Behavioral Based Program Manager Interview Questions:
Anytime assessing a program manager that will impact others across the organization, its important to dive into that individuals core motivators and behavior.
- Describe the most recent program you managed. What was your contribution?
- Tell me about a time where you were asked to develop a budget and allocate resources to a past program.
- Tell me about a time where you were managing a program that was falling behind schedule. What would you do differently now, if given the chance?
- Tell me about the biggest challenge youve faced while managing a team of project managers.
- Have you ever faced a communication problem while managing a program? Who with and how did you resolve it?
How To Pass An Amazon Manager Interview 4 Top Tips By Richard Mcmunn
The following tips are all suitable for managerial positions within Amazon, including Operations Manager, Account Manager, Team Leader, Business Development Manager, Logistics Manager, Area Manager, Contracts Manager and Senior Operations Manager.
TIP #1 Amazon is undoubtedly one of the greatest companies to work for. However, if you want to become a manager for the worlds leading online retailer, you will need to demonstrate you have the ability to drive your team towards achieving Amazons business objectives. There is no room for people who are not committed to Amazons core values within the business, and as a manager you will need to learn and understand the leadership principles. On that basis, before you attend the Amazon Manager interview, we strongly recommend you read these important principles to make sure you are fully prepared and focused.
TIP #2 Sticking with the Amazon leadership principles, prior to attending your interview, think of a time when you have demonstrated each of the 14 principles in a prior work-related situation. To help you prepare for your Amazon Manager interview, we have provided you with sample interview questions and answers on this page that are designed to put you ahead of the competition.
Get ready for your Amazon Manager interview by downloading our 26 AMAZON MANAGER INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS guide!
Describe A Time You Had To Resolve A Conflict Between Two Team Members
A program manager must build a solid team and resolve conflicts when required. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate’s communication and management skills to resolve a team conflict. What to look for in an answer:
- Communication skills to ask questions and have an open discussion to resolve the conflict
- Management skills to create expectations and a framework of acceptable work behaviour
- Negotiation and persuasive skills to lead team members to a mutual resolution
Example:
“I had two employees disagree over the sharing of an assistant within their separate projects. I sat down with both individuals and led a conversation of how they could work together and share the assistant for mutual benefit.”
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What Exactly Does Microsoft Look For In Program Managers
In a Microsoft Program Manager interview, the recruiter is looking for potential associates who bring more to the table than just product management skills. Staying true to their core value of finding excellence in simplicity, Microsoft looks for the following two qualities in their TPMs:
Amazon L6 Program Manager Interview
Hello,I worked in the oil and gas industry and had a successful career over the past 13 years however, like many of my peers, I was laid off due to the double black swan of the oil and gas price war combined with the impact of COVID-19. I have decide
Hello,I worked in the oil and gas industry and had a successful career over the past 13 years however, like many of my peers, I was laid off due to the double black swan of the oil and gas price war combined with the impact of COVID-19. I have decided to leave the constant up and down cycle of oil and gas, targeting tech jobs and specifically the Seattle area so that we can be closer to family to support our growing family. I have a L6 Non-Tech Program Manager virtual onsite interview coming up in two weeks and had quite a few questions that I cant seem to find answers for. Any help would be very appreciated as this job would enable a great life change for my family. If I have good examples from various positions showing that I understand and have used the leadership principles in real life examples do those examples need to be specific to the type of role that Im applying for? For example, I have an example of developing a product cost model showcasing ownership strongly however I dont see the development of a cost model as being an essential skill set for a program manager in this role is it ok to use this example?
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Wrapping Up And Next Steps
Many people want to break into technical program management. The role of a TPM is one that will continue to grow in demand as the need for cross-team and cross-functional collaboration increases. Landing a TPM role will require experience and preparation, but were here to help! If you want to get started preparing for your TPM interview, I highly recommend checking out Hacking the TPM Interview.
This course was written by an experienced TPM who has worked with multiple FAANG companies. Youll learn about what it takes to pass the difficult TPM interview, as well as get some practical advice on how to thrive in the role.
Happy learning!
Generate Reports For Stakeholders
Stakeholders usually ask for broad strokes to make sure the project is going well, but sometimes they want more detail. ProjectManager has one-click reports that can be filtered to show just the information stakeholders or project managers need to keep tabs on the progress of the project.
Teams are a projects most valuable resource. ProjectManager keeps team morale high by giving project managers the tools they need to manage their workload and make sure no one is giving too many tasks while others are idle. ProjectManager also streamlines the timesheet process and has features that manage project resources, so projects can deliver on stakeholder expectations.
One youve gotten through the project manager interview process and a job offer has been made, then its up to you to provide them with the best tools to manage the project. ProjectManager is a cloud-based project management software with real-time dashboards, online Gantt charts and a collaborative platform for your team. Theres no question, this is what your project manager will want. Try our award-winning software for free with this 30-day trial.
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Putting It All Together
Ultimately, by embracing the tips above, you can show those program manager interview questions whos boss. Just make sure to practice your answers ahead of time, ensuring you can discuss your capabilities with ease. That way, youll showcase yourself as the amazing candidate you know you are, increasing the odds that youll get the offer when all is said and done.
Good luck!
Prepare In Advance For The Stages Of The Hiring Process You Can Prepare For Answers To Tricky Behavioral Questions
For the other three stages, however, you can prepare.
If you are running out of time, or feel anxious, or overwhelmed with the information, or have no idea how to answer the questions, have a look at a new eBook I wrote for you, the.
Multiple brilliant answers to 50 Amazon interview questions, including all tricky behavioral questions, will help you stand out , impress the interviewers , and sign an employment agreement with Amazon. You will find some questions & answers directly on the eBook page, so it makes sense to check it out even if you do not want to purchase anything
Thank you for checking it out, and I wish you good luck in this difficult interview!
Matthew
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Program Manager Interview Questions For Operations Management:
- What are the most common reasons why projects fail?
- Tell me about a time where you managed a project that didnt go as planned. What happened? What would you do differently if given the chance?
- When managing multiple projects, how do you determine which are the highest priority?
- If you were assigned a program with a 6-month deadline, what steps would you take to plan and deliver the project successfully?
Program Manager Interview Questions About Their Responsibilities:
- How do your responsibilities differ from those of your project managers?
- What technology and tools do you find are necessary to be successful in your role?
- What metrics do you review to measure success?
- Whats your experience with program charters?
- Do you leverage a code of ethics that enable you to be a better manager?
- Why is change management important for this role?
- How do you properly define/document and control the goals for each program that you execute?
- How do you keep up with industry trends?
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How To Crack The Amazon Phone Interview
Amazon, one of the American based biggest internet retailer is headquartered in Seattle which holds offices and distribution agencies in almost 32 countries globally.
The employees working in Amazon are known as Amazonians also there are many people who work very hard to get into this company. Usually hiring process of bigger MNCs are not that easy to crack and also are very time taking . They do not compromise things when recruiting employees for their organization.
The basic recruitment process would involve with 1 2 rounds, then a phone interview and finally an on-site interview. The phone interview holds great importance in the hiring process. So, here are few tips to know and follow when attending Amazon telephonic interview.
- Hiring is a long procedure
- Arrange your place in advance
- Collect all the things needed and keep it handy
- You can try to arrange a little extra
- Take some time to yourself and relax before the interview
- Prepare for the unexpected
- Answer all the questions confidently and try to be honest.
Amazon Assessment Test Optional
One of the stages of the hiring process is the Amazon assessment test. You wont always have to pass this test, but if you do, it will be the second most difficult part of the process, right after the behavioral interview. The name is a general name given to a variety of assessments, which differ depending on the position you are trying to get with Amazon, such as:
- The Amazon Maintenance Technician Test
- The Amazon Warehouse Assessment Test
- The Amazon Manager Assessment
- The Amazon Work Style Assessment
- The Amazon Retail Assessment
- ..
We can talk for hours about these tests, but the best way to prepare for them is practice. If you are not sure how to pass the tests, and will have to pass them, I suggest you to check out the following , where you can comfortably practice all the tests in advance, before doing them for real on the big day.
Thank you for reading the entire page, and I wish you good luck in your interview with Amazon! You will need it
Matthew
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- How to overcome interview nerves Feeling anxious? Time to get rid of stress and deliver your very best.
- Salary negotiation tips You may get a chance to negotiate about your salary at Amazon. Learn how you can do it.
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Recruiters Offer Their Best Tips For Interviewing At Amazon
Prepare for Amazons interview questions, learn more about the process, and find out how we hire and develop the best.
Dont be shy about following up if you need clarification. If an interviewer asks you a question and does not give enough information for you to provide a solid answer, ask for more context. We ask a lot of questions at Amazon, said Jackson. We want our candidates to feel comfortable with this because thats the environment and culture we actually have.
Quickhow many sides does a circle have? How do you lift an elephant with one hand? And what was the presidents name in 1992? If youre gearing up for an interview, you might think you need to prepare for trick questions like these. At Amazon, thats not the case. Though tech companies have a reputation for throwing out brain teasers during the interview process, we do things a bit differently here. We want to help candidates put their best foot forward, said Stacy Milgate, Senior Client Lead, Amazon Web Services. Our interview process is geared toward finding true examples of the work youve performed. Our candidate-first approach to interviewing means well do our best to ask fair questions and provide tools and resources to help you. However, its still important to do your research and prep work. If youre ready to get started, here are 11 tips to prepare for your upcoming interview with Amazon.
Interview With Hiring Manager
This portion is either in person or via a phone call with the hiring manager, who would be your direct manager. The hiring manager is on your side. They have the biggest pain point, meaning that they really need to hire someone. Itâs in their best interest to be nice to you, and they usually are. That doesnât mean you wonât get tough questions. However, I ï¬nd that this ï¬rst meeting with the hiring manager is going to be one of the main chances where you get to ask speciï¬c questions about the role.
For this interview, you should be ready to sell yourself. Prepare fewer questions about the company culture, and more questions about what kind of goals the manager has, what projects you would work on immediately, and their expectations for the role. The hiring manager will usually be the âeasiestâ interviewer you come in contact with. Your conversation will likely be about the role itself and your career goals, along with what relevant experience you have for the job. You should use this meeting as a chance to learn as much as possible about the job. You want to ï¬gure out: What would I be doing on a daily basis and what will it be like working with this manager? Here are some good questions to ask them in the first meeting:
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Who This Course Is For:
- Candidates preparing for the Amazon Product Manager Interview
- Students who are interested in learning more about the Amazon PM process
- 4.3 Instructor Rating
- 8,917 Students
- 6 Courses
At coursetake, our mission is to give students and professionals a world class education on preparing for the workforce.
WE DO THAT BY CREATING HIGH QUALITY CURATED INTERVIEW AND CAREER PREPARATION COURSES THAT SPECIFICALLY USE A STEP-BY-STEP TEACHING APPROACH. OUR FOCUS IS COMPANY AND JOB TITLE SPECIFIC INTERVIEW PREPARATION.
Whether you are a student looking to start your career or an experienced professional looking to switch jobs, whether outside or within your current organization, we have something for you at coursetake.
Our instructors have interviewed for more than 10 years in the industry. They have worked at large companies like Microsoft, Groupon and a number of smaller startups as hiring managers. They have worked across the industry in technology, financial services, retail etc. They’ve got degrees in Business, Computer Science and Engineering.
WE ARE A TEAM OF PEOPLE LOCATED IN SEATTLE WHO BELIEVE IN PROVIDING YOU WITH THE ABSOLUTE BEST ORGANIZED INTERVIEW PREPARATION CONTENT.
With coursetake, we now bring this talent directly to you.
What Happens Behind The Scenes
Your recruiter is leading the process and taking you from one stage to the next. Here’s what happens at each of the stages described above:
- After the phone screens, your recruiter decides to move you to the onsite or not, depending on how well you’ve done up to that point
- After the onsite, each interviewer files their notes into the internal system, grades you and makes a hiring recommendation
- The “Debrief” brings all your interviewers together and is led by the Bar Raiser, who is usually the most experienced interviewer and is also not part of the hiring team. The Bar Raiser will try to guide the group towards a hiring decision. It’s rare, but they can also veto hiring even if all other interviewers want to hire you.
- You get an offer. If everything goes well, the recruiter will then give you an offer, usually within a week of the onsite but it can sometimes take longer
It’s also important to note that recruiters and people who refer you have little influence on the overall process. They can help you get an interview at the beginning, but that’s about it.
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Engineering And Technical Interviews
The leadership principles and your culture ï¬t are critical to getting hired, but the greater your technical expertise, the more ï¬exibility Amazon will have on the âcultureâ piece. Amazon will give you either a surprise test during the interview or an actual engineering/ coding test . If you are applying for any position that requires the use of Excel , theyâll probably test your pivot table skills for 20-30 minutes as part of the interview process. Be prepared. If you are applying for a business analyst position, for example, they probably wonât tell you if there is a test, but depending on how technical it is you can at least expect they will test your SQL skills in the interview.
This may not necessarily require you to use any database management system, but will come in the form of a question like, âIf you have two SQL database tables that are not joined together, how would you create another table to join them?â For any positions that require programming skills, you can expect the coding test to come at the start of the process. This means it will either be your ï¬rst or second interview, right after speaking to an HR person/recruiter. This is not going to be an extremely complex test that will require hours of your time. It covers the fundamentals of the language so you should brush up on the basics. You can chat with a technical interview coach on Carrus to practice and review your code .
