Preparing for an internal interview: questions, tips, and sample answers

An internal interview is a valuable opportunity to take the next step in your career. You already understand the company’s culture, goals, and team dynamics. You’ve likely built relationships that can work in your favor. And instead of starting from scratch, you get to build on the trust and results you've already established.

At the same time, internal interviews come with unique challenges. You need to present yourself as the right fit for a new role, highlight your skills and strengths, and stand out among other applicants—including, potentially, other internal candidates. 

Just like an external interview, you’ll need to prepare for internal interview questions with research and intention. When you take time to reflect on your professional development, clarify your goals, and practice your responses, you’ll be ready to walk into your interview with confidence. 

How does the internal interview process work? 

An internal interview happens when you apply or are recruited for a new position at your current company. The new job could be a promotion, a department transfer, or a lateral move. 

The internal interview process typically involves submitting an updated resume and a tailored cover letter. These items should focus on your interest in the role and highlight relevant experience from your current and past jobs. 

While you may skip an initial screening with HR, most internal interviews still include one or more rounds of interviews with company leadership, the hiring manager, and other team members. They'll ask questions to evaluate your fit for the new position, covering everything from communication styles to your strengths and weaknesses. 

Note that you may need to get approval from your current supervisor before applying for a job within the company. It’s best to review your company’s HR policies before starting your application. 

How to prepare for an internal interview

When it comes to an internal interview, you already bring valuable experience, relationships, and company knowledge to the table. Now it’s time to build on that foundation. Preparing for your interview with intention allows you to show how you’ve grown, what you’re capable of, and why you’re ready to take the next step in your career.

Research the role like an outsider

Even though you already work at the company, approach the job description as if you’re seeing it for the first time. Read it closely and take note of the role and responsibilities, required skills, and hiring manager’s priorities. Then, connect the dots. How does your work experience align? What have you done that directly prepares you for this role?

Pay attention to recurring themes such as communication, leadership, or cross-functional collaboration. These give you clues about what matters most to the hiring team. It also tells you where to focus your answers during the interview.

Ask questions and gather insights

Gather as much informal information about the role as possible before the interview by talking to coworkers on the other team. You can also network with professionals who are already doing the job you’re applying for.

If your manager supports your application, consider asking them to help you prepare for the interview. Their feedback and insights can give you a clearer sense of your strengths and areas where you've grown in your current role. 

Reflect on your impact and skills

Your experience within the company is an advantage, but don’t assume it speaks for itself. The hiring manager may not be familiar with your day-to-day work or the full scope of your contributions.

Read through the responsibilities outlined in the role’s job description. Then, identify 2-3 standout accomplishments from your current role that align with the new job. These might be successful projects, process improvements, cross-functional initiatives, or moments where you demonstrated leadership or resilience. 

For example, if the new position emphasizes communication skills, share a time when you aligned a team around a complex goal, led a presentation, or resolved a conflict. Framing your experience through the lens of the new role helps the interviewer see how your strengths will translate and why you’re ready to take on more.

Practice your interview question answers

Even when you know you’re qualified, articulating your experience clearly under pressure can be challenging. Practicing your answers out loud, like in a mock interview with a trusted friend, will help you organize your thoughts and avoid rambling. 

Many internal interviews include behavioral questions. Behavioral interview questions typically begin with a prompt like “Tell me about a time you led a project under a tight deadline” or “How do you handle conflict on a team?” These questions can be tough to answer in the moment, so they’re especially important to prepare for. 

Many people use the STAR interview method as a framework for answering this kind of internal interview question:

• Situation: What was happening? Set the scene.
• Task: What was your role or goal?
• Action: What steps did you take?
• Result: What changed or improved because of your actions?

To get started with this method, think of 2–3 real situations or experiences that reflect your growth, impact, or leadership style. Then, practice telling each one as a story that follows the STAR framework. You don't need a perfectly memorized script, but having a few impactful stories in your back pocket will help you feel prepared and confident, no matter what the interviewer asks. 

Follow up with gratitude

As with any interview, following up with your interviewer is essential to show your consideration for their time and keep you top of mind. Consider sending an appreciation email after the interview, thanking them for the opportunity. Contact them again in a week or two if you haven’t heard back to inquire about the next steps.

20 interview questions for internal candidates

Now that you’ve laid the groundwork for your internal interview, it’s time to prepare for common questions. Your interview will likely include a selection of questions from the following categories. Remember to tailor your responses to incorporate concrete examples from your current role where appropriate.

General internal interview questions

If you’re working for a large company, you might be dealing with a new department-specific hiring manager who wants to get an idea of who you are. Here are some internal interview questions they may ask: 

1. Tell me about your professional journey thus far.
2. Why are you a strong candidate for this position?
3. Why did you choose to work in this particular field?
4. What’s your greatest strength? What about weakness?

Interview questions about your career goals

Knowing why you want a job helps the interviewer evaluate your expectations to ensure they match the reality of the position. This also illustrates the energy and drive you’ll bring to the team. 

1. Why are you willing to leave your old role for this position?
2. What about the company makes you excited to come to work each day?
3. Where do you see yourself five years from now? What about in 10 years?
4. If you could change one thing about your current job, what would it be?

Skill and experience interview questions

Qualification and experience-based questions help the interviewer establish your mental fitness and whether you have the hard and soft skills necessary to meet your employer’s expectations.

1. Tell us about your most challenging project with the company. What role did you play?
2. What traits do you possess that will help you successfully undertake this role?
3. Describe a situation where there was a miscommunication between team members. What communication and leadership skills did you use to make it right?
4. Can you share an example of a time you took initiative on a project or task? What was the outcome?

Cultural add interview questions 

A job interview not only evaluates your skills and qualifications but also determines how well your values, behavior, and beliefs mesh with those of your coworkers.

1. Do you like regular input from management or less frequent, more thorough feedback?
2. Do you enjoy working as a team or by yourself?
3. Describe your management style.
4. What leadership style do you prefer, and how does it help drive productivity and inspire you to give the job your all?

Internal interview questions about past performance 

How you worked in your previous role with the company is a good indicator of future performance.

1. How would your manager describe you?
2. What have you learned from your current role that would help you excel in this position?
3. Tell us about a mistake or failure you made in your current role. What did you do to address the problem, and what did you learn?
4. Give an example of a situation where you had to respond to an emergency. How did you decide what course to take, and what did you do to solve the problem?

How to answer tough internal interview questions 

One of the unique challenges you face as an internal candidate is that you’re talking about your current role, coworkers, and management. These internal interview questions can be tricky to navigate. 

Your best option is to stay positive about your experiences in your current job. Be honest, but keep the focus on what you’ve learned and how you’ve grown. Don’t belittle the position, and always speak diplomatically about your supervisor and teammates. 

The best way to conquer uncomfortable situations is to prepare. Here are some example answers for tough internal interview questions. 

1. What about your current position has led you to seek a new opportunity?

The interviewer is trying to gauge why you want to change jobs. It’s important here to discuss your desire for professional development rather than complain about your current role. 

“I love my job, but I've been looking for a role that leverages my existing skill set while allowing me to develop new competencies. I believe this position will permit me to do that. I feel I’ve developed skills such as [insert skills] in my current role that make me a great fit for this new one, and I could build on these skills to achieve greater productivity. I've often collaborated with this team and understand their objectives, processes, and challenges, which will help speed up the transition.”

2. What would you do to support your replacement if you got this position?

This question reassures the interviewer that you care about your current department and would bring that same appreciation and attention to detail to the new one. They also like knowing you’re prepared to make the transition easier for everyone involved. 

“I’ve contributed to the onboarding process in my department and am well-versed in the needs of a new hire. I’ve already documented how to accomplish many of my day-to-day tasks and written how-to guides for the computer applications I use regularly.

I’ll coordinate with my new and current managers to define times I’ll be available to demonstrate processes or answer any questions my replacement has. And, of course, I’ll make it a point to answer any inquiries via email or messenger as quickly as possible.”

3. How would it affect your current job if you were not selected for this role?

Rejected internal candidates are nearly two times more likely to quit their jobs. One way to ease this quit rate is to address the issue head-on, during the internal interview. The interviewer will want to know what strategies you’ll use to cope with the disappointment of a career setback.

Your response should be mature and professional while demonstrating a willingness to support the successful candidate. You can also emphasize your desire to work on expanding your qualifications so you’ll be ready the next time a job opportunity comes around.

"If you hire another candidate, they will have my full support. I'm committed to building my career with this company, so I will help them succeed and develop my skills further to prepare for the next opportunity here."

4. What would your coworkers say if we asked them about your suitability for this promotion?

One of the advantages of internal hiring is that it’s easy to get an appraisal of your strengths and weaknesses from coworkers. Be honest about your work relationships and frame your answer in the most positive way possible.

“My team is one of the most supportive groups I’ve ever worked with. We’ve been through a lot together, and I believe they would tell you I’m an asset to this company—loyal, dedicated, and driven to always give my all. My team would also say I have the growth mindset necessary to succeed. They may not want me to leave, but I know they’d be supportive.”

Questions to ask your interviewer 

Internal interviews aren’t just about proving you’re qualified. They’re also an opportunity to learn more about the role, the team, and whether the position aligns with your long-term goals. Asking questions during your interview shows curiosity, initiative, and a genuine interest in contributing at a higher level.

Whether you're stepping into a leadership position or shifting departments, asking questions can help you better understand expectations, team dynamics, and how you can add value right away.

Here are a few questions to ask at the end of your interview: 

• What would success look like in the first 30-60-90 days of this role? This question helps you understand short-term priorities and how to hit the ground running.
• What are the team’s biggest goals or challenges right now? This question shows that you’re already thinking about how to support and contribute meaningfully.
  How does this team typically collaborate across departments? This question gives you insight into how cross-functional the role is and where your communication skills might shine.
• How would you describe the leadership style of this team or department? This question offers a glimpse into how decisions are made and how your working style may align.
• Are there growth opportunities within this role over the next year or two? This question signals your commitment to staying and evolving within the company.
• What do you enjoy most about working with this team? This question builds a connection with the interviewer and invites a more human, honest conversation.

Remember, the goal is to walk away with clarity and leave a strong final impression. These questions will help you stand out in a sea of applicants and ensure a new job is aligned with your goals and values.

Step into what's next 

Applying for an internal position is a powerful way to take ownership of your career growth. It shows initiative, confidence, and a commitment to deepening your impact within a company you already believe in. For employers, it’s an opportunity to promote someone who already understands the culture, values, and vision.

Treat the process with intention. Research the role, reflect on your accomplishments, and prepare to interview like an external candidate. And if you want extra support along the way, a BetterUp coach can help you sharpen your interview skills, communicate your value with clarity, and step into your next role with confidence.