To not know what questions to ask in an internal interview

[Femalemachinest]

Hi,
I will have an interview soon for an internal role in another department. This department feeds ours and due to my job i have a general idea how the area is ran.
I have tried to Google what I could ask but I know the answers to the majority already. The only thing I can think to ask would be to do with if I was successful how would the transfer process work.

Do you ask questions regarding processes? like i know that the system is set up to cut panels and produce the least waste but we always seem to have the same size sort for example, do i ask why this would be in the interview?

Any ideas?

I think I would ask what the first six months in the new role would look like, so that you could hit the ground running.

Good luck!

How about something like "What will the main goals be for 2026? What are the biggest challenges?"

The above 👆 two questions are great I would also suggest

How would you describe the culture in the team?
Ask the panelists what they enjoy about their roles (people always love talking about themselves)?

I usually ask is there anything else that I can clarify for you with regards to my interview? Or is there any information about me or my experince that you would like to know?
Its a bit of a curveball question that people dont usually expect, makes them remeber you and also gives you an extra chance to sell yourself.

I’d want to know what opportunities are available for career progression from
this role. What is the next logical step up.

Thanks for the ideas. Interview would just be with the manager.

I get on well with the teams leaders in there who have told the manger they want me. so, I already have an idea of what machine they want me on from talking to them. I know about breakdowns and servicing theyve been having. I work on assembly and this would be a move into production so am aware of some issues as they tend to be found by us. I have been going in for overtime with them and a couple have already transferred from my area so know a few of the team already.

We also have quartly meetings with one of the directors and ours have been joint with this department which means I have an extra insight into their department.

Maybe being so talkative isnt best when you want a job and are expected to ask questions 😂.

Im currently a level 1 machinest and know i can progress to a level 5 (top level) in there. As for above a machinest, management roles are hard to come by, people stay at this company for years. Tbh even machinest jobs are hard to come by, I was just lucky that I learnt as a general op and was given my job when they needed one in my department.

Ok so you know the answer but maybe not the route. So you could phrase it
”I’d be starting as a level 1 but hope to stay with the company and progress, so what does the training plan look like to move to more senior levels of machinist?”

This is my favourite question but please read ts and cs at bottom!

"X, you know my work, my achievements such as y and z and my place within the team culture. Is there anything that we haven't covered today that makes you concerned about my ability to do the job?"

TS AND CS: its not far off a Marmite question. I've used it 6 times. 6 times I got the job and they LOVED it, they were really thrown and ended up being very complimentary.

The 6th time the interviewer HATED it and nearly threw me out of the room 😂. (That was internal too. I didn't get the job but I did the next time)

Good luck!

*5 times I got the job. Sorry, I can't add up

Just thought of something else which you may not feel appropriate. I've done it 3 times. When they offer you the job, ask for 48 hours to think about it.

I got a call back within 24 hours with a post increase twice.

Worry a go if suitable for your industry

We have set levels and pay grades as machinest and as im internal im pretty sure there would be no negotiation. I would just move up to level 2 when im signed off the next machine. And even people who come in from outside above level 1 still have to learn the correct number of machines to their pay grade before they would proceed to next level.

To be honest, im trying to be very careful when it comes to money. The top machinest have just had a big pay rise and I dont want him to think im chasing that money. It would be nice obviously but im having issues in my department and thats why I want to move.

Ha I had similar!

I have asked a variation of ‘is there anything I can clarify or any area where you have concerns about me taking on the role’ and once the interviewer was so annoyed she told me this was an inappropriate question as other candidates would not get the same instant feedback.

No, of course I didn’t get the job.

As an interview panellist I have had similar to “what else would you like to know about me?” style question and I absolutely HATE it.

You might get the vibe of whether it’s appropriate depending on whether it’s a very structured interview or not as if it’s the kind that’s following a set list of questions then no, you’re not going to get the interviewers asking you any ad-hoc questions on the basis of treating all interviewees consistently.

I also think it comes across as rather arrogant- makes it sound like you don’t trust the interviewers to have done their job properly (if they had additional or follow up questions they would have asked them already. It sounds scripted and insincere.

I also think it shows lack of curiosity and genuine in interest. There should ALWAYS be an intelligent question you can ask about the role (even if it’s an internal position).

Ideas for an internal role:

-something forwards looking, like development opportunities, challenges they foresee. Even if you already have a good idea, asking for their perspective.

If it’s a different team, something about the team culture. “Is there anything about how you work as a team that you think I wouldn’t already know?”

-I like a question that puts people in a positive frame of mind “what do you most enjoy about working here/in this team” I like if you don’t know them so well but even if it’s an internal position in your own team something like “what are you most looking forward to in the next x months for the team” or “what are excited to work on with the person in this role”. It ends the interview on a positive and I think you can read a lot from the tone of people’s response - I don’t want to work anywhere where people haven’t immediately got answers when they’re asked to share positive things about the work (unless the idea is you are coming in as troubleshooter or something!).

I think the “what else can I tell you/do you have any concerns about my suitability for the role” works brilliantly if you’ve performed well in the interview but can fall flat if you haven’t.

I’ve used it once and was successful. I’ve had it asked of me as an interviewer and my reaction has been dependent on how they’d performed to that point.

OP I think asking about the transition makes sense and a more subtle version of the above question is what are your priority requirements for this role. If they list anything you haven’t mentioned then you have an opportunity to plug the gap