Best Vendor managed Inventory Coordinator Interview Questions For Freshers

Q – 1 Explain why are flowcharts important?

Ans- The hiring manager is trying to learn how you will work with all team members. A suitable answer here is that flowcharts play an important role in explaining concepts and processes to both technical and nontechnical members.

Q – 2 Explain how do you handle changes to requirements?

Ans- Your logical-thinking skills are being put to the test with this question. As you answer, highlight how you thoughtfully respond to changing situations.

One potential response is something along the lines of, “First, I prioritize the changes to requirements, scope of changes and the impact analysis to the project. Next, I perform an impact analysis to the project cost, timeline and resources. Finally, I evaluate whether the scope change is introducing new gaps to the technical or functional designs or development and testing.”

Q – 3 Explain the diagrams most used by business analysts?

Ans- Again, the hiring manager wants reassurance you have the skills to get the job done and know case, activity and sequence diagrams.

Q – 4 Tell me how have you handled difficult stakeholders?

Ans- Answer this one head on. The hiring manager is trying to assess your soft skills, particularly your communication and collaboration abilities. Working with people from different areas of the company and perspectives is an area where nontechnical skills are key.

Q – 5 Tell me how do you motivate team members who are burned out, or bored?

Ans- A bored team member is simply not challenged enough. They are being satiated (doing a task for too long of a period of time). In this case, switch tasks for a short period of time or pair them up with another team member to shorten the boring task. See if it’s possible to give them more challenging work if they complete the boring task first.

Q – 6 Explain about your typical project approach?

Ans- Here, the hiring manager wants to ensure you have an overall understanding of the business analysis planning process. Rather than listing numerous projects and processes, talk more about the general phases or types of deliverables you might create, while letting the hiring manager know you can customize your approaches to projects.

Q – 7 How easily do you delegate responsibility?

Ans- Being focused on project goals is absolutely essential for project managers. They should have a clear focus and clarity of thought. It is important to assess if the candidate has demonstrated the ability to align resources to achieve key objectives, to plan and identify ways to improve and achieve greater efficiency, and to monitor and fine tune execution with agility, hard work, perseverance, and good judgement. Key questions to ask in this area are:

Q – 8 Explain how you operate inter departmentally?

Ans- Two words that best describe me are “Chameleonliaison”. I am able to change and adapt to my environment in seconds, since Ihave worked in various departments over the years. My understanding of each departments needs allows me to precisely convey information. The shorten communications via phone, email and in person minimizes frustrations and allows me more time flexibility to delegate or to take on more complex tasks.

Q – 9 How do you ensure that your project is always on track?

Ans- The Project Manager needs to identify and prevent issues from impacting the project adversely. Hence, it is important that the candidate demonstrates competence and the eagerness to take proactive actions, avoids procrastination, and does not shy away from making tough decisions. I usually ask candidates to share examples and real life scenarios from their projects and life where they took proactive actions.

Q – 10 Tell me what are your career goals?

Ans- How do you see this job affecting your goals? My goal is to acquire an IT position that utilizes my talents more effectively while increasing my flexibility in scheduling tasks. IT positions are moving towards home office utilization to save company costs and travel time. This IT position will allow me to save on transportation time (to and from work, lunch and dress preparation) therefore I can work on new programs and creative ideas without the typical corporate distractions.

Q – 11 How do you control big changes to your project?

Ans- At any point in time there are multiple tasks and issues to tackle for a project manager. To be successful, the project manager has to choose his battles wisely.

Also, resources available for the project are always limited, and need to be utilized in a wise manner. That is prioritization in action. Time is a valuable resource for the project because once lost it cannot be recovered easily. As a result, Time Management is one of the key skills for a project manager. The Project Manager is responsible for creating efficient ways to execute tasks.

Q – 12 Explain what do you know about SDD?

Ans- Your lingo acumen is being tested when you get one of these types of questions. Explain that the system design document (SDD) is a middle step separating business users and developers.

Q – 13 Explain how do you handle team members who come to youwith their personal problems?

Ans- Contrary to public opinion, a person that comes to you with a personal problem trusts you to help them. Trust allows you to get people to do things you want them to do. Share a simple and quick answer (similar situation that you may have personally experienced) then suggest doing a productive task at work that will distract them and provide personal achievement that they are not getting in their home life.

Q – 14 Can you explain what are some of the projects that you handled in the previous job?

Ans- If you have a lot of work experience, organize a portfolio and share it with the interviewer. Do not add information in your portfolio which is false or misleading since being dishonest will disqualify you for the position. Focus on those projects that are relevant to the company and the position for which you’re applying.

Q – 15 How do you motivate different team members?

Ans- One of the key success factors for a project manager is effective delegation. How effectively does he get work done? Delegation must happen through empowerment without interference and/or losing control. I often ask the following questions to determine if the candidate is good at delegating.

Q – 16 Please tell us what are your greatest achievements in your professional life?

Ans- In addition to sharing your portfolio, describe in detail past projects you successfully managed and enjoyed. Explain how you managed team members, delegated responsibilities, and measured quality. However, be sure to provide concise answers and avoid being long-winded or boastful.

Q – 17 Why are you interested in working for our organization?

Ans- I’ve been following your company for a long time and have been impressed with your commitment to only taking on development projects that are environmentally friendly. While I’m not exactly a tree hugger, I value our environment and believe we should do everything we can to protect it. I strive to employ environmentally sound techniques throughout every project I oversee.

When I saw that you had a position open for a project manager I thought it might be a good opportunity for me to transition from my current position as project manager with XYZ company to your company.

Q – 18 What is your communication style with your team?

Ans- The first question helps you assess the candidate on how effectively he handles communication, including in challenging situations. The second question helps you understand how the candidate engages in a two-way exchange with others using available media and information, and assess whether he demonstrates good sense and judgement in timing the communication, and is able to use language effectively.

Q – 19 Explain have you ever had disappointments?

Ans- Regardless of where you work, you will experience disappointment during your career. You may have lost a job because of downsizing, had a colleague you were close to quit, been assigned a project you didn’t enjoy, or been passed up on a promotion you were aspiring for. Provide a concise and honest answer. Potential project managers are frequently asked this question.

Q – 20 Explain how will you put together your project team?

Ans- When an interviewer asks this question, what they really want to know is if you’re an effective leader. They are trying to find out if you have the skills and competencies required to put a team together, manage the team, and see a project through to completion.

What type of team members will you recruit? Can you work with people that are different than yourself? Can you motivate and inspire everyone from support staff to senior managers? The answer you provide to this question should demonstrate that you understand it takes many people with different skills sets and abilities to complete a project.

Show the interviewer you know that an effective project manager doesn’t have to be good at everything; they just have to be able to put together and manage a team of professionals with diverse skill sets and competencies.

Q – 21 Tell me have you ever experienced project failure? What happened?

Ans- It’s happened to the best of us: a project went too far out of scope, or became too expensive, or was behind on delivery, and it ultimately failed. The situation is always unsettling, but even more so when inquired about in an interview. The fortunate truth is that your interviewer is less interested in the actual failure than they are about learning how you deal with stressful situations. Set up the story with what happened. Be as brief as possible and try to pick a story from something that happened a long time ago. Then, detail what you did in the situation.

Q – 22 Can you give me a few examples of where you made a tough decision and it backfired?

Ans- The second question is a tough one to handle for candidates and it reveals their honesty and compels them to talk about an instance when they failed. It’s also important to see how the candidate handles failure and learns from it.

I sincerely hope that the list of important competencies and related questions will help hiring managers hire the right candidates. I am quite confident that it will also help aspiring candidates prepare well for interviews for the role of Project Manager.

Q – 23 Please tell me have you ever had disappointments?

Ans- No job is without its disappointments. The disappointments can be anything, from an employee who left for personal reasons or the project that you did not bag because of the financials involved.
Make sure that you provide a quick and factual answer for this question.

Q – 24 Tell us where have you worked before?

Ans- Inexperienced individuals are rarely hired as project managers. Organizations typically hire individuals with 2-3 years of management experience. When asked about work experience, always be honest. If you don’t have a lot of work experience focus on the skills you’ve developed that qualify you for the position.

Q – 25 Tell me what do you spend the most time doing each day?

Ans- On the projects I’ve worked on in the past, most of my time has been spent on the phone communicating with team leaders and suppliers. However, I know that many of the projects your company tackles require a more hands-on management approach. Based on what I know of the types of projects I’d be managing for your company, I see myself spending much more time in the field meeting with clients and making sure projects are being completed to client specifications.

Q – 26 Explain what are your greatest achievements in your professional life?

Ans- Apart from the portfolio, everyone has some project or aspect of their jobs that they hold close to their heart. This is the time to inform the interviewer about what your favorite project was and why. Of course, you have to make sure that you do not go on a ramble and genuinely discuss some of your favorite projects.

Q – 27 What are your weaknesses and what should you improve on?

Ans- You should never pretend you don’t have any nor come up with a list like “I work too much.” Come up with a real weakness, like prioritization, time management perhaps – something that is real but also wouldn’t jeopardized your ability to do the job and focus on what you do about it. I’m working on improving my time management for example, I use an online calendar and schedule my tasks inside that calendar and plan my week each Monday estimating time needed for each task and project.

Q – 28 Tell me the most complex project you have managed from start to finish?

Ans- This question is designed to help the interviewer see what type of project management experience and expertise you have. As you’re describing your project, the interviewer will be assessing how well they think you’ll be able to manage projects for their organization. Make sure before the interview you have a good sense for the type of projects the position entails. This is a great opportunity for you to demonstrate how your project management experience will benefit the company.

When answering this question, explain the project you managed as if you were talking to a client, not someone involved in the project. Make sure you provide a comprehensive answer that employs a logical format the interviewer can understand.

For complex projects, project managers are usually required to use formal processes and techniques to ensure deadlines and specifications are met. Outline the project management processes and techniques you used, even if they’re just industry standard. Explain the purpose, value and implementation of the most important aspects of the project including the work plan, risks, issues and project completion.

Throughout your explanation let your enthusiasm for the project show. Share with the interviewer your major accomplishments and how the experience you gained from the project will benefit the company. Identify areas where your skills and experience made a difference in terms of quality of work, efficiency, productivity, expenditure, customer satisfaction and organizational success.

Q – 29 Explain how do you handle non-productive team members?

Ans- The Best way to handle a non-productive team member is to envision how they canbe productive. Usually there is a reasonfor their non-productivity and often they will reveal it to you personally orsometimes you may have to probe for the reason simply by asking them a question”What do you like most or least about working here?” Once you have isolated the negative problemsuggest solutions that are the easiest to obtain in the shortest period oftime. Research suggests positivereinforcement is the best way to motivate a person.

Share a story about “seeing the light at theend of the tunnel” that you experienced personally. This will help develop more rapport andenable trust from the “non-productive team member.” Positive reinforcement includes primaryreinforcers such as smiles, touch (hand shakes), verbal thanks and exchangeablereinforcement such as talk about payday, bonuses or potential promotions forachieving or exceeding goals. Share thepositive vision.

Q – 30 Based on your experience tell me what is the most important skill a project manager must have to succeed?

Ans- While not the most common interview question, it does pop it’s head up from time to time–so be prepared to answer it. Many interviewers like to ask this question because it forces the candidate to choose just one of the many skills required to be a good project manager. Technically, there is no single correct answer to this question, but you need to be cognizant of what your answer reveals to the interviewer about you, your experience and your ability.

Don’t dance around the question, or be vague. Answer the question directly and provide just one answer, as requested. Your answer to this question should be what you feel is your greatest strength as a project manager (e.g. team-building skills, keeping projects on schedule, flexibility). Be prepared to explain why this skill is critical to effective project management and how it will benefit the company.

Q – 31 Tell me about your experience managing different projects and how this will contribute to our company?

Ans- This is a straight forward, yet somewhat complex and multi-layered question. It’s important you structure your answer to this question. In order to stay on point, and not go off on a tangent, start by explaining to the interviewer how you will answer the question.

“I’d like to start by providing you brief description of the last three projects I managed. I will then outline the skills and abilities I developed from each project and demonstrate how these skills will benefit your company, as well as the projects you have me manage.”

Q – 32 Tell me what are the 3 key challenges for the industry today and how can these be tackled effectively?

Ans- This question makes the candidate think about the top challenges of the industry in which the potential employer operates. The response from the candidate reveals his understanding of the industry, market, current challenges, and possible solutions. Knowing this is critical for the success of any project manager as they will be tackling those same or similar challenges inside the organization if they get hired. So this question helps the hiring managers assess whether the candidate is the right fit for the role.

Q – 33 Explain have you ever faced any disagreements in your previous job? How did you solve it out?

Ans- Project managers must work with team members, managers, and clients who disagree with their directives. It will seem unbelievable or disingenuous to claim you’ve never disagreed with a colleague during a project. The interviewer might believe you’re dishonest or unable to handle disagreement. Provide at least one example where you had to work with people who disagreed with you and explain what you did to compromise or fix a problem.

Q – 34 Explain a project you managed where you encountered a problematic team member and tell me what you did about it?

Ans- During the most recent project I managed, I found that one of the designers on the team was secretly sabotaging the project by communicating design flaws we were trying to fix directly to the client. The client respected this designer and his opinion, so I had to come up with a way of resolving the issue without jeopordizing our relationship with the client. I knew I’d be walking a very fine line but I decided the best approach was a direct approach. I called a meeting with both the designer and the client to discuss the design issues we were working on.

I explained to the client, while the designer was present, that I had successfully completed many similar projects and the design flaws we were fixing were not out of the ordinary. I also offered to provide the client more regular communications. Recognizing that the design flaws were not what he had thought they were, he said that more frequent communications wouldn’t be necessarily and just verified that we’d be completed on time. I assured him we would. Not surprisingly, the designer never felt it necessary to communicate directly with the client after that meeting.

Q – 35 Tell us how you would react to a situation wherethere was more than one way to accomplish the same task, and there were verystrong feelings by others on each position?

Ans- First of all, I acknowledge the positions regarding the task. I break down the tasks in a Ben Franklin fashion with Pros on one side and Cons on the other. After reviewing both sides, I recommend taking a consensus vote to confirm the pros outweighing the cons.

Q – 36 Explain about a time when your stakeholders didn’t agree on a project. How did you proceed?

Ans- Interviewers asking this question are looking for stories that will prove you have these necessary soft skills for the job. Make sure to brainstorm stories about your former project management roles in anticipation for this question and use them as a confirmation that you have the mediation skills that these hiring managers are looking for.

Q – 37 Tell us what are some of the projects that you handled in the previous job?

Ans- As an experienced professional, you are bound to have a portfolio, and this is the right time to share such a portfolio with the interviewer. Make sure that the portfolio you share is authentic as your previous portfolio will decide whether the interviewer will be interested in you or not.

Q – 38 Tell me why is there a gap in your employment record?

Ans- While gaps have been more common during the recession you need to show doing something of value. It could include improving your skills, certifications or connections. Building relationships as a volunteer is a usual answer, but you need to show how you were productive. Play down the vacation, reflection time, etc. If you did consulting work build up the value of what you got out of it. Don’t disclose how little you might have been paid.

Q – 39 Explain and describe an experience where you managed a diverse project team towards a common goal?

Ans- While working with XYZ company I was tasked with managing a construction project that pulled from various departments across the company — engineering, design, quality assurance, finance, etc. Each of the team members brought to the table a unique set of skills and abilities.

However, the same diversity of skills required to complete the project also brought with it a variety of personalities and work styles. Even though each team member was prepped by their department prior to joining the team, I held a special team meeting — actually more like a team social — prior to starting the project to provide an opportunity for each team member to get to know one another on a personal level.

In fact, we rented a cabin up in Tahoe and spent the weekend just having fun together and interacting in a non-work environment. During the retreat, I arranged a number of team building activities that required each team member to rely on the other team members as they worked toward accomplishing a mutual objective.

Q – 40 Tell me which business intelligence tools or systems have you worked with?

Ans- Cite the specific tools and how you’ve used them. If you have used a system the company employs, mention your experience to the hiring manager. If you’re not familiar with the technology the employer uses, discuss how you plan to get up to speed quickly.

Q – 41 Tell me How Do You Build a Sourcing Strategy?

Ans- A good interview question for a strategic sourcing manager often involves strategy building. If you can determine how competitive the supplier marketplace is, how supportive your internal stakeholders are and what you can leverage for better pricing or terms, and if you can explain how to reduce complexity, increase productivity, reduce costs and create improvements, you’ll be viewed in a positive light. Cite specific examples of cost reductions you’ve negotiated as a result of your strategic sourcing.

Q – 42 How do you set goals for your team? And how do you track these goals?

Ans- As a project manager one has to deal with uncertainties all the time. It is thus important for a project manager to identify and prioritize critical risks and appropriate mitigation actions required in fuzzy environments, and communicate adequately and appropriately. It is equally important to manage others’ concerns in changing environments and enable change. To assess competency in this area, it is best to ask scenario based questions.

Q – 43 Explain what types of project do you know like to work on?

Ans- I really enjoy projects that present unique challenges. For example, the last project I was involved with required the team I managed to work as a member of a larger team tasked with designing, developing and implementing a system for transporting natural gas through the Sierra Nevadas. My team was in charge of designing the system. A second company was responsible for developing the hardware to support the transporation system.

And it was a third company’s role to put the physical system together. What I enjoyed most about that project was that it pushed the limits of my organizational and people manage skills and required me to think outside the box in order to avoid conflict and meet all project deadlines.

Q – 44 Tell us have you ever faced any disagreements in your previous job? How did you solve it out?

Ans- A project manager has to take into consideration several disagreements. They can be between employees, between the superior and the employees, or even the client and the employees.

If you reply that you have never had any disagreements, the interviewer will wonder whether you were really a project manager for your skills or simply because you are a people pleaser.

Make sure that you come up with at least one incident where employees and superiors had differences in thought and you were instrumental in changing the scenario.

Q – 45 Explain how much money do you make?

Ans- As in any negotiation the person who says the number first is at a disadvantage. You can try and say you are interested in the job and you are sure salary is fair and commensurate with industry levels. If pushed you say you are looking for a “total compensation package in the range of ___to____”. In some companies they will insist on a W2 form so don’t lie about current salary.

Q – 46 What Experience Do You Have As Vendor Managed Inventory Coordinator?

Ans- To do this role, a candidate typically must have experience in dealing with complex requirements that align to strategic level business objectives. Describe how you have effectively handled relationships with executives, managed projects and conducted marketing and financial analysis. You should emphasize your sourcing and negotiation skills. Because success in this type of role tends to require a collaborative approach, you might also describe teams you have managed. Expand upon the details of your resume and don’t gloss over the challenges.

Q – 47 What didn’t work in your last position?

Ans- Be honest here but you don’t need to lay it all out either, for example if you and your boss didn’t get along. Don’t bash your former employer. It could be the culture, it could be there was little room for career progression, you didn’t agree with the vision of the company say what it is, then move quickly to focusing on what you want instead.

Q – 48 Where have you worked before as Vendor Managed Inventory Coordinator?

Ans- Rarely is an inexperienced person taken in as a project manager. Any project manager would have at least two or three years of experience either as an employee or as a project manager. Therefore, this is one of the basic questions asked. Make sure that you give a brief and concise answer to this question, without going too much into the details. Also, make sure that everything you say as an answer to this question is factual.

Q – 49 Tell me why aren’t you looking for a job in your area of expertise?

Ans- You’ve done some soul searching, weren’t completely fulfilled or your talents weren’t being utilized enough in the current industry and realized this was the right path for you. I’ve had clients say that to employers and they were impressed they had taken the time to really find their direction and that they had such focus. Another reason could be they want to add to their skill set.

Q – 50 Tell Us Do You Belong to Any Professional Organizations?

Ans- Being a good strategic sourcing manager involves monitoring inventory levels and negotiating with vendors and business partners. Networking with other business professionals demonstrates an interest in a broad perspective and continuous improvement.

If you have a credential from the American Purchasing Society, the Association for Operations Management and the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, mention it in response to this question. Some companies may be interested in the Project Management Professional credential from the Project Management Institute.

Q – 51 Explain about a risk you took in a job?

Ans- Tell how you used your relationships within the organization to gain support or shift the thinking. It could be a new idea for training, product development or sales. Show how you presented it then how you worked around those that found it negative. Explain how you have used this experience to further improve.

Q – 52 Tell us what methods will you use to deliver results?

Ans- The best way to answer this question is by sharing with the interviewer project management techniques and methods you’ve successfully employed on past projects. This will allow you to support your answer using your own personal experience. It’s wise to show the interviewer that you don’t necessarily use a one-size-fits-all approach to project management by sharing a few examples of projects you’ve managed which required a different approach. You want show the interviewer that you’re familiar with proven project management methodologies, but that you’re flexible and will adapt your approach to the demands of a particular project.

Interviewers want to see that as a project manager you take the time and initiative to understand the unique aspects, demands, risks and requirements of each project, and that you don’t apply the same “cookie cutter” framework to every problem.

Q – 53 Tell me what projects do you not want to work on?

Ans- Everyone wants to believe that they can handle every project, but the reality is that most project managers are best suited for a narrow project management role. If you tell your future employer that you love working on everything, that communicates that a) you might not know what you’re talking about or b) you’re unwilling to communicate weaknesses. Neither of these traits reflect well on you.

Instead, be honest. Are you more of a software development person? Do you do well with creative media campaigns? Would you rather lie down and die than work on a construction project? Let your interviewer know; both they and your future self will thank you for it.

Q – 54 Tell me what do you think are the key strengths of a business analyst?

Ans- Since business analysis is an evolving and multifaceted profession, hiring managers want to know that you are aware of the necessary skills for success. You probably have your own list, but make sure to highlight both technical and nontechnical attributes you can bring to the job.

The job description should provide clues as to what types of skills the employer is looking for on both fronts – especially technical requirements. Learning what you can about the company culture prior to the interview can also provide insight on interpersonal abilities that will likely be valued.

Q – 55 How do you handle disgruntled employees?

Ans- Project Managers are responsible for understanding the need of the customer, and responding in a timely, efficient manner to meet customer expectations. They are also responsible for establishing and maintaining effective relationships, and gaining the trust and respect of customers. Here are a couple of questions I usually ask to gauge the candidate’s customer orientation.

Q – 56 What Is Your Typical Sourcing Strategy?

Ans- Employers want to know details about your experience conducting strategic sourcing activities. This provides an opportunity for you to explain how organization’s divide their spending into categories that relate to supplier markets and how categories are then further divided by business or function. This helps to identify the best supplier.

Once you fully understand the categories, you can assess the supplier market by preparing a survey to evaluate supplier capabilities. Then, you can build a strategy, request proposals or bids, and select and negotiate a contract. Finally, communicate with your new suppliers. Your ability to explain this clearly can get you the job.