Insider tips for internal applications
How to find the right job in the same company faster
Views are my own.
External applications are complicated.
But if you’re already working for a company, you have a decisive advantage: the “secret” internal job market.
This also applies to interns or working students, just take a look! Find out here what a working student in Germany is and how to apply.
Although large corporations in particular can differ from department to department, you already know the culture, values and products or services.
This is also an opportunity to get a job abroad. Many companies have offices worldwide. Or else, how about an international VIE Program in Hong Kong, Singapore, Milan, or Sydney?
Plus, you can quickly find all the information you need on the intranet or quickly ask someone. This will also expand your network. So make sure you optimize your LinkedIn profile for recruiter-magic!
The hurdle to choosing you is significantly lower compared to the competition from outside. It saves you time and money, for example, you can often switch much faster, already have your devices and need less onboarding. You also save on personality and profiling assessments, which are usually not beneficial.
Applying internally: Be proactive
The secret of internal applications is: Be visible:
- 📡 Expand your network: e.g. via LinkedIn, internal groups or events. Send a request on LinkedIn to every person you have worked with or met
- 🔥 Be a Pro: Position yourself as a highly visible expert, e.g. at events, discussions, meetings
- 🤝 Long-term connections: Offer to come back to you with questions or support on topic XY. This will keep you in people’s minds in the long term
- 🔎 Optimize content: Maintain internal profiles with suitable skills to be found more quickly
- 🎤 Pitch yourself: Prepare a short pitch for events or informal coffee chats: Who are you? What have you done in the company or before? What do you offer?
- 🤫 Trusted Circle: Let closely trusted colleagues know that you are looking for a new job (if you feel comfortable with it)
But the most important recommendation: Apply for as many suitable jobs as quickly as possible. You have no time to lose!
It’s helpful to check for similar job profiles, because job profiles are changing. You’ll also increase your chances. Here are 7 promising careers for UX designers!
Applying internally: Tailor your CV to the position
Many companies also use parsing tools or AI internally to automatically analyze applications. Make sure that your CV contains the relevant keywords from the job advertisement and don’t fall for these CV myths!
In most cases, you can skip the cover letter. Find out here why you should apply without a cover letter despite AI.
Of course, networking and the personal touch play an even more important role here. And yet everything usually has to go through an official tool. Tips for the internal CV:
- 📧 Use your company email in the contact field instead of your private address
- 🔍 Make sure that your CV contains the relevant keywords from the job advertisement
- 🔗 Link an internal portfolio with projects, if available
- 🏆 Emphasize relevant experience, first touchpoints, skills and successes in the new field, e.g. awards or internal conferences
- 📑 Be more precise in job descriptions than externally, for example, mention names or specific departments if it fits the position. This helps to evaluate you. Example: “Consulting for customer X, Y and Z”
Applying internally: Prepare your project portfolio
There’s a key advantage here: you can often show colleagues cool projects that cannot be shown externally. For example, an app or a presentation that you have created internally.
But be careful: sometimes there are secret projects here too, so check carefully!
If you have already worked on relevant projects, compile an overview as a portfolio. Describe each project and, above all, your part in it.
So, send a link with a:
- Presentation
- Figma file
- Report/list of your successes
This way you can show specifically what you can bring to the new role.
Applying internally: Contact hiring managers & recruiters directly
There is another advantage over external applications: It is often possible to see who’s responsible for a particular position.
You may even know them or a connection can be established thanks to mutual contacts.
How it works:
1) Send your application officially first
2) Then write a follow-up with links to your portfolio or CV to the hiring manager and/or recruiter.
Hi [Name],
I’m [Your Name] and currently work as [Your Current Position] in [Department]. I’m truly excited about the [Exact Position] role, as I see strong connections to my experience in [Skill XY / Team XY / Project XY].
I have already submitted my application, and you can find my portfolio here: [Link to Internal Portfolio].
I would love to learn more about you and the position. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
I look forward to speaking with you soon!
Best,
[Your Name]
Pro tip: If you like, you can also set an appointment directly and block time in your calendar. This will get you into the conversation faster. 15–30 minutes should be enough.
Even better: Let them know you’re interested before the job is even officially listed.
Insider knowledge is a golden asset and good contacts will give you that extra boost!
If it doesn’t work out, you can still stay in contact with recruiters or hiring managers. In any case, express gratitude.
Apply internally: Get internal references
Collect feedback or obtain a reference or evaluation for larger projects. The best way to do this is via an official tool, perhaps even as an award, or at least in an informal way.
Alternatively, LinkedIn also offers professional recommendations:
Because then your contacts will hopefully think of you as soon as there’s a suitable opportunity. Cool jobs are not always online at the right time. Sometimes they are even ghost jobs, i.e. job advertisements that don’t actually exist.
It’s even better if a job is created just for you. This is rare, but not impossible.
Think about what you have to offer and fine-tune your personal brand: do you already know the cornflakes strategy for better positioning?
Apply internally: Schedule coffee chats with colleagues
Of course, you can also do this regardless of the application process.
By the way, coffee is not a must: it can also be matcha, water or nothing at all.
Coffee chats are casual, approx. 30-minute conversations that can take place digitally or in person.
Simply contact the people directly, either directly with a nice calendar invite or ping them briefly via Messenger. For more senior people, an email is a better option.
In the end, if you don’t ask, you stay where you are. So go for it: Your next career move is waiting! If you’re looking for a global job, here are some tips for finding a job abroad.
🎨 Free CV / Resumé Template on Figma
Shared with mentees for years, NYCHE CareeraCard® template users landed interviews at McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Google, Deloitte, and more.
🔗 Patricia’s CV/Resumé Template →
Figma offers free plans and special student access. What are you waiting for?
💜 Feedback & Questions
I‘d love to hear from you! Connect with me on LinkedIn.
If you liked this story, please leave some claps 👏
