Top Project Manager Interview Questions

Introduction

• Speaker: Ryan from Invensis Learning
• Objective: Learn the top 50 project manager interview questions
• **Agenda: **
  • PM Job Roles and Responsibilities
  • Interview Questions
  • Scenario-based Questions

Project Manager Roles and Responsibilities

• Roles: Planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing projects
• Responsibilities:
  • Activity and resource planning
  • Motivating and organizing a project team
  • Time management and cost estimating
  • Ensuring all requirements are understood and fulfilled
  • Risk management and issue tracking
  • Monitoring progress and managing reports

Top 50 Interview Questions

Basic Questions

1. Define an ideal project:
   • No extra expenses
   • Smooth communication
   • Clear roles and responsibilities
   • Meeting specified deadlines
   • Completed deliverables
2. Making a project plan:
   • Define project scope, objectives, requirements, and schedule
   • Identify risks and quality measures
   • Organize roles and define resources
   • Create communication and change management plans
3. Factors in project planning:
   • Project estimation
   • Team management
   • Project schedule alignment
   • Deliverables, dependencies, and potential delays
4. Project Charter:
   • Document detailing project scope, goals, requirements, timeline, etc.
   • Provides a concise summary of the entire project
5. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS):
   • Method to breakdown complex projects into manageable parts
   • Components should include: Entire work, follow the 88-0 rule, three levels of detail, focusing on deliverables
6. Identifying stakeholders:
   • Members or organizations affected by the project
   • Document details in a project stakeholder register
7. Project Management Life Cycle Stages:
   • Initiation
   • Planning
   • Execution
   • Monitoring and Control
   • Closure
8. Prioritizing tasks:
   • Kanban or Scrum boards
   • Pareto principle
   • Priority matrix and relative prioritization

Advanced Questions

9. Critical Path Method (CPM):
   • Finding project task dependencies and timelines
   • Calculation of total float
10. Knowledge Areas (PMBOK):
    • Integration, Scope, Time, Cost, Quality, HR, Communication, Risk, Procurement, and Stakeholder Management
11. Choosing PM Methodology:
    • Factors: Team size, budget, flexibility, timeline, collaboration, scalability, risks, resources, resistance to change
12. Project Management Tools:
    • Improved planning, collaboration, risk management, productivity, remote work facilitation, progress tracking, sharing files, cost management, resource allocation, flexibility
13. Effective Risk Management Plan:
    • Components: Risk analysis, evaluation, response, contingency plan, measure risk threshold, monitoring and reporting

Scenario-Based Questions

1. Traffic Drop Analysis:
   • Check Google Search Console
   • Analyze start date and data authenticity
   • Check for algorithm changes, lost links, referrals, site redesign
2. Managing Overconfident Team Member:
   • Communicate shortcomings
   • Stay patient and calm
   • Set boundaries
   • Constructive feedback and positive counterarguments
3. Handling Ill Team Member Before Deliverable:
   • Use contingency plans
   • Buffer in capacity planning
4. UAT Management with Issues:
   • Preparation, standardized process, organize feedback, user-centric collaboration

Summary

• Learn and prepare for PM interview questions
• Understand the roles and responsibilities of a PM
• Utilize project management tools and methodologies for effective project delivery
• Scenario-based problem-solving
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