Project Management

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Accepting a role at a unknown company.having limited information about

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Syed Kumail Abid Project Manager| Arsons Engineering Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Hello,

My query is that we may be pursuing a role as a PM ( or any other management role) in a new organisation that we have a limited of information about. And we have an interview lined up for such position

We don't know that whether they have any proper tailored PM practices (such as EVM, Resource Management, Schedule Management or etc ).

We only know that they are offering a role (that they might think that they have some idea about).

We might want to introduce tailored PMP practices but the target company might have different expectations of us.

What to do in this scenario?
What questions should we ask during the interview?
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li jin Shanghai, China, Mainland
My experience told me that you try to keep in this steps:
1. introducing yourself (responsibilities, contributions, skills in old companies)
2. all hearing from the introduction of the new company (step 1&2 maybe conversed)
3. identifying the company's needs and expectations from the introduction. In case, introduction is too simple for you to bring up some suitable questions, you can try to go deeper in the project targets, requirements, etc
4. referring to the information exchanged above, maybe you can be aware of critical points of the position, then bring up some tailored PMP practices how to handle them. During communication in this step, working experience can be mentioned about in detail which is persuasive!
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1 reply by Kwiyuh Michael Wepngong
Nov 02, 2020 6:34 AM
Kwiyuh Michael Wepngong
...
Good response. You could exploit every available opportunity to get info about the company
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Kwiyuh Michael Wepngong
Community Champion
Financial Management Specialist | US Peace Corps Yaounde, Centre, Cameroon
Nov 02, 2020 3:47 AM
Replying to li jin
...
My experience told me that you try to keep in this steps:
1. introducing yourself (responsibilities, contributions, skills in old companies)
2. all hearing from the introduction of the new company (step 1&2 maybe conversed)
3. identifying the company's needs and expectations from the introduction. In case, introduction is too simple for you to bring up some suitable questions, you can try to go deeper in the project targets, requirements, etc
4. referring to the information exchanged above, maybe you can be aware of critical points of the position, then bring up some tailored PMP practices how to handle them. During communication in this step, working experience can be mentioned about in detail which is persuasive!
Good response. You could exploit every available opportunity to get info about the company
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Thomas Walenta Global Project Economy Expert Hackenheim, Germany
Hi Syed

what you describe is a typical status, we never know enough and have to assume before meeting a new company. And they know it.

So one test you are facing is how you deal with that kind of insecurity.

Did you prepare, e.g. read their public reports (on IR, showing their financials, risks, vision etc), website, who are their key leaders, what do those exhibit on their social media. Many questions should come up from this exercise.

Embrace the challenge of the new job, do not be defensive but humble.

Take a mock interview with a friend.

Good luck!
Thomas
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Wan-Phek How Career and Project Management Coach| Wan How Consulting Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Hi Syed,

Here's some questions you can ask:

1. Do you have a PMO? How many years has it been around? How many people are in it?
2. Who does this PM position report to?
3. Was there a previous person in this role? Why did they leave?
4. When did the project start? What is the expected duration? Budget?
5. What project management methodology do you use?

Let me know if I can help further.

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