I had been longing to have work experience in other departments at my workplace for some years. As a project manager working in a market research firm, I wanted to be balanced in all departments of the sector. I happen to work in a section of the company and want to garner work experience in the larger section of the organization as well.
After some career conversations and meetings with some of my Line heads and HR (A story
for another day). I applied for the internal role and got an invite for an interview.
The following are my lessons;
1. Research – Do an Online Research of what the role requires.
Understand the job descriptions on the advert or google to find out this role in the
sector that you work in. You will most likely be asked what you think the new role is
about during an interview, as well as the major skills required for this role.
2. Research – Do Offline research on what the role requires.
If you have colleagues who are currently occupying the same role you have applied for, have a chat with them, get their feedback, questions and opinions on this role you are hoping to fill.
This will enlighten you more than you know. Your colleagues who are currently
filling the role will most likely share the basics of the role, challenges on the role and
the salary range in some cases.
A fellow colleague even did a mini-interview with me and gave his feedback immediately. This helped prepare me for the interview too.
3. Dress well
Dress as though you are going for an interview in a new organization, the way you would want to be perceived. Dress that way and don’t be fooled into dressing any less because It’s an internal interview.
Years ago, I applied for an internal role and was invited for an interview. We the internal candidates dressed casually for the interview because we were all coming in from Field. We got the rebuke of our lives that day! So, I never forgot!
4. Be ready to give scenario-based answers to questions asked.
For instance, if you are asked a question; What are your achievements in your
current roles? You must be able to state one or two issues you resolved, the innovations
you made, strategies that changed the game in your department.
5. Your interviewers would also want to understand if you have skills for the new
role, so be prepared as well to share.
6. Like every interview, you might be nervous at the beginning; never mind you will
overcome the jitters as you focus on answering the questions.
7. Do not paint anyone wrong in an interview. Be careful of the words you use in
explaining the scenarios as well.
8. An interview is not about getting all questions asked right.
9. Ask your interviewers questions also.
I asked the interviewers 3 questions today.
Question 1 had to do with arising issue in the business, question 2 had to do with a
recent mail we received from our parent company and Question 3 was individual
responses on the advice they would give me if I got the job. So, they all had to share
insights with me on the new role.
10. Reflect and review.
Don’t be too hard on yourself, just do an honest self-evaluation and have your
fingers crossed for the best. If you get selected for the role, that would be great, if
not, that would be great still!
I hope this helps someone.
- E-mail: dekemiadore@gmail.com
- Instagram: dekemiadore
About Omolara Omosehin Adeogo:
Lara holds a 9 year-plus work experience that spans across the Transit, Consulting, Telecoms and Market-Research sectors. She is a graduate of Chemistry Science from Lagos State University Nigeria and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management. Lara is a 2 time graduate of Immerse Academy and a WIMBIZ Mentee. She currently works as a project manager in a leading market research organization – Kantar TNS Nigeria. A lover of self-development and life-long learning. Lara loves to make meaningful contributions everywhere she goes. She is married with 2 boys.
