ah the star technique, I was trained in it when it was brandy new, then left that job because my dad was dying and needed an easy part time job to just pay the bills while I spent time with him. The first question they asked was prime STAR material 101.
I looked at the lady and said Situation, Task, Action, Response, I've done the same course you have, this job is something I'm way over qualified for but need because my father is terminally ill and I will do everything possible to make your numbers look good while I'm here.
She laughed, gave me the job, and we chatted for about another 20 minutes about what it was like to really work there. Best interview I ever had.
Be there 10 to 15 minutes early, be very nice to the receptionist or anyone you interact with before you meet the actual interviewers, dressed well, focus on relaxing while you wait, if you meditate or do breathing exercises to help relax, do then discreetly now.
Since you already work for the company, you'll need to demonstrate you understand some of their higher level goals if appropriate. Also, don't acknowledge there are other internal or external candidates at all, especially don't mention any advantages in experience they have over you.
Some of the stuff you've already said in this thread would impress me in an interview...
Early in the interview, when highlighting your education I would follow it up with BUT "Education doesn't earn you respect from the guys on the ground doing the work. Being in the trenches and leading people trumps an education." and throw on something like "and I plan to earn that respect each day by the example I set of being prepared, professional and open to guidance from my own managers."
Middle of the interview I would try to paraphrase this line of yours "New management almost seems relieved that I don’t have more stuff to dump on them" into something like "i hope I've already shown how I have a positive attitude, the ability to solve problems, and have increased morale at my current level. I always try preventing minor problems for going past me and distracting upper management unnecessarily.
Toward the end of the interview I would roll out "My hope is that You see how driven I am and that I have the aptitude to learn"
If they ask you what questions you have I have this little gem I have used "If you could fix one ongoing problem under the duties of this position instantly, what would that problem be?"
It show you are looking for their priorities and thus are likely to make their lives easier going forward.
I always ask if they have a timeline for their decision. I always send a thank you letter to the interviewers the next day,
Now having said all that I suck at interviews, though I feel I am a very strong interviewer.
I evidently talk in a monotone, don't show a ton of enthusiasm, don't like to take credit for things I've done (I'm a we not a me guy when talking about success and me not a we guy when talking about mistakes), and tend to judge the company pretty harshly if I don't like the interviewer.
I've turned down lucrative jobs on at least two occasions because the interviewers appeared to be ass hats I wouldn't want to work for and have taken jobs with less pay because the company's culture and mission were things I liked.
You can only do this sort of shit if you come from a rich family, I don't, have rare sought after skills, I don't, or have your personal and financial life in such good shape that you have the confidence you will be fine and don't have to work for ass hats, I do. Keep that in mind as you progress in life and make financial decisions and choose your relationships and habits.
And as many people here have already said, you have to know yourself or at least learn from experience if you like managing people. I have 0 desire to ever manage a large group of people at a shitty corporate job they hate. I did it, hated it, learned to never do it again, have been much happier ever since.
I'm a small company, multiple hat wearing, my success or failure depends solely on me kinda bunny.
Other people like the challenge and financial rewards of working for big companies and leading large teams. You'll figure out what fits you pretty quick when you do manage multiple employees.
Good luck and please give us a report on how it went once it is done.
