Program manager questions

Throughout the project, I assess and communicate progress with the team. We decide on appropriate changes as needed. Communication is key to guaranteeing each project is taking us towards our bigger goals. Program managers are typically in charge of several projects at once and are expected to follow strict timelines to implement these programs.

This answer should assure interviewers that the candidate follows a set process for meeting deadlines. It should also demonstrate their task prioritization process to ensure they're putting the correct amount of energy into the necessary projects at the right times. I'll break down smaller tasks to complete for each project and will assign deadlines to each task to ensure I complete the overall project on time.

To do this, I'll review several different factors that go into a project, like goals budgets, risk levels and strategic values. I'll then decide how long it'll take to complete each factor and will build a flexible schedule to finish each task. Please note that we are not your career or legal advisor, and none of the information provided herein guarantees a job offer.

Post a job. Find resumes. Help Center. Find jobs. Post a Job. No-hassle virtual interviewing free on Indeed There's no software to download or meeting links for you to manage. Here's how it works. Step 1. Step 2. Step 3. Program Manager Interview Questions. Post a Job Are you a job seeker? How does a program manager differ from a project manager? See answer. A: Program managers must monitor numerous projects at once. Q: How does a program manager differ from a project manager?

A: Program managers are expected to organize and coordinate programs. However, in the context of a given program, they are in a governance role and they provide guidelines to project managers. Program managers have to constantly evaluate the performance of a project to make sure the program is on track to deliver its goals and to be able to provide feedback to project managers. Different metrics might apply to different companies, however, there are some high-level performance indicators that can be applied to all projects:.

While EVM can be very complex and include many different indicators and forecasts that are relevant to different industries, on a basic level EVM include three main components:. Funding requirements for a program are simply a collection of all funding requirements for all the projects within the program plus the budget for the program management team.

Some programs take multiple years to complete and thus the concept of period funding requirement is appropriate. Quarterly, half-year or yearly periods are managed by the program managers with all the project managers. Firstly, a program manager should put down all of the possible risks in the list and prioritize them. One simple approach to prioritization is ranking all the risks on a scale, which 1 representing the very unlikely to occur items and 5 for very likely risks.

Following that, each risk has to be evaluated on another scale based on the severity of the impact if the risk was to occur 1 - lowest, 5 - highest. The two multiplied numbers for each risk create a prioritized list.

Secondly, a risk mitigation plan has to be put in place. Each risk item needs to be assigned a course of action based on these options:. Program managers must monitor numerous projects at once. This question asks applicants to explain their management style, how to identify project risk and what steps to take to ensure projects are completed successfully.

What to look for in an answer:. I utilize project and program dashboards to give me a unified, real-time view. I simplify reporting processes and regularly interact with project managers and leads. Additionally, I build trusting relationships with project managers and teams in order to increase transparency and improve communication. The program manager has to make sure that all the projects within a program are aligned and follow the same strategic goal.

To begin with, clear milestones for each project have to be identified and plotted out in a single space to make sure that all key elements of a program are covered. This high-level overview will quickly expose any milestones, which are unnecessary or excessive and will also reveal any dependencies between the projects. Secondly, regular meetings with all project managers are crucial for keeping the scope of all projects in check.

As time passes, new information can be revealed that might change the priorities of a project or even the program. Regular updates ensure that the scope does not get out of control and strategic goals are achieved. Change management is a planned out course of action to accommodate changes in strategy, processes or tools.

Typically, there is some resistance to any major change in traditional approaches to doing things and thus it needs to be managed to avoid negative psychological fallout. One way to approach change management for a program manager is in a phased manner.

Firstly, create clear messaging on why the change is needed and what impact it will have on the team, department, or company. Having data-driven research to support your claims will make your message stronger and lessen the hesitation or resistance. Communicate the changes not just to the project manager, but to everyone working in the program. Different pieces connect through a series of delicate threads. Sometimes, the pattern is logical. And those connections are what define the world of a program manager.

Program managers oversee an interconnected chunk of a business, allowing them to steer it toward a brighter future and help it achieve its goals. Without program managers, projects that share threads might not account for the efforts of another, causing everything to become disjointed. Because of that risk, hiring managers are diligent about selecting highly skilled program managers. Sure, you could simply head to the interview and hope for the best.

But is that really the best way to go? Being prepared is what it should always be about. We have your back. So, come with us as we take a deep dive into what it takes to leave the competition in the dust.

Technically, they all oversee projects, but the niches can vary. Product managers focus on surprise, surprise products. Project managers might work in any niche, depending on their employer. But their work tends to focus on the project at hand, and not on the big strategic picture. Program managers usually oversee a group of projects and, potentially, a team of project managers , and each one is connected by a common element, like a single company goal.

Additionally, they are responsible for guiding strategy, keeping everyone moving toward the right target. You need the right approach. That way, if the hiring manager asks you something unexpected, you can adapt. The program manager job description is a great place to start, as it spells out what the company considers must-haves.