Back from maternity next week, interview for promotion the week after. How can I really impress at interview?

[MsMiaWallace]

So I'm back to full time employment next week following my maternity leave. With leave I've had 9 months off & when lockdown first started last March I was made to work from home so I've been out of the normal workings for just over a year.

Whilst off they advertised for team leader for my role. I applied. My manager told me my application was very good but due to my inexperience of management they couldn't put me through. It was an essential criteria to be fair but I still tried!
Anyway they couldn't appoint externally so they've now opened up to our team for the role as an 'acting up role' so that the management experience can be gained & it allows for an opportunity of team progression.
Before this went out to the team my manager contacted me to tell me about it & to just copy & paste my personal statement from my application & send it to him as that was more than enough to get an interview.
I saw all of this as positive!
So I did & I've got the interview!
I'm up against someone from our team but with a slightly different role.
He's obviously been at work all this time so is up to speed with everything however I've worked in the same team for over 10 years & I am well respected.
My colleagues have been in to management in my absence & put good words in for me apparently!

Any management/ HR advice how I can really stand out from him at interview?
I need confidence boosts as it's daunting enough after mat leave!

Obviously make sure you are familiar with job description and up to date with changes that have happened whilst on mat leave.

• think about how COVID has affected working practices and what flexibility’s may be require from both employer and employee perspectives
• how you can develop your management skills e.g. mentor/coach, internal training, ILM etc.
• think about common management situations e.g. two team members want the same weeks leave, poor performance, sick absence etc. Also how you would manage a disagreement between two team members.

All excellent points in the previous post because poor line managers who kick problems into the long grass can cost the organization thousands in compensation claims when staff claim discrimination etc

Diversity awareness has become a big thing at interviews too.

Think about how you can contribute to the organization with the skills you have and show you are keen to acquire new ones where relevant.

Dont forget to have one or two things to ask about at the end or points to raise that were missed.

Thank you for the advice.
I've found out I'm 2nd in for interview.

When I went back to with after a couple of years off, I practiced saying answers out loud.

I also typed out a few answers to interview type questions and said those out loud, refined them and said them again.

It just helped me get back into more fluent work-speak. I'd just been chatting socially for those couple of years, which is a different way of speaking IYSWIM.

Also the advice from other posters above, is great!

I went for a new job when I went back after maternity leave and I talked about how a year off with baby was fun but not mentally stimulating and I was thrilled to be back. I also talked about how some time away really gave me time to think, and that it reinforced how important my career was to me.

I didn't want any question in the interviews minds that I wasn't up for the job.

I got offered both jobs I went for btw...!

Good Luck!

Thank you for the advice. Interview is a week on Wednesday!

With my role I've also got to swot up on legislation so there's a lot to revise.