10 Ways Not to Blow an Interview as a Project Manager – Part I

Posted by Bill Sanders
September 14, 2009

Over the last two months, I’ve been interviewing for three positions on the team at various levels of seniority. Now that I’ve made the hires, I want to share some common mistakes made by otherwise qualified candidates. If you are looking for a job as a Project Manager or Interactive Producer at an agency, here are 10 things that will help you get the most out of your interview. In each instance they have been culled from specific interviews or would-be interviews I’ve held over the last few weeks.

  1. Focus on the end game. You may have been out of work for awhile, it happens to all of us. And sometimes the temptation to take any job that comes along is high. Resist playing that game. If you are senior enough for the position, you are senior enough to be thinking about your career, not just paying your bills. You have just as great a stake in making the right decision as the company does. Relax and focus on making sure this is going to be a good fit. This means being honest in your skills, expectations, and desires. It does not mean changing your story in mid-interview or between interviews.
  2. Be on time. Now, generally I wouldn’t expect to have to include this one―it’s usually covered by parents or even in a class, but based on results, being on time isn’t particularly a quality that some candidates feel obligated to meet. Yes, parking is difficult. Yes, our office isn’t the easiest to find. You are a Project Manager. You are supposed to anticipate and mitigate risk―so be on time. In fact, I’d recommend you change your definition of “on-time” to “15 mins early.” It shows you anticipated everything and left enough margin in your planning. Showing up 40 minutes late without a phone call is going to get your interview canceled.
  3. If you are sick, reschedule. No matter how great a fit you might be for the position, if the interviewer leaves the room thinking more about finding a dose of Airborne than about hiring you, you’ve already lost. Call early and reschedule. The interview team will appreciate and respect you for it.
  4. Do not come in stoned, hung-over, or strung out. Enough said.
  5. Dress up. Yes it’s an agency. Yes there are people walking by in tee-shirts and jeans. Yes you can wear the same if you are hired. I’m not saying that guys need to wear ties and girls need to wear heels, but a good rule of thumb is “dress as if you were going to an off-site client meeting.” If in doubt, ask the recruiter or hiring manager – they’ll appreciate the question and be happy to give you some advice.

Part II …including how to blow it after you’ve been offered the job!

Agency, Career, Project Management

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  • LOL! Seriously, did all these things really happen to you? Someone showed up strung out? Someone sent a no-show message through Facebook? Wow! Some people! Sounds like all is well now. Congrats on filling your positions!
  • In a word Melana: Yes. Names were left out to protect the guilty. And thanks. It was worth the work. I have some great new additions to the team.
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