The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's process for setting clear, attainable goals. What to look for in an answer:

• Established process for setting goals
• Knowledge of SMART goals
• Willing to set and reach goals

'When setting new project goals, I always set SMART goals, which stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. All goals should fit these five criteria to be successful. If the goal is too general, it will be hard to attain. If you can't measure it by setting certain criteria for success, you won't know when you've reached your goal. If it is too hard to achieve, it will discourage people. If it's not relevant to our industry or company goals, it's not important. Finally, if there are no deadlines, it can stretch on forever.'

The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's experience and ability to stick to deadlines and budgets. What to look for in an answer:

• Strong conflict resolution skills
• Experience as a project manager
• Ability to adhere to deadlines and budgets

'The last project I worked on, the client wanted to add a new feature to a structure we had already started building. It would extend our deadline by at least two weeks and our budget by £5,000. I informed the client of these changes and they were happy to accept them, so we went ahead.'

The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's interpersonal and communication skills. They should be able to build a strong relationship with their project sponsor, as they are the one that owns the project and provides the resources. What to look for in an answer:

• Understanding of the importance of building a relationship with their project sponsor
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to build strong, professional relationships with colleagues

'I do think it's important to build a professional relationship. They are putting a lot into the project, so they deserve to know what's going on. I try to update my sponsor as much as possible by keeping an open line of communication with them. I usually set weekly meetings to discuss any updates and address concerns they may have.'

The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's experience and measure of success. What to look for in an answer:

• Passion for their work
• Proven success as a project manager
• Good measures for success

'I was the Project Manager on a new hospital we were building for the community. I had to tweak our timeline and budget a lot, but everything ran smoothly. We were under budget and finished the hospital earlier than expected, so the client was really happy. Being able to come in under budget on such a big project makes it the most successful one in my eyes.'

The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's leadership skills and ability to adapt to different environments. What to look for in an answer:

• Established management style
• Ability to adapt their management style when necessary
• Experience in a management role

'I would describe my leadership style as collaborative. My team members are industry experts, so I always want to hear their ideas and opinions. Creating open discussions with my team also helps them feel inspired and willing to do their best work, so it creates a more productive workplace.'

The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's interpersonal and leadership skills. What to look for in an answer:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to be empathetic
• Commitment to creating a successful team

'If I noticed a team member was underperforming, I would schedule a meeting with them to discuss what's going on. I would discuss their work and ask why they think they're underperforming. If they have a problem, such as lack of training, I would work with them to come up with a solution. I would then monitor their performance for a few weeks to ensure our solution worked.'

The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's experience with software you use in your workplace. What to look for in an answer:

• Experience with the same software you use
• Willingness to learn how to use new software
• Knowledge of common project management software

'In my previous roles, I have used Asana, FunctionFox, and ClickUp. These programmes have helped me stay organised and collaborate more efficiently with my team members. I would be happy to learn how to use any other software you prefer as well.'

The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's ability to step in and resolve conflict professionally when necessary. What to look for in an answer:

• Strong conflict resolution skills
• Understanding of when to allow team members to resolve conflict on their own
• Ability to remain calm in stressful situations

'If my team members have a conflict, I encourage them to resolve it on their own before I intervene. This allows them to work on their communication skills and build stronger relationships. If the conflict gets physical or my team members can't seem to resolve it on their own, I will intervene and act as a mediator.'

The aim of this question is to test the candidate's technical knowledge. What to look for in an answer:

• Knowledge of the necessary documents for project initiation
• Experience as project manager
• Confidence in their knowledge

'Before starting a project, you must have a business case file, a project agreement, and a register of all the parties involved. The business case file will include all the details of the project, such as the budget, purpose, and goals. The project agreement is a contract between the client and us. The register will include the details of the involved parties and their engagement with the project.'

The aim of this question is to test the candidate's technical knowledge. What to look for in an answer:

• Ability to identify what RAID stands for (risk, assumptions, issues, and dependency)
• Understanding of how to perform a RAID analysis
• In-depth industry knowledge

'RAID stands for risk, assumptions, issues and dependency. It is a risk analysis that helps project managers think of and track the potential risks of a project so they can avoid or solve them. A RAID analysis is important as it ensures a project goes as smoothly as possible.'

The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's ability to admit to their mistakes and learn from them. What to look for in an answer:

• Honesty when answering
• Ability to learn from their mistakes
• Experience as a project manager

'The biggest mistake I've made on a project was creating a timeline and budget that weren't realistic. The client had a budget and timeline in mind, and I wanted to make him happy. I overworked my team to try to fit that timeline and we still ended up going over. I learned to be more firm with clients when setting realistic timelines and budgets. I still aim to make clients happy, but I don't want my team or my work to suffer in the process.'

The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's skill set and determine if they would be a good fit for your team. What to look for in an answer:

• Possession of skills you're looking for in a project manager
• Understanding of the role
• Experience as a project manager

'My greatest skills as a project manager are my communication and organisational skills. As I typically work with a large team, having good communication skills is important to ensure we complete every project smoothly. My organisational skills help me multi-task to meet strict deadlines. They also help me keep track of every aspect of each project.'

The aim of this question is to test the candidate's technical knowledge and understanding of a project's life cycle. What to look for in an answer:

• In-depth industry knowledge
• Understanding of a project's life cycle
• Experience as a project manager

'The phases of a project's life cycle include initiation, where we discuss how feasible a project is. If it's feasible, we move on to planning. After planning, this takes us to the execution phase, where we can act on the plans we made. Throughout the project, we are in the monitoring phase to track our progress. The final phase is closing, where we finish up the project and send it off.'

The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's educational background and experience to determine if they have the correct credentials. What to look for in an answer:

• Relevant degree or diploma for your industry
• Experience in a similar role
• Project management certification

'I took a three-year project management programme at XYZ University. This taught me the foundations of project management. I then attended MNO University for a year and a half and got a Master's of Science in Project Management. As I don't have any work experience as a project manager yet, I feel that my education has helped prepare me for the job by giving me the necessary knowledge.'

The aim of this question is to assess the candidate's experience and see if it fits your needs. What to look for in an answer:

• Experience with the same type of projects you work on
• Knowledge of different types of projects
• Willing to take on new projects

'As I have worked in IT project management for five years, I have worked on a variety of project types. I mainly have experience with waterfall and agile project management, but I also have experience with scrum, kanban, and lean project management. I love to learn, so I would be happy to work with any project methodology you prefer as well.'