What type of project would you like to manage here?
When the recruiter asks "What type of project would you like to manage here?", they are not expecting an unrealistic wish list, but a demonstration of your strategic vision and your alignment with the company. To answer powerfully, it is essential to link your professional aspirations to the company's concrete projects. The best approach is to mention one or two types of projects that excite you and are in line with the company's activities, explaining how your skills and experience would allow you to bring real added value. Your answer must prove that you have thought about your future contribution and that you are ready to invest in initiatives that will move the company forward.
Why is this question asked?
Recruiters ask this question to assess:
- Your understanding of the role: The recruiter wants to know if you understand the company's current projects and have a clear idea of what you would like to accomplish.
- Your motivation and vision: They are trying to understand what types of projects you are passionate about and how you can contribute to the company.
- Your ability to adapt: The recruiter wants to know if you are flexible and capable of adapting to the company's priorities, even if projects do not exactly match your initial expectations.
Tips
Show your enthusiasm for projects linked to the company's objectives, but do not hesitate to express your preferences, as long as they remain realistic and appropriate to the context.
What to avoid
Do not mention projects that are too far removed from the company's reality or not relevant to the role you are applying for.
How to structure your answer
1. Show that you understand the company's projects
Start by finding out about the company's current or upcoming projects — through their website, social media, or previous conversations with the recruiter. This shows that you have taken the time to understand the company's priorities and can picture yourself in its projects.
Concrete example
"From what I have seen, you are working on several digital transformation projects. This type of project particularly excites me, as I love the idea of contributing to innovation and improving processes through new technologies."
2. Connect your skills to the company's projects
Draw a link between the projects that interest you and your skills. For example, if you are applying for a project management role, explain that you would like to lead projects that leverage your organizational skills and team management experience. This shows that you are well-prepared to take on the challenges of the role.
Tips
Use concrete examples from past projects to demonstrate how you have successfully managed similar projects.
graph TD
A[Type of project] --> B[Understand company projects]
A --> C[Connect skills to projects]
B --> D[Propose concrete ideas]3. Mention your professional aspirations
If you have a preference for a certain type of project — such as large-scale, innovative, or international projects — do not hesitate to mention it. However, it is essential to remain flexible and express interest in various types of projects.
Concrete example
"In the long term, I would like to manage international projects involving coordination between multiple teams and countries. This would allow me to leverage my multicultural management and communication skills."
4. Highlight your desire to contribute to the company's growth
Explaining that you want to take on projects that have a real impact on the company's growth and objectives is an excellent way to show that you are results-oriented. This demonstrates your involvement and commitment to the company.
Tips
Mention strategic or high-value-added projects that could advance the company, such as innovation or new product development projects.
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Having no preference or showing no interest in a type of project
A vague or too-general answer may suggest that you lack motivation or vision. Show that you have a precise idea of what you would like to accomplish, while remaining flexible.
2. Not making the connection with the company's needs
Avoid focusing only on your personal preferences. Even if you have projects you are passionate about, it is important to show that you are ready to adapt to the company's priorities.
3. Proposing unrealistic or overly ambitious projects
While it is important to share your ambitions, do not propose projects that are unrealistic or do not match the company's resources or priorities. Keep a realistic approach.
What to avoid
"I would like to lead a complete transformation of your company in just six months." This may seem unrealistic and overambitious.
Adapting your answer based on the role
For a project management position
If you are applying for a project management role, you can mention large-scale projects, cross-functional projects involving several departments, or projects requiring complex resource and deadline management.
For a creative role
In a creative role, you might mention projects where you have the opportunity to create new products or services, design innovative experiences, or work on projects that foster creativity and innovation.
Tips
Align your answer with the role you are targeting. This shows that you have a clear and realistic vision of what you can accomplish in this position.
Conclusion
The question "What type of project would you like to manage here?" is an excellent opportunity to show that you have thought about how you can contribute to the company. By talking about your preferences while remaining flexible, and by explaining how your skills can be leveraged in the company's projects, you can answer convincingly. Be enthusiastic but realistic, and show that you are ready to fully invest in the projects entrusted to you.
Practice now
Now that you have the keys to answering this question, practice with our analysis tool! Get personalized feedback and improve your answering technique.