Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Balanced Scorecard • Competitive Intelligence • Business Transformation

Project Charter

Term from Consulting industry explained for recruiters

A Project Charter is a formal document that officially starts a project and gives the project manager authority to use company resources. Think of it as a project's birth certificate and game plan combined. It clearly explains what the project aims to achieve, who's involved, what resources are needed, and what success looks like. In consulting, this document is crucial because it helps everyone - from team members to clients - understand exactly what they're getting into. Similar terms include Project Brief, Project Initiation Document (PID), or Project Definition Document.

Examples in Resumes

Created and managed Project Charter for a $2M digital transformation initiative

Led development of Project Charters for 12 concurrent client engagements

Successfully delivered outcomes defined in Project Charter for Fortune 500 client

Typical job title: "Project Managers"

Also try searching for:

Management Consultant Project Manager Program Manager Business Analyst Project Coordinator Engagement Manager Project Lead

Where to Find Project Managers

Professional Organizations

Online Communities

Job Boards

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you handle stakeholder conflicts when creating a Project Charter?

Expected Answer: Should explain their approach to managing different stakeholder expectations, negotiating compromises, and ensuring all key parties agree on project scope and objectives before finalizing the charter.

Q: Tell me about a time when you had to revise a Project Charter mid-project. How did you handle it?

Expected Answer: Should describe experience with change management, stakeholder communication, and maintaining project control while adapting to new requirements or constraints.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What key elements do you include in a Project Charter?

Expected Answer: Should mention project objectives, scope, timeline, budget, key stakeholders, risks, and success criteria as essential components of a charter.

Q: How do you ensure your Project Charter aligns with business objectives?

Expected Answer: Should explain how they connect project goals to larger organizational strategy and validate this alignment with stakeholders.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is the purpose of a Project Charter?

Expected Answer: Should explain that it's the formal document that authorizes the project, defines its basic elements, and gives the project manager authority to use resources.

Q: Who typically signs off on a Project Charter?

Expected Answer: Should identify key stakeholders like the project sponsor, key stakeholders, and sometimes the project manager as typical signatories.