{"id":622,"date":"2025-08-28T01:28:01","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T05:28:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/?p=622"},"modified":"2025-08-28T01:35:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T05:35:09","slug":"great-interview-questions-to-ask-internal-applicants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/blog\/great-interview-questions-to-ask-internal-applicants\/","title":{"rendered":"Great interview questions to ask internal applicants"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull blog-template-header has-neutral-100-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--16)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div style=\"--bb--crumb-gap:.4em;\" class=\"blog-template-breadcrumb wp-block-employmentherocom2025-breadcrumb-block\"><nav role=\"navigation\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"breadcrumb\"><ol class=\"breadcrumb-items\"><li class=\"breadcrumb-item breadcrumb-item--current breadcrumb-item--home\"><span class=\"breadcrumb-item-name\">Home<\/span><\/li><\/ol><\/nav><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"item\":{\"name\":\"Home\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/employmenthero.com\\\/en-ca\\\/\"}}]}<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group blog-template-tags-row is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--9)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group blog-template-tags is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-1 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--2);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--2)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-ghost is-style-ghost--1\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-btn-black-background-color has-background wp-element-button has-icon__eye\"><span class=\"wp-block-button__link-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"> <g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_5893_17419)\"> <path d=\"M19.8727 9.55732C19.7127 9.30315 15.8927 3.33398 10.0002 3.33398C4.10771 3.33398 0.287713 9.30315 0.127713 9.55732C0.0442677 9.69013 0 9.8438 0 10.0007C0 10.1575 0.0442677 10.3112 0.127713 10.444C0.287713 10.6982 4.10771 16.6673 10.0002 16.6673C15.8927 16.6673 19.7127 10.6982 19.8727 10.444C19.9562 10.3112 20.0004 10.1575 20.0004 10.0007C20.0004 9.8438 19.9562 9.69013 19.8727 9.55732ZM10.0002 15.0007C5.88605 15.0007 2.80271 11.299 1.84855 10.0007C3.12342 8.22835 4.79779 6.78123 6.73605 5.77648C6.15544 6.50283 5.83739 7.40411 5.83355 8.33398C5.83355 9.43905 6.27253 10.4989 7.05394 11.2803C7.83534 12.0617 8.89514 12.5007 10.0002 12.5007C11.1053 12.5007 12.1651 12.0617 12.9465 11.2803C13.7279 10.4989 14.1669 9.43905 14.1669 8.33398C14.1629 7.40674 13.8468 6.50785 13.2694 5.78232C15.2033 6.78886 16.8752 8.23337 18.1519 10.0007C17.201 11.3015 14.1277 15.0007 10.0002 15.0007Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/> <\/g> <defs> <clipPath id=\"clip0_5893_17419\"> <rect width=\"20\" height=\"20\" fill=\"white\"\/> <\/clipPath> <\/defs> <\/svg><\/span>Blog<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--0-5);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--0-5)\" class=\"taxonomy-topic eh-topics-separate wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/blog\/topic\/recruiting\/\" rel=\"tag\">Recruiting<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group blog-template-social-desktop is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-2 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--2);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--2)\"><div \n    class=\"eh-social-sharing-button wp-block-employmentherocom2025-eh-social-sharing-button\" data-icon=\"facebook\" data-social-type=\"facebook\">\n    <span style=\"display: flex;\">\n        <svg class=\"icon\" width=\"24px\" height=\"24px\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"> <title>Group<\/title> <path d=\"M14.4446 6.47609H11.4173V4.40033C11.4173 3.62078 11.9115 3.43904 12.2596 3.43904C12.6068 3.43904 14.3958 3.43904 14.3958 3.43904V0.0120058L11.4537 0C8.18772 0 7.44447 2.55599 7.44447 4.19168V6.47609H5.55566V10.0075H7.44447C7.44447 14.5394 7.44447 20 7.44447 20H11.4173C11.4173 20 11.4173 14.4856 11.4173 10.0075H14.0981L14.4446 6.47609Z\"><\/path><\/svg> \n    <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n<div \n    class=\"eh-social-sharing-button wp-block-employmentherocom2025-eh-social-sharing-button\" data-icon=\"twitter\" data-social-type=\"twitter\">\n    <span style=\"display: flex;\">\n        <svg class=\"icon\" width=\"17\" height=\"18\" viewBox=\"0 0 17 18\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"> <g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_2187_1527)\"> <path d=\"M6.88269 10.3821L0.554058 18H2.05374L7.54889 11.3855L11.9379 18H17L10.363 7.99774L17 0.00924304H15.5002L9.69721 6.99436L5.06215 0.00924304H-5.51343e-07L6.88306 10.3821H6.88269ZM8.93683 7.90961L9.60929 8.90561L14.9598 16.8309H12.6563L8.33833 10.4349L7.66587 9.43894L2.05303 1.12518H4.35659L8.93683 7.90923V7.90961Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path> <\/g> <defs> <clipPath id=\"clip0_2187_1527\"> <rect width=\"17\" height=\"18\" fill=\"white\" transform=\"matrix(-1 0 0 -1 17 18)\"><\/rect> <\/clipPath> <\/defs> <\/svg> \n    <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n<div \n    class=\"eh-social-sharing-button wp-block-employmentherocom2025-eh-social-sharing-button\" data-icon=\"linkedin\" data-social-type=\"linkedin\">\n    <span style=\"display: flex;\">\n        <svg class=\"icon\" width=\"17px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 17 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"> <title>Shape<\/title> <g id=\"Symbols\" stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"> <g id=\"Icons\/Social\" transform=\"translate(-74.000000, -2.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"> <path d=\"M74.2155762,7.20409322 L77.8588786,7.20409322 L77.8588786,18 L74.2155762,18 L74.2155762,7.20409322 Z M76.0616143,2 C74.8146643,2 74,2.80609002 74,3.86411056 C74,4.90036967 74.7908238,5.72989508 76.0139333,5.72989508 L76.0371667,5.72989508 C77.3079571,5.72989508 78.0993476,4.90032981 78.0993476,3.86411056 C78.0755071,2.80609002 77.3079976,2 76.0616143,2 Z M86.8041976,6.95048874 C84.8702857,6.95048874 84.0038929,7.99790755 83.5205667,8.73245583 L83.5205667,7.20409322 L79.8761714,7.20409322 C79.924419,8.21687707 79.8761714,18 79.8761714,18 L83.5205667,18 L83.5205667,11.9708054 C83.5205667,11.6478911 83.5444071,11.3261725 83.6402952,11.0948476 C83.9041595,10.4502147 84.5037738,9.78266458 85.5095667,9.78266458 C86.8291714,9.78266458 87.3561714,10.773129 87.3561714,12.2237722 L87.3561714,18 L91,18 L91,11.8093881 C91,8.49339883 89.2027762,6.95048874 86.8041976,6.95048874 Z\" id=\"Shape\"><\/path> <\/g> <\/g> <\/svg> \n    <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n<div \n    class=\"eh-social-sharing-button wp-block-employmentherocom2025-eh-social-sharing-button\" data-icon=\"link\" data-social-type=\"copy\">\n    <span style=\"display: flex;\">\n        <svg class=\"icon\" width=\"18\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 19\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path transform=\"translate(6.640285, 0)\" d=\"M9.6365839,1.06427739 L9.6365839,1.06407143 C7.63313006,-0.581342526 4.71799441,-0.287025772 3.06469376,1.72767436 L1.68152847,3.42787366 C1.2637913,3.94153775 1.3305731,4.70585509 1.8305341,5.13486964 C2.33069565,5.56409016 3.0749216,5.4955055 3.49265877,4.98184141 L4.8760246,3.28143615 C5.71089731,2.25863908 7.1949372,2.1243532 8.19104884,2.98176443 C8.20769415,2.99597567 8.22413891,3.01059882 8.24038313,3.02522198 C9.18174573,3.92361924 9.26838157,5.42383144 8.43691815,6.43015171 L5.5610895,9.96627791 L5.53461744,9.99634806 C5.38079871,10.1792405 5.20090901,10.3370058 5.00076417,10.4640831 C4.04676718,11.0718709 2.80719278,10.901748 2.04211006,10.0579301 C1.59709864,9.56877523 0.850065046,9.54303024 0.374169553,10.0002613 C-0.100522665,10.4562566 -0.127195273,11.2205739 0.315008503,11.7099348 C1.3991598,12.9045024 2.99670869,13.4575049 4.56377459,13.1800768 C4.80503134,13.1364133 5.04287882,13.0742134 5.27470991,12.9934771 C6.09434113,12.7094584 6.82152068,12.1980598 7.37542854,11.5155086 L10.2440375,7.98947441 C11.0680808,6.96832503 11.4617524,5.65182909 11.3372134,4.33183184 C11.2235039,3.05137889 10.6100339,1.87267016 9.6365839,1.06427739\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><path transform=\"translate(0, 5.762765)\" d=\"M7.78481199,8.39527139 L6.54864687,9.91484383 C5.73222439,10.9339336 4.27946967,11.1129128 3.25127068,10.3214088 C2.2300908,9.49612727 2.05361038,7.97696676 2.85719793,6.92821874 C2.87083505,6.91050619 2.88447217,6.89299959 2.89851039,6.87569896 L5.82387388,3.27984437 L5.84553284,3.25492322 C5.99915102,3.07203079 6.17924127,2.91447144 6.37938611,2.78739415 C7.23972815,2.23645131 8.34754387,2.31595185 9.12506044,2.98449782 C9.2157072,3.06235067 9.30073868,3.14700021 9.37915214,3.23782854 C9.60657122,3.50207514 9.93486491,3.6513961 10.2784001,3.64665902 C10.6175233,3.64171598 10.9377951,3.48498047 11.155588,3.21764447 L11.1696262,3.20034383 C11.5426416,2.74620216 11.5342187,2.07930388 11.1497722,1.63546021 C9.42768425,-0.367088286 6.45118155,-0.55698335 4.50107292,1.21159465 C4.32298813,1.37306725 4.15713665,1.54813319 4.00472174,1.73555674 L1.08738009,5.32173121 C-0.548874157,7.35084854 -0.312430505,10.3492133 1.62043117,12.0813364 C2.56821124,12.921447 3.80678291,13.3317192 5.05377751,13.2188532 C5.20097822,13.2064956 5.34697566,13.1875473 5.49176982,13.1613904 C6.61362375,12.9593437 7.63039162,12.3585585 8.36398864,11.4636626 L9.59594229,9.94923914 C10.0136795,9.43578101 9.94709821,8.67146367 9.44693666,8.24224316 C8.94677511,7.81302264 8.20254916,7.8816073 7.78481199,8.39527139\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><\/svg> \n    <\/span>\n            <span class=\"eh-social-sharing-button__copied_text\">\n            URL copied for sharing!        <\/span>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><h1 class=\"blog-template-title wp-block-post-title\">Great interview questions to ask internal applicants<\/h1><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"blog-template-sub-title\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--9);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--9);line-height:1.5\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-query wp-block-hosts-query has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-query-is-layout-1 wp-block-query-is-layout-constrained\"><ul data-wp-interactive=\"eh-hosts\" class=\"wp-block-post-template is-layout-flow wp-container-core-post-template-is-layout-1 wp-block-post-template-is-layout-flow\"><li data-host-index=\"0\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.openDetail\" class=\"wp-block-post post-152 hosts type-hosts status-publish hentry\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-sm-font-size is-vertical is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><h6 class=\"has-text-align-center has-link-color wp-elements-c7558c1c9e2b60b85b89e09ed14c4c61 wp-block-post-title has-text-color has-violet-500-color has-sm-font-size\">Jessica Johnson<\/h6><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group blog-template-meta-row is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-sm-font-size\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--neutral-700);border-left-width:1px;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--2)\">Published<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date has-sm-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2025-08-28T01:28:01-04:00\">Aug 28, 2025<\/time><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-sm-font-size\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--neutral-700);border-left-width:1px;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--2)\">Updated<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date__modified-date wp-block-post-date has-sm-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2025-08-28T01:35:09-04:00\">Aug 28, 2025<\/time><\/div>\n\n<p class=\"has-sm-font-size\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--neutral-700);border-left-width:1px;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--2)\"><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull blog-image-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized blog-template-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2023\/08\/Great-interview-questions-to-ask-internal-applicants-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"Great interview questions to ask internal applicants\" class=\"wp-image-4522\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover;width:864px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:66px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:30%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group sticky-side-panel is-vertical is-content-justification-stretch is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-13 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex wp-container-2 is-position-sticky\">\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\" style=\"border-bottom-color:var(--wp--preset--color--neutral-200);border-bottom-width:0.1rem;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--4);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--4)\"><strong>Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"content-single-table-content\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:70%\">\n<div id=\"content-wrapper\" class=\"wp-block-group content-wrapper has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-14 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--4)\">\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Hiring is a significant undertaking for any business. It can be expensive, time-consuming, and it comes with its own set of risks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Enter: internal hiring.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">It\u2019s a cost-effective, time-saving option that mitigates many of the challenges and risks of external hiring. When you hire internally, not only are you already familiar with an internal candidate&#8217;s work ethic, strengths and weaknesses, and how they fit into company culture, but they also understand the ins and outs of your business from firsthand experience. It\u2019s a win on both sides.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">However, internal applicants have already been through your interview process, so the questions you ask can&#8217;t just be a copy-and-paste of your current external interviews. Internal interviews get to be more specific and in-depth \u2013 but how do you ensure you&#8217;re asking the right questions to find the best fit for the role?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">In this blog, we&#8217;ll outline the benefits of internal hiring and get you started with a few interview questions to ask internal applicants. Let&#8217;s dive in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The benefits of hiring internally<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">At 91±¬ΑΟ, we\u2019re all about taking good care of your people. So, the reason we can get behind internal hiring is it can have immense value for your&nbsp;employee development. Think of it like this: hiring internally isn\u2019t just about filling a role, but about&nbsp;nurturing in-house talent. When you hire from within, you&#8217;re investing in the growth and development of the rockstars that are already on your team.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Another benefit of internal hiring is that it saves you money since there\u2019s no need for job listings and advertisements for external candidates. It can also significantly speed up the hiring process, eliminating the need for sourcing external candidates, conducting background checks, and processing paperwork \u2013 or even assessing a cultural fit. Since internal candidates have already gone through these assessments, internal interviews allow for more in-depth questions that are specific to the role. These can include getting a deeper understanding of the candidate&#8217;s communication style, their track record in the company, and their comprehension of business operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">By leveraging internal hiring, you&#8217;re also boosting job satisfaction and&nbsp;talent retention. Internal hiring sends a clear message to your team that you&#8217;re willing to invest in their professional growth. This can lead to increased loyalty, productivity, and overall performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Questions to ask internal applicants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Ask company-specific questions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/Its-ok-i-work-here.webp\" alt=\"Its ok i work here\" class=\"wp-image-624\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/Its-ok-i-work-here.webp 480w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/Its-ok-i-work-here-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/Its-ok-i-work-here-440x248.webp 440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Understanding how an internal candidate sees the company can provide valuable insights into how they might transition into a new role. This is an essential part of the interview process as it allows you to gauge the candidate&#8217;s perception of the company and their role within it. It also gives you an idea of their commitment to the company&#8217;s mission and values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Here are some questions to consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><em>What have you learned working for our company that will help you in this new role?<br><\/em>This question allows you to understand how the internal applicant has grown within the company and how they have leveraged their experiences to prepare for the new role. It also gives you an idea of how quick they are to learn new things, and their adaptability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><em>Given the opportunity, what would you like to change about our operations?<br><\/em>This question, although it can be tough, can provide insights into the candidate&#8217;s critical thinking skills and their understanding of the company&#8217;s operations. It also gives them an opportunity to demonstrate their problem-solving skills and their ability to drive change.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><em>What do you like best about working for the company?<br><\/em>Asking this question will help you understand what motivates the candidate and what aspects of the&nbsp;company culture&nbsp;they value the most. It can also give you an idea of what keeps them engaged and committed to the company.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Deep dive into their contributions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/A-man-patting-himself-on-the-bacl.webp\" alt=\"A man patting himself on the back\" class=\"wp-image-625\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/A-man-patting-himself-on-the-bacl.webp 480w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/A-man-patting-himself-on-the-bacl-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/A-man-patting-himself-on-the-bacl-440x248.webp 440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Taking a deep dive into an internal candidate&#8217;s contributions to the company is a crucial part of the internal interview process. This exploration allows you to assess their potential in a new role and understand their impact on the organization so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some questions to consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><em>What is your proudest achievement in your current position?<br><\/em>This question allows the candidate to highlight their most significant accomplishments within the company. It gives them an opportunity to demonstrate their skills, abilities, and the value they&#8217;ve added to the business.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><em>Have you managed any projects in your current position?<br><\/em>Asking about project management experience can provide insights into the candidate&#8217;s leadership, organizational, and strategic planning skills. It also helps you understand their ability to handle responsibility and their experience in driving initiatives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><em>What was the most challenging project you\u2019ve worked on within the company?<br><\/em>This will help you understand the candidate&#8217;s problem-solving skills and resilience. It allows them to demonstrate how they handle challenges, overcome obstacles, and find solutions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Consider their motivations and aspirations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/A-gif-of-a-woman-singing.webp\" alt=\"A gif of a woman singing\" class=\"wp-image-626\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/A-gif-of-a-woman-singing.webp 500w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/A-gif-of-a-woman-singing-300x180.webp 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/A-gif-of-a-woman-singing-440x264.webp 440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Understanding an internal candidate&#8217;s motivations and aspirations can help you determine if the new role aligns with their career goals. After all, it&#8217;s not just about whether they can do the job, but whether the job is a fit for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Here are some questions to ask:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><em>Does this new role align with your own career goals?<br><\/em>This can help you gauge if the position is a step forward in their career path \u2013 or if it&#8217;s just a detour that might not be the best move for them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><em>How would you spend your first 30 days in this role?<br><\/em>This can give you insights into their approach toward the new role, their planning and organizational skills, and their ability to adapt to new responsibilities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><em>Why do you think you will be successful in this position?<br><\/em>Asking this question can help you understand their confidence in their skills and abilities, their understanding of the role, and their motivation to succeed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Focus on soft skills<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"321\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/A-man-jumping-telling-the-other-what-he-can-do.webp\" alt=\"A man jumping telling the other what he can do\" class=\"wp-image-627\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/A-man-jumping-telling-the-other-what-he-can-do.webp 480w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/A-man-jumping-telling-the-other-what-he-can-do-300x201.webp 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/A-man-jumping-telling-the-other-what-he-can-do-440x294.webp 440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Soft skills are often overlooked in interviews, but they\u2019re crucial for success in any role. Especially if the internal interview is for a promotion, the questions you ask should focus on four important soft skills:&nbsp;leadership, communication, collaboration, and time management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Consider asking:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><em>What traits make someone a good leader?<br><\/em>This question can help you understand the candidate&#8217;s perspective on leadership and whether they possess the qualities necessary to guide a team effectively.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><em>How would your teammates describe your communication style?<br><\/em>You\u2019ll be able to get insight into how the candidate interacts with others and whether they can effectively convey information and ideas by asking this.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><em>What is your ideal team structure?<br><\/em>Asking this question can help you gauge the candidate&#8217;s ability to work well with others and their understanding of team dynamics.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><em>What process do you use to determine time requirements for your projects?<br><\/em>With this question, you get a sense of the candidate&#8217;s organizational skills and their ability to manage their workload effectively.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Allow them to ask questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"356\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/A-woman-pointing-at-the-screen.webp\" alt=\"A woman pointing at the screen\" class=\"wp-image-628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/A-woman-pointing-at-the-screen.webp 480w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/A-woman-pointing-at-the-screen-300x223.webp 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/A-woman-pointing-at-the-screen-440x326.webp 440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">At the end of an internal interview, it&#8217;s a good idea to allow the candidate to ask their own questions. It\u2019s beneficial for both you and them \u2013 for the candidate, it&#8217;s a chance to clarify any uncertainties and to express their interest in the role. For you, the interviewer, it&#8217;s a chance to gain further insight into the candidate&#8217;s motivations, aspirations, and understanding of the role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Here are some questions an internal applicant might ask:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><em>What would you like to see me achieve within the first six months in the role?<br><\/em>This question shows that the candidate is forward-thinking and focused on delivering results. It also gives you an opportunity to share your expectations and goals for the role.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><em>What is the opportunity for career growth?<br><\/em>This question indicates that the candidate is ambitious and interested in long-term growth within the organization. Their interest in career progression can also be a sign of their commitment to the company.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><em>Can you tell me about the team I will be working with?<br><\/em>This question demonstrates the candidate&#8217;s interest in teamwork and collaboration. It also gives you a chance to discuss the team dynamics and how the candidate might fit into the existing structure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Internal hiring = unlocking your team\u2019s potential&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Internal hiring is a strategic move that can bring great value to your business. By asking the right questions during an internal interview, you can gain a deeper understanding of the internal applicant&#8217;s strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations, which ultimately helps you find the best fit for the role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Remember: the goal with internal hiring is not just to fill an opening, but to invest in your employees and recognize their progress. So, next time you have a vacancy, look within your team \u2013 you might find your next star player right under your nose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Need help building your dream team? <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-2 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\" data-trigger-modal=\"request-a-demo-modal\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\">Learn more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-15 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related Resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-link-arrow is-style-link-arrow--3\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-btn-brand-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"\/resources\/?topic%5B0%5D%5B0%5D=Product\">View all<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query blog-3-col-query-loop is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this blog, we outline the benefits of internal hiring and help you elevate your processes with effective internal interview questions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":4522,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_visual_mode":"business","_lite_auth_enabled":false,"_lite_auth_trigger_method":"scroll","_lite_auth_scroll_percent":25,"_lite_auth_click_element_query":"","exclude_from_algolia":false,"reading_time":"6 min read","display_reading_time":false,"download_content_type":"","download_file":"","download_url":"","download_cta_label":"","homepage_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[98,40],"resource-type":[30],"topic":[85],"learn_topic":[],"industry":[],"audience":[],"business-size":[],"product-tag":[],"funnel-stage":[],"region":[],"pain-point":[],"persona":[],"content_type":[],"post_features":[],"class_list":["post-622","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorised","tag-professional-development","tag-recruiting","resource-type-blog","topic-recruiting"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/622","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=622"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/622\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4523,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/622\/revisions\/4523"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4522"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=622"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=622"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=622"},{"taxonomy":"resource-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-type?post=622"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=622"},{"taxonomy":"learn_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/learn_topic?post=622"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=622"},{"taxonomy":"audience","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/audience?post=622"},{"taxonomy":"business-size","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/business-size?post=622"},{"taxonomy":"product-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product-tag?post=622"},{"taxonomy":"funnel-stage","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/funnel-stage?post=622"},{"taxonomy":"region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/region?post=622"},{"taxonomy":"pain-point","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pain-point?post=622"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=622"},{"taxonomy":"content_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content_type?post=622"},{"taxonomy":"post_features","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_features?post=622"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}