1. What is a Project Manager at Workiva?

As a Project Manager at Workiva, you play a central role in orchestrating the delivery of the company’s flagship platform, Wdesk. Workiva is a leader in connected reporting and compliance solutions, meaning the products you help manage are critical for thousands of organizations worldwide to handle complex data, finance, and ESG reporting. This role is not merely about tracking tickets; it is about driving clarity in a complex SaaS environment and ensuring that cross-functional teams—spanning engineering, product, and customer success—move in sync.

You will act as a bridge between technical execution and business strategy. Workiva places a heavy emphasis on collaboration and "humble competency." The environment is fast-paced and innovative, but the company culture prioritizes sustainable work practices and genuine teamwork. You will be expected to manage scope, mitigate risks, and foster communication across distributed teams, often helping to translate high-level product visions into actionable development cycles.

2. Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Preparation for the Workiva Project Manager interview requires a shift in mindset. You should not just prepare to list your certifications; you must prepare to demonstrate how you influence people and manage ambiguity. The interview team is looking for authentic leadership and the ability to maintain composure under pressure.

Key Evaluation Criteria:

• Collaboration and Culture Fit – Workiva protects its culture fiercely. Interviewers will assess your humility, your willingness to help others, and how you handle conflict. They are looking for "force multipliers"—people who make the whole team better, not just individual high performers.
• Project Management Fundamentals – While you do not need to be a developer, you must demonstrate a mastery of PM methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Kanban). You will be evaluated on your ability to structure chaos, manage timelines, and utilize tools like Jira or Asana effectively.
• Communication Style – You will face questions designed to test how you convey bad news, how you negotiate scope with stakeholders, and how you present complex information to non-technical audiences. Clarity and conciseness are paramount.
• Adaptability – The SaaS landscape changes quickly. You need to show that you can pivot strategies when business needs shift without losing momentum or morale.

3. Interview Process Overview

The interview process at Workiva is generally described by candidates as transparent, structured, and relatively fast-paced, often concluding within 2 to 4 weeks. The process typically begins with an initial screening with a Talent Acquisition Specialist. This call is non-technical and focuses on your background, salary expectations, and interest in the company. If successful, you will move to a video interview with the Hiring Manager or a Senior Project Manager. This conversation digs deeper into your resume and specific project experiences.

Following the manager screen, the "loop" or onsite stage (often conducted virtually) involves multiple rounds. You can expect to meet with peer Project Managers, members of the development or operations teams, and potentially a General Manager. A distinctive feature of the Workiva process for Project Managers—particularly in recent years—is the inclusion of a presentation round. You may be asked to prepare a presentation on a past project or a hypothetical scenario to demonstrate your communication skills and strategic thinking in real-time.

Overall, the atmosphere is frequently described as "laid back" and conversational rather than an interrogation. However, do not mistake this friendliness for a lack of rigor; interviewers are meticulously assessing your soft skills and behavioral alignment throughout every interaction.

This timeline illustrates the typical flow from application to final decision. Use this to plan your energy; the final stage is the most intensive, requiring you to switch contexts rapidly between behavioral questions with peers and strategic discussions with leadership.

4. Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

The core of the Workiva interview focuses on how you work with people and how you manage the mechanics of project delivery. Based on candidate data, you should focus your preparation on the following areas.

Behavioral & Situational Leadership

This is the most heavily weighted area. Workiva interviewers want to know how you achieve results, not just what you achieved. They will probe into your history of conflict resolution and stakeholder management. Strong performance here means providing specific examples where you led through influence rather than authority.

Be ready to go over:

• Conflict Resolution – How you handle disagreements between developers and product owners.
• Failure Analysis – A specific time a project went off track and how you recovered.
• Team Motivation – How you keep a team engaged during a long or difficult sprint.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Tell me about a time you had to deliver bad news to a stakeholder. How did you handle it?"
• "Describe a situation where a team member was not pulling their weight. How did you address it?"
• "How do you handle scope creep when a deadline is approaching?"

Project Management Knowledge & Execution

While the role may not require you to write code, you must speak the language of the SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle). You will be tested on your practical application of PM principles. The "General Manager" or "Senior PM" interview often focuses specifically on these knowledge areas.

Be ready to go over:

• Agile/Scrum Ceremonies – Your specific role in stand-ups, retrospectives, and sprint planning.
• Risk Management – How you identify risks early and what mitigation strategies you employ.
• Prioritization – Frameworks you use to decide what gets built now versus later.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Walk me through how you plan a project from kickoff to delivery."
• "What tools do you use to track progress, and how do you ensure data accuracy?"
• "How do you balance technical debt against new feature development?"

Communication & Presentation

If you are asked to do a presentation, this is a critical evaluation of your ability to synthesize information. Even without a formal presentation round, your verbal communication is under a microscope.

Be ready to go over:

• Stakeholder Analysis – Tailoring your message to different audiences (e.g., engineers vs. executives).
• Project Post-Mortems – Presenting lessons learned without assigning blame.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Explain a complex technical challenge you faced to someone without a technical background."
• "Presentation Round: Present a project you managed, highlighting the challenges, the outcome, and what you would do differently."

5. Key Responsibilities

As a Project Manager at Workiva, your day-to-day work revolves around removing impediments and ensuring flow. You will act as the "Scrum Master" plus "Strategic Partner" for your squads. You are responsible for facilitating standard Agile ceremonies, including daily stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospectives. You will work closely with Engineering Managers and Product Managers to ensure that the backlog is healthy and that the team understands why they are building specific features.

Beyond the team level, you are responsible for cross-team dependencies. In a platform as interconnected as Wdesk, very few features are built in a silo. You will coordinate with other PMs to align release schedules and manage dependencies. You will also be the primary radiator of information, ensuring that stakeholders have visibility into project status, risks, and timelines without having to interrupt the development team.

6. Role Requirements & Qualifications

To be competitive for this role, you need a blend of experience and soft skills. Workiva looks for candidates who can hit the ground running but are also eager to learn their specific ecosystem.

• Must-have skills:

  • 3+ years of Project Management experience, ideally in a software or SaaS environment.
  • Agile/Scrum fluency: You must be comfortable working in iterative cycles and understand the rituals of Agile development.
  • Exceptional communication: The ability to articulate complex ideas clearly is non-negotiable.
  • Stakeholder Management: Proven experience managing expectations across different levels of an organization.

• Nice-to-have skills:

  • PMP or CSM Certification: While not always mandatory, these demonstrate a commitment to the profession.
  • Domain Knowledge: Experience in FinTech, accounting, or compliance reporting software is a significant plus.
  • Technical Familiarity: Understanding APIs, cloud infrastructure, or data integration helps you build credibility with engineers, though you won't be coding.

7. Common Interview Questions

The following questions are representative of what you can expect based on candidate reports. Workiva interviewers generally avoid "gotcha" questions or brain teasers. Instead, they focus on behavioral patterns and practical PM knowledge.

Behavioral & Collaboration

• "Tell me about a time you had to influence a team without having direct authority over them."
• "Describe a time you made a mistake at work. How did you handle it?"
• "How do you approach building trust with a new team?"
• "Give an example of a conflict you resolved between two team members."

Project Management Scenarios

• "How do you determine if a project is successful?"
• "If a key deliverable is at risk of being late, when and how do you communicate this to leadership?"
• "How do you handle a Product Manager who keeps adding requirements mid-sprint?"
• "Describe your process for managing risks in a high-stakes project."

Cultural Alignment

• "Why do you want to work for Workiva specifically?"
• "What does a 'collaborative work environment' mean to you?"
• "How do you handle feedback, both positive and constructive?"

These questions are based on real interview experiences from candidates who interviewed at this company. You can practice answering them interactively on Dataford to better prepare for your interview.

8. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How technical does the interview get? The consensus from candidates is that the process is not heavily technical. You will not be asked to code or design systems. However, you must be "technically literate"—able to understand the software development lifecycle and converse intelligently with developers about their blockers.

Q: Is there a presentation round? Yes, this is becoming increasingly common, especially for mid-to-senior level roles. You may be asked to present on a past project or a case study. This is your chance to show your organization and storytelling skills.

Q: What is the remote work policy? Workiva has a very flexible work culture. Many roles are fully remote or hybrid, depending on the specific team's location. Be sure to clarify the expectations for your specific role with the recruiter early on.

Q: How long does the process take? While some candidates experience a whirlwind one-week process, others report a timeline of 3–4 weeks. Factors include the seniority of the role and the availability of the panel.

9. Other General Tips

• Know the Product: Spend time on the Workiva website. Understand what Wdesk is and who uses it (CFOs, audit teams, ESG leaders). Being able to reference their product suite shows genuine interest.
• Emphasize "We" over "I": When answering behavioral questions, balance your individual contribution with team success. Workiva is highly collaborative; appearing too ego-driven is a red flag.
• Prepare for the "Laid Back" Trap: Because interviewers are friendly, candidates sometimes let their guard down too much. Remain professional and structured in your answers, even if the conversation feels casual.
• Follow Up: Candidates have noted that the process is generally transparent, but if you haven't heard back in the expected timeframe, a polite follow-up with your recruiter is acceptable and often helpful.

10. Summary & Next Steps

The Project Manager role at Workiva is an opportunity to work in a supportive, high-growth environment where culture and competence go hand in hand. The interview process is designed to find people who are not only organized and strategic but also empathetic and collaborative. By preparing strong behavioral examples and demonstrating a solid grasp of Agile methodologies, you can set yourself apart from the competition.

Focus your preparation on your communication skills and your ability to lead through influence. Remember that they are hiring a colleague, not just a resume. Approach the interviews with curiosity and authenticity, and you will be well-positioned to succeed.

Compensation at Workiva is competitive and often includes a mix of base salary, bonus potential, and equity (RSUs). The specific offer will depend heavily on your location (due to remote pay bands) and your experience level. Be prepared to discuss your expectations transparently with the recruiter during the initial screen.