What to do when you want to apply for an internal position at your company

31 Jan 2020, 13:00 by Jay Munro

There are a few advantages of changing jobs within the company you already work for. You might have built strong professional and social networks that will help you get ahead and it’s a great way to explore different functions and gain new skills.

https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.584%2C$multiply_1.5109%2C$ratio_1.776846%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_47/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/6891900bcae3dd43e105e9f621452b1aa5af978f — You should treat an interview for a role in your company the same as you would treat any job interview.Wavebreak Media ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

There also might be less of a knowledge gap and onboarding phase. Usually, when you transition into a new role at the same company, you’ll already have an understanding of how things are done.

If you are interested in applying for an internal position, keep an open mind about the ways your approach might differ to making an application for a job in a new organisation. From the start, it’s important to have an honest conversation with your manager about your intentions to apply for the internal role. Being transparent can help ensure you don’t burn any bridges.

At some organisations, it is a requirement to get approval from your manager before applying for an internal role.

The next step is to arrange to talk to the hiring manager before submitting your CV. This can show
respect while also giving you an opportunity to start building rapport. It can also be beneficial to
have casual chats with the team you would be working with to get a better understanding about the
role and help put you ahead of other candidates when preparing for the application and interview.

Once you’ve gathered some internal insights about the role, spend some time researching the
market for comparable opportunities before deciding to proceed with your application. To avoid any
future regrets, you should feel sure that you’re making a balanced decision which takes into
consideration things like role expectations, development potential, earning capacity and cultural fit.

https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.491%2C$multiply_1.5109%2C$ratio_1.776846%2C$width_1059%2C$x_664%2C$y_115/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/916bb507ca49f6561df5574eaa9f84e98b3e85fd — Jay Munro is head of career insights at Indeed.

When you’ve decided to go ahead with your application, you’ll need to start focusing on how you
can set yourself apart from other internal candidates who might have similar experience. One of the biggest failings among people applying for internal roles is expecting that everyone in the recruitment process already knows what they’ve achieved. So, look at the unique things you’ve accomplished for your company and build clear examples around these.

From the initial application to the interview, you should try to resist the temptation to treat the process more informally than you might an external role. You might be comfortable in an environment you know well, but signs of informality could be taken as unprofessional or even disrespectful.

While there are reasons to be positive about your chances, it’s important to remember that just because you already work at the company, it doesn’t mean you are guaranteed the role.

If you’re not successful, you might increase your chances next time by opening a conversation with the hiring manager around how you can challenge yourself more in your existing role. Asking for feedback about your application and interview will also be key to improving and ensuring you are ready the next time you find a role that interests you – whether internal or external.

Applying for an internal position could be a great opportunity for your career, but it shouldn’t be considered as your easy option. Whether you apply for an internal role or a role at another company, it’s important to be prepared, act professionally, and have an open mind about the outcome.

This content was produced in commercial partnership with Indeed.