Describe a time when you worked cross functionally on a project. What did you differently to manage it well?
Having access to a diverse set of experiences, skills, and backgrounds means your projects are infused with more resources, creativity, and elevated problem-solving. A successful answer illustrates not only your exposure to cross-functional teamwork but also your ability to be in the driver's seat of it. Talk about how differently you might communicate across teams versus communicating with one lean team. In addition, the interviewer will also want to learn how you might leverage everyone's strengths and limitations to ensure project success.
"When I worked for ABC Consultants, we collaborated across departments all the time. I monitored tasks between teams and reported project progress bi-weekly to the Vice Presidents of Marketing, Customer Experience, and Business Development. To foster collaboration, I facilitated working sessions with the individual teams, and sometimes between two or three different teams. If I needed the expertise of someone in particular, I booked time with them separately to avoid wasting other stakeholders' time. Whenever necessary, we also pulled in key personnel from other teams like Quality Assurance and Web Development. To keep stakeholders up to speed, I made sure to send relevant notifications whenever tasks were completed or if there was anything blocking the completion of tasks. However, when it came to the VPs, I kept it rather concise and results-oriented."
