How To Prepare for an Internal Job Interview at Your Current Company?

You recently got good news after applying to an internal job opening at your current organization. Internal job interviews can appear uncomplicated when they are actually just as competitive and difficult as external ones. 

Nothing is guaranteed. So, brushing up on your interviewing techniques is a good idea. This article discusses the next steps and how to ace the interview with expert-recommended internal interview tips. 

What Is An Internal Interview?

When you seek a higher or distinct position with the firm you now work for and are being weighed for the role, an internal interview—typically a promotion interview—occurs. 

Internal job candidates frequently have an edge because the business is already familiar with their work ethics. Internal personnel also require less training since they are already familiar with the company’s values, mission, expectations, and procedures. 

How To Succeed In An Internal Job Interview

Researching the position before the internal interview and preparing your responses is essential. Here are a few tips for performing an effective internal interview:

Conduct Research

Perhaps you know everything about the way your current company works. However, that doesn’t mean you’re familiar with the new job role and how it works. As mentioned in Forbes, you must conduct comprehensive research to understand the job duties in the new role as and compare them with your current role. 

You should approach the position from the standpoint of your organization, examining how it fits into short- and long-term goals. Moreover, you can update your resume more effectively by knowing which abilities and verbs to emphasize.

You Won’t Have a Competitive Edge

Since you are a well-known candidate, you could believe you have an advantage. This may be accurate in some instances. As wise businesses know, employing an existing employee is faster and less expensive. However, that does not ensure a benefit. 

The recruiting manager may be trying to find someone with a different viewpoint or abilities that they believe no one else in the company possesses. 

Know The Ins-And-Outs of This Position

Being an internal candidate may provide you an advantage since you get a personal look at the role. Ask the person currently holding this position what their present responsibilities are and what to anticipate from this role if they go on to another one. 4

To be ready for queries about your suitability for the position during the interview, find out their greatest tasks and problems. 

Steps To Prepare For An Internal Job Interview

You should prepare for the interview by performing a background study on the internal role before going to the interview. Here are the three steps to prepare for an internal job interview: 

• Step 1: Note the activities, programs, and successes that support these traits, abilities, and capabilities. How did those measures help the business? Work on your technique constantly. You can use these responses to address various interview inquiries. 
• Step 2: List 10 characteristics, abilities, or traits you think the particular role, team, or department would find appealing. 
• Step 3: To the interview, bring many copies of your résumé. Regardless of whether recruiting managers request a copy, it is customary practice. 

Internal Interview Questions

Here are a couple of the most important internal interview questions, along with sample answers: 

Will you be able to carry out your existing responsibilities if we choose to hire a new candidate? 

Answer: Even though I adore my job, I would probably look for work elsewhere if the employer chooses to hire someone else. As a result of my time here, I have developed in my position and am now prepared for new challenges and responsibilities. This position would allow me to advance to the next career stage, just as I am prepared to do so. I believe I can contribute significantly to this business and have the skills for this higher-level role. 

Why should we hire you over a candidate from outside the company? 

Answer: “I know the ins and outs of this company while I worked here for the past ‘X’ years. I have established myself as the go-to person for any IT troubleshooting since I am constantly prepared to respond to inquiries from clients and coworkers. I am familiar with all of our procedures and put in a lot of effort each day to carry out the objectives of our business. No other candidate for this position will have my experiences with this organization.” 

Conclusio

• Be as prepared as you would for an external or internal interview. 
• Talk to coworkers and study the job description to learn more about the internal role. 
• Find methods to connect the internal position to your present successes, abilities, and capabilities. 
• Never imply that the hiring manager or managers know you or your background. 

FAQs

What is the best way to prepare for an internal interview?

To prepare for the internal interview, follow these points:

• Do research.
• Reach them out. 
• Exhibit your accomplishments in that area.
• Show your skills and experience. 
• Show your past performance records.

Should you inform your present employer about an internal interview? 

You should still inform your management about it even though there are no internal protocols in place for it. So that they can prepare in advance for how to fill the position you will be leaving open. 

What to avoid saying in a workplace interview? 

Do not ask self-serving questions like “Does this job include a pay raise?” Such inquiries can hurt the job because they show the company you are not interested in the position.