How to Hire Better PMs

  Career Development   Decision Making   Leadership   New Practitioners   ProjectsAtWork  

Organizations must go beyond the resume to identify project and program managers whose capabilities align with their needs. An effective hiring process requires precise definitions of job responsibilities that can be matched to specific skill sets, as well as a structured assessment of personality traits.

Despite the critical importance of the position, many organizations often hire project and program managersbased solely on a resume and an interview. This leap-of-faith approach can jeopardize the success of million-dollar endeavors and future business.

Companies can improve their program manager hiring practices by implementing a systematic process, which accurately defines the position’s requirements, and then identifies a candidate’s skills, personality traits and behaviors using proven assessment tools. Such a methodology not only ensures that an individual’s capabilities align with the position’s requirements, but also significantly reduces the time and money required to find qualified candidates.

Precise definitions. The job descriptions of project managers and program managers vary greatly. Therefore, the first step is to clarify the precise role each plays in an organization and the abilities and skills they must possess to perform effectively.

A project manager creates plans and manages resources to accomplish a project, which …

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