager would handle these sensitive situations.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to demonstrate your understanding that burnout can happen for many reasons. A project manager should take steps that align with the cause of the burnout scenario.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"My approach depends on the individual, but there are a few key things I would do. First, I would bring the situation to light. I would ask the person how they are feeling and if there is anything I can do to support them. Sometimes all someone needs is to be heard and allowed to take a brief break to reenergize themself.
If the person feels burnt out because they have been working on the same thing for too long, I look for opportunities to shift work around on the team and let them take on a new challenge. Giving someone something fresh to focus on helps in many cases.
If they are burnt out due to stress, I work with them to get to the root of it. Sometimes we need support from additional resources, sometimes the person is not a good fit for the team, and sometimes they are ready to move on to another position. Depending on the cause, I work with them to develop a strategy to ensure their needs are supported and the team's needs are met simultaneously."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Behavioral
4. Describe a time you implemented a solution that was scaled and customized to meet the needs of multiple stakeholders within a business.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior project managers are sometimes challenged to develop strategies for solutions that will serve multiple groups with significant workflow differences. This question is asked to determine a candidate's ability to effectively meet the needs of a diverse stakeholder group.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include an example that shows your ability to develop strategies to incrementally deliver value. This may include implementing a proof of concept or a small-scale solution while the detailed needs of the entire user population are met.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I worked with multiple HR groups within a large enterprise. They needed an employee onboarding solution that handled provisioning requests and integrated properly with various downstream security and technology systems. I developed a strategy for the first-pass solution for a group with requirements representative of the majority first. From there, the teams I worked with were able to gather feedback, make adjustments, and then roll the solution out to the groups with similar workflows. While that took place, I was able to work with the outlier groups and develop plans to scale the solution appropriately to meet their needs. This strategy allowed us to realize a maximum level of business impact quickly while doing the detailed analysis necessary to meet the needs of the entire group of stakeholders."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Behavioral
5. What steps do you take when it becomes clear your team is behind on a project?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
At-risk projects are a common assignment for senior project managers. Interviewers ask this question to learn more about how a candidate plans to handle this common project risk scenario.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include a process of identifying the root cause of the delay. It is important to develop an adjustment strategy that matches the unique variables involved.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I would first deploy a method to get to the bottom of why we were behind as a team. I have used various root cause analysis methods and frequently lean on the 5 Whys method.
Once I identified the cause of the delay, I would work with my team to develop a strategy to address it. If there were performance issues, I would assign mentors and ask that they spend extra time leading those who need help. If a stakeholder or client was behind on their responsibilities, I would talk with them about the impact of their actions and develop a way forward. These actions usually correct the issue, and my teams get back on track quickly.
If the delay was outside my control, I would be transparent with my client or stakeholder. I would ensure them that the team would work to complete the most valuable pieces of the project on time and determine if there was an opportunity to remove anything unnecessary from the scope. I would also offer relevant updates to the delivery date as needed."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Behavioral
6. What steps would you take to develop and ensure accountable practices with the members of the projects you are responsible for?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Accountability within a team setting is an attribute that directly contributes to the success of any assigned project. Interviewers ask this question to gain insight into a senior program manager's ability to foster this valuable behavioral pattern within the teams they lead.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include accountability methods that can be measured in several ways, including observable behaviors and metrics that speak to delivery upon team commitments. Additionally, be sure to demonstrate how you would hold yourself accountable.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"As a senior project manager, I would drive accountability in several ways. First, I would foster an environment of accountability between my teams and our stakeholders. This would include setting specific goals and tracking metrics to measure our team's performance against them. I would ensure that we meet regularly to discuss progress and address any issues as early as possible.
I would encourage team members to make regular and specific commitments. I would hold regular check-ins to discuss progress and any issues that arise. I would personally demonstrate accountability by delivering on my commitments to my teammates. I would also leverage transparency and authentic ownership of my mistakes to inspire the same behaviors in others."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Behavioral
7. How do you move a project forward when you are faced with limited time for discovery and analysis?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
You may be asked this question in an interview to assess your ability to quickly make progress with limited knowledge and resources. Interviewers are interested to know your processes for strategically driving out scope details and gaining the trust of key stakeholders and staff across various levels in their organization.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to offer examples of how you would quickly gather a broad scope of information, such as facilitated sessions or surveys. Additionally, include moving forward with quick-hit tactical plans while long-term plans are developed. Many attributes requested in senior project manager job postings specify the necessity to identify quick and easy-to-implement resolutions to problems.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"Clients often want to get moving as quickly as possible and do not have the desire to wait while all of the details are figured out. In this case, I usually request to facilitate a vision and goal-setting session with as many stakeholders as possible. During that time, I try to gather as wide a perspective as possible on what is working, what is broken, and what the high-level solution ideas are. From there, I lean on my experience and intuition to determine where I need to dig further and which areas I can leave at a cursory review.
I tend to forge relationships with the stakeholders by taking them to lunch or calling them to bounce ideas off them to see if they are a fit. I also sit and shadow front-line users in the areas that will be affected most by whatever strategy we follow. This helps me quickly gain trust with the users, their management, and the executives involved. That trust is imperative when I make my recommendation because it allows me to be transparent about the areas I did not have time to analyze fully while suggesting where to begin development.
Finally, I work with my stakeholders to immediately implement any easy-to-execute tactical changes uncovered during discovery. This ensures that the teams I work on add value as early as possible during an initiative."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Behavioral
8. What behaviors contribute to success working in a remote team setting?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Many senior project manager positions are remote or hybrid. Additionally, most work is done in a team setting. Interviewers ask this question to determine why you would be successful in this type of working environment.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to consider holistic behaviors in your answer. For example, behaviors that foster an optimal physical working environment can be as important as those that set the stage for mental success.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I enjoy working remotely. It offers freedoms that I can't create in an office setting. However, it takes effort and focus to succeed, and I have developed several practices that help me thrive remotely.
First, I create an appropriate physical environment. I have a dedicated home office and a quiet space for working and meetings. I also have other options to move around in my home or my community when I need a change of pace. My main goal is to create balance. That includes sometimes getting up for a stretch, a walk, or just ten minutes in the sun here and there.
Secondly, I have ways to stay connected to others, including fostering solid social relationships outside the workplace, learning about my coworkers, and caring about their health and wellness. I enjoy team-building events and facilitated them remotely regularly in my last role.
I also believe it is important to keep a regular schedule. I find it helps me maintain a steady pace and helps my team know what to expect of me. I try to log in around the same time each day and connect with my teammates to communicate any needs we have individually or collectively. Setting expectations early and often ensures that we minimize delay and work as efficiently as possible."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Communication
9. How would you describe your communication style with members of the teams you work with?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior project managers are expected to have expert-level team communication skills. Interviewers ask this question to test a candidate's ability to communicate effectively in a variety of situations that a team will experience.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to describe more than one communication style in your approach. Senior leaders such as senior project managers should be able to customize their approach as the needs of a team evolve.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I would describe my team communication style as a solid mix of the four DISC communication styles. I am direct and results-oriented at times. I am assertive when I need to be. I can influence. I am also accepting and thoughtful. My most natural style is direct communication, but I have developed the ability to work within and appreciate all of these other styles because they are the best fit for the various members of a team depending on the situation."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Communication
10. How would you describe your communication style with clients and stakeholders?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior project managers are excellent communicators with the soft skills necessary to navigate difficult situations. Interviewers ask this question to ensure the candidate they select has a communication style that would be a match for the clients and stakeholders they would serve if hired.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to mention active listening within your response. Many candidates describe how they offer information and fail to remember that communication is a two-way exchange.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I use a flexible communication style and adapt my approach to the needs of the client or stakeholder. I begin with active listening and observation. I learn a lot about how to best communicate with someone by watching their non-verbal cues and listening.
When I speak with clients and stakeholders, I take great care to demonstrate empathy. It is crucial to show that I understand where they are coming from. I also do my best to be as transparent and direct as possible to avoid confusion. This mix helps establish trust and develop valuable relationships necessary for success."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Competency
11. What are the factors involved in prioritizing project work?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Interviewers ask this question to understand how a senior project manager views demand, value, and order of operations. This question may be asked in an interview because the ability to formulate an intelligent strategy that properly prioritizes competing needs is imperative to success.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Stakeholder and client requirements experience high rates of change and require flexibility. Remember to include a variety of factors to consider within your response and indicate that you understand the importance of each is relevant to the specifics of the situation involved.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"One of the first things I consider when prioritizing project work is the alignment of the requests to the goals of the initiatives I am working on. Items that serve more than one goal or have a large impact with minimal effort move to the top of the list.
Additionally, an order of operations needs to be considered, and dependencies must be taken into account. For example, I cannot release a solution that is dependent on the work another team has not yet completed.
I have encountered less frequent considerations such as stakeholder happiness or customer support issue resolution, but the overarching deciding factor in determining how to move forward in any of these situations relies on understanding the value stream of the business and the impact any proposed changes would have."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Competency
12. What is your process for learning a new line of business?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Some senior 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 December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to highlight activities you could complete autonomously in addition to meetings, shadowing, or interviews. Senior project managers should be able to dig in and quickly analyze the workflows and artifacts of a business with limited supervision.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
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."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Competency
13. What are the key components of a project charter?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior project managers are responsible for authoring project charter documents in many companies. Interviewers ask this question to test the candidate's basic knowledge of this important pre-project deliverable.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to keep your answer concise and focus on the crucial aspects of the document. Some companies use templates with information specific to their projects or methodology. Interviewers only want to ensure that the candidate they select understands the basic information typically included in a project charter.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"Project charters vary from company to company and even between departments, but they typically include a basic set of information including the project name, the sponsor, the stakeholders, the problem statement, the goal, in/out of scope statements, expected benefits, team members, timeline details, milestones, and budget information."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Competency
14. What are the three components of the triple constraint?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The triple constraint is a basic project management concept. Interviewers use this question to quickly identify candidates that are not properly educated in project management.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to demonstrate your understanding of the three components of triple constraint control. It is expected that a senior project manager candidate would know that scope, cost, and time all affect the quality of a project.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"The three components of the triple constraint are scope, time, and cost. Each of them plays a role in the quality a project has the potential to offer its stakeholders. If you change one, one or more pieces are affected. For example, if you want to speed a project up, you need to reduce the scope of the project, increase the cost to pay for extra labor or both."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Competency
15. What is the difference between a capital budget and an operating budget?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Budgetary analysis, discussion, and management are common responsibilities for many senior project manager positions. Interviewers ask this question to test a candidate's general knowledge of this budgetary concept.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to discuss the differences in the length of use, the types of assets, and how they are treated from an accounting perspective. Demonstration of knowledge of these areas will give the interviewer confidence that you understand this budgetary aspect. Also, include a brief example of each type of asset to further demonstrate your understanding.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"Capital budgets typically represent the money necessary for the long-term resources a company needs to do business, and operating budgets represent the money needed to keep things moving daily. Capital assets are usually planned for in advance and are depreciated over time from an accounting perspective. Operating budgets are usually steady and continually accounted for. The assets are not owned or appropriate to be depreciated.
An example of capital expense would be the purchase of a series of new servers to store data. An example of an operating expense would be the cost of software licenses that a company pays for."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Discovery
16. What would an ideal flexible working environment look like for you as a senior project manager?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Some companies offer progressive and flexible work environments for their employees. They allow individuals and teams to develop work settings and norms that are the best fit for their unique needs. This question is asked in an interview to determine if a candidate's perspective on flexible work environments aligns with the hiring company's views and the needs of the teams a senior project manager will work with and support.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include your thoughts on developing connections within the workplace in a flexible environment. Time spent nurturing relationships with teammates and a willingness to be flexible to support the needs of others demonstrates an understanding of important team concepts that many companies value.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I genuinely appreciate companies that offer work environments that support the work environment needs and preferences of their employees. I have worked remotely for the past seven years, and that model has allowed me to spend more time with my family and live in the community that is the best fit for us.
Ideally, I like to primarily work from home and travel to client sites or the office as needed. Regardless of the location, I ask the members of my teams to be transparent about their availability each day and to work in an environment that allows them to focus. I implement all of those same standards for myself as well.
Additionally, an ideal environment includes opportunities for employees to socialize here and there. I find that the teams I work with are better connected when they have a chance to get to know one another personally. Our work is more productive and enjoyable when strong connections exist."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Discovery
17. What do you envision as the next step in your career path after the senior project manager role?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior project managers are seasoned leaders with many future professional possibilities. Interviewers ask this question to learn more about your vision for their future.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Companies invest heavily in the development of their resources, and candidates with long-term fit potential are valued in many cases. Remember to research the career paths available at the company you are interviewing with before your interview and align your response accordingly. For example, an interviewer at a large enterprise would not expect a candidate to state that they envision themselves moving into a VP role next.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Project Management Governance Example
"I would like to move into a manager position within a PMO. I enjoy developing project managers and feel that the position would offer me the opportunity to focus on growing my skills in that area. I also enjoy working with various leaders to streamline the processes of their teams, and working within a PMO would allow me to use those skills as well."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Program Manager Example
"I see myself moving into a program manager role as the next step in my career. I feel I would be successful in providing strategic oversight to several projects and teams at once. I also like the idea of partnering with senior stakeholders to develop program-level roadmaps."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Discovery
18. Tell me about yourself.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Your interviewer wants to know more about your education and the professional roles you've held, but for a senior project manager, this question serves another purpose. Specifically, your interviewer wants to test your presentation skills under pressure. They want a senior project manager that is prepared, polished, relatable, and ready to handle the stress of a senior position.
Written by Karrie Day on January 29th, 2024
Remember To
Remember to cover these three main topics to cover every time you answer this question.
- Your education
- The companies you worked for and the roles you held
- A brief breakdown of the major projects you've managed
If time permits, it can be helpful to include a few of the following :
- Why you're excited about the open position
- Travel you've done relevant to any international communities you may work with
- Customers, technologies, or vendors you have experience with that are relevant to the open position
- Certifications applicable to project management (PMP, Scrum Master, SAFe practitioner, Six Sigma, etc.)
- How you know the person who recommended you
- Your short-term career goals
Written by Karrie Day on January 29th, 2024
1st Answer Example
I have a degree in management. My first job out of college was working with a property management company that owned over 200 properties. I facilitated contract negotiations, move-in, move-out, and turnover activities. I also managed repair projects and handled tenant emergencies. I worked there for five years and learned how to manage client expectations, resolve conflicts, partner effectively with vendors, and prioritize a heavy workload.
I now manage projects for a residential construction firm. I work with designers, estimators, and the leads of our various construction crews. I also partner with project managers and general contractors from the various vendors we use depending on the type of project. I have been in this role for three years, and I enjoy my work. I have focused on the development of my project planning, budgeting, and leadership skills and I am now assigned to complex initiatives that require coordination across multiple teams, serve at-risk clients, or have large budgets and/or unique scope requirements.
I am very excited about the project manager position with the XYZ team at ABC company. I feel I am ready to expand, and working in a commercial construction setting will allow me to leverage my current skills on a larger scale.
Written by Karrie Day on May 18th, 2023
2nd Answer Example
I graduated from Cal Tech with a degree in computer science. I worked at an eCommerce startup company for six years. I started out as an engineer, but I regularly took on tasks outside of the role of a traditional engineer. For example, I performed duties typically assigned to analysts, product owners, and project managers at larger companies. I formally transitioned into a project management role two years into working there.
I am currently a project manager at a mid-side SaaS company. I am responsible for budgeting, planning, task delegation, and technical strategy. I enjoy the leadership and talent development aspects of my role the most. I would like to one day work as a senior IT leader, and I feel that moving into a senior project management position here at XYZ company will offer me an opportunity to hone my management and leadership skills in alignment with my long-term goals.
Jim Smith recommended me for this position and speaks very highly of your company and you as a manager. I am excited about the prospect of working with larger cross-functional teams and on projects with a greater level of impact. I would also like to pursue my PMP certification and I have heard that is an opportunity offered to senior project managers.
Written by Karrie Day on May 18th, 2023
3rd Answer Example
I have a degree in marketing and worked for my family's event-planning business in high school and for the last seven years. I currently oversee all of our large-scale events such as weddings and corporate events with over two hundred attendees. I lead teams of three to five depending on the size of the event. We provide end-to-end services and handle everything from budget planning, vendor selection, and day-of-service coordination.
I am excited to interview here today because I would like to work for a marketing agency. I thoroughly enjoyed that aspect of my education and I want to work directly with creative teams. I feel my event planning project management experience is applicable in many ways. For example, I regularly facilitate the creation, approval, and distribution of event marketing materials such as invitations, and email campaigns on behalf of my clients. I also have experience working directly with the marketing departments of my corporate clients.
Additionally, I have participated in the owner-level activities of our family business including strategic planning, staffing, reporting, payroll, and all related financial duties. I feel my business acumen combined with my advanced project management experience make me an excellent candidate for the senior project manager position
.
Written by Karrie Day on May 18th, 2023
Discovery
19. What is one of your professional weaknesses?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior project managers are familiar with the Churchill quote "Failing to plan is planning to fail," and it 100% applies to this interview question because it is a favorite of interviewers for two main reasons. First, your interviewer genuinely wants to know which areas you need to grow in professionally so they can determine if their company offers the right environment for your development needs.
Secondly, many interviewers use this question to test a candidate's integrity. As a senior project manager, they are asking you to manage large budgets and the work of others. Trust is key and your interviewer wants to know if you are willing to be authentic with them even though you've likely just met for the first time during the interview.
Written by Karrie Day on January 29th, 2024
Remember To
Make the effort to reflect on your most recent role and identify areas in which you could improve. A key senior project manager skill is the ability to identify opportunities for improvement, and improving upon your own weaknesses is no exception. Here are a few common weaknesses you may have experienced as a senior project manager:
- Difficulty saying "no" to customers with important needs
- Balancing task delegation with taking on work yourself
- Lack of knowledge of a particular technical skill, system, or process
- Difficulty letting go and transitioning clients to support groups
- Difficulty trusting your intuition
- A nice-to-have skill from the job description you are not yet an expert in
Written by Karrie Day on January 29th, 2024
1st Answer Example
I am currently working to improve my data analytics skills. I am very comfortable working with the tools used in my current role, but there are several powerful business intelligence tools I would like to work more with in the future. I have used Tableau and DOMO, but I know there are features I am not yet an expert on. I like to encourage my teams to use a data-supported approach when making decisions, and the process is more valuable when you have the system experience necessary to find the right information at the right time.
I saw in the job description that experience with Power BI is nice-to-have. While I do not have in-depth experience with that specific tool, I have recently invested time in learning more about it. I feel confident I can apply the experience I have in this area, and I am excited to jump in and learn more if hired.
Written by Karrie Day on May 18th, 2023
2nd Answer Example
My most significant professional weakness is that I sometimes have a hard time stepping away from the detailed tasks of my team members. I wouldn't label myself a micromanager, but I used to work in several of their roles and I have a lot of valuable knowledge to share. However, I realize that it is important to let them find their own way and learn so that they can grow professionally. I now pause before getting involved and ask myself if not jumping in would cause any significant harm. If the answer is no, I take a step back and let them work it out on their own. I have my own important work to focus on, and I know that projects run more smoothly when everyone is allowed to fully leverage the skills and expertise they bring to the table.
Written by Karrie Day on May 18th, 2023
3rd Answer Example
One of the professional weaknesses I am working to improve upon is learning when to trust my intuition. As a former analyst, I prefer to have all of the information possible before deciding to go in one direction or another. As a project manager, I do not always have the luxury of time to perform analysis. Instead, I have to rely on my instincts and experience to help me decide which way to go. That can be uncomfortable for me, but I have found that it gets easier and easier as I go.
One of the reasons I am excited about the opportunity to interview here today at XYZ company is that the role requires quick decision-making. I love turning weaknesses into strengths, and working in a role that requires me to be comfortable with being uncomfortable is a perfect opportunity for me to grow in a valuable way.
Written by Karrie Day on May 19th, 2023
Discovery
20. Why do you want a career as a senior project manager?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior project managers play an integral role within the companies they work for and it often takes time for them to establish the relationships necessary to be truly effective in the role. Your interviewer wants to be convinced that you love project management, see an opportunity to grow in the role, and plan to stick around if hired. This question is all about convincing them their investment in you is a sure bet.
Written by Karrie Day on January 29th, 2024
Remember To
While the senior project manager role may only represent a stepping stone in your career, it is critical to convey why you love being a project manager. It is okay to start with a broad-stroke description of why you want to work as a project manager, but make sure you provide at least one aspect of the job that you enjoy because it allows your best skills to shine.
Written by Karrie Day on January 29th, 2024
Answer Example
"I want a career as a senior project manager because I am ready to take on projects with higher budgets, more complex scope, and challenging business scenarios. I love strategic planning and working to figure out how to make all of the puzzle pieces of a project fit together in the best way possible. I also love working with talented team members on large-scale projects. I feel fulfilled when I am able to facilitate their ability to collaborate and deliver outstanding work on our projects.
The senior project manager role is aligned with my professional growth goals and provides the perfect opportunity to utilize my strengths and do what I enjoy in a team setting. I am confident I am ready for this next step in my career and I am excited about the opportunity to work here at XYZ company if selected for the position."
Written by Karrie Day on January 29th, 2024
Discovery
21. What is your favorite aspect of project management?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Interviewers are interested in what motivates a candidate. They must align the right opportunity with the right individual. The answer to this question helps hiring managers ensure this role would allow the candidate they select to enjoy their work.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to align your answer with an aspect of the senior project manager role likely to be part of the experience for the specific job you are interviewing for. For example, an interviewer may be confused to learn that your favorite aspect of project management is working on construction projects if you are interviewing for a technology senior project manager role.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"My favorite part of working as a project manager is that I have the honor of working with talented people across several domains. I have worked with experts in operations, technology, finance, accounting, entertainment, retail, real estate, etcetera. I truly enjoy learning about new lines of business and working to help others do whatever they do better by delivering solutions that meet their needs."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Discovery
22. What is your biggest growth opportunity?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Every professional in every role has room for growth. Interviewers ask this question to test a candidate's ability to honestly communicate where they need to improve.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to provide an answer appropriate for the senior project manager role. For example, interviewers might exclude a candidate that indicated their biggest growth opportunity is to learn basic project management skills.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"My biggest growth opportunity is learning to trust my intuition. My current manager pointed out that there are times when I rely on data to prove what I already know is true. She said I have good business sense and read people well. She was right. I have a lot of experience, and sometimes there are decisions I can make the call on and ask my team to follow without having to prove why it makes sense before we take action. The growth lies in knowing when to use this skill and when to take a step back. It is an art, and I am getting better at it now that I am focused on improving in that area."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Discovery
23. How long have you been managing projects?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Interviewers ask this question to determine how experienced the candidate is. Some companies have official years of experience requirements, and this question validates the candidate's background in project management.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include the details of any project management work you did in other roles. For example, a lead engineer may have served in a project management capacity for small projects before becoming an official project manager.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I have managed projects in an official capacity for seven years. Before that, I led several projects as a senior analyst."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Experience
24. What types of meetings do you have experience facilitating as a project manager?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Most senior project managers are required to facilitate solutions for complex business problems. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate has experience facilitating the types of meetings required of the role.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to mention any formal training or facilitation techniques you have experience with, such as brainstorming, conflict resolution, or teambuilding. Also, include project-level meetings you have facilitated in your response, as well as strategic meetings for complex or integrated solutions.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I have facilitated strategic planning, goal setting, and roadmap-review sessions. I have experience facilitating standard project-level meetings such as discovery, project planning, kickoff, requirements gathering, design, development, training, and implementation. I have also led post-project meetings, such as reflection and support assessments.
I am a formally trained facilitator and use tools such as agendas, parking lots, ground rules, action items, and decision lists as appropriate. I am skilled in leading brainstorming, prioritization, conflict resolution, and team building activities."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Experience
25. What tools do you have experience using to manage projects?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Candidates may be asked this question in an interview to determine if they have experience with the tools the interviewing company uses to manage projects, teams, and budgets. An advanced understanding of these types of solutions may set a candidate apart from another without expertise in this area.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include any experience you have administrating the tools in your answer. Activities like queue administration, workflow definition, or other advanced administration experience demonstrate that your knowledge goes beyond a basic user-level understanding of the tools you have used.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I used MS Project early in my project management career. Most recently, I have used Wrike, Jira, and Monday. I prefer each of them over MS Project as the collaborative features are a better fit for my teams and my needs as a project manager.
I was involved in the initial implementations of Wrike and Jira for my teams. I worked to align the tools properly with our workflows and defined the attributes of information we needed to track. I also helped customize the reporting at the team and program levels."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Experience
26. Do you have experience managing the work of contingent resources?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Many projects are completed with the aid of work from workers who are not employees of the company delivering the project. This support may come from resources such as contractors or freelancers. Interviewers ask this question to assess a candidate's experience managing projects staffed in this manner.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to mention any experience you have supporting operational groups that work with contingent workforce models in the event your direct management of contingent workforce resources is limited. Interviewers may accept general knowledge of the standards and practices involved instead of experience.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Direct Experience Example
"A contingent workforce consists of resources not under contract for ongoing employment. Examples of contingent resources include freelance, temporary, outsourced, consultants, etcetera.
In my current role as a project manager, we hire freelance resources regularly to assist with specific opportunities as they arise. We also outsource some of our technical engineering resources. I help define the terms of their assignments and work with our team leads to get them up to speed and manage their work."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Indirect Experience Example
"A contingent workforce consists of resources not under contract for ongoing employment. Examples of contingent resources include freelance, temporary, outsourced, consultants, etcetera.
I have not yet had the opportunity to directly manage contingent resources. However, I have experience supporting operations groups in an enterprise setting with several temporary employees. I am familiar with the payroll and HR standards in those scenarios. I feel confident I could effectively manage the work of any contingent resources I would have the opportunity to work with if hired for this position."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Experience
27. What level of budgetary responsibility do you have in your current role?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior project managers are often responsible for successfully delivering initiatives with large budgets. Interviewers ask this question to assess whether or not a candidate has experience working with the appropriate scale of projects for the role they intend to fill.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to briefly mention any significant budgets you were responsible for before your current role if they are recent and the dollar amount exceeds your current responsibilities. Also, discuss your responses to questions like this with any references you plan to provide. Budgetary information is often a point of validation in a reference check discussion.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I am currently responsible for an annual 4 million dollar operating and capital budget. I also oversee multi-million dollar equipment and vendor software purchases. The specific dollar amount for those purchases varies depending on the client's needs.
Before my current role, I worked as a project manager for a company that sold SaaS solutions. The largest project I managed there was a multi-phased 6 million dollar project."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Experience
28. How would you describe your comfort level analyzing data and writing queries?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Some senior project managers are asked to perform detailed data analysis. They may be required to pull summary data for reports or help triage data-related issues. Interviewers ask this question when they require these skills for success in the senior project manager role.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to mention your experience extracting data and developing reports or dashboards using business intelligence tools. Interviewers appreciate candidates with experience developing big picture summary views of data in addition to their detailed analysis skills.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I am very comfortable analyzing data and writing queries. Before working as a project manager, I was the lead analyst on several data warehousing initiatives. I also have experience working with business intelligence tools such as Power BI and Tableau. I feel confident I would be able to perform well in this area if selected for the open position."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Experience
29. What level of experience do you have managing technology projects?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Some senior project managers will be required to primarily lead technology projects. Others will have representatives from various technology groups as participants in the projects they lead. Interviewers ask this question when they require or prefer experience leading these initiatives.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to describe your experience in information technology or other technology sector roles before becoming a project manager. Also, include the details for the projects you managed, including any methodologies you have experience with.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Vendor Technology Implementation Experience Example
"I have managed several technology projects. In my current role, I managed the selection, purchase, and implementation of the tool we use to manage several business workflows across our organization. I have worked with six separate groups to define their requirements and customize their tool's implementation since the projects began two years ago."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Technology Expert Example
"My background lies in information technology solutions. I worked as a software engineer for seven years before becoming a project manager. I have managed both waterfall and agile custom development projects. I have also led third-party implementations."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Experience
30. Describe your executive or senior management presentation experience.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior project managers typically work directly with senior stakeholders. Interviewers ask this question to ensure that candidates can present the right level of detail in a way that is easily understood by this important audience.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to communicate that you are confident presenting information to this level of an audience while simultaneously demonstrating humility. Executives and senior leaders represent a wide range of informational needs, and it is expected that a senior project manager will need to learn the preferences of their audience.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"In my current role, I am responsible for developing and maintaining implementation roadmaps. I regularly present them to the senior executives within client organizations responsible for budget approval. During these meetings, I communicate the vision for the entire solution, the investment needs, and the projected ROI information.
I appreciate the direct communication style of the executives I work with. I learned to customize my presentation style to match their styles. I found that these meetings were a perfect time to set the expectations around the support our team would need to succeed."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Experience
31. Here at XYZ company, our senior project managers have end-to-end responsibility for the success of their projects. Do you have full lifecycle management experience?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior project managers are typically involved at some level during every phase of a project's lifecycle. They often play a role in the strategic planning before a project begins and ensure customer satisfaction levels are optimal after a project is complete. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate has the right level of experience for their company's needs.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include any sales or third-party project phase experience in your response. While some would consider these activities part of the discovery process, some job descriptions specifically request experience managing these activities. It is best to break them down for the interviewer.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"Yes. I have managed all phases of projects, from discovery to post-implementation support. I have also managed third-party implementations, including sales, RFI, RFP, and contract negotiation phases."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Leadership
32. Do you have experience as a direct manager for project managers or other resources?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Some senior project managers have direct reports. This question is included in an interview when a candidate will be expected to formally manage resources in addition to the initiatives they lead.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to describe the functions you have performed that are typically executed by a manager in the event you do not have direct management experience. This includes assigning work, assessing performance, approving time, etcetera.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I do not have direct management responsibilities, but I currently oversee the work of two project managers. I am responsible for assigning them to projects, approving their time, and monitoring their performance. I also provide annual performance assessments to their managers and ensure they have the training and mentoring opportunities they need.
We partner to discuss strategy, review their project roadmaps, and discuss customer and team member-related issues. I attend customer and vendor meetings and ensure that the work their teams take on aligns with strategic goals.
I would love the opportunity to take this next step in my career if hired for the position. I feel it would be a valuable way to use the experience I have managing others and grow at the same time."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Leadership
33. As a senior project manager, you will lead cross-functional teams. How do you provide leadership to other seniors on a team that are experts within their area of focus?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior project managers provide leadership to resources who have expertise in areas other than project management. These subject matter experts are often well-respected leaders within their domain. Interviewers ask this question to learn more about how a candidate works with these talented resources in a leadership capacity.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to demonstrate respect for your colleagues in your response. Leadership is best paired with humility, and candidates who understand they can share leadership responsibilities with these talented team members are valued.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I am a hybrid leader, and I customize my approach to match the specific team and the individuals involved. I believe that anyone can be a leader at any time, and I consistently encourage the development of leadership qualities in all members of my teams. I lead by example and observe and learn from others as I go.
In the case of a subject matter expert, my role as a leader is to do whatever I can to facilitate their success. I respect their knowledge and let them lead in their area of focus. I offer my services as a sounding board to help them remove roadblocks when they need support. I counsel them when they are struggling with a junior resource performance issue. Finally, I offer them encouragement and support to continually improve their craft."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Leadership
34. What is your leadership style?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Interviewers ask this question to learn more about a candidate's leadership style. Companies value various approaches, and it is important to match the right leader with the right team.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include a variety of approaches in your response. For example, an interviewer might not resonate with a candidate who described a completely authoritarian approach to leadership.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"My leadership style changes depending on what is needed to add value to the team experience at any given time. I enjoy serving as a coach, motivator, and facilitator. I also enjoy working with other visionary and transformational leaders and strive to use these skills in my approach.
I least enjoy bureaucratic or authoritarian types of leadership. I find it is necessary to use these styles in performance issue situations or when there are conflicts that cannot be settled in any other way. However, I first look for ways to use democratic and supportive approaches to avoid people feeling like they are being managed. I would much rather them feel they are co-creating their own experience."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Leadership
35. What level of leadership or oversight do you typically provide during a vendor implementation?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior project managers often play a key role in the coordination of projects that require solutions from third-party vendors or business partners. Interviewers ask this question to understand the depth of experience a candidate has managing this type of initiative.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to discuss the phases of engagement with third parties that occur before the inception of an actual project. This includes discovery activities such as information gathering, proposal review, contract negotiation, and budgeting.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I am typically responsible for generating requests for information or proposal documents and oversight of the requirement gathering process. I work with legal teams and business and technical stakeholders during contract negotiations to ensure our company's needs are properly represented. I manage the financial aspects of these engagements and ensure that the resources our company needs to provide are assigned and available.
I also get involved when conflicts arise between the various groups. There is often a disconnect between the proposal and what is possible during implementation, so I facilitate meetings to find solutions that make sense for everyone.
Finally, I keep the senior stakeholders properly informed at all stages of the process. I regularly communicate the status of vendor initiatives through our roadmap and prepare our senior leaders any time they are needed for support or escalation."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Leadership
36. What is your best team leadership skill?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Most senior project managers excel in one leadership capacity or another. Interviewers ask this question to learn more about a candidate's strengths and how they align with their company's needs.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to explain how your skill adds value in a team setting. For example, if you are great at inspiring others, you might explain how this skill has led your teams to deliver innovative solutions.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"My best leadership skill in a team setting is my ability to help teams resolve conflicts. I am great at creating a comfortable environment where team members feel free to share their concerns. I view the situation from a neutral standpoint and help everyone stay focused on our goals. I have a light-hearted spirit, and it helps everyone approach difficult conversations more easily than they would otherwise."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Tough
37. Why should we hire you?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Self-promotion can be uncomfortable even for senior project managers who are used to being in the spotlight, but interviewers learn a lot from your answer. Your response translates to your ability to balance confidence with humility and influence others. This question is about so much more than simply stating why you're a great fit for the role, so plan accordingly and prepare a great response in advance.
Written by Karrie Day on January 29th, 2024
Remember To
Remember to listen carefully and observe the body language of your interviewer during your conversation. As a senior project manager, you should be an expert at active listening. Use your expertise to your benefit to pick up on clues that will help you identify needs that are not explicitly stated within the job description. Demonstrating that your skills go beyond their stated needs is a great way to stand out from the competition.
Written by Karrie Day on January 29th, 2024
1st Answer Example
"You should hire me because my background and experience are aligned with your industry, the types of projects I will be managing, and the client base you serve. I feel I will be able to add value immediately while working to come up to speed quickly on the details of the projects I would manage.
Additionally, you mentioned that the team is currently struggling with some personality conflict issues. I am a trained facilitator and I have formal experience in diffusing conflict. I am skilled at serving as a bridge to help opposing sides find a way forward and I have a strong record of turning this type of situation around into a high-performance environment. I feel confident I can help your teams thrive and meet their project goals successfully."
Written by Karrie Day on January 29th, 2024
2nd Answer Example
"You should hire me because, in addition to meeting all of the required and preferred qualifications, I have over 4 years of experience working with several of your main clients. I have valuable relationships there that will add value to the projects I would be working to manage.
I also resonate with the values of your company and the team culture you described. Like you, I am passionate about challenging the teams I manage to be innovative. I have a track record of solving project problems with creativity and agility and I feel I would be a great fit for the environment you have worked hard to create here."
Written by Karrie Day on January 29th, 2024
Role-Specific
SaaS
38. How would you rate your experience delivering presentations?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior project managers who work for SaaS companies frequently give presentations to important internal and external audiences. Their ability to effectively deliver the information of the presentation in a compelling manner can sometimes make or break a major sales opportunity. Interviewers ask this question to identify candidates who are comfortable presenting to a variety of audiences with a high level of confidence and success.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to answer this question confidently and to provide supporting details to justify your response. SaaS companies are more likely to hire you if your answer presentation coincides with the rating you give yourself.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I would rate my experience delivering presentations at a high level. I was responsible for delivering presentations to senior level stakeholders as an analyst, and I give presentations regularly to internal and external stakeholders as a project manager. I am comfortable developing presentation materials in a variety of formats, and I customize my approach to each audience I work with. I feel confident I can effectively deliver presentations here at XYZ company if selected for the open role."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
SaaS
39. When is it appropriate in a SaaS setting to think about sales opportunities?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Sales teams within SaaS companies often manage the majority of the sales process, but individuals in roles such as project management are expected to participate in and support sales as well. Interviewers ask this question to learn about a candidate's views on the sales process and determine if they are a fit for the sales culture of the hiring company.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to demonstrate your ability to use sound judgment when navigating potential sales scenarios. For example, you might indicate that you always think about sales, but that you understand it is not always appropriate to discuss the topic with a potential client. Interviewers want to hire candidates that have the discernment necessary for success in the senior project manager role.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"In my opinion, it is always appropriate to consider sales opportunities in a SaaS setting. It may not always be appropriate to discuss future sales with a client given the conditions and the phase of a project they are in. However, I think from a potential sales perspective regardless of the scenario. I gather information that might help support a future sale with the current client or with another client and use it later when the right opportunity presents itself."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
SaaS
40. There will be times when you will be working on more than one client project at a time. How will you ensure that the needs of all of your clients are handled?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Client service is a key aspect to most SaaS project management roles. The senior project manager often serves as the point of contact or escalation for important client issues and requests, and they have a direct effect on the level of satisfaction a client has with their SaaS solution. Interviewers ask this question to identify candidates who can deliver quality service to all of the clients they are assigned to at all times.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to indicate if you currently work on more than one client project simultaneously in your current role. Interviewers are more likely to resonate with responses given by candidates who already have experience juggling multiple clients at the same time versus those who can only provide a theoretical response.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I am assigned to more than one client at a time in my current role. I work hard to make sure each of my clients feels as though they are my top priority at all times. I have worked hard over the years to develop excellent time management and planning skills, and I lean on those skill sets to ensure that all of the my client's needs are met. Additionally, I have experience delegating to others in the event I am stretched and need to ensure that a client continues to receive top tier service."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
IT Infrastructure
41. Describe the budget and impact of the largest infrastructure project you have managed.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
IT infrastructure project budgets vary greatly depending on the company, the current infrastructure environment, and the nature of the requested changes. Interviewers ask this question to identify candidates who have experience managing budgets on the scale they will be responsible for if selected for the open position.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to provide a brief description of the project within your response. Also, be sure to provide the numbers for the overall project budget and the portion of the budget you were responsible for in the event the project was large and managed by a team of project managers.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I currently work for a large network and data services company. We recently expanded our data centers and worked on a project to stand up a new center in my region. The total budget for the project was $27 million. I managed the IT equipment purchases, setup, and software licensing portion which accounted for $16 million of the total budget.
The impact of the project was significant. Our organization is chasing growth by expanding the services we provide to mid-size companies who cannot afford their own data centers. The project set the stage to grow that market by 30% within the first two years and we are currently on target to meet that goal."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
IT Infrastructure
42. What is the most significant risk you have faced when working with vendors?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
IT infrastructure projects have risks like any other type of project. However, there are often large and mission critical pieces of infrastructure projects that are not in a project manager's direct control. Interviewers ask this question to learn more about how the candidate mitigates the risks associated with working with third party vendors.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to provide support for the answer you provide. While there is no one right answer to this question, your response should make sense to your interviewer. Also, be sure to include a strategy you use to mitigate the risk you select.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"There are a number of significant risks I have managed when working with vendors on infrastructure projects. The most significant risk really depends on the goals of the project in my opinion. However, the there is one risk that occurs the most frequently and can have a serious impact in the event it is not handled appropriately. That is delay of service or delivery. For example, in the event I was working on a data center project and the vendor who makes the servers is three weeks late in delivery, the downstream effect of that would be quite significant as a large portion of the remaining project tasks would be dependent on the delivery of the servers.
When possible, I schedule the work required by vendors ahead of when the work needs to be completed or the equipment needs to be configured. That strategy has helped me to avoid reworking the remaining plan in the event minor delays occur. Also, I stay in close contact with any vendors I work with on my projects. I establish strong relationships and that add value when there are issues that need to be resolved."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
IT Infrastructure
43. The infrastructure projects we manage often support the needs of more than one customer group at a time. Describe your experience managing projects with more than one major stakeholder group.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior project managers are typically asked to manage complex initiatives that serve more than one group simultaneously. Interviewers ask this question to identify candidates who have experience eliciting stakeholder requirements, resolving conflicts, and developing strategic plans that add value across multiple areas concurrently.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to provide examples of the types of stakeholders your typically work with within your response. Also, provide the interviewer with the number of projects you managed with more than one stakeholder group, or the number of years you have managed these types of projects.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I have managed at least a dozen projects over the last three years that had more than one major stakeholder group. The projects I manage typically affect more than one of my company's offices. It is important that our project teams consider the unique needs of each location during all of our project phases. Also, there are usually stakeholders that represent various departments such as field operations, properties, HR, finance, accounting, etcetera. I am comfortable facilitating stakeholder meetings, resolving conflicts between them, and ensuring everyone stays informed and aligned over the course of our projects.
I feel confident I have the experience necessary to facilitate successful infrastructure projects with more than one stakeholder here at XYZ company. I look forward to the opportunity to learn more about the needs of each group if offered the position."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
IT Infrastructure
44. Describe a time when you identified an improvement opportunity and implemented it.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Operational process improvements are key to reducing waste and cost. Companies often look to senior project managers to help identify improvement opportunities on behalf of their customers and within their own project teams. Interviewers ask this question to learn more about a candidate's ability to identify opportunities, propose adjustments, and implement the necessary changes to create efficiencies.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to provide metrics to help the interviewer understand the impact of the improvement you made. Also, it is best to describe a time when you demonstrated end-to-end ownership of the process improvement. Be sure to describe the previous state problem, the work you did to analyze the opportunity, and your role in implementing the related changes.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I noticed that our engineers were frequently visiting sites more than once to resolve various infrastructure issues. One of the principles of Lean is to reduce waste, and I felt there was an opportunity to reduce the motion waste of our support fleet.
I spent a few days reviewing the total number of repeat visits and the notes associated with the support requests. The most common reason for a repeat visit was related to parts availability. The engineers would sometimes arrive to learn that they needed something other than what they had originally planned for, or they would arrive and learn that something they ordered for the job had not yet arrived.
We tackled the problem from two angles. First, we took on a project to make shipping status information available within our ticketing system. We then adjusted our process to only send an engineer when the necessary parts had arrived, or when we were reasonably certain they would arrive in advance of our engineer. We also included alerts to managers about significant shipping delays.
Second, I pulled together a team of senior engineers to brainstorm a list of the most common materials that caused delays on jobs. We were able to work with our suppliers and retool our fleet vehicles such that the necessary parts would be available on-site more often. The two changes I led resulted in a 27% reduction in return on-site visits within the first six months and a cost savings of over $32k."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
IT Infrastructure
45. Describe the components of a budget for an infrastructure project.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Developing accurate project budgets is a critical piece of a senior project manager's role. IT infrastructure projects have specific considerations that must be properly analyzed in order for the budget to reflect the work necessary to deliver the project successfully. Interviewers ask this question to test a candidate's knowledge of the various components commonly included within infrastructure project budgets.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to review the common components of IT infrastructure projects prior to your interview in the event you are new to managing this style of project. The budgets for projects of this type can be large, and your ability to speak on this topic confidently will help improve your chances of being selected for the open role.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"Every infrastructure project I have managed has been different, but I work with my team each time to make sure we consider costs comprehensively. The resulting budgets typically include a mix of staff, tools and equipment, space, travel, fleet costs such as vehicles and gas, hardware, software, and vendor costs broken down by project phase."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
Lean
46. Imagine that you are working on an ecommerce website. What are some examples of the components of the value stream?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The value stream is a key lean concept. Senior project managers play a role in understanding, mapping, and improving the value streams of their client's businesses. Interviewers ask this question to identify candidates who understand the concept and how to apply it to a popular business model such as ecommerce.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to provide a brief definition of a value stream as well as its purpose. In addition to a test of your basic lean knowledge, this question presents an opportunity for you to demonstrate your ability to easily and accurately explain complex concepts. The ability to present clearly and effectively is a key skill that any interviewer will look for and appreciate in a senior project manager candidate. Take full advantage of opportunities to exemplify more than one of your skills when questions such as these are asked by your interviewer.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"The value stream of an ecommerce website would show all of the production, ordering, and processing activities of the retailer. The goal of mapping the value stream is to identify opportunities to reduce waste in areas such as errors, inventory losses, and lead time.
The value stream would include components such as the retailer, their customers, the suppliers, the customer orders, the supplier orders, the logistic components such as the customer order shipping and the supplier order shipping, and the order processing."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
Lean
47. Describe a time when you identified waste on a project and developed a strategy to address it.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Waste in lean represents anything that does not add value to the customer. In an IT setting, waste can be identified in a number of locations including both product development team and customer processes. Senior project managers in a lean environment should be able to accurately identify waste, develop a solution for it, and implement the process adjustments necessary to reduce or eliminate it. Interviewers ask this question to identify candidates with end-to-end experience in driving waste reduction initiatives.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to describe the previous state and the end state clearly within your response. Also, be sure to provide any metrics that support the situation you discuss in your answer. Interviewers value candidates who can clearly demonstrate impact.
Also, it is important to mention any value that was not directly measured such as reduced team member stress, or happier clients. Improvements in areas such as these are indicators of strong leadership skills and happy project teams. Interviewers will resonate with senior project manager candidates that can simultaneously apply the principles of lean while improving customer satisfaction or the wellness of the teams they lead.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"The teams I currently manage projects for follow lean principles while working in an agile setting. We are always looking for opportunities to improve our processes as waste reduction is a key aspect of lean and agile.
I was assigned last year to work with a new team and I noticed our testers experienced a lot of down time early in each sprint and then they would be inundated with testing at the end. There was an abundance of waiting time before they could even being testing each sprint and it was clearly wasteful. Additionally, they were experiencing burnout at the end of the sprint and I felt like we could improve with a few key process adjustments.
We discussed the opportunity as a team and made a commitment to identifying several small features that could be tested within the first few days of development. We then looked at the sprint calendar and focused on a plan to then provide a steady stream of features throughout the remaining days. It was somewhat unnatural for the engineers to develop things in that order, but they were willing to change to make the process easier.
We also decided to devote a portion of engineering time to the development of automated test scripts. That allowed us to reduce the over all testing load over a period of a few months. It made a huge difference in the tester burnout issue and we were able to increase our velocity by 22% over a four sprint period."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
Lean
48. What is motion waste, and how does it apply in an IT setting?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
While the original focus of lean was the reduction of waste in manufacturing, it has been applied successfully in an IT setting in many cases. Interviewers ask this question to ensure the candidate they select understands how the various lean concepts are applied and customized to industries outside of manufacturing.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to consider both hardware and software motion waste within your answer even if you are interviewing for a role that will focus on one of these areas. Interviewers appreciate candidates that can think outside of their direct responsibilities and apply the concepts of lean on a more holistic level.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"Motion waste is waste that occurs through unnecessary movement. Motion waste occurs in a software setting when a user of a system is forced to enter unnecessary data, switch tasks or systems, or make unnecessary clicks in order to complete a process.
The concept of motion waste can also be applied to hardware in an IT setting. Equipment and materials needed to support infrastructure should be stored efficiently and materials should be readily accessible with as little physical motion as possible."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
Lean
49. As a senior project manager, you will work directly with internal and external stakeholders to identify value. What strategy will you use to learn enough about their operations to make an accurate value assessment?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Companies that rely on lean practices understand that the ability to understand and analyze processes is a critical aspect of process improvement and waste reduction. Interviewers ask this question to ensure the candidate they select has a solid strategy for gathering the information needed to ensure their company and client operations are as efficient and effective as possible.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to describe a mix of information gathering approaches within your response. Interviewers appreciate candidates who understand the multitude of data sources available for learning about a value stream as well as those who can leverage them to construct and appreciate the big picture perspective of their client's operations.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I use a mix of strategies to learn about the opportunities and best practices that lead to value for my clients. First, I learn their business directly from my clients. I meet with them to discuss their operations, I read whatever materials are available, I shadow, and I have even taken employee training courses to learn more about specific roles and processes.
In addition to gathering information internally, I review whatever I can find about the operations of my client's competitors. There are often a mix of strategies from competitors that can add value if implemented in a way that is customized to the needs of my client.
Finally, I gather customer information. The customers may be internal company users of a product or a service, or external consumers who buy a good or service. I gather whatever information I can find on what they feel is working well as well as what needs improvement.
For each of these strategies, I use a mix of data from reports, manuals, systems and the Internet. I also interview and observe. A holistic approach is best in my opinion, and I feel that I could apply the same approach successfully here at XYZ company."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
Lean
50. Describe how the pull system of agile feature development works.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior project managers in a lean IT setting are expected to understand and apply concepts such as pull systems to their client's operations as well as their own team's processes. Interviewers ask this question to test a candidate's lean knowledge as well as their understanding of popular agile methodologies that are used by many IT project teams today.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to provide a specific example of an agile feature development pull system within your response. Your interviewer wants to test your agile knowledge and providing this level of detail will help them to have confidence in your ability to lead an agile development team.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"A pull system in an agile setting helps to improve the efficiency of a team by limiting work in process, allowing team members to focus and move finished product out as soon as possible. Members of the team pull new work from the backlog when they become available, and there are methods in place to clearly indicate when that work is complete.
A classic example of an agile pull system is Kanban. The major aspects of work such as analysis, design, development, testing, and implementation are represented on a visual board. Teams pull the top priority and most valuable items to work on first and then indicate when their work is complete. That completed work is then 'pulled' into the next stage of the process and so on until it reaches the end.
Processes like these help teams visually and easily identify wait time issues and other opportunities for waste reduction. I have used Kanban specifically several times as well as other agile methods such as scrum. I look forward to leading agile projects here at XYZ company in the event I am offered the senior project manager position."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
IT Operations
51. Our data center operations senior project managers manage projects that affect multiple functional areas simultaneously. Please describe your experience managing projects that benefit more than one department.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
It is important to hire project manager candidates that have experience managing projects that match the scale of the initiatives they will manage if selected for the open role. Interviewers ask questions like these to gather details on the candidate's background to determine if they are a fit for the specific requirements of the IT operations senior project manager position.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to keep your answer brief, but provide enough detail to leave your interviewer feeling confident that you can be successful if offered the position. Also, be sure to review the job description thoroughly prior to your interview. Look for the names of specific departments the senior project manager will partner with or serve and weave those into your response if applicable.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"All of the projects I have managed have served more than one functional area or department simultaneously. I worked for a software company when I began managing projects five years ago. While my projects were aligned with one company, they served multiple departments within each company such as sales, accounting, finance, and operations.
I currently manage projects for my company's support desk and network operations teams. Every project I manage affects the entire company in some way. It is important for my team to consider the effect of our work on our users and stakeholders as well as the effect on the customers who rely on our network and support desk every time we work on a project."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
IT Operations
52. Our operations department supports global operations. Please describe your experience managing global scale projects.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Global projects are best managed when the project manager has experience working internationally. International projects may require travel or require the project manager to be sensitive to the cultural norms of the areas their project will affect. Additionally, global IT projects may require a project manager to know or learn the data storage and processing laws of the various countries associated with their projects. Interviewers ask this question when they anticipate this level of experience will be required for success in the open IT operations senior project manager role.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to specify the specific regions you have experience supporting or partnering with. Also, be sure to indicate your willingness to learn whatever is necessary to properly execute global initiatives in the event your international IT project management experience is limited. Finally, be prepared to discuss your level of comfort with international travel as a follow-up to this question if applicable.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"Most of the IT projects I have managed have had a global reach. I began working in the HRIS group of an enterprise applications department five years ago. Our company had offices in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. I now work on mostly operations projects for XYZ telecommunications company. We have both domestic and international operations centers. My teams build systems that monitor operations and handle service requests globally.
I enjoy working with my counterparts, stakeholders, and end users around the world. I have learned a lot about their cultures and the business practices specific to their location. I look forward to continuing that here if offered the open position."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
IT Operations
53. We follow ITIL best practices for service management and hardware management. Do you have experience with ITIL?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) is a framework of practices and standards for the delivery of IT services. It seeks to align the needs of a business or external customer to the IT services available. Many organizations seek candidates that have experience working within the ITIL framework and even those that are certified in ITIL. Interviewers ask this question to learn more about a candidate's background in working within organizations that use the ITIL framework.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to research ITIL prior to your interview if you do not have experience in this area. It is likely that any IT operations senior project manager will be expected to be at least familiar with the standards and associated ITIL vocabulary. Your ability to speak intelligently on the concepts you will be working with will boost your chances of the company considering you as a viable candidate for the position.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I have ample experience with the ITIL framework. I am ITIL 4 certified. I was originally certified in version 3. I have used ITIL best practices for the last 6 years. I am comfortable with the processes and procedures and leveraging them to improve operations."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
IT Operations
54. Describe your experience leading projects to implement or integrate with ServiceNow.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
ServiceNow and other similar cloud based solutions help to drive ITSM (IT service management) and ITOM (IT operations management) within many top companies today. Interviewers ask questions like these to determine a candidate's level of experience implementing solutions such as ServiceNow as well as their experience integrating other applications and data sources with ServiceNow solutions.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to describe your experience working with various ServiceNow competitor products such as BMC Remedy, or SAP's ITSM solutions. Interviewers will often accept this level of experience in lieu of direct experience with ServiceNow. Your goal in answering is to instill confidence that you fully understand the business needs these solutions meet at a conceptual level.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I have worked with ServiceNow for the past three years. My current company uses ServiceNow for IT operations, asset management, and service management. I have partnered with the ServiceNow employees to implement and extend various solutions and I have developed strong relationships with them.
Additionally, my teams have developed several custom integrations including exposing the ServiceNow data within our business intelligence and reporting platform. I feel confident I can successfully lead projects here at XYZ company to implement or integrate with the various ServiceNow modules."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
IT Operations
55. Change management is a tightly controlled process here at our company. Please describe the change management process in your current environment.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
IT operations senior project managers are not always responsible for excellence in change management, but they work with change and delivery managers to ensure smooth delivery of solutions to their user groups. Interviewers ask this question to test a candidate's knowledge of important IT processes that they will be expected to participate in and follow in the event they are offered the position.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to provide enough detail to prove that you understand change management from a technical perspective. While a high-level answer to this question might be sufficient, your interviewer is more likely to be impressed if you offer details regarding the specific systems used and the basic steps of the workflow your company follows.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"The change management process for the teams I oversee is facilitated by our IT Delivery Manager. He is a peer of mine and we work together closely to ensure that changes are implemented smoothly. He is the administrator of our system that handles change requests and controls the workflow of change entry and approvals. We currently use an integrated system of Octopus solutions for change management and deployment procedures.
Engineers submit change requests along with the change instructions and implementation details. From there, the change request is reviewed by the appropriate technical staff and it is returned if any issues are noted. Otherwise, it moves onto the approvals phase. The types of approval needed depends on the app, the type of change, and the business criticality of the functions that will be affected. Once approved, all of the involved parties are notified and the changes are implemented either automatically or manually depending on the system and the current state of the deployment automation for the application."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
Enterprise IT
56. What third party enterprise-level systems have you worked with directly in the past?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Enterprises take advantage of third-party solutions to help them manage major business functions such as HR onboarding, inventory management, customer relationship management, etcetera. Questions like these are asked in an interview for an enterprise project manager to determine if a candidate has worked with vendor provided solutions on the scale needed for success in the role.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to research any enterprise resource planning, supply chain management. human resources management, customer relationship management, etc. solutions used by the company you are interviewing with. This information is sometimes included within the job description for the role, but may require additional digging.
Once your research is complete, remember to offer examples of solutions you have experience with that are comparable to the solutions used by the hiring company. For example, you may not have Workday experience, but your experience managing PeopleSoft interface projects would be important to note.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"My current employer has mostly Oracle enterprise solutions in place. I have personally worked on projects to implement various features of Oracle Payroll, Onboarding and Performance Management functions. I have also worked with Oracle's BI and Big Data solutions.
In my research for this interview I learned that your company uses Workday for similar functions. I feel confident that my operational and systems knowledge will help me to add value immediately while I work to learn the specifics of the implementation here."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
Agile
57. What does a successful partnership with a team's scrum master look like in your opinion?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The work of a senior project manager and a team scrum master may overlap at times depending on the operating procedures of a specific team. It is important for each team member to know the expectations for their role and to form a collaborative and complementary partnership. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate's opinion on a successful relationship is a fit for the teams the senior project manager will be assigned to in the event they are selected for the open position.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember that a successful partnership between these two roles sets the stage for mutual respect and accountability. Both roles should challenge each other as needed to keep project teams healthy and in alignment with the goals of the project.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"There are many ways to have a successful partnership between a project manager and a scrum master, but there are three main features I have observed that should be present at a minimum. First, there needs to be a clear agreement on the duties of each role. For example, it should be clear that the project manager is responsible for the development of the budget, and the scrum master is responsible for ensuring that the team adheres to a specific process that delivers the metrics needed to assess how the team is tracking against the budget.
Second, each role should provide feedback to the other. For example, a scrum master should be able to point out when pressure from senior managers or the project manager is adversely affecting the team. Likewise, the project manager should be able to discuss velocity and performance issues with the scrum master that need to be addressed during reflection meetings or process adjustments. Each role should hold the other accountable and allow for value-add feedback to the process.
Finally, project mangers and scrum masters should support each other from a leadership perspective. Individual team members have relationships with both roles and there should be a consistent and supportive message no matter which leader a team member turns to. The same should be true in group meetings. While there are likely to be differences in opinions, these should be handled through healthy value-focused discussion and not contentious debate.
I feel that scrum masters and project managers with those three relationship qualities set the stage for a successful partnership and project execution."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
Enterprise IT
58. Imagine that several senior leaders within the company are arguing over the scope of a feature set for one of your projects. What techniques would you use to help them resolve the conflict?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior project managers in an enterprise IT setting are expected to possess advanced facilitation skills and the ability to lead through influence. Interviewers ask situational questions like these to test a candidate's ability to remain calm and lead others through conflict and other difficult project situations.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to go beyond voting, or stack ranking the feature sets. Also, it is best not to jump to escalating the problem to senior managers or executives to resolve scope disagreements among stakeholders. While each of these options are valid, it is best to use this question as an opportunity to demonstrate more advanced conflict resolution techniques. You are more likely to impress your interviewer if your answer includes an intelligent and systematic approach, or one that leverages your subject matter expertise to resolve stakeholder conflicts.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"One of the fist things I would suggest we do in a situation like this is use a systematic approach to analyze the costs, benefits, and risks of each feature set. I typically use a matrix with a weighted scale based on how well each feature set aligns with the goals of a project. From there, there is typically a set of features that stand out as front-runners because they are quick hits with high benefits, or the cost of delay is significant.
I also like to discuss the 80/20 rule with my stakeholders who are unfamiliar with it. We look for the 20% of features that would add the most benefit and then discuss the possibility to tabling the rest until some of the other groups have their top needs met.
Finally, I look for obvious order of operations issues or other technological considerations that help to break a stalemate. For example, I once worked with a senior leader in finance who demanded several reports be developed on the front end of the project. I explained that in my experience it often makes sense to tackle that work down the line when it becomes more clear how the solution will be used and what all the relevant points of data will be. We agreed to gather his must-have data requirements so that we could keep the reporting implications in mind while the other operational features were built. In the end, the reports we built were wildly different than what he had originally imagined and he thanked me for my guidance."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
Enterprise IT
59. Who do you view as your enterprise-level customers, partners, and peers?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The soft skills of a project manager are in many ways as important as their technical and operational skills. Interviewers include questions like these in an interview to gain insight into how a candidate thinks about the various groups of individuals they will partner with and serve while working on enterprise level IT projects.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include the third-party groups you might be working with as partners or even peers within your response. While enterprise projects primarily serve the internal resources of an organization, the external support of vendors or other related groups is often critical to the success of a project. Interviewers appreciate candidates that demonstrate the ability to think holistically about the relationships that are key to their role as a project manager.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I view my customers as anyone that I provide a service to. This includes the users or stakeholders of a solution I am responsible for, but I also consider anyone I am accountable to such as a teammate my customer. I find thinking of most of the people I work with as a customer in one way or another helps me to stay focused on always offering my best work.
My partners typically include senior leaders within the groups that help my project teams be successful. For example, we partner with our support, database, architecture, security, and change management groups on almost of all of our projects. I also view the groups we work with at various vendor companies as partners.
I view other project managers, senior analysts, consultants, and technical leads as my peers. We often work side-by-side to coordinate large initiatives, solve problems, and develop process improvements."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
Enterprise IT
60. Our senior project managers are expected to lead through influence. How do you plan to gain the respect and confidence of your stakeholders?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
It is rare for a project manager to have an explicit leadership role within a group of stakeholders. Project managers are often viewed as a service provider and their ability to gain respect is critical to their ability to influence and inspire the group. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate's approach to influential leadership is a fit for the needs of their company and the specific stakeholder groups the senior enterprise IT project manager will be working with if selected for the open position.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include more than one approach in your response. Respect is earned in a variety of ways, and a multifaceted approach demonstrates your understanding of this concept. Also, it is important to consider using humble language. While you may be excellent at your work, approaching the question with overconfidence is unlikely to result in your making the best impression possible during your interview.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"The first thing I would do to gain the respect of my stakeholders would be to listen and learn about their operations. While I have seven years of experience leading enterprise IT projects, there is always something new to learn and every group operates differently. The political scene is also different for each group. In my experience, stakeholders appreciate working with project managers who take the time to learn about their business, their goals, and their preferences.
Additionally, I would offer expert-level IT and domain specific knowledge, and I would be honest about areas I need to research. I find that others respect those who speak confidently about what they know while being humble about what they need to learn.
Finally, I would take end-to-end ownership and be accountable for my own work and the work of my project teams. I would own mistakes and ensure that they are avoided in the future. I would work hard to continually improve. I feel confident that these three strategies would allow me to be successful as an influential leader within my stakeholder groups here at XYZ company."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
IT Consulting
61. As a consulting senior project manager you will be expected to travel to client sites during critical phases of your projects. What is your level of comfort with travel?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Many senior project manager roles require travel during key project phases. Interviewers ask this question to identify candidates who feel they will be able to handle the potentially frequent travel that comes with the senior project manager role.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to mention your experience traveling professionally within your response. Interviewers value candidates that have previously traveled in a work setting as they understand the impact a mostly travel-based role will have on their lives.
Also, it is important to ask about the travel requirements for any consulting role even if the role if this information is not listed clearly within the job description.
Finally, it is important to be prepared for this question to come up during an initial phone screen interview. Recruiters often use this question as a way to eliminate candidates from the interviewing process that are unsure about their ability to travel.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I am comfortable with frequent travel. I travel domestically and internationally at least 60% of the time in my current role."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
IT Consulting
62. As consultants, we are accountable to our senior management within the company and our clients. How would you handle conflicts between the goals of the two groups?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
As a senior project manager working in a consulting role there will be times when the needs of your client will be at odds with the needs of your employer. Interviewers at consulting firms ask this question to identify candidates who have the experience and soft skills necessary to navigate these difficult situations successfully.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to provide an example of how you resolved a conflict like this in the past if possible. Also, it is best to highlight a scenario in which the needs of both parties were met in some way or another. Interviewers value candidates that can resolve this type of conflict scenario through a mutual benefit approach.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I take a custom approach to resolve conflicts in a scenario in which my management and the management of my clients have goals that are in conflict with each other. I have worked for consulting firms for the last seven years, and this scenario has occurred several times. The most important thing to me is that I find a solution with integrity that can benefit all of the parties in some way or another.
For example, my senior management set quotas for follow-up work with our major clients. They wanted us to increase our sales in that category by at least 15%. I was staffed most of the year on projects for two main clients. I was able to work with one of them to generate several key follow-up initiatives, but the other client was in a tough spot. They were heading into a downsizing period and my main contacts there were fearful that they would lose their jobs. It felt wrong to reach out and propose new work with them when I knew they were already in a decent place solution-wise and they were in the process of cutting back.
My manager met with me to discuss the risk of me not meeting my goal for the year. I let her know that I felt strongly that we needed to give this particular client time before proposing new work. I then pitched an idea to offer to do several free training refreshers over the next six months as a show of support. My management was hesitant, but they ultimately went for it and we were able to land several follow-up projects with the client once things stabilized at their company."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
IT Consulting
63. As a consulting senior project manager you will manage resources that work for other companies. What strategies do you lean on when contingent or client resources are not performing at the level necessary for project success?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Consulting senior project managers frequently monitor and are expected to be accountable for the work of team members that do not report directly to them. Performance issues that are not addressed quickly can have sizable negative results on the success of a project and a consulting firm's relationship with the client. Interviewers ask situational questions like these in a consulting senior project manager interview to determine if a candidate has the leadership and soft skills necessary to handle these situations which can be sensitive and difficult to handle.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to provide an answer that goes beyond escalating a performance issue to the management of the client or contingent resource. While escalation may become necessary at some point, senior project managers in a consulting role are expected to be able to approach performance issues in a variety of creative ways. Providing an example that demonstrates your ability to mentor or your ability to empathize with a teammate will leave a better impression with your interviewer.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I approach working with anyone on a team the same way. I lean on my empathy and intuition and take the time to learn the details of the scenario and find a custom resolution that works for everyone involved.
For example, I worked with a client provided analyst that frequently promised their stakeholders features and functionality that was not included within the scope of the project. He would then become angry at our team of engineers during product demos with the end-users when the promised features were not available. My team was upset because they had developed the solution according to specification and they felt like they we being blamed for something they had no control over.
I set up a meeting with the analyst to identify the root cause of the problem. It turned out that he had missed several key requirements for the project during their initial analysis and he was uncomfortable delivering the news that the related features were out of scope. I have a lot of experience navigating uncomfortable conversations with clients, so I offered to partner with him to sort the situation out.
We were able to work together to meet with the stakeholders and review the detailed feature backlogs to reset expectations and identify and showstopper issues. We refined the scope of the project accordingly and the end-users were happy with the demos going forward. The analyst thanked me for helping him improve his ability to gracefully say no to scope creep and say yes to critical needs. The project was successful and it offered me a chance to mentor and demonstrate excellence in customer service to my client."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
IT Consulting
64. Describe the last executive level presentation you delivered.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior project managers working for consulting firms are sometimes required to present to important audiences. These presentations have a direct effect on sales and the reputation of the consulting firm. Interviewers ask this question to determine if the candidate has the speaking and presentation skills to impress their potential clients during these critical meetings.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include details that help your interviewer understand the scale of the information you presented. For example, you might discuss a presentation that was the result of a lengthy discovery initiative, or a brief strategic planning session. Also, providing an example that ultimately resulted in a sale or an improvement of the relationship with your client is a great way to demonstrate your ability to generate revenue for your potential employer.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I delivered an executive presentation last week. Our firm was asked to review the current technology used for customer-related functions and provide a recommendation for implementing a more integrated CRM solution. We were working with a large enterprise and the discovery took over three months.
I developed and presented the slide deck that highlighted the results of the discovery and our proposed solution. We were able to demonstrate very clearly the areas that had the most opportunity to add value if they were addressed. I used a mix of metrics and diagrams to highlight current state operational inefficiencies.
The proposed solution leveraged their current tech which was highly customized to meet their needs and took advantage of new solutions that would address issues and extend their capabilities in a scalable way. The executives of our client were really impressed. They felt like we understood their business and thanked our team for proposing a plan that allowed them to continue to reap their beneficial technology assets while offering a solution that would allow them to grow into the future they imagine. My manager let me know yesterday that we are now in contract negotiations to move forward on the resulting projects."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
IT Consulting
65. The teams you manage are likely to be different with each project. How do you plan to ensure that everyone stays aligned?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Consulting project managers typically work with a wide variety of individuals over the course of their time in the role. This question is included in an interview to ensure the candidate selected has a solid strategy for communicating the goals, timelines, and procedures for each project team they work with.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include a method for creating alignment with your team prior to starting your project as well as during the execution phase. Also, it is important to provide a strategy for ensuring your teammates stay aligned with the goals of the project and with the processes used for analysis, development, implementation, and support.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"In my experience it is critical that everyone understands the scope of their responsibilities, the scope of their teammate's work and how all of that comes together from a big picture perspective. I review this with every team I work with. I also ensure that everyone understands the goals of the project and how their work contributes to it. We review the roadmap, discuss milestones and make sure everyone is on the same page with the plan.
I also work with my teams to ensure we all understand the process we will be using. My teams usually follow an agile methodology and I sometimes work with clients that are new to it. It is important to everyone to be clear on the operating procedures and the communication plan in an agile setting.
I communicate with my teammates frequently during all of my projects. We review the roadmap, discuss any process improvement opportunities, and we make adjustments as necessary. These three strategies combined result in teams that are well aligned."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
Agile
66. Describe your preferred method for estimating the budget for an agile project.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Agile projects are estimated in various ways depending on the team, the company, and the nature of the project. Interviewers ask this question to test a candidate's ability to describe a systematic and intelligent method for providing an accurate project budget when the scope details for the project are limited.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to answer this question with a generally accepted method of story or backlog item estimation within your response such as t-shirt sizing, or story point estimation. While some teams have adopted completely custom methods that work well, your interviewer is more likely to resonate with an answer that describes a method that is well known to be successful in an agile setting.
Also, remember to describe any inputs that are required before your process can begin as well as the outputs from estimation. Try not to overload your interviewer with unnecessary detail, but it is helpful to provide a well-rounded answer.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I prefer to use a mix of popular methods for providing an estimate for agile project budgets. First, I work with my team to complete a high-level project discovery effort. The outcome of these discussions is a product backlog with stories that are detailed enough that our team can point them. Additionally, we prioritize the features into must haves, should haves, and nice to haves. These categories are based on customer need and what is required from a technical perspective in order to build the product.
From there, we use a Fibonacci-based story pointing system to estimate each user story or backlog item. If I have worked with the team before and they have worked on similar projects in the past, I have a previous velocity and cost per point number I can use to develop my budget. If not, I ask the team to task out the work for several of the stories so that I can add up the hours and develop a cost per point and velocity estimation. I pad this number slightly if there are a lot of unknowns or risks to the project.
My final step is to develop a budget that shows the cost for the must haves and how many sprints they will take to be completed. I then figure out the numbers for the should have and nice to have items. The end result is a range that my clients can use to decide on a budget. I usually recommend allowing for at least all of the must haves and should haves as well as a portion of the nice to haves."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
Enterprise IT
67. Describe a project you managed that affected more than one enterprise-level department and/or user group.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Most enterprise IT projects require collaboration across a number of departments within the organization. Senior project managers are responsible for ensuring that all of the groups involved are properly aligned and execute their tasks accordingly. This question is included in an interview to ensure that the candidate selected has experience facilitating and managing projects on the scale required for success in the role.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include information about the goals of the initiative you worked on as well as the results. The goals and results of a project are critical pieces of information that project managers should have in mind at all times. This question offers a perfect opportunity to demonstrate your awareness of the importance of this information, and any metrics you can offer will boost your chances of a successful interview.
Also, it is important to select a project that had a positive outcome. While all projects experience challenges, it is best to limit your response to projects that demonstrate success.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I recently led a project to extend our company's use of Salesforce into our customer service operations groups. We had previously used disparate ticketing systems for our contact center, customer service, and field service operations. The high-level goal of the project was to streamline operations and provide our support staff with more customer centric information to help them improve the customer experience.
I was the project manager for the team that transitioned the field service group over to Salesforce. We collaborated with sales, marketing, finance, various IT groups, the other customer service groups and our Salesforce reps. We worked together to lay out a model that worked across the board, and then we scaled it accordingly across all of our geographical locations.
Our field techs loved the new solution. They appreciated the depth of information they had access to in the field, and they loved the integration with other helpful features such as Slack. Overall, we were able to reduce their ticket review and update time by 17% within the first 6 months. Also, the managers across the various support groups were able to identify and implement a number of operational workflow improvements once they had access to the integrated analytic data available to them through the BI solutions."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
Agile
68. What do you feel are the most important metrics for an agile team to track?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior project managers should be experts when it comes to tracking project team performance and other related project metrics. Interviewers ask this question to identify candidates that can speak knowledgeably about agile-specific metrics and which they feel add the most value to their projects.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to describe the reason why you have included each metric you provide within your response. Offering this additional information will allow your interviewer to gain insight into your thought process as well as confidence in your understanding of the data you use to inform your decisions as a senior project manager.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"As a senior project manager, I have tracked a lot of metrics over the years. However, there are several key items I feel every agile project team should keep track of. First, it is critical for a team to know its velocity. Knowing your velocity from sprint-to-sprint helps you to identify issues and project future performance. It is also a key input to the estimation process. Likewise, it is important to track a team's cost per point, or cost per feature, or something similar. This helps with estimation and tells the story of a team's performance improvement or decline as well.
I also feel it is critical to track the remaining minimally viable product stories complete vs. left to complete. This gives a sense of how close a project team is to developing a minimally viable product that can be released and tested while the remaining features are built. Feedback is critical to the agile process, and this number helps a team estimate when that important feedback loop will be in place.
Finally, I track average time to resolve for defects and support issues. Defects often represent unexpected work, and it is important to get a sense of the volume of this work over time for planning and process improvement purposes."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
Agile
69. Describe a time in which you were in conflict with a Product Owner. What did you do to resolve the issue?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
There are a number of potential areas of conflict between the roles of product owner and project manager. This question is asked to identify candidates with the leadership and soft skills necessary to professionally resolve conflicts between themselves and this key agile project team role.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to select a conflict scenario that was professional and not personal in nature. While personal conflicts do arise in the workplace from time to time, it is best to describe conflicts about project scope, timing, feature implementation, etcetera.
Also, this question presents an excellent opportunity to demonstrate advanced leadership and facilitation skills. Scenarios that highlight your ability to empathize, mentor, or perform managerial duties are a good choice for this question.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I ran into a conflict with the Product Owner on one of my teams last year. She was a strong analyst, but did not want to invest time in learning about out clients or their needs. She took their orders for feature requests without doing the analysis to translate their needs into a technically feasible plan. As a result, the user stories were missing the details our team needed to be successful. There was a constant flood of questions in sprint planning and we were carrying several stories over each sprint. The team was frustrated and the budget was suffering, but the team was hesitant to speak with her about it in reflection meetings.
I met with her offline to discuss the issue. She was resistant to feedback and communicated she was not interested in gaining knowledge about our customer's workflows and personas. I explained to her how much money was being wasted in story rework given the lack of analysis being done on the stories. I further explained that it is her role's responsibility as a product owner to become a subject matter expert that the cost of not doing it would ultimately affect our team's ability to deliver our projects. I also reminded her that I have a responsibility to manage her daily work and provide performance feedback toward her annual review, and I wanted her to have the best review possible.
She eventually agreed to do the work needed to improve the analysis. I offered to mentor her and we developed a solid action plan to get her up to speed and provide the team with the details necessary for success. Ultimately, I think she enjoyed learning about the work our customers do. She's doing a really fantastic job now, and I appreciate her willingness to change for the good of the team."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
Agile
70. Imagine that you are working on a project with a limited budget and a large set of requested features. What strategies would you use to ensure your project was successful?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
While agile product backlogs are flexible and are meant to reflect changes in client priority, agile projects often have a set budget and an expected scope of delivery. Projects that do not deliver the expected scope are sometimes considered a failure even if the top priority backlog items were developed as expected.
Senior agile project managers should be able to balance the needs of their clients with the limits of their budgets. This question aims to identify candidates who can articulate a strategy for success even if the given budget of their client only allows for a small amount of change during the course of a project.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to describe a multifaceted approach within your response to this question. A senior project manager should understand that managing a project with a tight budget successfully requires setting initial expectations, monitoring progress, and looking for continual realignment and improvement opportunities while the project is in flight.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"The first strategy I would use in the event of a limited budget and a large feature set would be to ensure that my team and the client have a clear understanding of the must-have stories and backlog items. This work would represent the minimal amount of work we could do and still meet the goals of the project. It would be important that we track this information as closely as possible and for our product owner to ensure we stay focused on delivering only these items first and then the next most valuable features if the budget allows.
Second, I would ensure that the team fully understands where we are at with the budget at all times. I would keep a very close eye on sprint performance and process issues, and I would ask the team to look for ways to improve their efficiency and reduce risk as much as possible.
Finally, I would work with my client to look for opportunities for them to maximize their budget. For example, they may be able to perform certain testing, analysis, training, or implementation tasks that would normally be handled by my team. Partnering with them to complete these items might save money. Additionally, I would remind them of their role in setting the backlog priority and requesting new features while the project is in flight. I would explain how important it would be to limit new requests only to absolute must-haves so that the team can stay focused on delivering the most important work with the limited budget.
I feel confident these three strategies combined would help my project to be a success ultimately given a limited budget and a large backlog."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
Technical
71. What is continuous deployment, and why is it an important aspect of DevOps?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Questions like these are asked in technical senior project manager interviews to test a candidate's knowledge of solution development best practices. Concepts such as continuous deployment are likely to be discussed regularly during team meetings and it is important that the candidate demonstrate their ability to understand and articulate technical terms and processes.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to review the job description for technical terms such as automation pipeline, DevOps, continuous delivery, etcetera prior to your interview. It is critical that you understand each of the terms and have the ability to discuss them intelligently in an interview. Senior technical project managers sometimes interview with senior technical resources such as architects or engineering managers and demonstrating the ability to use correct technical vocabulary is critical to a successful interview.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"Continuous deployment is a DevOps process of the automation of deploying solutions to production environments once they pass all of the stages of the automation pipeline process. It is an important aspect of DevOps because it eliminates manual steps that can be labor intensive and it extends the concept of continuous delivery into the production environment and directly to the consumers of the product being released."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
Technical
72. Imagine that you were working with a client that was new to the concept of technical debt. How would you convince them that they need to invest in resolving it?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior technical project managers strive to ensure the delivery of solutions that are healthy and extensible. Technical debt represents risk to the future of a product, and interviewers ask this question to test a candidate's knowledge of this important concept.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember examples of why technical debt occurs in your response. Candidates who understand the root causes of technical debt are more likely to also understand how to avoid it when possible and address it properly as needed.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"Technical debt occurs when a team decides to follow a particular course of action that results in lower quality solutions in favor of time or monetary savings. For example, a team may decide to implement a search solution with limited capability to get a system out into the hands of the users due to a timeline constraint. In this case there is 'debt' to be paid in the future to replace the solution with something more robust when time permits.
Technical debt can also happen in siutations in which the engineers or architects lack the knoweldge necessary to develop the most efficient and effective solution possible. They may realize down the line that the solution as designed is not extensible or feasible in the future. In this case the 'debt' is represented by the effort it would take to refactor the solution to fit the future requirements.
I would explain to my stakeholders that It is important to allocate time regularly to addressing technical debt because it sets the stage for future feature development to occur in the most efficient manner possible. It is similar to performing maintenance on your home. If you regularly service your major systems and appliances, you can delay and sometimes even avoid costly replacements in the future."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
Technical
73. As a senior technical project manager you will regularly discuss highly technical concepts with technical subject matter experts. How do navigate these types of conversations successfully?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior technical project managers weigh in regularly on important decisions that affect the time, cost, and resources associated with the projects they manage. These decisions often require the discussion of complex technical options to determine the most valuable way forward. Interviewers ask this question to identify candidates with the knowledge necessary to communicate effectively with technical subject matter experts.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to use this question as an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to continuing your technical education. Also, be sure to mention your desire to jump in and learn more about any specific technologies used by the hiring company in the event you are hired.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"As a former engineer, I have a solid background to lean on in highly technical discussions. However, technology constantly evolves and there are times when new concepts are raised that I am not familiar with. I have found that it helps to be honest and humble. I ask questions when I do not understand something, and I do research offline to come up to speed when needed.
The engineers I work with regularly seem to appreciate my genuine interest in their work and the time I put in to keep my technical skills up to date. They are really awesome about walking me through new concepts. I look forward to learning about the specific technologies used here at XYZ company in the event I am offered the position."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
Technical
74. As a senior project manager, you will be required to explain highly technical concepts to non-technical peers, stakeholders, users, and leaders. What strategies do you use to communicate in this type of situation?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior technical project managers serve frequently as a bridge between technical and non-technical minds. Interviewers ask this question to identify candidates that have the skills and experience needed to articulate complex concepts in easy to understand language that allows project peers, stakeholders, leaders, and users to make informed decisions.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include more than one approach within your response. Individuals have various learning styles and candidates with the ability to cater to more than one are valued.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"i use several strategies to communicate advanced technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, users, and leaders. I customize my approach to match the audience and the need.
First, I ask if the person I am working with knows anything about the concept. Many people have a decent amount of technical knowledge already, and I like to use what they already know as a starting point. From there, I typically use a mix of metaphors and simple diagrams to communicate technical concepts. Studies have shown that using figurative language as a framework helps make the process of understanding complex concepts more effective. Simple diagrams serve the same purpose, but target an alternative form of processing and learning for those who learn best visually.
Finally, I approach these discussions with patience and empathy. I work hard to make my audience comfortable and I answer their questions thoroughly. I feel that these combined strategies will help me to successfully communicate with non-technical audiences in the event I am selected for the position."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
Technical
75. Describe a time when a project team you led made a technical mistake. What steps did you take after becoming aware of the issue?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Mistakes are made during the course of every project. Interviewers understand this and are not looking for a candidate that has a perfect track record of error free implementations. Instead, they seek a senior technical project manager that can lead a team to respond quickly and calmly while effectively addressing the mistakes they will encounter.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include the details of your customer or stakeholder response in addition to the technical action your team took to address the mistake. Also, be sure to include any retrospective activities your team completed to ensure the mistake would not occur again.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I was the project manager on a recent project that involved making updates to a legacy system none of the engineers on my team had ever worked with before. It had been two years since any adjustments had been made, and nobody really knew the code. We were asked to automate a process on behalf of our business users and developed a solution that we thought would work. We leaned heavily on a business expert to walk us through the system and explain what happened in all of the use case scenarios.
It was decided to use a particular flag to kick off a calculation and resulting data update included in the automated process. Based on our review with the user, the flag would become active during a particular scenario and it seemed to fit our processing needs. We tested the solution and everything seemed fine. However, the process updates caused a data mess when we moved the solution into production. It turned out that the flag was used in more use cases than we thought and our process was running more frequently than needed. It was also making erroneous updates to the database.
We identified the problem quickly and found the root cause. We rolled back the update, cleaned up the data, and then reengineered the process to use another flag. Additionally, we took the time to review all of the associated legacy code to make sure we would not end up in the same position with the new solution.
I kept our clients aware of the issue and our steps to remedy the problem the whole time we worked to fix things on our end. They appreciated our quick response and dedication to fixing the issue. They also appreciated that we invested time after things cooled down to learn the system better and ensure mistakes like these were minimized going forward."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
SaaS
76. Describe your experience delivering IT solutions to external clients.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
While all project managers play a role in customer service, senior SaaS project managers are expected to have exemplary customer service skills. SaaS companies seek senior candidates who have experience with sales, scope definition, contract negotiation, implementation, support, and follow-up services. Interviewers ask this question to ensure that the external IT project management experience of the candidate is in alignment with the specific needs of their company.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include your experience working with external clients while in roles other than project management. For example, it would be pertinent to note that you were a software engineer or analyst working on external client solutions prior to managing projects.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I have over ten years of experience delivering IT solutions to external clients. I began my career working as an analyst on external custom software solutions. Our solutions were originally hosted on-premises, and I worked with our engineering team to transition to subscription based cloud hosted solutions. It took a while to convince some of our customers to move to that model, and I was assigned to work with our clients who were the most resistant to SaaS.
I moved into project management four years ago, and I focus on medium and large enterprise clients now. I look forward to continuing to grow my project management and leadership skills here at XYZ company if offered the open position."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Role-Specific
SaaS
77. What do you feel is the biggest challenge you face as a senior SaaS project manager?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
All projects have challenges. Senior SaaS project managers are often assigned to work on large scale or complex projects that have the potential for significant issues in the event they are not managed well. Interviewers ask this question to learn more about a candidate's view of project challenges and their strategies for overcoming them.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to provide an example of how you have personally faced the challenge described within your response. Also, be sure to include the details of how you overcame the challenge within your response. This question is a perfect opportunity to demonstrate your leadership, customer service, and problem solving capabilities. Be sure to take full advantage and highlight your best skills.
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"One of the biggest problems I have faced as a SaaS project manager is helping my clients understand customization limitations. The sales department for my current company does a great job of working to understand the needs of our clients and educating them on their solution options. However, the discovery information gathered during the sales process is limited and clients often have functional needs that exceed the capabilities of the base solution. While we have the capability to develop custom solutions, they can be expensive and discussing additional costs after the contracts have been signed can upset a customer.
I often work with our lead solution analysts to determine creative workarounds or alternative workflows that will meet the needs of our clients without additional costs. That way, our clients only pay for the customizations they really need and they develop trust in us as a vendor. I find it leaves a positive impression and sets the stage for subscription increases and future sales."
Written by Karrie Day on December 16th, 2022
Questions to Ask During Your Senior Project Manager Interview
A well-rounded interview consists of more than successfully answering the questions your interviewer poses. It should allow time for you to ask questions of your own. This serves two purposes. First, you can obtain information that will help you make an educated decision in the event you are offered the position. Second, your interviewer's answers can help you steer the remainder of your interview. For example, a well-crafted question about the stakeholders you will be working with may assist you in formulating a targeted and effective answer to a subsequent behavioral question.
Also, you do not need to hold all of your questions until the end of your interview. Interviews tend to feel more relaxed and conversational when candidates ask questions of their own throughout the meeting. A natural approach is to weave questions in at the end of your interview responses. For example, you might ask a question about the specific methodology followed by the company you're interviewing with when answering a question about the methodologies you have experience using to manage projects.
Finally, it is important to ask high-quality questions. To me, it is disappointing and frustrating when a senior-level candidate asks junior-level questions. Avoid questions that you can find the answer to on your own by reviewing the company's blog, or digging through their website. Avoid the go-to questions other less prepared candidates are likely to ask. Ask at least one thought-provoking question that is likely to get the attention of your interviewer. Your goal is to make the best impression possible, and asking your interviewer insightful questions of your own is a great way to help you stand out in the crowd. Here are a few examples to get you started:
1. What is the biggest team-level challenge I can help to improve upon if hired?
2. How would you describe the relationship as it stands currently between the stakeholders and the project team?
3. What are the available career path options for senior project managers at your company?
4. What are the top priorities or objectives for the XYZ project and how is success measured?
5. What is the reporting structure like for the teams I will be working with and how is authority shared between PMs and reporting managers?
6. Is there a PMO, and if so, how is it structured?
About the Author
As a former project manager, I genuinely appreciate the skills of talented professionals who take on the often challenging work of managing projects. Senior-level project managers have the responsibility for the success of large and complex bodies of work, and they rarely have direct authority over their teams. They have a wide range of skills including the advanced soft skills that can make the difference between smooth sailing and a perfect storm.
I had the good fortune early in my career to be led and supported by a manager who worked to help me grow my leadership and communication skills. Her approach was a mix of project management best practices and things she picked up from 'the school of keeping it real'. She taught me how to deliver information confidently. She gave me opportunities to lead through influence. She let me work out solutions to problems without jumping in to save me. Most importantly, she taught me the art of navigating difficult conversations and backed me up when I needed support.
Over time, my project management and leadership skills developed in a way that fostered a critical byproduct. My experience generated trust. My teammates and my clients trusted me to advocate for their needs. My management trusted me to keep things moving while offering the upward communication necessary for success in their own roles. My mentees trusted me to help them on their journeys. I gained a lot of valuable knowledge managing projects, but the ability to establish trust quickly was by far the most valuable skill I developed.
I know your interviewer is likely looking for similar attributes. They want to trust their senior project manager to navigate difficult situations with poise, empathy, and integrity. They want to trust that your teams will meet the objectives of your projects smoothly. They want to know that you are looking out for the best interests of your teammates and clients. They want a leader who can help to grow others.
I hope this Q&A set helps you to prepare for your interview in a way that helps inspire confidence in your skills and convince your interviewer that they can trust you to do an excellent job on behalf of their company. Want more? Be sure to check out the rest of the suggested MockQuestions sets dedicated to specific companies, industries, and related careers.
Learn more about Karrie Day