If you could only ask one question when interviewing a PM, what would it be?

Michelle Daigle PgMP®,PMP®, PfMP® Practitioner| Genetec Verdun, Quebec, Canada

I have a few favorite questions and variations on them that I like to ask in an interview. One of them is "If you were assigned a project at a new organization with no framework or process, how would you approach your project, and what would you give initial focus".

(Incidentally this is not the scenario at my organization. It's a theoretical question)

That's mine...What's yours?

Posted: Mar 22, 2016 9:30 PM (Updated by author: Mar 22, 2016 9:32 PM)

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Dewald Lemmer Head of Solution Development| Aspen Holdings Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

What are the key elements for consideration at project start to ensure later successful delivery?

Posted: Apr 23, 2018 2:06 PM

Michael Brian Fl, United States

Mar 23, 2016 2:14 PM

Replying to Michael Gowlett

...

Scenario based: You are an IT PM who has just joined an organisation where you have immediate resistance from the business manager you have to collaborate with, he/she opposes everything you say or do, how would you diffuse the situation so you you become an alliance to get him on your side?

I always like to use examples of resistance to see how the PM manages difficult scenario's this allows me to understand how he communicates and understands if he has a methodical approach to turning resistance to his/her advantage

As I am in the works of just beginning to study for my CAPM, I'd like to crack at this just for curious feedback.

I would follow the four fundamental behaviors - Respect, Listen, Clarify expectations, and accountability. I would like to lead him in an informal way.

Finding the right moment to grab his attention, I would suggest and ask to have a formal one on one meeting with him stating a very specific time, how long it would be, and clarify my objective for the meeting. I would sit down with him and I would be honest in stating that I can sense some possible resistance and I would like to hear where that might be coming from so we can better collaborate towards the objective of the project. I would allow him to talk and after opening him up a bit, I would lean in with discussing the plan and current expectations (both his and mine regarding the project). If I was some steps ahead, which I would plan ahead of time - I would share some planning I have taken the time to do regarding risk management, budget plans and other procedures that are on the horizon.

The point of my meeting would be to uncover his resistance and direct him towards the greater goal which benefits both of us. His operation with project goal in mind (end result) and my success in making it a winning project. Possibly his/her resistance might be assuming I don't know enough or I would somehow be taking away their spotlight with leading. I would like to make us both the heroes of this project and working together would help that train ride much smoother.

Just some thoughts as your question had me thinking. I wanted to take the time to challenge myself with it being that I am not formally experienced to the degree at which is the core of PM work. I just started to study a week ago and had also finished a book regarding PM of the unofficial PM. I learned some great tips and tools from that book.

I'm open to feedback as I'm sure I can learn from many of you.

Posted: Apr 23, 2018 2:52 PM

Kevin Drake Perth, Western Australia, Australia

How do you allocate resources? Tell me about extreme situation you had while allocating resources.

Posted: Apr 23, 2018 6:29 PM

Kevin Drake Perth, Western Australia, Australia

How do you motivate a team in a harsh environmenet and high risk project ?

Posted: Apr 23, 2018 6:32 PM

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If you could only ask one question when interviewing a PM, what would it be?

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