How to Lead Cross-Functional Teams: Mock Interview with Cisco Program Manager

Summary

In this video, a program manager candidate receives feedback on their interview performance. The interviewer commends the candidate's knowledge, clear communication, and effective demonstration of key traits like empathy and conflict resolution. Suggestions for improvement include taking time to think before responding to complex questions and providing more specific examples to highlight depth in experience. The feedback aims to refine the candidate's interview skills for future success.

Takeaways

• 😀 Demonstrating program management knowledge through specific terminology (e.g., steering committees, burn-down charts) enhances credibility.
• 😀 Clear structure in communication, such as numbering points, makes it easier for interviewers to follow and understand answers.
• 😀 Emphasizing behavioral skills like empathy, negotiation, and conflict resolution can leave a strong impression on interviewers.
• 😀 Asking for time to think, especially for difficult questions, can help you provide more thoughtful and structured answers.
• 😀 Providing specific examples of past projects, challenges, and successes helps make your answers more tangible and relatable.
• 😀 Mentioning high-level processes (e.g., stakeholder management, risk management) is important, but detailing how they applied to real projects adds depth.
• 😀 Being confident and knowing the job requirements will inspire trust in the interviewer regarding your ability to succeed in the role.
• 😀 Focusing on the traits and skills you want to highlight before answering can guide your response in a way that aligns with the company's culture.
• 😀 Silence during a pause in thinking should be communicated to avoid awkwardness and give a sense of reflection before responding.
• 😀 Providing specific project timelines, teams involved, and conflicts helps to demonstrate your hands-on experience in managing real-world challenges.

Q & A

What is the first key strength mentioned in the feedback?

The first key strength is that the candidate demonstrated a solid understanding of the role, using industry-specific terminology such as 'steering committees', 'PMOs', 'burn down charts', and 'comms plans'. This showed the interviewer that the candidate knows how to perform the job effectively.

How did the candidate structure their communication effectively during the interview?

The candidate structured their communication well by clearly numbering the points they wanted to make. This made the conversation easier to follow and demonstrated organizational skills.

Why is it important for a candidate to demonstrate specific traits during an interview?

Demonstrating specific traits such as empathy, negotiation skills, and conflict resolution helps the interviewer understand the candidate’s ability to handle real-world challenges. This also provides insight into how the candidate might fit into the company culture.

What specific skills did the interviewer find impressive in the candidate's responses?

The interviewer was impressed by the candidate’s ability to use empathy and negotiation skills, particularly when discussing their experience with difficult stakeholders. This demonstrated the candidate's ability to manage conflict effectively.

What is one suggestion for improvement provided to the candidate?

One key suggestion was for the candidate to ask for a moment to think before answering questions, especially when faced with curveball questions. This would give the candidate time to organize their thoughts and provide more coherent responses.

What was the issue with the candidate’s pause when thinking during the interview?

The issue was that while the candidate took time to think, they didn't communicate this to the interviewer, resulting in an awkward silence. The interviewer suggested that the candidate should explicitly ask for time to think, which would make the pause more natural.

What was the biggest area of improvement the interviewer suggested for the candidate?

The biggest area for improvement was to provide more specific examples of projects, timelines, and conflicts. Instead of just discussing high-level processes, the candidate should give detailed examples to demonstrate their experience and level of responsibility.

How does being more specific in responses help during an interview?

Being more specific helps the interviewer understand the candidate’s exact role in past projects and the challenges they faced. It allows the interviewer to see the candidate’s decision-making process, problem-solving abilities, and the impact of their work.

Why is using a high-level approach sometimes not enough in interviews for senior positions?

In senior positions, interviewers are looking for evidence of leadership and hands-on experience. High-level descriptions might show general knowledge, but specific examples are needed to demonstrate the depth of the candidate's expertise and how they've contributed to actual project outcomes.

What final impression did the interviewer give of the candidate’s performance?

The interviewer expressed confidence that the candidate would be a great program manager for any company. The feedback was generally positive, with the suggestion to focus on specificity as a way to further improve.