If the time has come to bring a new project manager onto your team, it is crucial to make a careful, informed decision. After all, they will have a high level of decision-making for your business, and choosing the wrong person can become costly. Typically when hiring a project manager to help your business, you’ll see dozens of portfolios as you interview. Sometimes, these portfolios will look impressive, but you want to be sure that you are hiring a project manager that is truly a good fit for your company. As you analyze portfolios during the hiring process, here are four essentials you should be on the lookout for.
Author: This article was written by Dixie Somers, a freelance writer who loves to write for business, finance, and women’s interests. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three beautiful daughters. Dixie got advice about what makes a good project manager from the professionals at Advantage Manufacturing Ltd., who specialize in manufacturing projects.
Delegation
A project manager must identify the steps necessary to provide a viable solution to a problem. Therefore, they are required to be able to identify the team members most capable of completing each task and delegating appropriately. Look for examples of times they broke down a large job and separated it into smaller tasks to come to a successful completion. Not only will this help get large jobs done, but it will also encourage unity.
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Ethics
Whether your project is one that represents a business, product, non-profit organization, or other entity, it is important that the general public has a positive overall sense of what you and your team represent. Unfortunately, all too many competitive managers use shady practices to get ahead. Look for situations in the portfolio where the candidate faced challenges and overcame them with hard work and dedication without cutting corners or utilizing questionable tactics.
A Shared Vision
Your project cannot succeed if there is no shared vision, and you should look for indicators that your candidate is on the same page with the rest of the team. Pay close attention to projects where they acted as both a leader and a team player—both of these attributes are key. Project managers are responsible for motivating the rest of the team, and a candidate who shares the company’s vision will better be able to increase overall enthusiasm for your cause.
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Experience
Project managers are given a large level of responsibility. Therefore, it is important that their portfolio contains an array of life and experiences that can be applied toward your goals. Practice makes perfect, and they have likely learned from past mistakes and victories. Don’t be shy about contacting previous employers or references they provide in order to get a good idea of what experience they truly have.
Making the right choice in a new project manager can be a lucrative decision for the business as a whole. By following these guidelines, you can be on your way to the introduction of a valuable team player to your staff, and the successful completion of important projects in the future.
Author: This article was written by Dixie Somers, a freelance writer who loves to write for business, finance, and women’s interests. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three beautiful daughters. Dixie got advice about what makes a good project manager from the professionals at Advantage Manufacturing Ltd., who specialize in manufacturing projects. 
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