Interview Questions to Program Managers

You might be surprised to know that program managers are one of the most crucial positions an organization can have.

Ultimately, an ideal program manager can push your team to achieve maximum productivity in the most efficient way possible. Otherwise, a bad one can lead people in disarray-- having more unnecessary costs, and, most especially, failing to hit goals.

That is why it’s vital that you hire the right program manager that will bring a positive impact on the company. You can do this by asking the right questions to ensure that they are a good fit for the people and the organization itself.

In this article, we’ll tackle questions relevant to such a position in terms of operational process, responsibility scope, and behavior.

What are program managers and why are they important?

In a nutshell, program managers are the ones that oversee and structure the overall programs that align with the company’s objectives. This role is responsible for evaluating activities and ensuring everyone in the team stays on track and meets targets and deadlines for a systematic workflow.

They can tackle a wide spectrum of programs and can vary in different fields. They can be very technical. Hence, it would be helpful if your program manager has extensive knowledge about your industry. For example, if your company deals with software, you would want a program manager that knows about technology.

Here are 4 main reasons why they are valuable to the team:

Shows the bigger picture of the organization

There are many projects that an organization does to reach its goals and objectives. All these joined together form a "program". The program manager ensures that these said projects under an overarching program do not overlap and cause misunderstandings amongst team members.

That is why program managers show a comprehensive view of the company. They see to it that all programs would be seamless and clear to the people managing the business. When that happens, tasks and deadlines will be met accordingly without delay or confusion in job scope.

Strives toward reaching organizational goals

As mentioned earlier, program managers oversee the current activities of the company under them. They don’t just do this for nothing. They make sure that desired outcomes and maximum ROI are achieved.

So when they evaluate the programs and discuss with managers what they should do or not do, program managers make a sound decision with the organizational goals in mind. They take into consideration only plans that can increase sales and profitability, customer satisfaction, employee productivity, and more.

Creates a standardized workflow

After evaluating the programs, this role lays down the foundation for the involved project managers and other supervisors. Program managers set the rules and job scope under them in a systematic manner. Hence, this enables those following it to carry out what they’re supposed to do.

There is no need for extra discourse to formalize or agree upon certain procedures. Program managers already finalize this even before the project starts.

Reduces expenses for the company

With a good program in place, it can greatly reduce expenses for the company. Program managers find ways to optimize the workflow to yield better results.

How? They intertwine tasks that can be done simultaneously, check whether cross-departmental cooperation is possible, and many more. This lessens the time spent working and, more importantly, saves costs in many ways.

What’s the difference between program managers and project managers?

It’s common to mistake program managers for project managers. First of all, project managers are the ones that supervise and lead people to ensure that everything is running smoothly. They are usually the points of contact of employees when issues arise, before talking about it to higher authorities.

Program managers, on the other hand, deal more with the strategic side of the business. They oversee that all projects are in accordance with the organizational goals. They create a structure for supervisors (like the project manager) to clearly illustrate the bigger picture for the whole team.

The two roles work hand-in-hand and are both helpful to have. You have the strategist (program managers) and the enabler (project managers).

Program manager interview questions

Aside from the general interview questions, you would want to focus on knowing more about how the candidate structures the operational process, how they understand their responsibilities and learning more about their behavior towards leadership, communication, and overall problem-solving aptitude.

Operational Process

• What do you do to properly define and control goals for each program you create?
• Tell me the most recent program you’ve managed. How did it go?
• When you have to deal with multiple tasks at a time, how do you determine which takes priority?
• If you were assigned a program with a 3-month deadline, what are the steps that you would take to ensure success?
• What was the most challenging thing you’ve experienced whilst managing a program?
• For you, what is the most common reason why programs fail?
• Give a specific example when you identified a project risk. Were you able to mitigate the risk? How?
• Was there ever a time that you experienced miscommunication? How did you solve the issue?
• Tell me about a time where you were asked to develop a budget for a specific program. Walk me through your process.

Responsibility Scope

• How do you differentiate a program manager from a project manager?
• What are your thoughts about scope creep and how do you handle it?
• Do you integrate technology and tools into your operations?
• How do you measure success? What are your metrics?
• What is your experience with program charters?
• What do you do to keep up with trends?

Behavioral Understanding

• Describe your leadership and communication style.
• What is your opinion about change management? How do you approach it?
• How do you deal with uncooperative team members?
• How do you keep yourself organized?
• Do you follow a certain code of ethics or conduct that allows you to be a better manager? If yes, what are they?
• Tell me about a time when a program failed. What happened? What would you do differently if you have the chance to do it again?
• Tell me about a time when deadlines were falling behind schedule. What did you do and how do you avoid this from happening again?

It’s vital that you interview and consider potential program managers that you believe would bring a positive impact on your organization. Use the questions above to get to know them on a deeper level and see if they fit what your company is looking for.

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