What should you know to interview for a remote project management position?
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If you are looking for a remote project management position, you need to prepare for a different kind of interview than the traditional one. Remote project managers face unique challenges and opportunities, and employers want to see how you can handle them. In this article, we will cover some of the essential skills and knowledge that you should demonstrate in a remote project management interview.
One of the most important skills for a remote project manager is communication. You need to show that you can communicate effectively with your team, stakeholders, and clients across different platforms, channels, and time zones. You should also highlight how you use communication tools and techniques to plan, monitor, and control your projects, as well as to resolve conflicts and build trust. Be ready to share examples of how you have used communication skills to achieve project goals and overcome challenges in your previous or current remote projects.
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Stephanie S.
Business Consultant for eCommerce Start-Ups l Amazon FBA l Business Development
Variety of communication tools like Slack, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams. Ensuring that each team member was engaged and that action items were communicated and followed up on. Manage documentation and project tracking remotely, using tools like Asana, Trello, or JIRA.
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William N Ohene-Addo
Manager (Risk Advisory) at Deloitte
Communication is very essential when it comes to remote project management. This helps to ensure that there is some level of visibility and real-time alignment of expectations of all stakeholders. I remember during the onset of COVID back in 2020, we had to commence a project which was supposed to be delivered onsite in the client’s country. We had to restrategise the delivery approach. Constant communication via tools like MS Teams for walkthroughs, catch up calls etc. was one key component to maintain confidence of and trust with the client that we were on track with the delivery. Regular internal meetings helped to see where each team member was in terms of delivery. This helped resolve limitations to ensure timely delivery as well.
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Rohit Raj - PMP® ASM®
Leading teams and projects to success. | Merck | Ex. Sartorius | Ex. Biozeen
Prepare to describe your expertise leading virtual teams, utilising remote collaboration tools, and managing projects independently while displaying good communication and organisational abilities in a dispersed work environment while interviewing for a remote project management position. Additionally, demonstrate your capacity to operate remotely while adapting to different time zones, maintaining productivity, and resolving disagreements.
Another key aspect of remote project management is the use of remote collaboration tools. These are the software and applications that enable you to manage your projects online, such as project management software, cloud storage, video conferencing, chat, and document sharing. You should be familiar with the common tools that are used in your industry or domain, and be able to explain how you use them to collaborate with your team and stakeholders. You should also demonstrate your flexibility and adaptability to learn new tools and adjust to different preferences and requirements of your clients and partners.
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Melissa Khan-Blackmore, MHA, PMP
Project Management Career Strategist | Program Manager | I Help Women Break Glass Ceilings in Project Management Careers
This is key, especially in our digital word. Here are a few of my favorite (& FUN) collaboration tools: Miro Confluence Tango Kahoot Notion Lucid Spark Slack ClickUp Loom
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Andres C. Gomez Jr.
USAF Veteran | IT Specialist | Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst @ CyberNow Labs | SIEM, EDR, XDR Tools | Cybersecurity, GRC, RMF, SME, Project Management
In today's world, participation with digital collaboration tools has become the normal way of business. The way we enable ourselves to create groups no longer have distance being a major problem. Now, with a date, time, and ethernet connection, almost any group discussion, meeting, or interview can be accomplished.
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Colette Petersen, PMP, CPCU
Passionate Project Manager | Process Owner | Thought Partner | Indie Publisher
To the other advice shared I would add tools for brainstorming remotely including virtual white boards, Miro, Trello and other survey tools to keep the team engaged while being creative.
Remote project management also requires strong time management skills. You need to show that you can manage your own time effectively, as well as coordinate and align the schedules and deadlines of your team and stakeholders. You should also prove that you can handle multiple projects and tasks simultaneously, prioritize your work, and cope with distractions and interruptions. You should also showcase your ability to set realistic and clear expectations, track and report your progress, and deliver your projects on time and within budget.
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Gabor Stramb
My passion is Project Management | Program Manager | 15 yrs of experience = Sharing my thoughts on LinkedIn | 8 weeks prep for CAPM/PMP ⬇️ | Follow Me For Daily Lessons
What is unique in this situation is that You are not going to an office which as a remote Project Manager, you are not fully visible 9 to 5. But, this is the idea why the role exists. So, in my opinion, you need to find a way to make sure there is a "right" level of visibility day-to-day. And not just only when there is a crisis and you need to lead a resolution. How can we do that? Good questions, there is no "one-size-fits-all". Personally, when covid started, i went remote. I hated it. My days have become completely different. I wanted to go back to the office, just to meet ppl and get things done But, since I can't, I had to find new ways. One thing I did was to meet my team 2 x times a day. 30 min in the morning and 30 min after lunch.
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Joel Q.
Founder | Supreme VA | Cost-Effective Business Solutions | Lead Generation | Executive Virtual Assistant | Project Management | Telemarketing 🏳️🌈⚧️ | Effortless Outsourcing, Exceptional Results
time management is the backbone of successful remote project management! Demonstrating your ability to effectively manage your own time, coordinate team schedules, and align with stakeholders is crucial. Handling multiple projects, prioritizing tasks, and staying focused amidst distractions is a skill in itself. Showcasing your knack for setting clear expectations, tracking progress, and consistently delivering projects on time and within budget is a game-changer. 🕒✨ #TimeManagement #RemoteProjectManagementSkills
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Glenn Ray Batangan
ITSM and Project Management Leader: Aligning IT services with business goals and delivering successful projects.
Time management for remote project managers has its own set of unique challenges, you won't be able to see and manage the team on demand and you have no chance of casually talking to the team during breaks and random small talks. To interview for a remote project manager role, one needs to be able to showcase his/her time management skills during engagements. When invited for an initial interview - Be on time - I couldn't stress this enough, it just shows your commitment in managing time. - Beat the deadline of submitting requirements from the hiring team - This one shows how you deliver results on time. - Commit - before agreeing to the schedule, make sure that you really can commit. It shows how well you manage your own time.
Another aspect that sets remote project management apart from the traditional one is the cultural diversity of your team and stakeholders. You need to show that you have cultural awareness and sensitivity, and that you can work with people from different backgrounds, values, and perspectives. You should also demonstrate how you respect and appreciate the differences and similarities among your team members and stakeholders, and how you leverage them to create a positive and productive work environment. You should also share how you deal with cultural challenges and misunderstandings, and how you foster cross-cultural communication and collaboration.
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Danielle Baughman
President @ Proshare Services | WBENC Certified | Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Project Management
Team building events do wonders for teams with different backgrounds. It helps everyone to have fun and build trusting relationships that will ultimately help your project run smoothly.
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Stephanie S.
Business Consultant for eCommerce Start-Ups l Amazon FBA l Business Development
Cultural awareness in remote project management necessitates understanding and respecting team diversity. A remote PM must embrace adaptability, ensuring communication caters to varied norms. Conflict resolution should consider cultural perspectives on hierarchy and consensus. Celebrating diversity, through recognition of international traditions and inclusive discussions, strengthens team cohesion and drives innovation, turning cultural differences into a team's asset.
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Ganesh DG
Top Data Engineering Voice | VP - Sr Technical Manager with Expertise in Financial and Manufacturing Domain | Mentor | Views expressed are my own
- Time zone differences can be a significant challenge. Overlooked aspects include the one's experience in managing teams across multiple time zones, scheduling meetings that accommodate everyone, and ensuring that work progresses smoothly despite these differences. See how you can explain how to overcomt this challenges - Effective communication is vital: convey complex ideas clearly in writing, their proficiency with video conferencing tools, and their capacity to facilitate productive virtual meetings, this has to be demostrated. One can share his BOV or other documents prepared earlier
Finally, remote project management also demands remote leadership skills. You need to show that you can lead and motivate your team effectively, even when you are not physically present. You should also highlight how you build rapport and trust with your team and stakeholders, and how you empower and support them to perform their best. You should also illustrate how you handle feedback, recognition, and accountability in a remote setting, and how you promote a culture of learning and improvement. You should also share your vision and goals for your projects, and how you align them with the expectations and needs of your clients and partners.
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Benjamin Chan PMP, P.Eng, CMC, ASM
Project Management Leadership Coach - Helping project managers transform into confident, authentic project leaders ❇️ Project Leader ❇️ Podcaster ❇️ Speaker ❇️ Mentor ❇️ Board Member
Leading remotely is one of the toughest problems that a project leader faces. You can't necessarily monitor the work as closely, and yet you still have to be able to serve, motivate, and deliver. Demonstrate your skill and commitment by being an example of it. Spend a bit more time having open and safe discussions with project team members and empower them to perform. Ensure that accountability is factored in as well!
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Scott Bromander
CPTO @ YourPath Health - LinkedIn Meme Lord
A lot of time is regained by working remote. Whether that be the lack of water cooler or lunch room chats or whatever, working remote you often have crisper cuts in your day. It sounds kind of fluffy, but I have found a lot of success around hosting team games on sites like Scribbl or Gartic Phone. They are ridiculous, but they are a load of fun. It also gives the team something to laugh together about and genuinely connect on neutral ground. When you take the time to connect with your team in that way, it makes the conversations about deadlines and work to be done more meaningful. Final note here is to be aware of timing. Not every week works to host those events. But at the same time, not everything is urgent. Make time to connect!
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Celine Tran
Committed to sustainable business.
The danger of being remote is to micro-manage your team as you can't physically see the work they are contributing to. It is important to build trust and confidence so the team is motivated to work effectively. Most people will need to multi-task and will sometimes feel that they are failing at keeping all the plates spinning. Emphasising to employees that they need to focus on impactful tasks and guide them to prioritise (rather than telling them what to do).
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Ganesh DG
Top Data Engineering Voice | VP - Sr Technical Manager with Expertise in Financial and Manufacturing Domain | Mentor | Views expressed are my own
While giving interview for the position, one must seek to understand the key performance indicators (KPIs) and measuring team and project performance is vital. This will be vital on how the success of the person and teams will be evaulated one must ensure they are not unrealistic.
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Shen Kwang Ong
Head of PPMO @ GoToFinancial | Dual Hatting Program Director @ Tokopedia Squad
It is important to stay authentic and real in virtual setting as much as you are in real person. Also, switch on your camera! This gives the interviewer a good sense of who are are in reality. You don't want to end up pretending to be someone you aren't. Honestly, be hired for who you are than who you aren't.
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Akshay Deora
Deputy Manager - Project Controls
Project Management is a decision making, goal oriented job. Since, it doesn't follow discipline or execution centric pattern, I believe that the priority task that needs to be focused is the smooth interfaces. So certainly, project manager while remotely performing his KRAs needs to have following skills more than the on site staff: - Excellent communication skills - Experience on automation tools to continuously run the project without physical intervention - Proper inter-disciplinary coordination