Interview Questions and Answers for Construction Manager

This article provides interview questions and answers for construction managers. It covers topics such as dealing with stress, effective communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. Desklib is an online library that provides solved assignments, essays, and dissertations for students.

1. Describe a time when you were faced with problems or stresses at work that skills. What
did you do?
Yeah, there are several occasions at work, where I experienced intense stress and
problems as well. In most of the cases, when the work schedule departed from the
expectations or when the actual quality of the work is beyond expectations, I used to
face stress and this inturn normally leads to fatigue and other negative consequences
also. In all these cases, I try to cope with the stress by remaining calm and without giving
up the rational thinking and logic. I will try to manage things in the best possible way
within my scope of operations.
2. Given an example of a time when you could not participate in a discussion or could not
finish a task because you did not have enough information.
There was board meeting last week; I attended the meeting on behalf of construction
manager due to his unexpected absence. On that occasion, there was a question from
one of the board member to brief the possible budget of the new construction project
coming up in the next month by the company. As I have no sufficient information I could
not inform them the right prices.
3. Give an example of a time when you had to be relatively quick in coming to a decision.
Our team leader is not present yesterday, as he went to head quarters for project review
and submissal work. On that occasion, we received construction material (Cement) for
the proposed pillar for the new residential complex. The specifications of the cement are
not expected inspite of 53 grade OPC, it was 63 and that is not suited for the
requirements. It was 50 trucks of the load that arrived the site; I don’t have time to wait
till team leader to turn back to site. I Just taken decision to reject the consignment as is
not as per PR. I took quick situational decision to reject the consignment as there is no
point in accepting the consignment and unnecessarily storing the same till the return of
the team manager.
4. Tell me about a time when you had to use your spoken communication skills in order to
get a point across that was important to you.
During my first job, I was deputed to foresee quality of the construction work by masons.
There is consistent failure of the masons in the construction of the walls for the
residential complex. They quickly get annoyed when I object them of the quality. There I
got honed of using good communication skills to get a point across to them, without
damaging the spirit and without inviting new problems.
5. Can you tell me about a job experience in which you had to speak up and tell other
people what you thought or felt?
Everytime, when our team manager comes out with weekly review, there will be review
of the progress of the project. I need to speak out the reasons and concerns of the future
progress based on the actual job progress details. I need to speak out the reasons for
the delay as well I need to speak to them of the possible complications that may arise in
future, with the current project progress rate.

6. Give me an example of when you felt you were able to build motivation in your co-
workers or subordinates.
In one of my previous projects, I was managing a team of 7 construction workers,
working on ad-hoc basis. Their wages were not revised inspite of promise that it will be
revised after six months of work. That was the time, they lost morale and about to quit
the job, but I motivated them to complete the running task and made them stick to the
job for two months more. Further I recommended the management about them and
briefed them of the quality of the work. Later, they got their wages revised also. They
thanked me for motivating them and keeping them on track.
7. Tell me about a specific occasion when you conformed to a policy even though you did
not agree with it.
The policy of causal leaves is very strict in the current company. Unless on special
occasions, the total number of casual leaves cannot cross more than 1 per month.
Though I did not agree with that, as it was 2 CLs as per government norms; however I
honored the policy and followed it, till the company revised the policy and made 3 Cls
possible.
8. Describe a situation in which you felt it necessary to be very attentive and vigilant to your
environment.
Environmental consciousness is very important and it is significant area as well for
providing attention towards. When I was working in the construction field of the flyover
construction for a government project, the debris, the wastages of the construction
materials were used to just get dumped on the road. I had seen several times the
problems commuters used to face due to the wastage dumping on the road. Also there
were no precautions taken by the contractor to release the dust, dirt and other emissions
to the atmosphere. This is during this occasion; I felt it is necessary to be vigilant and
attentive to the environment.
9. Give me an example of a time when you used your fact-finding skills to gain information
needed to solve a problem; then tell me how you analyzed the information and came to
a decision.
There was an occasion I disputed with one of the supervisor about the construction of
the structure of a meeting hall. The actual width of the wall is not as per the discussion
we had in the project review meeting. When the supervisor insisted the project is as per
the information given to him. I did fact finding, by checking the actual dimensions in the
engineering drawings of the construction and convinced him of the error in the
construction due to misreading of the dimensions.
10. Give me an example of an important goal you had to set and tell me about your progress
in reaching that goal.
My important goal for the coming years is to get PMP certification from reputed PM
organizations. Regarding that I did already the first year course completion on

correspondence successfully. Also an internship is on the way for two months duration in
a construction project. I wish to complete the same in the coming immediate future and
want to get PMP certified. This is an important goal for my career development.
11. Describe the most significant written document, report, or presentation that you've
completed.
The project audit of XYZ construction company is done by me in the last year, as part of
the consultancy project undertaken by me as a freelancer for a consultancy company.
That audit project report is very important to settle the bills of the construction project
worth $10million. It is one of the very cautiously prepared significant written document
presented by me in the recent years.
12. Give me an example of a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in
order to get a job done.
There was frequent absence of the construction workers at one of my project work sites.
There is shortage of labor as well. I used to go to their homes and do employ all sorts of
attempts to get them back to work. As the project schedule is very tight, I was forced to
do that. It is beyond my call of duty, still I did the same to get the project on track.
13. Give me an example of a time when you were able to communicate successfully with
another person, even when that individual may not have personally liked you.
I did informed my project manager, for the type of the quality of the building material I am
receiving, the work cannot be better than what it is at present. Though it was hurting,
there is no option for me apart from remaining blunt towards the situation. This infact has
communicated the message successfully to the project manager, though the individual
might have not liked me, due to my straightforwardness.
14. Describe a situation in which you were able to read another person effectively and guide
your actions by your understanding of his/her individual needs or values.
One of my office staff got depressed, as he is not very good in computer skills and was
deputed to work on latest project management software to prepare a schedule. I did
motivation of the person to learn the new skills and enabled him to deliver a very good
work output later on. This was enabled only since I read the person effectively and
guided his actions by understanding his aptitude and his needs for motivation and
encouragements(Meredith et al.,2015).
15. What did you do in your last job in order to be effective with your organization and
planning? Be specific.
I employed latest software of project management to be very calculative of the project
schedule in my domain. This helped me to plan resources very accurately and helped
me to remain effective.

16. Describe the most creative work-related project you have completed.
The most creative work related project is design of the aesthetic exterior for an individual
house. Both the color combinations and the construction designs proved to be very
successful and attractive as well.
17. Describe a time when you felt it was necessary to modify or change your actions in order
to respond to the needs of another person.
I successfully managed to modify my own actions to meet the needs of the another
person due to needs of the job. When I was working with an expatriate in one of my
previous project, I took the practice of communicating using translator service to his
native language Chinese. As he is not good in English, it happened to me to employ
translator services, every time I used to communicate with him. Also I provided him the
Chinese translated copy of the directives to make him understand the instructions every
time. This is not done by me any time earlier, however as per the needs, I did it here.
18. Give me an example of a time when you had to analyze another person carefully or a
situation in order to be effective in guiding your action or decision.
There was a serious disciplinary complaint received to me on one of my team member
from the work site. As sacking the person will be a serious consequence to the
employee, I carefully analyzed the past credentials and track record of the person and
convinced myself that the complaint may be not true. Then I investigated the situation
and understood that it was fake complaint. So taken decision to ignore the same.
19. What did you do in your last job to contribute toward a teamwork environment? Be
specific.
Frequent meetings, brain storming. Work sharing and division are some of the activities
that I did best in my previous jobs to get effective team work environment enabled.
There is compassion and mutual respect developed among the team members to get
things move effectively.
20. Give me an example of a problem you faced on the job, and tell me how you solved it.
One of the recent problems is the conflict between the team members, I managed it by
resolving in the best possible manner and now the team is very effectively working for
the project objectives.
21. Describe a situation in which you were able to positively influence the actions of others
in a desired direction.
There are several occasions where I did counseling of the team members based on
negative performance. I pin pointedly inform them what is right and what is not and
enable them to work positively.
22. Tell me about a situation in the past year in which you had to deal with a very upset
customer or co-worker.

There was a co-worker provided with memo, due to excess absenteeism and poor
performance on the work. I consoled him, and made him understand the significance of
commitment and dedication for the job. Now he is doing well and his performance is far
better than in the previous year.
23. Describe a situation in which others within your organization depended on you.
My team members depend on me for directions in enforcing the engineering drawings in
the construction site. My decision is final in all the situations where there is uncertainty in
the information provided with.
24. Describe your most recent group effort.
My recent group effort is to develop a budget proposal for the next financial year. It is
done to reflect the best the actual expenses and actual conditions.
25. Describe the worst customer or co-worker you have ever had and tell me how you dealt
with him or her.
The worst customer I had in my life is the one I witnessed in one of my previous
consultancy projects. He is my colleague in auditing project. He is not qualified, not
experienced and blind in discussion. He is very adamant and never accepts anything
that I wish to convey to him. I had difficult time in managing this person(Alagaraja et
al.,2015)
References
Alagaraja, M., Cumberland, D. M., & Choi, N. (2015). The mediating role of leadership and
people management practices on HRD and organizational performance. Human Resource
Development International, 18(3), 220-234.

Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Mantel Jr, S. J., & Sutton, M. M. (2016). Project management in
practice. Wiley Global Education.