How a Lucknow-Born program manager's Ebook Aims to make interviews easy for Global Aspirants!

Answer - I believe the most interesting aspect of a Program manager is to nurture an environment of physiological safety, in which the team can innovate and be encouraged to voice its opinions. In order to achieve this, the Program Manager must communicate with the team as well as the stakeholders throughout the project and focus on solving problems. Another fascinating aspect is a Program Manager connects the thread between the work his team is doing with the impact it will create on the users throughout the world.

I believe the future of Program management is extremely bright as companies will always initiate projects to increase revenue, minimize cost, and nurture economy. Program Managers of the future will need to be multi-faceted and multi-skilled. The new professional reality demands a combination of technical and project management skills, leadership skills and strategic and business management skills – along with the ability to learn and keep pace with technology. So, in one word, the program manager would need to be an all-rounder.

Q – What motivated you to write this ebook? How long did it take to complete and what do you want to achieve from it?

Answer - The real motivation behind writing this book kindled within me after taking numerous interviews for program management positions over the years. We, as Program managers, do highly complex work and carry a lot of responsibility. It’s a coveted job for many professionals around the world, and for many, it’s definitely a dream job. But during the interviews, I observed that people with such amazing skill sets are failing as they are not able to organize their thoughts for a coherent response to the question asked. The fact is, giving a good interview is an art. You need structure, a bit of charisma, and a sprinkle of insider knowledge.

It took me almost a year to write this book and through this book I want to connect with my PM community and provide them with 27 laser-sharp questions with comprehensive and well- written answers that will impress any employer, and help them to succeed & get their dream job.

Q – How is this ebook different from other books of its kind?

Answer - With these 27 questions and answers, you will be absolutely ready to impress your future employer and snag your dream job. This ebook is also equipped with real-life practical examples which are  relatable and contain applicable techniques – so it is not only meant to get you motivated through text but also offers practical examples for you to implement with your answers. Every answer has a pro-tip which is very useful to formulate your own response. This is exactly what you need for a meticulous preparation of a great interview.

Q – What is the biggest challenge that you’ve faced so far in your work life?

Answer - The biggest challenge which I usually face is getting an alignment between all the cross-functional teams in order to achieve a business objective and managing the dependencies. I use effective Program Management techniques to overcome these challenges. In this ebook too, I have a reference answer to this particular challenge. Somewhere during this process, I’ve also realized that for being a good Program manager, you need to be a good human being first!

Q – What are your future plans? Would you continue writing?

Answer - I never ever imagined that I would write a book one day. But here is my first edition. I intend to take away all the pain points faced during the interview by my fellow Program managers, project managers and Scrum Masters through this book and take their preparation to next level. I will wait for the testimonies and accordingly prepare for my next book.

Q –What would be the top 3 tips you would like to share with an aspirant about to appear for the most important interview of his life?

Answer - I would tell that aspirant:

1.   Be Succinct: Make more impact using fewer words. You have a limited time during the interview.

2.   Share your accomplishments instead of just the tasks you did as a PM in response to the interview question. Bring metrics into your response.

3.   Focus on the OUTCOME of the program rather than output. Bring empathy in your response, one of the most important qualities of a Program manager.

Q – Your ebook is about helping Program Management aspirants crack the interview? What would be your advice to someone who cannot crack it even after all the help?

Answer - I would say never ever to be discouraged, as failure is a step to success. Reflect on the responses where you were not so confident and re-write them in a more impactful way and practise them speaking in front of a friend or a family member and take their feedback. Make your foundation like a bamboo tree. I would like to leave you with this parable of bamboo tree: “After the seed is planted for this tree you see nothing, absolutely nothing for 4 years. During those four years all the growth is underground In a massive, fibrous root structure that spreads deep and wide in the earth. But in the fifth year the same bamboo tree grows upto ninety feet.” Similarly, we work, we invest time and effort and do everything we can possibly do to clear the interviews and sometimes we don’t see anything for weeks, months or even years. But if you are patient and keep working hard, that ‘fifth year’ will come and you will be astonished at the growth and change you see taking place”. All the Best!

Book link - https://www.amazon.com/kindle/dp/B08BJDBC7T

Website - https://pmoaspirants.com/

Disclaimer: The views, suggestions and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Forbes India journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.