Interview for internal transfer

[Clars1909]

Hi All,

A friend of mine has an interview next week for a good position in another department of the large company she works for. It would also be a promotion to the next level. She loves the work in the department she is in now, and is really good at it, but two of her colleagues give her a really hard time. It seems to be promotion-related as the two colleagues who hassle her the most are really cliquey, have worked together for years before she started there and one of them is at the same level as my friend and is awaiting a (many-times postponed) promotion.
She really likes the company itself which is why she is going for a transfer, and knows she would be capable of taking on the new job.
But the thing is she doesn't know how to explain why she wants to leave the department she is in now. She can't say anything negative or slag the last position- that's a basic rule of interviews, no matter where you go! She wants to put a positive spin on the possible move, without seeming desperate - her performance reviews show that she is really suited to the job she is in now, so the major difficulty is explaining why she wants to leave. Staying in that job, however, is not an option for her. Any ideas on how she can spin some positive reasons for the move, that aren't blatant lies??

Thanks in advance.

 

[Mpsox]

1: Always looked for a new challenge as evidenced by (give examples of new projects/things she's taken on in the past)

2:looking to progress her career. Most companies don't expect people to sit still these days

 

[Deas]

I don't think she has a problem in terms of looking backwards! She needs to focus her energy on where she will be a fit for the new role and why she is best placed to take it on. The last thing an interviewer wants to hear about is how bad the last role was - if she does this she'll never get the job. The only reference she should make to her current or previous roles in the interview is by way of positive examples of situations and issues she dealth with which will reinforce why she is a match for the position she is applying for.

While I know it is hard, she needs to forget the b*t*hyness going on in her current role, as based on your query, it is clouding her thinking on what she needs to do to progress.

Also, if she does not get this role, if she makes a good impression she may be considered the next time she applies...also, make sure she asks for interview feedback.