Home > Career Guidance > At Works

How to Apply for an Internal Job

Is there a new position opening up at your existing company or perhaps an employee is leaving? Either way, you could be very interested in applying for this position as it could offer more money, more prestige, or more room to grow. Whatever your reasons for applying to the internal position, you need to know a few significant tips on acquiring the job. Below, we discuss the most vital things to remember.

1.  Change Your Mentality- One of the most important things you can do to get the internal job of your dreams is to change how you think about it and yourself in relation to the company. For example, many employees consider themselves a shoe-in for internal jobs just because they work there. If you are serious about getting that internal promotion, make sure you prepare and present yourself as if it was a brand new company.

2.  Don’t Overapply- Make sure that you don’t apply to every open position that comes up at your company.      Being more careful with which positions you apply for will not only show how serious you are about the      position but also make you appear more career-focused. Moreover, the fewer positions internally that you      apply for, the fewer you might be turned down for. Show your employers that you are interested in not      just making more money, but more importantly cultivating a career path with the company.

                                                                  3.  Alert Your Boss- By letting your boss know tha t you are                                                                        interested in the internal position you are applying for, you not                                                                        only give them a heads up on your career intentions,but also                                                                        gives them a chance to support you and put in a good word for                                                                        you with the hiring staff.

                                                                  4.  Call On Your Network- Another great way to bolster your                                                                        chancesof getting the internal position is to gather your ally                                                                        coworkerstogether to put in a good word for you to the hiring                                                                        staff. In aninternal hire, you are in a unique position to give the                                                                        bestpossible references: people that you work with and people                                                                        thatyour superiors know. Use them to the best of your ability, but                                                                        beforewarned of coworkers that may be interested in the                                                                        sameposition.

                                                                  5.  Tune Up Your Resume- A huge misconception with many                                                                        jobseekers who are applying for internal positions at                                                                        theircompanies is that since their employers know                                                                        theirexperience-lessons learned and skills acquired-they don’t                                                                        needto update their resumes before applying. Employers want to seeat all times what you are taking away from yourposition-inlearning and growth-as it gives them an idea of how you will learn and grow in a new position. Moreover, there could be many internal candidates, and your superiors could not be able to remember everything about every staff member applying. Update your resume and put your best attributes and lessons learned while in your position in front of them.

6.  Dress for Success- Key to your attractiveness in relation to this internal position is how you presentand sell      yourself. The same rules apply as they would in any job interview: dress professionally tomake the best      impression.

7.  Be Prepared-Along with dressing for the part, you must make sure that you prepare for yourinterview with      possible question and answers. While it does help that your employer already has anidea of your work      ethic, what your strengths are, and what you can achieve; this does not meanthey know what your future      goals are with the company and for the company. Make sure youapproach the interview with a      comprehensive perspective: i.e. what you have learned and how youwill use this to grow with the      company.