How to Answer: How do you get up to speed on a large domain of work and develop a plan to move forward?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Program Manager job interview.
30. How do you get up to speed on a large domain of work and develop a plan to move forward?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
You may be asked this question in an interview to assess your ability to quickly make progress with limited knowledge and resources. Interviewers are interested to know your processes for driving out scope details while you work to gain the trust of key stakeholders and make tactical changes.
Written by Karrie Day on June 3rd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to offer examples of how you would gather a broad scope of information by conducting largely facilitated sessions or using surveys. Also, remember to mention how you would add immediate value through the implementation of quick-hit opportunities.
Written by Karrie Day on June 3rd, 2022
Answer Example
"Clients often want to get moving as quickly as possible and do not have the desire to wait while all of the details are figured out. In this case, I usually request to facilitate a vision and goal-setting session with as many stakeholders as possible. During that time, I try to gather as wide a perspective as possible on what is working, what is broken, and what the high-level solution expectations are. From there, I lean on my experience and intuition to determine where the project managers, analysts, and other seniors within the program I am assigned need to dig further and which areas we can leave at a cursory review.
I establish relationships with the stakeholders as I go by taking them to lunch or calling them to brainstorm ideas. I also encourage members of the teams I am leading to shadow front-line users in the areas that will be affected the most by whatever strategy we follow. I immediately implement any tactical changes that require minimal resources. This helps me to quickly gain trust with the stakeholders. That trust is imperative when I present a recommendation because it allows me to be transparent about the areas we did not have time to analyze fully before we begin work on the associated projects."
Written by Karrie Day on June 3rd, 2022