Being a project manager is a complex role with a broad set of soft and hard skills that all need to be honed and also properly demonstrated when necessary. But what is the most important skillset? And how do you convince the project leader that you’re the best fit for the job?
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
If you are currently on the hunt for a new position, or you’re just considering a switch, you’ve come to the right place. We’re bringing you a bunch of advice that will help you prepare for your project manager role interview and ace the hell out of it.
SHOWCASE YOUR EXPERIENCE
Formal education is important — some companies hire candidates based on their degrees and diplomas. However, in most cases that is not the deciding factor. What usually matters is your working history and experience, and you should make sure to show it off in an eye-catching and engaging manner that tells a story of your role and contribution as a whole, but also don’t be afraid to go into detail in every step of your past projects, from the initial planning and research stages up to the final hand-over and post-release retrospective. And if you don’t have much experience, don’t worry — as long as you’ve got the process clearly laid out and follow the other advice, you’ll be fine!
COMMUNICATION IS KEY!
Focus on communication techniques during the interview and the way you present yourself and your work. Maintain eye contact, don’t slouch in your chair, prepare the main points in advance but speak from memory, don’t just read your notes out loud. Also, keep your voice calm but firm and maintain a pleasant volume level. These things may seem like technicalities, but you only have one shot at making a first impression and if you keep these rules in mind, you will shine out confidence and professionalism, which can already be a half of the success.
RECAP YOUR CV AND REASON YOUR CHOICES
It may have been a while since you last attended an interview and actually saw your CV, too. Therefore, it’s good to quickly run through your CV and remember the reasons and motivations for your career changes, so that you’re ready for the questions that inevitably arise. Think of a few points that each job gave you and articulate the reason why you left in a clear and understandable manner.
INTRODUCE YOUR PROCESS
Project management is a complex job that has many aspects to it and requires many skills and activities. Talk about what project management means in your book, how you approach your tasks, how do you ensure efficient communication and reliable delivery, which tools and methodologies are your go-to. Introduce what you can bring to the table if the business decides to hire you. Be transparent and systematic.
RESEARCH THE COMPANY
I’m writing this as the last point, but that doesn’t decrease its importance. Last but not least, research on the company that you’re trying to get into is absolutely vital, so make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. Praise some of its past projects, prepare some notes on what you would improve or do differently, and also have a set of questions at the ready once asked — nothing speaks more of preparedness and genuine interest like a couple of well-aimed and relevant questions. You can prepare your interview documents in juno.one to make sure you don’t miss anything important.
We’re hoping that this article helps you reach your new project manager career goal — let us know!
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