Latina Lewis

ABWIPPM CONFERENCE ‘25 Vision to Action How to Successfully Prepare for PM Interviews and Roles W W W . A B W I P P M . O R G ABOUT ME • Earned PMP November of 2020 • Owner of Kinsman Point Consulting • Certified AI Consultant • Focus: Project Management and Artificial Intelligence Consultation & Education • Interest: Travelling, Big Brother & Chocolate ABWIPPM CONFERENCE ‘25 ABWIPPM CONFERENCE ‘25 AGENDA “Don’t Ever Blow Out Someone Elses Candle to Make Yours Glow Brighter” -unknown 01 Interview Strategy- Your Command Center 02 Question Arsenal – Your Core Questions to ask 03 Background Check – Research Matters 04 Resume Alignment – Connecting the Dots 05 Recap & Questions The Interview Command Center Organize, prepare and execute like the project manager you are. Command Center Essentials Capture & Save The Job Description • Copy into a personal document • Use for: • Tailoring your resume & cover letter • Referencing key requirements during interview • Preparing talking points Create An Interview Tracker • Master spreadsheet for all interviews • Recommended columns: • Company name • Role / title • Date applied • Contact person(s) & email • Follow up deadlines • Notes ABWIPPM CONFERENCE ‘25 Keep A Question Bank • General PM interview questions you plan to ask every company • Customized questions for each company based on research • Notes on answers you have received • Create a question bank sheet for each company with the general and the specific questions Schedule & Automate Follow-ups • Set reminders for thank-you email (within 24 hrs.) • Set reminders for “check-in” emails (1-2 weeks if no update) Your PM Success & Lessons Learned Logs Having a Success & Lessons Learned Log ensures you can confidently answer these common questions: “Tell me about a time you…” “What was your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?” The Success Log (highlight your wins) The Lessons Log (growth & resilience) What to Include: • Project name & date • Your role • Key achievements • Impact on the business What to Include: • Situation or challenge • What went wrong (be honest but professional) • Root cause • Lesson learned • How you have applied that lesson since Example Entry: • Project: New EHR implementation – hybrid approach • Achievement: Delivered 2 weeks early, 10% under budget • Impact: Increased patient data accuracy by 35% in first quarter ABWIPPM CONFERENCE ‘25 Example Entry: • Challenge: Stakeholder delays project milestone • Lesson: Implement early, request frequent touchpoints • Applied: Now incorporate biweekly leadership syncs The PM’s Power Questions Elevate your interview with questions that set you apart Your Core Interview Questions 01 03 05 How does the organization define project success, and how is it measured here? (Reveals performance expectations and cultural priorities.) What is the company’s approach to risk management and change control in projects? (Reveals maturity of their PM processes.) How does leadership support the professional development and growth of project managers here? (Shows if there’s a pathway for growth.) ABWIPPM CONFERENCE ‘25 02 04 06 What are some of the biggest challenges PMs have faced in this role, and how were they addressed? (Gives a real-world sense of pain points.) Can you share an example of a recent project that went exceptionally well and what contributed to that success? (Provides insight into best practices that are valued.) What are the next big initiatives the company is planning, and how might this role contribute to them? (Positions you as forward-thinking and invested in the company’s future.) Intelligence Gathering 101 Structured insights for a smarter, sharper interview ABWIPPM CONFERENCE ‘25 Using ChatGPT for Company Research 01 Gather The Source Copy the text for the website or paste the URL into ChatGPT Focus on the Homepage, About Us, News/Press sections 02 Prompts For Context “Give me a company overview including vision, mission and values” “What products or services does the company offer?” 03 The talking points gained here can help you ask sharper, companyspecific questions 04 Prompt For Industry & Competitor Insight “Based on the company’s website and publicly available information, describe their position in the industry and name 3 major competitors” Prompt for relevant talking points “From this information create 3-5 professional talking points I could reference in an interview to show I have researched the company” ABWIPPM CONFERENCE ‘25 Using NotebookLM for People Research 01 02 03 Gain insights into the career paths, priorities and communication style of your interviewer 04 Upload LinkedIn Profile as a PDF into NotebookLM Export the profile from LinkedIn Prompt #1 “Summarize this person’s career focus and key accomplishments” Look for commonalities or potential conversation points Prompt #2 ”Suggest 3 professional, relevant conversations starters based on this profile” Pepper these into the conversation during your interview Prompt #3 From this information create 3-5 professional talking points I could reference in an interview to relate to this person Note: Be mindful that your initial interview may be with a recruiter. You can use this for your next interview Resume in Sync Position your experience to speak their language ABWIPPM CONFERENCE ‘25 Compare my resume to this job description. Provide the analysis in the following format: Match Analysis: • Identify specific areas in my resume that align with the requirements in the job description. • Highlight where my skills, experiences, or qualifications directly match the job’s needs. • Note any strong alignments such as key skills, achievements, or relevant experience. Gap Identification: • List any missing qualifications or partially represented skills from the JD that are not in my resume. Match Percentage: • Based on strengths vs. gaps, provide a percentage match. Suggestions for Improvement: • Recommend ways to close gaps (e.g., certifications, relevant projects, volunteer work, shadowing). • Suggest resume rewording to better emphasize relevant skills or experiences I already have. Provide the results in a clear, easy-to-follow table or bullet format. Using ChatGPT for Resume and Job Description Alignment 01 Upload the job description Attach as a document or copy and paste into ChatGPT 02 Upload your Resume Attach as a document or copy and paste into ChatGPT 03 Use the Structured Prompt Enter the prompt to the left into ChatGPT Note: The steps above can be added to one conversation thread in ChatGPT Recap Your next interview is more than a conversation — it’s a strategic presentation of who you are, what you’ve done, and why you’re the right fit. When you take the time to organize, research, question with purpose, and align your resume, you position yourself to walk in confident and walk out with an offer. Interview Strategy A structured system for capturing job details, tracking applications, and maintaining success and lessons-learned logs so you walk into every interview prepared and confident. ABWIPPM CONFERENCE ‘25 Question Arsenal A curated set of thoughtful, highimpact questions that reveal what matters most about the role, the company, and its culture — while positioning you as an engaged, strategic candidate. Background Check Targeted use of tools like ChatGPT and NotebookLM to uncover company priorities, industry position, and interviewer insights, so you can tailor your approach and stand out.. Resume Alignment A clear, structured comparison of your resume against the job description to identify strengths, close skill gaps, and refine language so your fit for the role is aligned. THANK YOU!! Check out my new book! ABWIPPM CONFERENCE ‘25