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Program Manager Interviews

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Program Manager Interview Questions

Program managers are responsible for overseeing several company projects that are connected by a common goal. Employers are looking for candidates who excel at people management and conflict resolution. Interviewers will want to know about your leadership and multitasking skills, so come ready to discuss a time you were able to successfully motivate a group to meet an imminent deadline or any experience diffusing issues between coworkers.

Top Program Manager Interview Questions & How to Answer

Question 1

Question #1: What are the warning signs a program might be at risk?

How to answer
How to answer: Interviewers want to know you can identify and solve problems. When answering this question, explain potential risks to a program, as well as how to eliminate these risks with problem-solving skills.
Question 2

Question #2: What is the difference between a program manager and a project manager?

How to answer
How to answer: You want employers to know you have a strong understanding of the job description. If asked this question, explain the key differences between program managers and project managers, including the fact that program managers take a more strategic approach to their position. Go on to explain the strategies you would use if you were hired for the position.
Question 3

Question #3: How do you keep a program on track?

How to answer
How to answer: The duties of a program manager include pacing the team, keeping up with deadlines, and solving problems. An interviewer may be interested in how you resolve conflict in the workplace to keep things on track. They may also want to know your planning process, how you stay organized, and how you communicate with team members.

20,611 program manager interview questions shared by candidates

The skills test was a mobile calendar app with use cases to present a basic calendar view, create an appointment, modify an existing appointment, and a calendar reminder with 2 engineering resources, and a three month period of performance. The questions were all related to a project plan: create a WBS, gather estimates, create a schedule, assign resources, and identify risks.
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Senior Program Manager

Interviewed at Qualcomm

3.8★
Jul 14, 2015

The skills test was a mobile calendar app with use cases to present a basic calendar view, create an appointment, modify an existing appointment, and a calendar reminder with 2 engineering resources, and a three month period of performance. The questions were all related to a project plan: create a WBS, gather estimates, create a schedule, assign resources, and identify risks.

I was asked about the relatively short times I had spent with previous employers. Even though the length of my previous employers had been 3, 5, or 7 years in length (and what I considered pretty common these days), one of the interviewers saw this as a potential negative. Concur is interested in building a long term company and they want people on board for the long haul.
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Corporate Learning Program Manager

Interviewed at SAP Concur

3.8★
Aug 12, 2013

I was asked about the relatively short times I had spent with previous employers. Even though the length of my previous employers had been 3, 5, or 7 years in length (and what I considered pretty common these days), one of the interviewers saw this as a potential negative. Concur is interested in building a long term company and they want people on board for the long haul.

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