Construction Manager interview questions and answers

Looking for a job?

Find related jobs in Workable’s job board

10 good construction manager interview questions

1. Imagine that the project you are supervising is starting to fall behind schedule or exceed the project’s budget. What actions would you take?
2. What would you do if some of your workers were not using the necessary safety equipment? How would you handle it?
3. Picture a conflict between an in-house engineer and an independent subcontractor. How would you resolve it?
4. What would you do if a subcontractor was trying to change the terms of their contract in order to raise their compensation?
5. Imagine that a tradesperson or worker disregarded your instructions for their part of the project. How would you respond?
6. What factors would you consider before negotiating contracts or rates?
7. What are the first steps of planning a construction project?
8. How do you prioritize the necessary tasks of a project?
9. What licenses are needed to begin a construction project? How would you obtain them?
10. As a construction manager, which project management tools do you prefer and why?

Here are 10 essential interview questions and sample answers to help identify the best candidates for this role.

1. Imagine that the project you are supervising is starting to fall behind schedule or exceed the project’s budget. What actions would you take?

This question assesses the candidate’s ability to manage time and resources effectively.

Sample answer:

“I would first conduct a thorough analysis to identify the root cause of the delays or budget overruns. Then, I would communicate with the team and stakeholders to discuss possible solutions and implement corrective actions immediately.”

2. What would you do if some of your workers were not using the necessary safety equipment? How would you handle it?

This question evaluates the candidate’s commitment to workplace safety.

Sample answer:

“I would immediately halt work and address the issue with the workers involved. Safety is non-negotiable, and I would make sure everyone understands the importance of using the proper safety equipment.”

3. Picture a conflict between an in-house engineer and an independent subcontractor. How would you resolve it?

This question gauges the candidate’s conflict-resolution skills.

Sample answer:

“I would arrange a meeting with both parties to discuss the issue openly. I would listen to both sides and then make a decision based on the facts and what’s best for the project.”

4. What would you do if a subcontractor was trying to change the terms of their contract in order to raise their compensation?

This question tests the candidate’s negotiation skills and ethical stance.

Sample answer:

“I would review the contract and discuss the request with the subcontractor. If the request is unreasonable or against the terms, I would firmly but politely decline and explain why.”

5. Imagine that a tradesperson or worker disregarded your instructions for their part of the project. How would you respond?

This question assesses the candidate’s leadership and management skills.

Sample answer:

“I would address the issue directly with the individual, seeking to understand why they disregarded the instructions. Depending on the severity, corrective actions could range from retraining to disciplinary measures.”

6. What factors would you consider before negotiating contracts or rates?

This question evaluates the candidate’s understanding of contract negotiations.

Sample answer:

“I would consider the scope of work, market rates, the contractor’s experience, and the project budget. I would also consult with legal and procurement departments to ensure compliance with company policies.”

7. What are the first steps of planning a construction project?

This question tests the candidate’s understanding of project planning.

Sample answer:

“The first steps would include conducting a feasibility study, defining the scope, setting objectives, and creating a preliminary budget and timeline.”

8. How do you prioritize the necessary tasks of a project?

This question assesses the candidate’s project management skills.

Sample answer:

“I prioritize tasks based on their impact on the project’s critical path, deadlines, and dependencies. I use project management software to keep track of these priorities.”

9. What licenses are needed to begin a construction project? How would you obtain them?

This question evaluates the candidate’s knowledge of legal requirements.

Sample answer:

“Required licenses may include building permits, environmental clearances, and occupational safety certifications. I would work closely with local authorities and legal advisors to obtain these.”

10. As a construction manager, which project management tools do you prefer and why?

This question gauges the candidate’s familiarity with project management tools.

Sample answer:

“I prefer using tools like MS Project or Asana for task management and scheduling. These tools offer excellent features for tracking progress and collaboration.”

What Does a Good Construction Manager Candidate Look Like?

A strong candidate for a construction manager position will have a solid educational background in civil engineering or architecture, along with extensive industry experience. They should possess excellent leadership, negotiation, and problem-solving skills. Their ability to manage time and resources effectively is crucial for the successful completion of projects.

Need more interview questions?

Generate a complete list in seconds with AI

---

---

Construction Manager Interview Questions

Construction Managers typically have a university degree in a field like civil engineering or architecture. Deep industry knowledge is important as they are usually involved in a project from the conception phase. Industry expertise can be assessed by asking role specific questions.

An experienced construction manager will be familiar with the key people, processes and materials needed to complete a project. Find out if they have the experience and the hard skills needed by asking role specific questions.

A construction manager must oversee a large amount of interrelated or independent tasks. Therefore, look for skills that they can use to that end such as time management, budgeting, planning, leadership, and coordination. Strong negotiation and problem-solving skills are also critical for this role. Evaluate these skills through behavioral and situational questions.

Let’s summarize some of the questions and add a few more divided into specific types.

Operational and Situational questions

• Imagine that the project you are supervising is starting to fall behind schedule or exceed the project’s budget. What actions would you take?
• What would you do if some of your workers were not using the necessary safety equipment? How would you handle it?
• Picture a conflict between an in-house engineer and an independent subcontractor. How would you resolve it?
• What would you do if a subcontractor was trying to change the terms of their contract in order to raise their compensation?
• Imagine that a tradesperson or worker disregarded your instructions for their part of the project. How would you respond?

Role-specific questions

• What factors would you consider before negotiating contracts or rates?
• What are the first steps of planning a construction project?
• How do you prioritize the necessary tasks of a project?
• What licences are needed to begin a construction project? How would you obtain them?
• As a construction manager, which project management tools do you prefer and why?
• How do you structure a team for a construction product? Describe your criteria for hiring them.
• How do you know when a construction project is well-executed? What do you look for in quality control?

Behavioral questions

• Describe your approach to leadership.
• Describe a time when you had to negotiate the budget for a construction project. What was the result?
• Describe the most successful construction project you have directed. What did you do that made it so successful?
• Tell us about a project that you planned. Include details about budgets, processes and deadlines. What actions did you take to receive approval? What was the result?
• Tell us about the biggest obstacles you have encountered during a project. What steps did you take to resolve them?
• Have you ever had to manage two or more projects simultaneously? How did you succeed?
• Have you ever experienced conflict with superiors? How did you handle it?

Frequently asked questions