I'm a long time recruitment specialist. While you may feel very qualified, unless you can see the other applications, there is no guarantee you are the MOST qualified and will get an interview. Working for a company does not automatically entitle you to an interview. While I have only worked in government the last 32+ years, and so have higher scrutiny and requirements for a fair, unbiased hiring and promotional process than private sector - it should be the same for every employer. They should try to get the highest qualified hire out of what is often a fiercely competitive applicant pool.
My best advice for getting an interview is to do these things:
1. When applying internally do not forget that you are still competing against others and to note information about your current skills and position, putting aside the notion that just because you work somewhere they will assign those to you. If they do so, that is bias and favoritism and can open a company up to discrimination lawsuits. Getting hired on your own merits and through your own efforts sets you and your organization up for there being no doubt you are selected because you are the most qualified; and sets you up for success - versus thinking you got the job more because of who you know instead of what you know. It's a huge morale buster to hire someone who is not the highest qualified, and lets them know you don't value them enough to let them earn it because you know they can.
2. Create a master resume where you keep every single job, skill, class, and credential you have earned and are proud of.
3. For each job you apply to, read the qualifications and job description very thoroughly. Pull only the details showcasing how you are qualified for this job and/or your unique talents you think this position needs based on your understanding of the position for this resume. Employers do not know what they need if they have never had it, until someone comes along who highlights it for them. For the work history, call it "relevant work history" and note in your cover letter (showcasing your written communication skills and professionalism) that you highlighted the parts of your career most aligned to this position even though you have additional experience to discuss at an interview. You are doing this because you value their time by giving them what they need to review quickly and make a decision. Have a friend glance at it and tell you what they see in the first could of minutes. Is that what you want to showcase? If not, edit and try again.
3. Before the interview, study your work history and your performance reviews from your past and current employers. Make notes of how you've grown from those reviews and developed new skills based on supervisor or other feedback. Write down your strengths and your details from personality tests or strengths based assessments to remind yourself of who you are and what you need to thrive in your work environment. Study yourself to bring your most authentic self to the interview you will surely get if you made the effort to show you understand what they are seeking per 1 and 2.
4. During the interview, listen and answer honestly and clearly. Do not try to answer how they want. You are trying to enter into an honest relationship where you mutually meet each other's needs and can thrive individually and as an organization. Highlight your independence and your teamwork, showing how you work and process information. Do not ask them what they want for an answer or try to give them that instead of what makes your answer most authentic, and provides your energy and motivation. If they, or you, figure out it's not going to work - because you both have received enough to make an educated decision - it is a successful interview no matter the end result. Either of you owe it to each other to walk away if it's not what you need.
5. If a finalist and still interested: When asked for references, make sure to use recent and professional persons in positions of authority so that they can show you have continued to expand on your experience even if not in the exact same role. This also gives the hiring organization insight into how you handle constructive criticism and differing personalities. For example, if your current boss is a micromanager which is usually a sign of a manager who is so insecure of themselves they have to control everything around them as they don't know what they are doing; then you need to show that you are emotionally intelligent and able to communicate professionally and respectfully, and still produce great work. The references and how you work with others, at all levels of the organization, is vital to that decision of who to hire.
6. If offered a position, know your skills, education and experience enough to quantify the appropriate terms and conditions of your employment, including compensation and leave. Find out what's negotiable and respect the boundaries. The business organization knows what they can or can't do. Do not assume they could but just didn't. If you've shown your value, and they can, they will try to make it appealing for you. Ask for it in writing before agreeing, no matter the conversation.
Note: If the environment is toxic, examine why this has not been addressed. Even if you are in a different area - it should be concerning that this is existing without question. If you have brought it up, it may be being addressed but HR cannot disclose the information due to confidentiality.
From experience, those who think the toxicity or issues will go away if they move somewhere else often have issues with their overall perception of the culture once they're affected negatively. You end up being a spectator to it happening to others which isn't any less upsetting and brings back the feelings you are trying to escape. Your well being is vital to how you operate, communicate and develop in an organization. Once that is damaged, it's hard to respect the organization. I'd think you would want to work in a place where your potential is unhindered by a history you are not happy with.
Good luck and count your blessings if it doesn't wotk out for you to stay in close proximity to what, or who, has hurt you. Often things happen for reasons we don't understand at the time. You will still feel bad if rejected. That is the natural feeling for everyone. Let yourself process through those feelings - and then get out there and try again.
***I am only posting anonymously because I work for a government organization and do not wish to leave a trail back to my organization.***
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