| Interviewing for a position with your current | | | | confident, especially if you and your interviewer |
| company? Here are seven tips for excelling at internal | | | | know each other well. You may have a great |
| interviews. | | | | advantage over external candidates, but don't |
| (1) Emphasize how your specific experience and | | | | assume that's all you'll need. "Sell" yourself just as you |
| extensive knowledge of the company will make you | | | | would if interviewing for a different company. |
| the ideal person for the job. But provide details; don't | | | | (5) Don't assume you will know the interviewer(s). |
| assume the interviewer knows all about your past | | | | Companies often bring in people from other agencies |
| accomplishments (even if he/she does, spell them | | | | to provide an unbiased interview panel. If this is the |
| out). | | | | case, you'll have to be particularly careful about |
| (2) Use your "insider knowledge" to come up with | | | | highlighting your experience and accomplishments |
| answers to expected questions that will target what | | | | without using company-specific jargon that an |
| your company wants to hear. For example, if your | | | | outsider might not understand. |
| company is always emphasizing the importance of | | | | (6) In case the hiring supervisor is thinking about |
| customer service, be sure to talk specifically about | | | | bringing in an external candidate because he/she feels |
| how you've enhanced customer service in your | | | | a need for a fresh perspective and/or new ideas, be |
| current job. | | | | sure to work your creativity into your answers. |
| (3) Research the position for which you are applying, | | | | Show that you can be innovative and inventive, and |
| just as you would if it was at another company. Talk | | | | are full of "fresh" ideas yourself! |
| to people who work in that department; find out | | | | (7) Internal candidates often overlook this step: ask |
| what they're currently working on, and their | | | | for a letter of recommendation from your current |
| goals--then prepare to talk about how you can help | | | | boss or someone in a higher position. You may be |
| to achieve those goals during the interview. | | | | pleasantly surprised about the supportiveness of your |
| (4) Be careful not to sound too casual or overly | | | | supervisor when it comes to helping you advance! |