Internal job interviews are different from regular interviews.

With our insightful guide, enter the world of mastering internal job interviews. Learn what sets them apart from regular interviews and how to showcase your in-house achievements.

Internal job interviews should be easier than interviews where you have been recruited or headhunted externally. We say ‘should be’ easier because they are not always; sometimes, internal promotion interviews can be more challenging than your initial recruitment interview for the simple reason the hiring manager knows you or thinks they do.

Internal job interviews require a certain amount of reputation management; tweaking your skills may be necessary as you may be looking to work in an entirely different area of your organisation. The bigger the company, the more important it is to manage your personal brand, as water cooler gossip might hinder your progress.

We will guide you through the vital aspects of personal brand management and how to approach internal interviews. We will provide tips on how to use your inside knowledge to your advantage, get that internal job, and progress your career within your organisation.

Why internal job interviews are different

Internal interviews are conversations between you, the current employee, the hiring manager, or the HR professional. Internal interviews differ significantly from external interviews because of their affiliation with your organisation. It’s this affiliation that can make or break your promotion chances.

Promoting from within is often the preferential way that organisations recruit new talent. Internal promotion has so many advantages and is often the most effective way to create employee satisfaction and increase productivity.

If it’s career progression you’re after, internal interviews are an excellent vehicle that can be used to make your mark and learn about opportunities even if you have no realistic chance of the specific position you’re applying for.

Internal job interview – tips to help you get ready

The following are positive points to keep in mind when you apply for an internal interview:

1. Company familiarity

You know the company and how it works, and this is a big advantage over an external contact. By discussing the company’s culture and processes, you can demonstrate your understanding of the organisation’s workings.

#Top-Tip: Read and digest the company’s mission statement, vision statement, and any publicly available forecast reports. You can use this information to tailor your personal brand to match the goals of your organisation.

2. Internal competition

It’s likely that you will know your internal competition for the role you are applying for. This can be a good thing, or it can be off-putting. The thing to remember is that this promotion is usually part of a bigger picture, and the role may seem destined for a certain individual, but that might not meet the company’s vision. In other words, do not be put off; apply anyway.

# Top-Tip: Identify the competition and understand where their strengths and weaknesses differ from yours. Consider approaching them to understand their career path and whether they can offer any help or advice with yours. You don’t have to take the advice, but you might learn something useful by just listening.

3. Potential for growth

If you are invited to apply for an internal promotion, and even if you’re not, you should consider the possibility that the interview alone is a stepping stone for professional growth. By applying and attending the interview, you are telling your organisation that you care about longevity and that you want to progress.

#Top-Tip: Only apply for positions that are relevant to you. Do not waste time applying for posts that you do not want. If the HR manager thinks you are applying randomly, they might view this negatively and think you’re unhappy. If you don’t understand quantum physics, don’t apply for a job as a scientist.

How to sell yourself in an internal job interview

As with an external interview, you must sell yourself and promote the very best version of yourself when aiming for internal promotions.

This can be called your personal brand and it is your reputation. It is all about what you bring, the combination of your skills and values that make you uniquely employable. Your personal branding should focus on what makes you memorable, different, and ultimately more employable than other candidates.

Personal branding is not just about academic skills and qualifications (although those are important); it’s the combination of soft skills, personal awareness and ambition that makes up your brand.

Before your internal interview – know yourself

To boost your chances of succeeding in your interval job interview and getting the promotion, it is essential that you know yourself. Of course, the employer will know what you have done, how you have performed however do they know your personal goals, your hidden skills and talents?

Here are eight steps to help review and refresh your mind when approaching your internal interview.

1. Self-assessment

Carry out a detailed self-assessment by reviewing workplace feedback or speaking to a professional to understand your strengths and weaknesses.

2. Understanding purpose

By taking step one, self-assessment, you will be closer to understanding your purpose. It’s about understanding why you do what you do professionally. Understanding your purpose gives meaning to your career. Understanding your motivation means you can move in the right direction.

3. Know your strengths

Understanding your strengths and weaknesses is part of step one—self-assessment. It helps you focus on and recognise your unique skills and talents and leverage them to your advantage.

4. Harness your energy

When you have an honest self-assessment and understand your purpose, including your strengths and weaknesses, you can spend your energy in the best places. Rather than worrying about vague things, when presented with hard evidence through self-assessment, it’s easier to create a plan, which in turn will help you succeed.

5. Get clarity

Reviewing your self-assessment every few months can lead to clarity. Different situations and circumstances lead to changes in direction that will always benefit from clarity. Changing your direction is allowed and, in some instances, encouraged.

6. Understand your legacy

Legacy is the second most important part of your personal branding. Understanding the long-term goal of your actions will help you to design the impact you wish to leave within your professional milestones.

7. Take ownership

It’s your brand, and you must own it. Do not leave it to others; take responsibility for your brand and its development.

8. Rebrand when necessary

Like any commercial brand, rebranding is crucial to staying up to date. It is also a great opportunity to change direction; after all, it’s unlikely that your career path or career goals will remain the same from 21 to 45 and beyond.

Now that you know yourself and what you bring, let’s focus on preparing for your internal interview.

How to prepare for your internal job interview

Preparing for an internal job interview is part of your promotion strategy. It’s vital that you research and understand the position’s requirements. Arriving at an interview unprepared is nothing worse and more likely to damage your personal brand and hinder your chances of promotion.

Reflect on your contributions:

No matter how great or caring the company ethos appears, what the hiring manager really needs to hear is how your contributions have directly or indirectly increased revenue. Eventually, everything comes down to the bottom line. The interviewer may not be aware of your strengths, performance and achievements, so make sure you tell them. Consider bringing evidence to support your claims.

Review your assessments and appraisals:

Refresh your recent appraisals, be clear on your key achievements and what you learned from them. Be ready to talk through the skills you acquired, how you have grown and developed as an employee. Review also where competency gaps were identified and what you did to close the gaps, perhaps training courses you have undertaken.

Outline your strengths and abilities

Knowing when it’s okay to blow your own trumpet is a skill; it’s not always a good idea to talk up your abilities. However, an internal interview is the perfect time to talk about your achievements. Speak up, and don’t be backwards in coming forward.

Bring examples to show evidence

Be ready to talk through specific examples of tasks, projects and achievements and remember to talk about the challenges as well as the successful outcomes. It’s likely that the skills you have learned when overcoming these challenges will be vital in the new role and the recruiter will be interested in this part of your professional journey. A hiring manager or HR professional will respect your ability to reflect and honestly judge your work.

Approach as if it were an external interview

Even if you know the hiring manager or interviewer, it can be easy to transition into an informal or casual manner. However, you need to remember what is at stake, so be polite but always remain professional. View this as you would an interview with an external organisation, show respect for the company and the interviewer and that you are taking the role you are applying for seriously.

Dress for the part you are applying for:

You might think this is not important or relevant, but people make up their minds about you in the first seven seconds of meeting you—yes, SEVEN whole seconds to make an impression.

We are not advocating an entirely new wardrobe or style, but smart, clean clothes without breakfast stains are crucial. What’s more, they will make you feel more confident and in control. Clothes aside, shoes are also a marker. Wear clean or polished shoes without holes and save the trainers for the gym.

Internal job interview questions

Always arrive at an internal interview (or any interview, for that matter) with questions that are specific to the organisation’s future and your role within it. Ask questions; the more interested you are in the company’s future, the better you will appear to the hiring manager.

Your questions will help you decide if the role is actually suitable for you as part of your career plan. It’s your opportunity to interview the company representative and make sure you’re a good fit from all angles.

Here are some generic internal interview questions:

• Why have you applied for this promotion at this time?
• Outline why you think you are ready to take on the additional responsibilities associated with this senor post.
• In your most recent appraisal, what skills gaps were highlighted and what steps have you taken to develop your skills further?
• Talk us through a recent example which shows your ability to manage a team.
• What do you envisage will be most challenging for you in this new post?
• Talk us through a recent project where you had to call upon your colleagues in order to complete successfully.
• Where you do you see yourself in terms of your career after this posting?

Keep in mind that the panel will be trying to assess whether you are ready to take on the promotion. They probably believe that you can based on your performance to date, however you will most likely be competing with other equally qualified candidates.

Your interview answers must convince them that you are ready and with your unique internal perspective you can perform excellently in the role.

Show you want the job

If you’re applying for a promotion, articulate your desire for the new role. Tell the recruiter in plain terms that you want the job, and remind yourself why you’re applying before you go to the interview. Your brain will translate this into enthusiasm, which will be visible during the interview.

Not all interviews will go your way, and promotions are not always easy to get, but if you keep trying and stay focused on success, you will get there in the end—if you haven’t got there right now, it’s because it’s not the end!

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About the Author | Andrew Reed

Experienced interview coach with Anson Reed and co-author of the bestselling interview guide Top Answers to 121 Job Interview Questions. With over 20 years experience of recruiting and leading large teams Andrew is well placed to know just what is required to secure a job offer.