Tell me about a time when you had to work with cross-functional teams


 Theme: Cross-functional Collaboration  Role: Sales Engineer  Function: Sales

  Interview Question for Sales Engineer:  See sample answers, motivations & red flags for this common interview question. About Sales Engineer: Provides technical expertise and support during the sales process. This role falls within the Sales function of a firm. See other interview questions & further information for this role here

 Sample Answer 


  Example response for question delving into Cross-functional Collaboration with the key points that need to be covered in an effective response. Customize this to your own experience with concrete examples and evidence

  •  Context: Provide a brief overview of the situation and the cross-functional teams involved
  •  Objective: Explain the goal or objective that required collaboration with cross-functional teams
  •  Communication: Describe how you effectively communicated with team members from different functions
  •  Collaboration: Explain how you collaborated with cross-functional teams to achieve the objective
  •  Challenges: Discuss any challenges or conflicts that arose during the collaboration
  •  Resolution: Explain how you resolved the challenges and ensured smooth collaboration
  •  Results: Highlight the positive outcomes achieved through working with cross-functional teams
  •  Learning: Share any lessons or insights gained from this experience

 Underlying Motivations 


  What the Interviewer is trying to find out about you and your experiences through this question

  •  Collaboration skills: Assessing your ability to work effectively with teams from different departments or functions
  •  Communication skills: Evaluating your capability to communicate and coordinate with individuals from diverse backgrounds
  •  Problem-solving skills: Understanding your approach to resolving conflicts or challenges that arise when working with cross-functional teams
  •  Adaptability: Determining your flexibility and adaptability in adjusting to different work styles and perspectives
  •  Leadership potential: Assessing your ability to lead and influence individuals from different teams towards a common goal

 Potential Minefields 


  How to avoid some common minefields when answering this question in order to not raise any red flags

  •  Lack of collaboration: If the candidate mentions a situation where they struggled to work effectively with cross-functional teams or had conflicts with team members
  •  Poor communication skills: If the candidate fails to clearly explain their role and responsibilities within the cross-functional team or if they struggle to articulate the challenges faced and the solutions implemented
  •  Inflexibility: If the candidate demonstrates an unwillingness to adapt to different working styles or if they were resistant to incorporating ideas or suggestions from other team members
  •  Lack of problem-solving skills: If the candidate does not provide a clear example of how they successfully resolved conflicts or overcame challenges while working with cross-functional teams
  •  Inability to meet deadlines: If the candidate mentions instances where they were unable to deliver on time or failed to coordinate effectively with other team members to meet project deadlines
  •  Lack of leadership: If the candidate does not demonstrate their ability to take initiative, provide guidance, or facilitate collaboration within the cross-functional team
  •  Poor relationship-building skills: If the candidate does not mention efforts to establish and maintain positive relationships with team members from different functions or if they struggled to gain cooperation and support from others