You are looking to get a job promotion and get higher pay. You want to move up the cooperate ladder so you can provide even more value to the company.
Great news!
“An opening which represents an internal promotion opportunity is available!”
But there is a problem:
You have to convince your employer that you are indeed the right person for the job.
Unlike normal interviews. This time, the interviewer already knows you. This means the usual interview questions don’t apply anymore.
So, how to answer the most common job promotion interview questions?
- Why do you want the new position?
- Why haven’t you been promoted to this level yet?
- What will you do in your first 30 days in this role?
- We notice that you have done this mistake, did you?
- How can you prove you are ready for this role?
Let’s find out!
Job Promotion Interview Questions and Answers
A job promotion is a great accomplishment that can lead to an even better career. However, before you can start your new role, you need to ace the interview. This can be difficult to do if you don’t know how to answer common promotion interview questions.
Knowing how to answer these questions is important for two reasons.
- First, you need to show that you are truly interested in the job.
- Second, you need to show that you are qualified for the position.
1. Why do you want the new position?
You can be applying for a lateral move to another department or a vertical move to a higher position in your current team. The question of asking why you decided to make this move is bound to be asked by the interviewer.
How to answer?
Focus your answer on the contribution you are planning to make when you are in this new role.
Avoid talking negatively about anything about your current role. No one likes a negative person.
You should also include reasons why the role you are applying for aligns with your personal goals and career path.
Example Answer
“After two years in my current position, I have learned and grown with knowledge on how to achieve success in the industry.
My leadership skills will guide our team and overcome any challenges. With this new role, I could contribute even more to the company’s mission of serving more clients in our industry.
It is also my passion to support and mentor others. Thus this role is a perfect fit.”
2. Why do you deserve a promotion?
This is one of the toughest promotion interview questions. Usually, this question will take the candidates by surprise. But because of how the question is the phase it allows the interviewer to understand how you perform under stress.
If you are asked this question, your interviewer is probably people who already hold or have held the title you are currently applying for and want to know your views.
How to answer?
Your interviewer wants to hear why are you looking for a promotion. Expect lots of skepticism from your interviewers.
You should focus on your growth and contribution to the company. Tell the interviewer how have you grown with your experience, and how this experience has allowed you to become the best candidate for this position now, compared with one year ago.
Simply start by addressing the issue head-on.
Do not try to skirt around it or you will look suspicious. It can be as simple as your most recent workplace doesn’t have this type of higher role.
Or there wasn’t any opening until just recently. Possibly you may just be looking for a change of industry at the same time you are ready to be promoted.
Example Answer:
“One year ago, though I was ready, I know that I need more experience to be able to lead the team in the best way possible.
For the last year, I have taken up a few initiatives and have achieved in contributed to the company by leading projects in improving the operation of the company, this lead to a reduction of 40% in cost and an increase in production efficiency.
With my current experience and knowledge of how to best contribute to the company, I know I am ready to take up more challenges.”
3. What would you do during your first 30 days in this role?
Do not confuse this question with your usual “where do you see yourself in 3, 5, and 10 years.” Your interviewers are not asking about the aspiration of your career path, but what you want to accomplish in your first month in the role.
This question is to see do you really understand the role and what the role does.
“Are you prepared for the position you are applying for?”
How to Answer?
You may consider discussing the goals you will set when you are in the position.
What is the task you want to accomplish in your first month of the role?
Tell them about any initiatives you want to start and how this may help the team and the company as a whole.
Give a concrete timeline and how you measure success.
Example Answer:
“In my first 30 days, I would clarify the short and long-term goals with my supervisor and how each goal can help the company in achieving our goal.
With a clear understanding of the short and long-term goals, I will create a 30-days, 3-months, and 6-month plan for my team.
In these 30 days, I would also evaluate the team’s current workflows and make recommendations for more efficient processes.”
4. We notice that you [Insert ‘Your Mistake’ Here], did you?
Yes, we know everyone makes mistakes. If you are human, you make mistakes, interviewers understand that. And if you are applying for a promotion, your career with the company will be placed under the microscope, and every detail of your previous decision when you are in the company will be questioned.
No one will have a perfect employment record. Maybe you have lost a client or even miss a deadline. Anything that can happen will happen.
How To Answer?
Since your interviewers are also human and do make mistakes from time to time. It is how you handle the mistake you did previously that they are looking at.
Overcome their objections by admitting your part in the mistakes and explain what have you learned from the mistake and how have you changed to prevent the recurrence of that mistake.
It is not what went wrong that counts, but usually what have you done after what went wrong that counts.
Example Answer:
“Yes, unfortunately, it was my mistake that previously I missed the deadline for the completion of the report.
Partly it is due to unforeseen circumstances that I was hospitalized for one week due to the car accident.
But what I learn from this incident is that I should always allow myself to complete the task in phases.
Furthermore, I should never allow the task to be left until the last few days for completion.
This is also to account for any unforeseen circumstances that may arise in the future”
5. How can you prove you are ready for this role?
This question cuts the fluffs, it goes straight to answering the question of why are you the best person for the job.
This doesn’t mean you can start talking about your unlimited potential.
Remember the main word is ‘prove’, you have to ‘prove’ why you are the right person for the job.
How To Answer?
Start by acknowledging that this role will be something of a step up for you. But follow through by adding that your career’s upward mobility to date has prepared you well for this next stage.
Bring out a few examples where you have to play an important role in contributing to its success.
This can be leading an initiative that you have come up with in helping to company in improving its productivity, or simply how you have overcome different challenges.
If your supervisor endorses your promotion, remember to take about that and discuss the actions you took to ensure you can handle the extended responsibilities.
Remember to relate your experience to the role you are applying for, or you will not be answering your interviewer’s question.
Answer Example:
“This position requires me to lead the team to overcome many challenges that will require me to work under consistent pressure and tight timelines.
In the absence of our supervisor during her maternity leave, I have taken up the role of the acting supervisor to help drive our team in overcoming different challenges.
I have worked closely with people from different departments and was recommended by my superior to come for this interview.
I know I am ready for the challenge and believe, with my experience and knowledge, it will allow me to excel in this role”
Give These Questions Some Thought
Getting a promotion internally to a job with a higher level of responsibility and a fat paycheck is never easy.
Proof of your ability to promote with the right attitude is one of the keys.
If you are able to demonstrate your immediate readiness for added responsibility and ability to face challenges, this can skyrocket your chances of that internal promotion.
Success is for those who are prepared.
Up Next… How to get a pay raise with 2 simple sentences.
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