How to Hire a Project Manager

Why hire a project manager?

Hiring new staff is time-consuming and can be costly. However, a great project manager hire can help your business:

• Initiate, plan, execute, monitor, control and close all of your projects in a streamlined and efficient manner
• Manage risk, quality, procurement, scope and stakeholder expectations
• Calculate various cost and performance metrics

Deciding between a full-time vs freelance project manager

Project managers are available both online and in-person for hire in full-time and freelance capacities. Whether a company hires a freelancer or a full-time project manager depends primarily on the frequency of the projects. Companies that have consistent projects running, such as content agencies and construction companies, may have multiple full-time project managers on their payroll at all times. 

Businesses that have infrequent or one-time projects may look into hiring a freelance project manager for the duration of the project. This can save the company money and yield better results due to the experience of the freelancer. 

What are the types of project managers?

The responsibilities of a project manager may differ depending on what type of project they’re working on. Some types of managers include:

• Construction project manager: Construction project managers are responsible for planning the project, hiring the architect and construction team and ensuring the company’s goals are met on time. 
• Content project manager: A project manager who specializes in content and copy may be responsible for communicating with clients to understand their goals, building a team to create the content and checking the content to ensure it matches the desired quality. 
• IT project manager: An IT project manager can be responsible for projects involving software and infrastructure. They meet with upper management to develop goals and build an IT team capable of realizing these goals. They then supervise the project and ensure everything is delivered on time. 
• Insurance project manager: A project manager who works in the insurance industry may be responsible for overseeing the restoration of a client’s home or office. 

Where to find project managers

To find the right project manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

• Promote from within. Some of the best candidates may already be working in your company. Your current employees have extensive knowledge regarding your industry, giving them an edge when it comes to project management. Assess the leadership skills of your current team and set up interviews with promising individuals. 
• Search online. Project managers may be advertising their expertise online. Look for candidates who have experience in your industry and reach out to them to set up meetings. 
• Post help wanted signs. Members of your community may fill out and submit applications for the job if they see a flyer advertising the position. 
• Post your job online. Try posting your project manager job on Indeed to find and attract quality project manager candidates.

What are the types of project managers?

The responsibilities of a project manager may differ depending on what type of project they’re working on. Some types of managers include:

• Construction project manager: Construction project managers are responsible for planning the project, hiring the architect and construction team and ensuring the company’s goals are met on time. 
• Content project manager: A project manager who specializes in content and copy may be responsible for communicating with clients to understand their goals, building a team to create the content and checking the content to ensure it matches the desired quality. 
• IT project manager: An IT project manager can be responsible for projects involving software and infrastructure. They meet with upper management to develop goals and build an IT team capable of realizing these goals. They then supervise the project and ensure everything is delivered on time. 
• Insurance project manager: A project manager who works in the insurance industry may be responsible for overseeing the restoration of a client’s home or office. 

Writing a project manager job description

A thoughtful description is important to finding qualified project manager candidates. A project manager job description includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities and the required and preferred skills for the position.

When writing your project manager job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on project manager jobs, according to Indeed data:

• Project manager
• Project management
• Construction project manager
• Program manager
• Manager
• Construction
• IT project manager
• Construction manager
• Project manager construction
• Management

Interviewing project manager candidates

Strong candidates for project manager positions will be confident answering questions regarding:

• PMBOK process groups 
• How they manage scope creep
• When the waterfall method might be the best approach

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of project manager interview questions for examples (with sample answers).