How to Prepare for an Internal Interview 2024

What Is an Internal Interview?

If you want to change jobs or move up in the corporation in which you are working, you will probably need to attend an internal interview. An internal interview takes place inside your current place of employment, with people you likely already know.

An internal interview is used for the same purpose as an external one: to find someone to fill an empty position. It can also be a promotion interview, where the candidate has applied for a higher position within the company they work for. Many employers are happy that their employees are choosing to stay in the company and want to see them grow and succeed.

By hiring internally, the company knows what type of employee they are getting already, and a lot of the guesswork is gone. There is also less orientation and job training needed.

You will likely face some of the same interview questions as external candidates, such as:

• Why have you applied for this position?
• What are your goals?
• Where do you see yourself in several years?
• What do you feel are your strengths and weaknesses?

However, there may also be questions more specific to the internal interview, about:

• What you feel you have done well in your current role
• What mistakes you feel you may have made
• What you feel you would do differently in the role you are interviewing for

You should also be prepared for the possibility that you will not get the job and you must continue to work there, alongside people who know you applied for the job.

What to Expect at an Internal Interview

There are similarities and differences between internal and external interviews. The key difference is that external interviews deal with applicants outside of the company, while internal ones involve applicants who already work within the company.

Even though you may know, or even work with, the people who will be interviewing you during an internal interview, it is important to treat it as a formal, professional situation, and be well prepared.

You will probably be interviewed by a supervisor and your direct manager. If it is a position that carries much responsibility, there may be several interviewers.

With an internal interview, your interviewer may already be aware of your work ethic and professional reputation.

Just like an external interview, there are several steps you should take to prepare for an internal interview.

9 Top Tips for Internal Interviews

Here are some tips to help you make it through your internal interview.

Understand Your New Role

As an internal interviewee, you are in a good position to learn all you can about the role. Try to speak with the line manager of the role to get an idea of what the job entails.

If you can, speak to the person who is leaving the position as well as other possible colleagues. Not only do you want an idea of the job, but your potential new supervisor as well.

Ensure that you find out as much as possible about the role, both good and bad. You don’t want to face any surprises in your interview when some duties are mentioned that you did not know about.

Sell Yourself

While your interviewer will have a copy of your resume, it is always a good idea to bring your own copy and be prepared to emphasize your strengths and what you will bring to the position.

Gather as much feedback as you can from work colleagues, clients and others you may interact with. Look at the duties of the job and emphasize examples of where you could do well and even improve things.

Explain Why You Want the Role

It is important to be able to verbalize why you would like the job. Be enthusiastic and optimistic about taking on a new position and new duties. Know why it is a good step in your career and what you can learn from it.

For example, you may tell your interviewer that this position is the next step to your ultimate goal, or that you have been taking some courses to move in a new direction and you feel this job is something you can excel in.

Verbalize Your Achievements

While most of this information may be on your CV, you should be prepared to identify and elaborate on any professional achievements you have made in your career.

Don’t be shy about your accomplishments. Explain any commendations you have received, any awards you have won, or some sales targets or financial goals you have met.

Be Professional

In an internal interview, you may know your interviewer well, even socially. However, it is important to maintain a professional demeanor throughout your interview. You want to show that you are a professional.

Use the STAR Method

The STAR interview response method can help you answer internal interview questions more concisely with concrete examples of your skills and experience.

STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result. Using this method can be most helpful when answering questions that ask you to “Describe a time when…” or “Share an example of...”

The STAR concept will help you answer behavioral interview questions.

Each stage of the method is outlined below:

• Situation – Describe a task that you have performed or a challenge you faced. Maybe it was a conflict at work, a disagreement with a co-worker or a project that you worked on. You could also use an example from outside-work events or volunteer work.
• Task – Describe what your responsibilities have been in given situations. Perhaps they involved making a project work, completing a target or resolving a conflict.
• Action – Focus on what you did as an individual to complete the task at hand.
• Result – Explain how your actions resulted in the outcome. Emphasize what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience.

Don’t Neglect Your Current Job

Even though preparation is essential for your interview, do not neglect your current position.

The workweek is continuing, and you are likely to have duties that need to be completed. You do not want to give the impression that you are slacking on the job because you are hoping to leave.

Ask Questions

Show your interest in the job by asking questions.

Beware of asking questions that you should already have the answers to through your pre-interview research.

Follow Up

Be sure to follow up after your interview. Interviewers can get bogged down with a lot of other work and it is a good idea to keep yourself on their radar.

It also helps to show you are still interested after the interview is over.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Making the effort to advance in your career is always a positive move. Getting an interview is a good sign that others think so too. The most important thing to remember is that despite being an internal interview, it is still an interview, and should be approached with professionalism.

There are many steps and tips you can use to be well prepared and comfortable for the interview. Know the position you are applying for, know your strengths and weaknesses, sell yourself and keep everything professional, and you will do well.