Internal Interview Tips

[chris68]

From the last post on interview tips, here's a question that would be helpful to me on internal interviews.  I just had one this week and I stumbled on the same question of do you have anymore questions to ask that you would like to know about.  However, I did go back to this person the same day and ask another question that I meant to ask during the interview and forgot.  

Of course coming from inside I already know about most of the background on the company, the department, and somewhat of this person who interviewed me.  Tho I really don't know him that well and he hasn't been in his position all that long.

I had the job decription on me with some of the items circled that I wanted to ask him about.  He said which would you like to do hear my description of the job first or go thru your list of questions?  Well we went thru my list of questions and then proceeded to tell me what would be expected.  Which I think was a nice way to go about it cause it kinda broke the ice a bit too.

Of course if you see my post in Software Survival on powerpoint, that was a huge disappointment.  However, I see their point, you are already working here and should know this software.

Another question to pose, if a degree is a requirement and most of the people are non-degree people internal and external, what is the final decision making process?  Would they go with a person who has the degree and experience, or more time within the company and knows the internal workings of the company?  The majority of employees are non-degree people.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Chris68
Deskdemon Forum Board Staff

[countrigal]

First question to clarify is if a degree is really a requirement, or something highly recommended, or just a nicety.  If it's a requirement, and it was written in the job announcement as such, then I would say that anyone without a degree does not qualify.  That doesn't mean that couldn't do the job as well as, or better than, someone with a degree but just back to what was listed as "required".  Now if it's more of a like-to-have, or recommended, then the interviewer would probably look into work history, experience, and whether or not the person has a degree.  If the person has experience in the company, then that could be a plus or a negative, depending on what the interviewer was trying to do by filling the position.  Is the interviewer trying to change the office or organization culture?  If so, bringing in someone from the outside might be more beneficial than someone who is hung on the "old ways".

As you can see, there are a lot of things to consider when applying or hiring, whether internal or not.

As for additional questions... for me, a good question has always been "How do you feel about change?"  This is because I am always trying to find a better, simpler, faster way of doing things and if I am working for someone who hates change, and won't update the process even though we've been doing the same thing for the past 20 years, I know I'd go insane.  I need an environment where I can feel free to try changes, even if they don't all work out or get approved.

CountriGal
Deskdemon Editorial Board Member