8 Sure Tips To Ace An Internal Interview

You’ve put your hat in the ring for a new position at your company and you just got word that you’ve been selected for an interview. What could be easier than chatting with managers you already know? Sounds Easy, right? Wrong. Internal interviews require the same professionalism and dedication as interviews with an external company.

Don’t expect it to be a formality or a smooth process. Preparation is crucial in every kind of interview.

If you are up for an internal position in your company, here’s how to ace that interview;

Research the role

Just as you would in any interview, you need to do some research into what the job entails. This will help you answer questions thrown at you, as well as help you determine whether or not it’s the right job for you. Study the criteria and write down a set of clear responses that address each one.

Consider the company

As an insider, you have the wonderful advantage of not just knowing what your company does, but why it does it. You know its mission and its values and can recognize its strong suits. You’re already a part of the company culture, therefore you already know how to fit into it and who are the key players. Make sure you touch on this information.

Read up on the field

It’s one thing to know about your company, but what about its competitors? Talking about the industry as a whole is a good approach, but it’s even more impressive if you can address other key industry players and how your company should fit in the big industry picture.

Mention recent news

If you know of changes within the company, be sure to mention this. If, for example, your company has just received a large grant, talk about how this may affect future goals and programs. If the company has recently been involved in some controversy – such as the stepping down of a director – don’t shy away from it and instead use this information to highlight your knowledge on internal changes.

Research the hiring committee

You’re lucky enough to already know the hiring committee, or at the very least, someone who does. Ask questions about their roles and try to understand what their expectations are. You might think approaching HR or the hiring committee prior to the interview process is cheating, but it shows initiative. In fact, not talking to them prior could appear worse.

Prepare yourself for criticism

No employee has a perfect employment record, so be prepared for some of your mistakes to come to light during the interview. Perhaps you lost a client or you billed the wrong person. Maybe you missed a deadline or you posted something you shouldn’t have on social media. These things happen, so take ownership of your mistakes and use them to talk about what you’ve learnt since joining the company. Explain what happened, what went wrong, and how you can avoid making the same mistake again. Whatever you do, don’t become defensive and start blaming others.

Expect tough questions

The questions asked during an internal interview can sometimes be tougher that those asked in an external one. This is because they get a lot more personal. You might be asked:

• What don’t you like about your current role?
• Why do you want to change departments?
• What is your plan if you don’t get this promotion?
• What makes you stand out from the other candidates?

Aim to answer these questions as honestly as you can.

Talk about your achievements

Compiling a list of your achievements and contributions so far will provide the hiring committee with some great insight into your capabilities. For this you’ll need the kudos of your fellow co-workers or excerpts from past performance reviews. Search your work email for words such as “good job” or “thanks so much” coming from your current and previous bosses, as well as your clients. Don’t just presume that they are familiar with your work based on the fact you work in the same building. Bring your CV, work samples, and an internal reference list.

Bottom line;

The key thing to remember when applying for an internal role is to treat it with the same professionalism you would with an external interview. Dress the part so it doesn’t look like ‘just another day at the office’. Shake hands, make eye contact, and go prepared.

Nervous about your upcoming interviews? Wondering how you will impress the employer? Worry not! A professional interview coach is what you need to wow that employer and clinch that job!