How do you feel when interviewing for a job at a company you already work for? The process may vary depending on whether the company is only considering internal candidates or if it is interviewing external applicants as well.
If there are only internal candidates, the process may be less formal and more like a meeting or discussion with the hiring manager. You may not even need to submit a formal application for the job. Otherwise, it may involve a formal application and a formal interview process with the hiring manager and company management, as well as other employees.
After applying for a job within the company, the next step is the interview.
Types of Internal Job Interview Questions
Review some types of internal job interview questions that may be asked of you when applying for a new position within the company you currently work for.
Common Interview Questions
When interviewing for an internal job with your current employer, you may be asked many traditional questions that are expected to be answered by all candidates, whether internal or external.
Don’t be surprised, for example, if you are asked a common question like “Why are you a good fit for this position?” Even if the interviewer knows you, they still want you to convince them that you are the right person for the job. Examples of common questions include:
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why should we hire you?
- Why are you the right person for this position?
- What is your greatest strength?
- What accomplishment are you most proud of?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
Questions About Your Current Job
Additionally, when interviewing for an internal position, you will likely be asked specific questions about why you want to leave your current job. When answering these questions, you want to avoid criticizing your current job or supervisor. Instead, focus on how the new position aligns with your skill set. Highlight the value you can bring to that role. Common questions about your current job may include:
- Why do you want to leave your current job?
- Why do you want to advance?
- Does your manager know you applied for this position?
- Will your manager recommend you for this position?
- What is it like working with your supervisor?
- If people who work with you were asked why you should be hired, what would they say?
- What do you like about your current job at the company?
- What do you dislike about the job you are currently in?
- What is your biggest success story in the XYZ department?
- What other positions have you held in the company?
Questions About the New Job
Also, expect questions about the new job and department as well. Make sure you have a clear understanding of the job and its requirements.
Note: If you know someone in the department, ask them for their insider perspective on what employers are looking for in an employee. This will help you answer questions about the new job, such as:
- Can you tell me what you know about the position you are being considered for?
- What do you know about our department?
- Why should we consider you for this position?
- Why do you want this job?
- What challenges are you looking for in this new role?
- Do you have any prior experience working in this capacity?
- What do you have that distinguishes you from other candidates?
- How will you spend your first 30 days in this new role?
Questions About Your Transition
The hiring manager may also ask you how you will handle transitioning from your current job to the new position. Be prepared to explain how you will make the transition as smooth as possible for you, your current manager, and your new manager. Questions about your transition may include:
- Does your manager know you applied for this position?
- What training will you need to be successful in this position?
- How will you handle the transition to your new job?
- How
- How will you handle it if you don’t get the job?
Questions about the company
Like most job interviews, you may also be asked questions about the company. This is an opportunity to show your inside knowledge of the organization. Be prepared to demonstrate your understanding of the company’s internal operations, its competitors, and its latest initiatives. Examples of questions about the company include:
- You’ve worked here for a long time. How have you seen this company change?
- What suggestions do you have to help the company achieve its mission?
- What are the company’s priorities for the upcoming years?
- What sets this company apart from its competitors?
Tips for succeeding in an internal job interview
As an internal candidate, you have insider information about the company. Here’s how to use that to help you land the job.
Use your inside knowledge to your advantage
Leverage your knowledge of the company and its employees to your benefit. One way to utilize your insider knowledge is to ask a colleague in the department about the job. Try to get an idea of what employers are looking for in candidates and emphasize those qualities in your interview.
Differentiate yourself from the competition
Set yourself apart from the competition when competing with external candidates by mentioning and emphasizing your experience and knowledge specific to the company and skills when answering interview questions.
Strike the right tone
If you know the interviewer personally, it’s acceptable to acknowledge that and be friendly toward them. However, don’t forget to be professional during the interview. Dress appropriately and answer questions thoroughly. Also, ensure you have questions for the employer ready.
Do your homework
Remember that external candidates might have researched the company to prepare for the interview. Even if you’ve been with the company for a long time, it’s a good idea to review their website and any internal publications to find “talking points” about the organization’s mission. This way, you can show that you’re aware of their business and/or productivity goals.
Share your accomplishments
It’s also important to provide examples of your achievements and successful projects and how they’ve helped meet the company’s goals and your accomplishments in your current role. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that upper management already knows and appreciates your past contributions. Use this opportunity to remind them of the value you’ve added to their organization, using specific examples of individual projects and achievements.
Follow up appropriately
Like any interview, be sure to follow up with a thank-you note or email. You can use this note as an opportunity to remind them of one or two key points from the interview to highlight why you’re a good fit for the job. However, if you see the interviewer in the office, don’t bother them about when you’ll hear about the job.
How to succeed in the interview
Review common interview questions prior to the actual interview to practice your responses to questions about your career path, your current job, the position you’re applying for, and the company, as well as how to transition to new responsibilities.
Leverage your insider knowledge
Learn as much as you can about the new position from others in the department, and demonstrate in the interview how your dedication and achievements on behalf of the company set you apart from external candidates.
Be professional in appearance and demeanor
Even if you know the interviewer personally, dress appropriately for the interview and maintain a professional tone. You should also send a strategic thank-you note to the interviewer(s) immediately after the interview.
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Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/internal-job-interview-questions-2061198
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