Finding the Right Project Manager – Intro
On a regular basis, companies, large and small find themselves in need of one or more project managers.
It is often a time-consuming process to post the job description, narrow down the field of potential project manager candidates, and conduct a series of interviews to find the right candidate.
And when you do find and hire that person, you end up having to keep keep your fingers crossed and just hoping that the person you hire ends up being the right fit eventually; that way you don’t end up in a situation where you have to start the process all over again.
Free Project Management Plan Template (Click to Download)
So what can you do to increase the success of finding that right program or project manager that will be the best match for the position that you have open.
Below are some key points you should keep in mind when starting the process of finding the right project or program manager for a project.
Project Manager Skills
When posting the job description for the project manager or program manager position it is essential that you include a section that clearly states the top 3-5 skills that you absolutely require.
Example: Must Have Skills (Top 4)
- Experience in leading projects in Agile / Kanban environments
- Strong in managing a team and experienced in all aspect of the SDLC
- End to end project management
- Change management
Example: Must Have Skills (Top 3 Technical Requirements)
- SQL and CSS
- Application Software development
- Experience in CI/CD, ITIL and/or DevOps methodologies
Example: Must Have Skills (Top 4)
- Business process and ERP system implementation
- Solid Agile skills
- Strong PowerPoint and Excel skills
- Experience implementing Salesforce/Oracle Cloud/SAP/etc.
Example: Must Have Skills (Top 5)
- Sharepoint Project Manager
- Life sciences background
- Finance & Accounting
- Order to Cash Order Management
- SQL Basic
Including a section with mandatory skills will allow you, your recruiters, head hunters, or anyone helping with the resume screening process to quickly narrow down the high number of resumes that you will receive initially as soon as the job requisition goes live.
You will be able to more effectively discard the resumes that are not a great match, and focus on those that are.
Free Project Management Plan Template (Click to Download)
Additional examples include:
- Ability to develop and maintain project plans, identify resource needs, and manage project schedule
- Ability to promote and foster teamwork and a collaborative work-environment
- Collaborate effectively across teams to define strategy, goals and commitment to timelines and deliverables
- Exceptional “waterfall” and Agile project management skills, including the ability to blend both approaches based on project needs
- Extensive experience defining and reporting on metrics to support organizational goals
- Extensive experience implementing risk management protocols and ensuring the necessary “bottom up” and “top down” communications necessary to make them effective
- Prior experience in matrix management and managing relationships between IT and the business
- Proven ability to assemble, mentor and grow cross-functional teams
- Proven track record of planning and implementing an effective program management structure
- Self starter, positive and excited to work with a team of excellent engineers
- Strong communication skills through written and verbal communication, with technical and non-technical audiences, including executives and customers
- Strong problem-solving and problem identification skills to preempt obstacles and conflicts
Project Management Interview Questions
Sample interview questions should include:
- Tell me about a time that you ran into stakeholder resistance. As a project/program manager, what did you do to mitigate or resolve the resistance
- What is your approach for getting stakeholder buy-in and support for a project?
- What project management tools are you experienced in? What do you think are pros and cons of those tools?
- What attracted you to this role? Our company?
- Based on what we’ve discussed about the project, what will be 3-5 key project deliverables that you will develop and implement in the first six weeks, if hired?
- In your own words, what do you think makes you a great candidate for this role?
Sample Project Manager Requirements & Responsibilities
- Assist in training initiatives as required on new technologies, processes and company procedures
- Complete all required data collections required
- Develop, monitor and evaluate complex work plan; focuses on results and measuring attainment of outcomes
- Drive day-to-day project communication
- Ensure that project objectives and sub tasks and resulting outcomes are completed within established timeframes
- Escalates issues which require corrective action
- Manage business processes systems and tools to support the program implementation
- Manage the planning process for short and long-term strategic planning
- Partner with the communications team to define and deliver on the organizations business processes and operations deliverables.
- Provide all post installation documentation
- Provide corporate training to Account Executives on process and products sold.
- Responsible for tracking of and dashboard reporting
- Schedule daily meetings and manage multiple projects simultaneously to ensure timelines.
- Strategic planning & analysis, complex problem solving, ability to work in high-stress situations, virtual team leadership.
- Strong knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, and production methods
- Strong knowledge of computer software, such as MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Project, etc.
- Strong knowledge of production processes, quality control, costs and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods (Typically required).
- Support Sales Organization on database entry and new product training.
- Verbal and written communication skills, problem solving skills, attention to detail and interpersonal skills
- Work closely with customers, vendors and all internal departments from Engineering to Field Operations.
Free Project Management Plan Template (Click to Download)
Sample Preferred Certification, Qualifications & Education
- PMP – Project Management Certification
- Bachelor’s degree OR four (4) years of experience in a directly related field
- Detailed knowledge of process management/improvement, methodologies preferred.
- Graduate degree in a business or management discipline preferred
- Healthcare knowledge preferred
- Professional Services knowledge preferred
- Supply Chain management knowledge preferred
- 7+ years of Program/Project Management experience
- 8+ years interacting w/technical resources
- 5+ years managing Agile projects
Below are additional certifications that you can review to see which one(s) to include as a certification requirement:
- Project Management Professional (PMP)®
- Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®
- Program Management Professional (PgMP)®
- PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®
- Certified ScrumMaster®
- CompTIA Project+
Read more at airiodion: https://www.ocmsolution.com/best-project-management-courses/
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