What a project manager does
New Zealand's careers service says project managers oversee projects and project teams. They manage the planning, resources, schedule, admin and budget. The UK's National Careers Service profile for IT project managers lists tasks such as:
- assessing tasks and risks, and giving out work to the team
- using project management software to plan and track work
- managing a budget, timescales and resources
- reporting on progress, checking quality and dealing with changes or delays
- leading and motivating the project team
The US profile for project management specialists adds working with stakeholders to set a project's requirements and goals.
Skills employers look for
The National Careers Service lists skills that an interview can test:
- leadership skills
- clear spoken communication
- being thorough and paying attention to detail
- organising your time and workload
- being flexible and open to change
- checking your own work and your team's
New Zealand's profile says you need to be organised, communicate well and lead others. O*NET lists self-confidence, leadership, adaptability and stress tolerance among the work styles.
Some ads ask for a qualification. New Zealand's profile mentions PRINCE2, PMBOK or Agile qualifications. The UK profile mentions training with the Association for Project Management or the Project Management Institute. Only list a qualification you hold.
The interviews you may face
Each employer runs its own process. You may face some of these:
- A screening call about your projects. See our phone screen guide.
- Scenario questions, such as what you would do if a key supplier is late.
- A presentation. The UK Civil Service says you may be asked to give a presentation. Assessors are likely to ask about it.
- A planning task, such as building a simple plan or risk list from a short brief.
- A behavioural interview about projects you have run. Read our guide to behavioural answers.
For scenario questions, try our scenario questions to practise out loud.
Questions that test each skill
These are themes, with sample wording. Real questions vary by employer.
- Planning: "How do you build a plan for a new project?"
- Risk: "Tell me about a risk you spotted early. What did you do?"
- Stakeholders: "Two senior people want different things. How do you handle it?"
- Budget: "The project will go over budget. What do you do first?"
- Leading: "How do you motivate a team that's behind schedule?"
- Change: "Tell me about a time the scope changed partway through."
Answer "tell me about a time" questions with STAR: the situation, your task, the actions you took and the result.
What to prepare
- List the methods and tools the ad names, such as Agile or a planning tool.
- Pick three projects you ran. Note the goal, team size, budget, dates and result.
- Prepare STAR stories about a late project, a risk, a hard stakeholder and a team problem.
- Practise a 10-minute presentation in case you're asked for one.
- Be clear about your role. If you supported a project manager, say so.
An example answer about a project going off track
Here is a made-up answer for a made-up person. Use it to see the shape of a strong answer, then tell your own true story.
Made-up example
Priya, an IT project manager applying to a larger company
Question
Situation
Task
Action
- I met each team lead and found the delay came from slow account setup.
- I split the move into four smaller groups, so problems showed up early.
- I asked the supplier for one extra engineer for two weeks, paid from money we hadn't spent.
- I sent managers a short weekly update with progress, risks and next steps.
- I set up a drop-in help desk for the first day of each group's move.
Result
Priya finds the cause, changes the plan and keeps people informed. The result has numbers for time, money and calls.
Questions
Do I need a project management qualification?
Not always. Some ads ask for one, and others care more about experience. Check the ad, and only list qualifications you hold.
What if I've managed projects without the title?
Describe what you did plainly, such as running an event or a system change. Don't claim the title, but do claim the work.
What does a project manager earn?
In the US, O*NET lists a 2025 median wage of $102,320 a year for project management specialists. Pay varies by country, industry and level.
Sources
Written by Seal the Offer from these pages, last checked on . Rules change, so check the employer's own page and the job ad before you apply.