Five Things to Consider When Hiring a Project Manager

Finding the right project manager starts by knowing exactly what your team needs. The ideal candidate will have a mix of qualities tailored to your organization and project. Here are a few things to consider that will help you identify the key traits to look for in your next project management hire.

1. Domain and Industry Experience

Prior experience in your field could be a top priority depending on your industry. Domain expertise can make a project manager more effective, especially in sectors with complex requirements or specialized knowledge—such as healthcare, tech, finance, or construction. For example, in highly regulated industries such as healthcare, you may be required to plan for annual updates. Having someone with relevant experience means less time spent learning industry nuances and more time managing effectively. 

Some may discount the value of industry experience in looking for a project manager, but highly effective project managers need to “get it,” and having industry experience that relates to their team (and clients) can make all the difference.   

2. Experience with Relevant Methodologies

There’s a wide range of project management methodologies: Waterfall, Lean, Scrum, and Kanban, among others. Choosing a project manager who has experience with a methodology similar to yours can streamline processes and minimize onboarding time. If your team uses Agile, for instance, a project manager experienced in traditional Waterfall methods may struggle with the iterative and flexible nature of Agile, and vice versa. 

If your organization adheres strictly to a methodology, familiarity with that methodology may be crucial for that project manager’s success. If not, perhaps a project manager’s specific methodology experience isn’t as important.

3. Certifications and Training

Certifications indicate a project manager’s formal training and commitment to their craft. Credentials like PMP from Project Management Institute demonstrate they’ve invested time in mastering structured project management approaches. However, if your organization values agility and adaptability over traditional methods, hands-on experience with similar projects or familiarity with your industry’s unique challenges might be more important. Ultimately, consider whether certifications align with how your team operates before deciding if it’s a requirement or a nice-to-have.

4. Client-Facing Experience

Will your project manager be client-facing? A project manager in this role will be the primary point of contact for clients, responsible for managing expectations, gathering feedback, and ensuring client satisfaction throughout the project lifecycle. You should strongly consider putting candidates who have experience maintaining strong client relationships at the top of your list. Client-facing project managers will inevitably have difficult conversations with your customers such as project delays and challenges. Navigating these conversations in a tactful, knowledgeable way will reinforce your client’s confidence in your organization, and lead to high-performing partnerships.

5. Experience with Remote or Distributed Teams

Building rapport and trust with team members remotely is a skill. A project manager who has successfully led remote teams will understand the unique challenges that come with distance, such as communication barriers, time zone differences, and maintaining team cohesion. If your teams are distributed globally, candidates who are proficient with collaboration tools and who can facilitate productive, virtual meetings might warrant priority. In addition, Project Managers with experience managing multiple vendor relationships will be better able to prevent communication and accountability challenges, and they will be able to minimize finger-pointing when challenges do arise.

In Conclusion

Every organization has unique requirements, and the perfect project manager for one team might not be the best fit for another. Understanding your organization and your culture will help you refine your checklist of qualities to find the most optimal project manager fit.