How to Answer: Tell me about yourself.
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Senior Project Manager job interview.
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
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Written by Karrie Day on May 18th, 2023
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