Interview Tips and Tricks for Project Manager Positions
When it comes to scoring a project manager interview, it’s as simple as putting in an application and showing that you have the correct credentials, project manager skills and work experience. But conducting the actual interview, nailing the project manager interview questions and proving you are the perfect choice for the employer and getting your dream job is a whole different ball game.
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Here are tips and tricks for when you head to your next interview for a manager position.
Learn How to Formulate Experience Into Words
One thing many people have trouble with is trying to put their work experience into words that explain why they are a great candidate for the job. Most places already see you as qualified and know you have knowledge or experience which is why they are interviewing you. The make or break is how you put your past into words for them to analyze.
View Your Past Experience
Try to focus on your past work and how that can affect your current work style, leadership, ability to train, and much more. As a manager, you would want to highlight your project manager skills, things that you did that required critical thinking and hard choices that could have made or broken the day. They also don’t want to know accomplishments, but what those accomplishments meant and will do for their company.
Use Prior Work To Justify Skills
If you have excellent leadership traits, or you have trained individuals to exceed expectations and pass limitations, you would want to highlight such project manager skills. It’s not enough that you were able to achieve these, but how you did it and how your past work experience and project manager skills can be used to improve current employees and their company. The work has to back up the skills, you can’t just state that you have project manager skills and expect the interviewer believe you.
Perform a Practice Run of the Project Manager Interview
You may be extremely nervous about going to a new place you haven’t been before, meeting new people, and having to share your past work experience or even your past life with new individuals. This anxiety is natural and happens to everyone, but there are some things you can do such as preparing for project manager interview questions to limit it or even dismiss it fully to prepare you for a proper interview.
Think Of Potential Project Manager Interview Questions
When performing practice runs of your interview, think of all the questions that can be asked, or even look up to see if they have common interview questions from the place of employment. You can also specifically search for project manager interview questions. This will give you a gist of what will be requested by you, and it allows you to practice and get your head straight if you struggle with on-the-spot questions.
Do A Drive To See How Long It Takes To Arrive
If you don’t live close to the place in which the interview is to take place, see if you can perform a test drive to see how long it takes for you to arrive at the location. This will be so you can ensure you will arrive on time, and be ready in case there is traffic or if the roads are clear. This will take the stress off of you if you fear running late.
Before the Project Manager Interview: First Impressions Matter
Everyone always talks about how a first impression is important. And this is because they truly are, especially when you are introducing yourself to your next workplace or your future boss. Here are some key things to remember when making a first impression.
Be Kind and Polite
Always come in with a great attitude, be kind to all the staff regardless of their rank, role, or billet. Address them kindly as you’d prefer to be addressed, and thank them for their time. If all goes well, you will eventually be working with them.
Arrive Promptly before Your Project Manager Interview
Coming in slightly early is always a great choice. This allows you to come in, be settled, beat traffic, and shows that you are always ready and prepared in case something unforeseen would happen. Also, they wouldn’t want to hire someone who is late or last minute.
Always Make Eye Contact and Shake Hands
Not only the way you address and speak to people is important, but also asserting yourself into the conversation and the role is a powerful way to show you are ready and wanting to join. This is done through the use of eye contact to show you are speaking the truth, comfortable and willing. Shaking hands is our current age’s way of greeting and is kind to do both upon meeting and leaving.
During the Project Manager Interview: Ask About Follow Up Procedure
While most places will let you know how they’ll follow up with you, be it an email, call, or what have you, it is important to ask the question about when or how you’ll expect a response, so that way you can show you are dedicated, interested, and want to hear back.
Ask About Other Potential Project Manager Interviews
Don’t be afraid to ask them if they have other candidates that they seek to interview or what the process will be. Most likely they won’t tell you if you were the only one, or if you have been chosen, but this can give you a good idea of how much longer the hiring process will take.
Find Out How They May Contact You
Be sure to get the details about how they will reach out to you to update you about the project manager interview and where to expect it. Some employers prefer to send an email, while others prefer a direct call. And with our age of technology, some will even shoot you a text about when you will start or if you didn’t meet the qualifications.
Thank Them For the Interview and Their Valuable Time
Once you finished your interview, and have asked them all your follow-up questions to see about how they will get back to you, be sure to thank them for the opportunity and their time. While it may not effectively improve your chances, it will show that you are kind and you appreciate that they gave you the chance at this interview, which they will keep in mind.
Gabe Nelson is a content specialist of over 7 years of experience. Just out of high school he set off crab fishing on the Bering sea in Alaska. From there he went back home to finish his college degree at the University of Montana. He has written hundreds of content pieces in numerous niches. Currently, he lives in Missouri with his wife and kids.
When it comes to interviewing, it’s as simple as putting in an application and showing that you have the correct credentials, skills, and work experience. But conducting the actual interview, nailing the interview questions and proving you are the perfect choice for the employer, and getting your dream job is a whole different ball game.