How to Write an Email Expressing Interest in an Internal Position

In this blog post, we will take you through the process of writing an email to hiring manager for internal position, best practices and tips, and finally two sample emails that you can use.

Shiva Prabhakaran

Shiva Prabhakaran

Marketing Expert at Routine
Published on

03/09/2024

Finding growth opportunities within your current organisation can prove to be a great move for you since you are already familiar with the culture, teams, etc. One way to do this is by applying through internal job postings (IJP) that you will likely find on your company's portal.

That said, many times you might want enquire about the IJP with the hiring manager and often this happens via email.

So in this blog post, we will take you through the process of writing an email to hiring manager for internal position, best practices and tips, and finally two sample emails that you can use. So let us get started.

Tips to Remember

  • The first step when applying for a role is to research that position thoroughly to see if it aligns with your skillset and career aspirations. The best places to start would - be the job description, members of the team, etc.

  • Check your policies to see if reaching out to the hiring manager is the standard approach. Some companies might have a policy of all IJPs going through the HR department while others might be okay with people getting in touch with the hiring manager directly.

  • Customize your email based on the team and the hiring manager so as to play to their interests and motivations. For example, a team that is growing aggressively will want people to join quickly, so mentioning a short joining time frame in your email might greatly benefit your application.

Best Practices for Applying to an IJP

  • Use your official email address to ensure that the hiring managers know you are legitimate in your credentials and skillset. And since it is the official email, hiring managers will be more open to sharing information that would be a strict "no" if it is outside the office network.

  • Try to keep the subject line as precise as possible, only enough to pique the interest of the hiring manager. So a simple "Application for [Position Name] [IJP] should work just fine, don't over do it.

  • Start your email with a crisp introduction followed by why you are excited about the job, how it aligns with your career aspirations, and finally how you would be able to excel at this role given your background.

  • Do not hesitate to enquire about the application process, things you could do to better prepare for the role, etc. This shows to the hiring manager that you are proactive and are committed to pursuing this opportunity enthusiastically.

Sample Email for Reaching Out to a Hiring Manager

Sample 1 (Applying for a lateral movement)

Subject: Application for [Role] - [Your Name]

Dear [Hiring Manager's Name],

Hope you are well. My name is [Your Name] and I currently work as a [Designation] in [Department].

I recently came across [ROLE] on the internal job board and spent the last few days researching the role, and I strongly believe that it is a good fit for me given my experience with [List Skills] in my current role.

The role perfectly aligns with my aspiration to become a [Aspirational Position] in the next 5-6 years and given my track record, I believe I would be able to perform exceptionally well in the role given my background. I am so committed and confident about this role that I am perfectly willing to move laterally at this stage of my career because I see the long-term, bigger picture.

I want to know a bit about the application process and how I can get started, given that it is a highly competitive position.

I have attached my CV for your reference and if you have questions for me, I would be happy to answer.

Thanks for taking the time. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Email: [Official Email ID]

Phone: [Phone Number]

Sample 1 (Applying for a vertical movement)

Subject: Application for [Role] in [Prospective Team/Department]

Dear [Hiring Manager's Name],

I recently came across your posting about the [Role] in your team and I would be very interested in making an application. My skills and experience fit this role given that I have been a senior [designation] for 3 years that is one level below this one.

Also, we met 2 years ago at our All-Hands Meeting and I believe that it would be a great learning experience for me to learn from a leader like you.

Finally, I would like to know about how to get started with my application, so any details on that would be greatly appreciated.

I've my CV and LinkedIn profile link attached, so please reach out to me if you've got any questions.

Thanks for taking time out to read this email. I look forward to the details.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Official Email]

[Phone Number]

Conclusion

Indicating interest in a internal job position via email is one of the best ways to initiate the application process with an hiring manager. Your odds of success is pretty high if you follow the tips, and the best practices shared in this post.

Do you have feedback on this post? Let us know on Twitter (@RoutinHQ). If you like this content, then keep an eye out on our blog, we publish tons of great content!

Thanks for reading.

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