Internal Interview advice

[leap08]

WPs, can I ask some advice for this internal interview I have next week? The panel I am interviewing with asked me to prepare a 10 minute presentation that includes some personal information, information about my career with our company, and my vision for the position/group for which I'm interviewing (it's a manager position). My main question: how much personal information would you include? 

BTW, it's a huge panel of interviewers - 10 people! It will probably be the only interview I have for the position and only a "handful" (I'm guessing 3-5) people are being interviewed. I expect they will make a decision quickly. 

[frozenpeas]

I would share zero real personal information during the interview. I would talk about my education and career leading up to working at present company and use that to check the box for personal info. Maybe if it's relevant I'd mention boards or volunteer groups I am or have been active with.

ETA-is that how they describe it? "Personal info"? Or do they list out specific topics they want you to address and they all happen to be personal?

[k3am]

Do you know anyone else in the company who's done a similar presentation you can reference?

My boilerplate "personal" information career wise is that I was raised in LA, made my way north with a pitstop in SLO for college, and then to the Bay to start my career. I might give some details about roles prior to the current, but it depends.

[saraml13]

May 19, 2017 10:02:47 GMT -5 frozenpeas said:

I would share zero real personal information during the interview. I would talk about my education and career leading up to working at present company and use that to check the box for personal info. Maybe if it's relevant I'd mention boards or volunteer groups I am or have been active with.

ETA-is that how they describe it? "Personal info"? Or do they list out specific topics they want you to address and they all happen to be personal?

Yeah, I would interpret this to mean info about your education / background.  So not "My husband is Mike and I have 2 kids and a dog".  But college/major, why you chose this career path, relevant industry associations or maybe volunteer activities, personal traits (Excel guru, enjoy giving presentations, whatever).

[mommyatty]

I would give a little personal info. Where you went to college, an interesting hobby if you have one (I don't), how many kids you have. I would basically give what you would give in the about the author blurb on a book jacket. Our PR folks put together what we provide when we give speeches or appear on panels, and after the current and past titles with the company, it says, "MommyAtty has graduated with highest honors from - School of Law in (the dark ages), and has practiced in (three listed cities). She lives Podink, Texas, with her two kids. She serves on the board of (nonprofit)."

[traveltheworld]

May 19, 2017 10:43:44 GMT -5 mommyatty said:

I would give a little personal info. Where you went to college, an interesting hobby if you have one (I don't), how many kids you have. I would basically give what you would give in the about the author blurb on a book jacket. Our PR folks put together what we provide when we give speeches or appear on panels, and after the current and past titles with the company, it says, "MommyAtty has graduated with highest honors from - School of Law in (the dark ages), and has practiced in (three listed cities). She lives Podink, Texas, with her two kids. She serves on the board of (nonprofit)."

I agree with that.  Something interesting about yourself that would help you stand out - hobby, involvement with non-profit, something cool you did in your youth.

[yummmy]

I agree with mommyatty as well. Just enough personal to make you stand out as a person and not just a job robot, if that makes sense. We all have work life balance so telling them something that helps with that balance, or something that is part of your life would be important. Including that you have kids and a hobby makes you a more well rounded and real person. I would also include where you are from and college background. So just a brief bio.
Good luck with the interview!!! Hope it goes well!

[2chatter]

I too would avoid real personal information, including kid count. Google HBR and other articles on involuntary bias. We just did a session on it and it's eye opening for interviewees.

I recommend we do not hire most internal candidates I interview. They often make giant assumptions about what the position entails and the skills required and say things entirely inadvertently that SOUND good but are idiotic. It would be like me asking if they can bake three layer cakes and them saying they make award winning lasagna. It's clear they don't get it - so...

Talk to people who manage teams with the same direct manager and talk to people on the team if you can...for context. And I would keep things to business goals and less how if it's broad changes - lest you step on too many toes.

Good luck!

[Widget123]

I think it is important to "break the ice" by talking about something that is not too work work related. It also helps to make yourself more relatable and uniquely you. In the past, I made the mistake of focusing too much about being technically correct and professional rather than being myself and talking about what makes me different as a person than everyone else.

[leap08]

Thank you all! I don't know of anyone else in the company that's been asked to give this type of a presentation. I don't really know much about this part of the company or their culture. But I am confident that I know the position. It's essentially my manager's job for a different org. They are only interviewing internally, and didn't even post externally.

So far I've included information on where I grew up, got my BA, what I did between my BA and MA and why I ended up where I am (which includes hobbies). I don't really want to add information on my husband or kids other than in the broadest terms (ie, I like skiing with my family). It makes me feel uncomfortable for some reason - like I may be judged negatively for having young kids.

[mommyatty]

leap08 - that sounds perfect!

[Widget123]

leap08 sounds good! The only reason I feel comfortable mentioning my kids in internal interviews is because the interviewers already know that I have them. If they didn't already know, I definitely wouldn't mention them.

[leap08]

Widget123, that makes sense (the kid part). I work for a really big company (the state's largest private employer) and this is in a completely different org. If it was an interview within my org, they would know about my kids and I would feel comfortable mentioning them.

[akafred]

Do you have "clubs" or cross functional teams? We have "synergy teams" devoted to things like women plus a STEM offshoot, gay/lesbian/alliance, diversity, wellness, and parenting. Plus we have cross functional teams for problem solving. I would include that sort of thing.

[mommyatty]

May 19, 2017 14:44:39 GMT -5 leap08 said:

Widget123, that makes sense (the kid part). I work for a really big company (the state's largest private employer) and this is in a completely different org. If it was an interview within my org, they would know about my kids and I would feel comfortable mentioning them.

This made me chuckle. During my first pregnancy, I had to admit to my Chief Legal Officer that I was having Braxton-Hicks contractions in my CEO's office because I needed someone to save me when I was breathing through one. Lol. So in my Fortune 200 size company, there's nowhere for me to hide.