I have noticed an increase in my coaching practice of internal candidates wanting my help to prepare for an upcoming “internal” job interview (a promotion). Many companies are in the midst of reorganizations these days (this recession is prompting many to clean house and get rid of “deadwood”). Many long-term high-performing employees are being asked to “interview” for new positions, which represents a golden opportunity for some to advance.

Most workers underestimate the difficulty of interviewing for an “internal” position. The biggest hurdle to overcome is your own frustration around the idea of having to “prove” yourself (again!) to someone who may (or may not) know your track record. Just because you have worked in a company for a number of years doesn’t mean the new hiring manager (or his/her boss) knows how your unique strengths fit the open position. Worse, the potential is there for their perceptions to be already tainted by internal politics or water cooler rumors. It will be up to you to prove you are a good fit for the position.

Any time you are being asked to “interview” for a new position is a good time to prepare and brush up on your interviewing skills.

How you show up to the interview matters—here are some dos and don’ts to consider:

• Don’t make this mistake of underplaying the importance of this conversation. No matter whom you are interviewing with—show up like you are serious about the position. Be punctual, courteous and look professional.
• Don’t show up with an attitude that screams “I’ve already got the job in the bag and this is just a formality.” You can and will be judged in this situation by your attitude, enthusiasm and how you communicate. Be confident but not arrogant. Find a way to calm yourself if you are nervous; don’t crack your knuckles, slouch or fidget—they want to see you as a leader, not a nervous wreck.
• Don’t give one-word answers. The general rule of thumb is give answers of between 20 seconds and two minutes. Before you go into the interview, identify your “talking points” (those points about yourself you want to make sure you cover before your interview time is up) and your “best stories” (past examples) that sum up why you should be hired. You won’t likely get the job if you can’t communicate a past example of how well you perform under pressure and conflict. By the way, it’s OK to pause and think before you reply to a question. What won’t work is to respond like a deer in the headlights. Prepare for the interview and find someone to practice with you. Anticipate common interview questions: “Tell me about yourself,” “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” and “Why should we put you in this position?”
• Don’t come across like you view this interview as a waste of time. Remember your employer doesn’t “owe you” the new position. You want the hiring manager to believe you have prepared for the interview and take the process seriously.
• Don’t use your precious interview time coming across as a blamer or whiner. Never bad-mouth a previous boss, either.
• Dress the part (even if your normal work attire is an office uniform). If this is a new management position, project the image of a manager. Your posture, your body language and how you dress matter.
• Ask smart questions of the hiring manager. Interviewers are often trying to gauge your interest and enthusiasm by the questions you ask them. Here are a few to consider: Do you expect me to recruit and hire my own team? Will I be given decision-making authority (and over what?). Are there any political problems I should know about with this position? How do you define success in this role? How do you want to be kept informed? One of my personal favorites (because the answer will help you prioritize and keep your boss happy)—what keeps you up at night?
• Bring in relevant examples of your best practice work and results. Customer satisfaction letters on your behalf are good as are awards, published work, professional association work, or 30/60/90 day business plans or something else that demonstrates your “strategic” abilities.