Construction Manager Interview Questions

"In the past, I assessed the requirements of a construction project and separated the stages of construction into tasks. I find it effective to set weekly goals for progress on the project and communicate these goals to the crew. Setting goals to accomplish in smaller increments of time helps the crew focus and stay productive."

"When I hire members for my construction crew, I look for people who are highly skilled and reliable. These are important qualities for construction. Skilled and reliable crew members are easy to manage and often work well together. I also use open communication to inform crew members of my expectations and of the client's expectations. Excellent communication has aided in all of my successful construction projects."

"With past construction crews, I took the crew to lunch once a week at one of our favourite restaurants to boost morale. This lunch was also an opportunity for team building. I feel it's important to recognise hard work to motivate team members."

"My first role as a construction manager was in building model homes. I enjoyed working with smaller crews for a project like that, but more recently, I worked on large-scale buildings, such as malls and school buildings. These larger projects are a challenge and I enjoy developing building plans and designing multiple floor levels. I feel that constructing community centres with this company is a perfect balance of residential and large-scale projects that I have experience managing."

"On a recent project, I had to extend a deadline because of severe weather the area experienced. In this situation, I would write a new contract suggesting a later deadline and try to explain to the client why we need more time for the project. In my experience, it's helpful to explain unexpected circumstances to clients and assure them the crew is doing their best to complete a project. When I do this, they're more likely to accept and understand the delay."

“As a project manager, I find that my technical knowledge of the construction industry, paired with my leadership qualities and skills, such as delegation and communication, are most helpful. These skills allow me to resolve conflicts, share project goals with my team, and ensure we address each project task.”

“The safety of my crew is always a top priority for me. To ensure each crew member is safe and following protocols, I check that all the professionals on site are wearing their safety gear, such as helmets, safety glasses, and appropriate footwear, for each shift. It's also important to me to make sure that only fully trained professionals operate any heavy machinery on the site.”

"When hiring personnel, I look for professionals with the technical proficiencies they need to fill the role. It's also important to me to hire candidates from diverse backgrounds to foster a more inclusive and positive work environment. I also consider if each candidate would fit the work culture of the project.”

"It's important to have a crew that works well together, so if there's ever a conflict, I ask those crew members to meet with me to talk about the issue. It's helpful to talk to each person individually to understand their perspective, and then I organise mediation for them and brainstorm resolutions. On a past project, there were two crew members that had disagreements and found it challenging to work together, but after meeting with them, I could identify that their issue was with communication. I helped them find a better way to share information with one another."

"Last year, when I worked on the construction of a bridge, there was a lot of rain in that area. This would affect the project schedule, so I talked to the client to explain what was going on and negotiated a new deadline. To increase productivity and ensure we made the deadline, I developed a detailed schedule of tasks to be completed each day and used positive reinforcement to help the crew accomplish goals."

"For my previous employer, I was asked to manage two projects at the same time. One required me to be on location, and the other, I could manage remotely. Communication with each construction crew was key to adhering to the schedule and completing the projects."

"To ensure client satisfaction, I involve them in the planning process as much as possible, and I also invite them to the construction site to evaluate the project as we progress. This helps identify parts of construction they may be unhappy with and allows the crew to make adjustments. If a client was dissatisfied by the results, I would create a report of where they wanted improvements and bring my crew back to resolve the issue."

"Effective communication with the client about their expectations and resources in the planning stage of the project helps develop a strategy of scheduling labour and purchasing resources that are within the client's budget. I also have the client approve changes in materials and for other factors that may affect their budget."

"I use a mobile app to communicate schedules, task expectations, and special announcements to my crew. This helps organise crews for different projects and facilitates communication between crew members as well as with me. To ensure effective communication I also hold daily morning meetings to encourage the crew and let them know about any changes to our daily itinerary."

"I want to work with your company because you have an excellent reputation for supporting employees and providing them with the resources they need to be successful. I resonate with the company's mission to deliver quality over quantity and feel I could thrive professionally in an environment that celebrates hard work. "