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How to Write a Cover Letter for an Internal Position

A cover letter can help give you a competitive edge as a candidate, even when you're applying for an internal position.

Whether you are vying for a promotion on your team or angling to move into an entirely different role within your company, writing a cover letter reminding internal stakeholders of your contributions can help secure the support you’ll need to transition into a new position.

What to include in your cover letter

Your internal cover letter will be structurally similar to a cover letter you’d write for any job application and should include an introduction, one or two paragraphs detailing your experience, and a conclusion.

However, you’ll have a few distinct advantages over any external applicants because you are already employed within the company. As a current employee, you have first-hand knowledge of the company culture, experience embodying the company values, and access to specific company goals and data that may not be public information. Additionally—and perhaps most crucially—you have direct contacts within your company who can speak to the quality of your work.

Let’s take a closer look at how you can infuse your cover letter with each of those advantages.

Part 1: Introduction

Like a typical cover letter, you’ll want to open by formally greeting the hiring manager for the position and introducing yourself. However, your introduction should reflect your familiarity with the hiring manager. For example, if you’re writing to your current manager about a promotion, you wouldn’t need to introduce the position you already have.

Instead, use your introduction to position how you envision your journey within the company. Set yourself up to tell the story of your growth throughout your time with the company so far and into the future, and align your narrative with company culture and values.

Tip: Because you are already working within the company, you can likely find an opportunity to personally connect with the hiring manager for this position before you introduce yourself in your cover letter. Whether it’s your current manager or another team lead, preview your interest in this new role before submitting your cover letter. Request a meeting or an informational interview with the hiring manager to better understand their needs and further tailor your cover letter.

Part 2: Relevant experience

In the body of your letter, highlight how your efforts have directly impacted key company results. Recall the goals and metrics that your organization’s leaders have pointed to as measures of success throughout your time with the company, and connect those to your individual responsibilities and contributions.

There are three main points to include in the body of your letter:

Share your accomplishments as they relate to larger company goals, using data to support your claims as much as possible.

Demonstrate growth throughout your time with the company, pointing to role expansions or added responsibilities.

Express how you hope to help continue company progress in this new role, specifically establishing how you’ll use your skills to fulfill the department’s needs in service to greater company goals.

With these three points, you can establish the narrative of your growth from when you started at the company and into the future.

Part 3: Closing

As with any cover letter, conclude by restating your request for consideration and asking for the next steps you’re hoping to achieve.

If you haven’t been in direct contact with the person you’re submitting this letter to, you can also include an invitation to contact a reference within the company who can speak to the quality of your work, such as your direct manager. Alternatively, you can ask your reference to proactively reach out to the hiring manager on your behalf, letting them know to expect your application and that they support your application.

Cover letter for internal position example

To help you think about your internal cover letter, here is an example:

Dear Ms. Moore,

Thank you for talking with me about the open project manager position on your team. I’ve enjoyed watching your team’s collaborative approach from my viewpoint as an executive assistant this past year and am excited about the potential to merge my administrative experience with the forward-moving project management perspective here at Company A.

As the Executive Assistant to Mr. Curtis, Chief Marketing Officer, I’ve had the opportunity to support logistics on key launches such as our national commercial campaign for Product X. After zero missed deadlines, consistent and clear communication, and a successful launch, I was able to continue that momentum by coordinating with our social media team on Instagram and Facebook campaigns. The social media campaigns amplified our reach to a global market and resulted in a 20 percent increase in website traffic on days of the posts and a 50 percent increase in Product X sales.

I’ve so enjoyed working with various internal and external stakeholders throughout my time at Company A thus far and witnessing the impact of our organized collaborative approach. In fact, it has inspired me to earn a Professional Certificate in Project Management from Google.

I would love to continue my growth in the project management role on your team. Should you have any questions about my work, Mr. Curtis is willing to affirm my commitment to the company. Otherwise, I look forward to hearing about next steps from you in the process.

Orly Sanchez

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How to Write a Cover Letter for an Internal Position

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What is a cover letter for an internal position?

• How to create a cover letter for an in-house position
• Cover letter for an internal position template
• Cover letter for an internal promotion example

When applying for an internal job at your current company, you should create a cover letter to accompany your resume. A cover letter distinguishes you as a strong candidate for a promotion. It should outline your experience, qualifications and interest in the new role. In this article, you’ll learn how to write a cover letter for an internal position and provide a template and an example to help you write your own.

A cover letter for an internal position is a written statement that accompanies your application for a new role within your current organization. Similar to a standard cover letter, this type of message should discuss your professional accomplishments and your work experience to establish you as a strong candidate for the promotion.

How to create a cover letter for an internal position

Follow these steps to create a cover letter for an internal position:

1. Follow a standard cover letter length

Cover letters should average 250-350 words that span three to four paragraphs. If you submit a paper application, ensure that your cover letter is less than a page long using 12-point font. A shorter cover letter may not take full advantage of the potential that this introductory message offers, while a longer letter may need a more simplified narrative.

2. Begin the cover letter with the most important information

Start your cover letter by listing your contact information. State the date that you are submitting your application, and then list your company’s contact information, including the hiring manager’s name. Use a professional salutation like “Dear” before writing the body of the letter.

3. Write about your experience as a story or narrative for the hiring manager

Discuss your previous professional experience and the new skills and qualifications you developed in your current role. Even if you are already familiar with the hiring manager or you have discussed your experience in your initial interview, include this information in your cover letter as a reminder and to show your serious interest in the position as well as your readiness. Incorporate these elements into a narrative that explains why you are qualified for the promotion and how your experience will enable you to contribute in a unique way. 

4. Discuss how you have improved your qualifications and skills in your current role

Use examples to discuss how you have learned and advanced in your current role. Consider mentioning training programs you have completed, certifications you have earned or objectives you have achieved. Mentioning the ways you have improved allows you to position yourself as an employee who can continually impact the company in a positive way.

5. Mention specific contributions and accomplishments you’ve made in your current role

Add data and figures to quantify the contributions you have made to the company. Consider mentioning additional revenue you generated or cost-saving initiatives you established. Adding these specifics helps the hiring team understand the value you have added to the company and assess what you could provide in the new role.

6. Thank the hiring manager for considering your application

Conclude your cover letter by thanking the hiring manager for their consideration. Prompt them to take the next step in the process, which may be interviewing you or having a formal discussion about the job opening. Finish the letter with a formal closing like “Sincerely” before adding your signature.

Internal position cover letter template

Use this internal position cover letter template to write your cover letter:

Your Name Your Address | Your City, State, and ZIP Code | Your Phone Number | Your Email Address

Today’s Date

Hiring Manager’s Name Business Name Business Address Business City, State, and ZIP Code

Salutation,

The first paragraph should begin with a statement of your interest in the open position. Briefly summarize your career goals and unique qualifications.

The second paragraph should discuss your qualifications for the job opening. Mention accomplishments and specific figures and data when possible.

The third paragraph should expand on areas where you have improved since joining the company. Connect your achievements and skills to the job opening.

The final paragraph should include a reminder of your interest and a prompt to take the next step in the hiring process. End by expressing gratitude.

Formal Closing, Your Signature

Internal position cover letter example

Consider this cover letter a model for how to tell the story of your qualifications, goals and contributions. Use this example to help you write your cover letter for an internal position:

Hannah Lee 123 Main Way | New York, NY 11110 | 555-555-5555 | [email protected]

July 1, 2019

Pat Smith ABC Business 123 Business Pkwy New York, NY 11101

Dear Ms. Smith,

I am writing to apply formally for the Assistant Sales Manager position in the Sales and Marketing department. I was excited to learn about this newly created role, as I am eager to apply my leadership skills and extensive experience to a management role within the company.

When I joined ABC Business three years ago as an Account Coordinator, I brought five years of experience in the sales field. Since then, I have gained experience managing sales teams and devising strategies, even leading my current team to exceed our quarterly goal by 15%. My initiatives have also increased team-wide efficiency by 10%, further adding to increased revenue for the sales department.

In my three years in this Account Coordinator position, I have developed strong communication, problem-solving and management skills. I believe these skills, combined with my past experience and deep knowledge of the company, would allow me to contribute substantially to the Assistant Sales Manager role and the sales department’s objectives.

I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this Assistant Sales Manager position with you in person. Thank you in advance for your consideration, and I look forward to talking with you further.

Sincerely, Hannah Lee

• Search Search Please fill out this field.
• Career Planning
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• Cover Letters

Cover Letters for a Promotion or Internal Position

What to Include in Your Cover Letter

• Sample Cover Letter for Promotion
• Email Job Promotion Letter

Applying for a Transfer

More about getting promoted.

When you're being considered for an internal position or a promotion, you may need to write a cover letter to officially apply for the new position within your company.

What should you write in a cover letter for a job at a company where you already work? What's the best way to frame your credentials to secure a promotion?

Here's everything you need to know about crafting the perfect cover letter for an internal role, along with sample letters and writing tips.

A job promotion cover letter should clearly explain your interest in the job and delineate  how you are qualified for the position . The letter should also recap your experience and knowledge of your employer’s current mission and needs, as well as the progressive growth you have enjoyed within the company.

Don't presume the hiring manager or department manager reviewing your qualifications will know your background just because you work for the company.

Sharing the specific details of your history with the organization will help ensure  your resume gets a closer look  and that your qualifications get noticed.

This is especially true when applying for a position at a large company. Also, be prepared to discuss these  qualifications during job interviews .

See below for a general cover letter for a job promotion, as well as an email cover letter written for a retail position.

Sample Cover Letter for a Promotion or Internal Position

This is a cover letter example for an internal position. Download the internal position cover letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online), or see below for more examples.

Lewis Applicant 123 Main Street Anytown, CA 12345 555-555-5555 lewis.applicant@email.com

June 4, 2024

Julia Lee Director, Communications ACME Retail 123 Business Rd. Business City, NY 54321

Dear Ms. Lee,

I would like to formally apply for the Assistant Communications Manager position in the Corporate Communications Department. As you are aware, I have had extensive experience with Acme Retail starting when I participated in your summer editorial intern program while I was still in college.

Since then I have been advanced through progressively more responsible positions in both the Human Resources and Marketing Departments. During my tenure, I have developed exceptional writing and editing skills and have designed and implemented highly successful communication strategies at the departmental level.

I have also demonstrated my ability to work with leaders across business units and multiple lines of business, consistently earning exemplary scores on my annual performance evaluations by my supervisors.

In addition, I have been responsible for benefits communications and employee relations, as well as liaising with the company's clients and vendors to ensure all projects are completed by established milestones.

These are just a few examples of my accomplishments and contributions to our company. I hope you will find that this brief view, in combination with the attached resume, describes a dedicated employee of Acme Retail with the experience and skills to meet or exceed the requirements of the position of Assistant Communications Manager.

I appreciate your consideration and look forward to discussing this opportunity for promotion with you at your convenience. Please let me know if there is any other information I can provide that will support my candidacy for this promotion.

Best regards,

Signature (hard copy letter)

Lewis Applicant

Email Job Promotion Cover Letter

Here's an example of a letter or email message used to apply for a job promotion to a management position at a retail store:

Subject:  Application for Manager - Shoe Department

Dear Janice,

It was with great interest that I read that Human Resources is seeking applications for a new Manager in the Shoe Department. Please accept my resume for review and consideration for this role.

I have been with Casey's for a total of four years, two in my current position of Assistant Manager in the Children's Department, and two as a Sales Associate in the Junior Department. Before coming to Casy's, I worked for Mears as a Sales Associate in the Shoe Department as well as in the Men's Department.

With my experience in varied departments, I feel I would be an asset as a Manager here at Casy's. In my capacity as an Assistant Manager, I successfully took on many of the managerial duties in the Children's Department last year when Suzy Smith was out on maternity leave, and I would welcome the opportunity to bring that same stability, energy, and dedication to the Shoe Department within the vacancy created by Amy Jenner's sudden departure.

I appreciate your consideration for this position. It has been a real pleasure to come to work every day since you hired me, and I thus look forward to continuing to grow in my career at Casy's.

Caroline Xao Assistant Manager, Shoes caroline.xo@caseys.com 555-555-1212

If you're seeking a transfer instead of a promotion, here's a transfer request letter example , a letter to use when you're relocating , and tips for requesting a transfer to a new job with your current employer.

When you're working on getting a promotion, it may take some effort to get noticed by management. There are ways you can enhance your promotability and lay a strong groundwork for a successful move up the career ladder.

Take the time to ensure you're in a perfect position to make the best impression at work and to  get that promotion you're seeking .

Key Takeaways

Provide details. Remind your employer of your history with their company, contributions to their success, and dedication to their corporate mission and goals.

Be grateful. Express your appreciation for the opportunities the employer has given you to grow within your current job with them. This will also serve as a reminder to them that you have taken good advantage of the training and increased responsibilities they have offered you.

Enhance your promotability. From the moment you accept an entry-level position with an employer you respect, look for opportunities to gain the skills that will position you to assume promotions to roles of greater responsibility in the future. 

Internal Position cover letter examples

Are you hoping to secure a new position within your existing company?

An internal move can be the perfect solution if you love the company but you want to progress in your career or try your hand at a different department.

Either way, you need to submit a persuasive application, and we’ve created the following guide, complete with several internal position cover letter examples to help you do just that.

CV templates 

Internal Position cover letter example 1

Internal Position cover letter example 2

Internal Position cover letter example 3

The example cover letters here should give you a good general idea on how your Internal Position cover letter should be formatted and written.

The rest of this guide gives more specific guidance on how to create your own cover letter in this format, and even includes some templates you can copy and paste.

How to write an Internal Position cover letter

Here’s how you can write your own eye-catching cover letter, broken down into simple steps.

Write your cover letter in the body of an email/message

When writing your Internal Position cover letter, it’s best to type the content into the body of your email (or the job site messaging system) and not to attach the cover letter as a separate document.

This ensures that your cover letter gets seen as soon as a recruiter or employer opens your message.

If you attach the cover letter as a document, you’re making the reader go through an unnecessary step of opening the document before reading it.

If it’s in the body of the message itself, it will be seen instantly, which hugely increases the chances of it being read.

Start with a friendly greeting

Start you cover letter with a greeting that is professional but friendly.

This will build rapport with the recruiter whilst showing your professionalism.

• Hi, hope you’re well
• Hi [insert recruiter name]
• Hi [insert department/team name]

Avoid overly formal greetings like “Dear sir/madam ” unless applying to very traditional companies.

How to find the contact’s name?

Addressing the recruitment contact by name is an excellent way to start building a strong relationship. If it is not listed in the job advert, try these methods to find it.

• Check out the company website and look at their  About page. If you see a hiring manager, HR person or internal recruiter, use their name. You could also try to figure out who would be your manager in the role and use their name.
• Head to LinkedIn , search for the company and scan through the list of employees. Most professionals are on LinkedIn these days, so this is a good bet.

Identify the role you are applying for

Once you have opened the cover letter with a warm greeting, you need to explain which role you are interested in.

Sometimes a recruitment consultant could be managing over 10 vacancies, so it’s crucial to pinpoint exactly which one you are interested in.

Highlight the department/area if possible and look for any reference numbers you can quote.

These are some examples you can add..

• I am interested in applying for the role of *Internal Position* with your company.
• I would like to apply for the role of Sales assistant (Ref: 40f57393)
• I would like to express my interest in the customer service vacancy within your retail department
• I saw your advert for an IT project manager on Reed and would like to apply for the role.

See also: CV examples – how to write a CV – CV profiles

Highlight your suitability

The sole objective of your cover letter is to motivate recruiters into to opening your CV. And you achieve this by quickly explaining your suitability to the roles you are applying for.

Take a look at the job descriptions you are applying to, and make note of the most important skills and qualifications being asked for.

Then, when crafting your cover letter, make your suitability the central focus.

Explain why you are the best qualified candidate, and why you are so well suited to carry out the job.

This will give recruiters all the encouragement they need to open your CV and consider you for the job.

Keep it short and sharp

When sending a job application to a recruiter or hiring manager, it is important to remember that they will normally be very busy and pushed for time.

Therefore, you need to get you message across to them quickly (in a matter of seconds ideally). So, keep your cover letter short and to-the-point. A long waffling cover letter will overwhelm recruiters when they are running through hundreds of emails in there inbox, but a concise one will get their attention.

So, keep your cover letter to just a few sentences long, and save the extensive detail for your CV.

Sign off professionally

To round of your CV, you should sign off with a professional signature.

This will give your cover letter a slick appearance and also give the recruiter all of the necessary contact information they need to get in touch with you.

The information to add should include:

• A friendly sign off – e.g. “Kindest regards”
• Your full name
• Phone number (one you can answer quickly)
• Email address
• Profession title
• Professional social network –  e.g. LinkedIn

Here is an example signature;

Warm regards,

Jill North IT Project Manager 078837437373 [email protected] LinkedIn

Quick tip: To save yourself from having to write your signature every time you send a job application, you can save it within your email drafts, or on a separate documents that you could copy in.

What to include in your Internal Position cover letter

Your Internal Position cover letter will be unique to your situation, but there are certain content guidelines you should stick to for best results.

To attract and entice recruiters, stick with the following key subjects in your cover letter – adapting them to fit your profession and target jobs.

• Your professional experience – Employers will be keen to know if your experience is suitable for the job you are applying to, so provide a good summary of it in your cover letter.
• Your qualifications and education – Highlight your most relevant and high-level of qualification, especially if they are essential to the job.
• The positive impact you have made – Employers love to hear about the benefits you can bring to them, so shout about anything impressive you have done, such as saving money or improving processes.
• Your reasons for leaving – Use a few words of your cover letter to explain why you are leaving your current job and ensure you avoid any negative reasons.
• Your availability – Let recruiters know when you can start a new job . Are you immediately available, or do you have a month notice period?

Internal Position cover letter templates

Copy and paste these Internal Position cover letter templates to get a head start on your own.

I hope you’re well.

I am delighted to submit my application for the open position of Finance Manager. With 7 years of experience overseeing the finance strategy development as Assistant Finance Manager, combined with my recent master’s in business administration, I am confident in my ability to excel in this elevated role.

Throughout my tenure at CFT Construction, I have successfully led the financial planning and analysis for our residential development unit, demonstrating expertise in advanced financial modelling and budgeting. My implementation of a streamlined financial reporting system in 2021 improved accuracy by 20%, while a new budgeting process reduced variance by 15% within the first year. I effectively guided the multinational management team through their EOY financial analysis as well as spearheading new training initiatives which excellent results, which I would continue in this more senior role.

I am deeply committed to ensuring the growth and sustainability of the company and believe that my specialised operational knowledge would make me a great asset in this role. I am available for an interview at your earliest convenience.

All the best,

Jordan Teller ¦ 07777777777 ¦ [email protected]

I am thrilled to apply for the position of Executive Secretary. With my 15+ years of service as an Administrative Secretary within the company and my NVQ Level 4 diploma in Business and Administration, I am confident that I can continue providing excellent secretarial support in this new role.

Having provided unwavering support to management professionals in both the healthcare and marketing industries during my career, I possess a diverse skill set, including project management, diary coordination, and expert transcription and proofreading abilities. Within Lead Marketing, I have contributed significantly, streamlining client follow-up systems, resulting in a remarkable 20% improvement in response time. Additionally, my implementation of an expense tracking system for the senior management team led to a remarkable 38% reduction in overspending.

As a dedicated and detail-oriented professional, I am eager to further contribute to the success of Lead Marketing in the capacity of Executive Secretary. I would love to discuss my vision for this role further in an interview when you have availability.

Thomas Stanley ¦ 07777777777 ¦ [email protected]

I am excited to submit my application for the new role of Senior Fashion Buyer at our company, where I believe my proven track record, diverse skill set, and passion for fashion will make a significant impact.

With over 16 years of experience as a Fashion Buyer in the purchasing team, I have garnered extensive expertise in conducting market research, analysing sales trends, and sourcing products from vendors across Europe and the USA. My ability to curate merchandise assortments that align with the latest fashion trends and consumer preferences has consistently driven sales and profitability, as exemplified by the 15% sales increase and 12% reduction in online markdowns achieved through data-driven product selection. Additionally, my proficiency in supplier management and negotiation has fostered strong working relationships which has been recognised by my training contract with the customer service team.

I am eager to further discuss my accomplishments and strategic vision for Marks & Spencer’s as a Senior Fashion Buyer. I am available for interview at any time.

Sunni Carter ¦ 07777777777 ¦ [email protected]

Writing an impressive cover letter is a crucial step in landing that Internal Position, so taking the time to perfect it is well worth while.

By following the tips and examples above you will be able to create an eye-catching cover letter that will wow recruiters and ensure your CV gets read – leading to more job interviews for you.

Good luck with your job search!

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How to Write an Effective Internal Position Cover Letter and Resume

You have probably spent years working for your organization. You deliver outstanding results, meet company goals, and now you feel it’s time to advance into a different department or ask for a promotion. But how do you go about it? It’s easy to assume that you don’t need to submit an internal position cover letter and resume because your track record already speaks volumes.

However, that isn’t always the case. Whether you’re seeking a promotion or applying for a new departmental position, you must submit a cover letter and an internal position resume. Usually, this application centers on your current role and convinces the hiring manager and managerial staff that you are ready for the position. 

Find your bootcamp match

Keep reading to learn several tips and tricks that will guide you in writing a successful internal position cover letter and resume.

Internal Position Cover Letter Guide

Writing a cover letter for an internal position shouldn’t be as challenging because you already know the company dynamics. You only need to express your interest in the job and explain how you intend to transition into the new role. You can list a few of the significant achievements you have accomplished in your current role.

Why Does Your Internal Position Cover Letter Matter?

An internal cover letter is important because it positions you as a strong candidate for the role. Not every department manager knows your achievements and skills. Writing a cover letter to accompany your resume captures the hiring manager’s attention, giving you an upper hand.

Most people who apply for internal positions are highly qualified and deserving. A cover letter allows you to vouch for yourself and explain why you are the right pick for the job. You can showcase your contribution to the company and explain how your current role shaped you for the new position.

Essential Components of Your Internal Position Cover Letter

Internal position cover letters follow the same cover letter format as universal cover letters . However, the letter’s contents will focus more on your current position and not previous job opportunities. Here are the most significant components of an internal position cover letter.

• Contact information. You will include your contact information and the company’s information. In addition, you will add the date of your application. Your information allows the recruiters to give you feedback and the date proves that you submitted your application before the deadline.
• Salutation. You will address the letter to the hiring manager using their name. Luckily, because it is an internal job posting, you can find the hiring manager’s name. Using the official name makes the letter more personable and captures attention.
• Two or three body paragraphs. Start by expressing interest in the open position and highlighting your qualifications. The next paragraph covers how your capabilities align with the job opening. Include hard data to prove your achievements at the company. Finally, explain how you have grown in your current position and how your skills will contribute to your success in the new role.
• Conclusion. This paragraph concludes the letter by expressing gratitude to the hiring manager and prompting them to consider you for the next step of the hiring process. It should be about two to three sentences in length and conclude with a handwritten signature and formal closing, such as “kind regards” or “sincerely.”

5 Tips for Writing a Strong Internal Position Cover Letter

There are hundreds of tips when it comes to writing cover letters. However, writing an internal position cover letter requires more attention and knowledge of the company culture and products. Here are the five top tips to implement in your cover letter.

• Be professional. You may be a seasoned employee, but that doesn’t mean you can rely on your relationships at the company to get ahead. Don’t randomly throw in your boss’s name unless you’re using them for a recommendation. Write a formal letter like you would for an external position.
• Use insider knowledge. As an employee, you already know about the organization. Tailor your achievements to match what the company is looking for in a candidate. Highlight specific contributions and explain why they make you the right fit for the job opening. You can use figures and measurable outcomes to emphasize your point.
• Keep it short. Cover letters should be brief and to the point. Typically, your cover letter should be around 250-350 words, which is under one page. Only focus on meaningful information to make your cover letter captivating. Your resume will contain additional information.
• Speak highly of your boss. Always show gratitude and explain that your boss played a crucial role in preparing you for the new position. Keep in mind, the chances of the hiring managers reaching out to your boss for confirmation on your work are very high.
• Proofread your work. Don’t ever submit your job application before proofreading. Proofreading helps you correct grammatical errors and edit out unnecessary information. Your hiring manager will appreciate a well-crafted cover letter.

Internal Position Cover Letter Example

Now that you’re aware of the components and tips for writing a professional cover letter, you can go ahead and draft a few examples. But if you also need a practical example, here is a sample cover letter for an internal position.

Internal Position Cover Letter Sample

123 Street St., New York, NY

(123) 456 7890

[email protected]

November 20, 2021

Madeleine Woods

XYZ Creatives

321 Manhattan, New York

Dear Ms. Woods,

I am writing to formally express my interest in the Digital Marketing Manager position in the Sales and Marketing Department. I was ecstatic to learn about the role as it allowed me to showcase my leadership skills and long-term experience in digital marketing. I am currently working in the same department as an assistant sales manager.

When I joined XYZ Creatives in 2017 as a Sales Associate, my goal was to learn and contribute to the department and organization at large. Since then, I have gained extensive experience in online sales, digital marketing, and management. I have also risen to become an assistant sales manager, working under the most supportive department head.

My digital marketing expertise led to a 32 percent client growth and improved client satisfaction ratings. In addition, I joined a digital marketing bootcamp in 2020 to learn about analytical marketing skills, digital marketing tools, improving client loyalty online and in person, and more. I can use my knowledge and experience in the sales department to ensure client satisfaction and lay a firm foundation for the long-term success of digital marketing campaigns at XYZ Creatives.

I have attached my resume, which features all my notable achievements and skills. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss further the Digital Marketing Manager position and how to move XYZ Creatives forward. I appreciate your consideration and look forward to hearing from you,

Internal Position Resume Guide

Although you submitted your resume when applying for your current role, you still need to write a new one for the internal position. Remember, you have made more strides in your career path and achieved new goals along the way, so you should update your resume to reflect those accomplishments. Keep reading for tips on how to write a winning resume .

Why Does Your Internal Position Cover Letter and Resume Matter?

An internal position resume allows you to add the new achievements and skills that you developed while in your current position. For example, you may have attended a coding bootcamp or contributed severally to the success of various company initiatives. Adding these achievements to your resume makes you a strong contender for the position.

Whether you’re seeking an opportunity for a promotion or applying for a new position, hiring managers always expect a fresh resume. An official application process places you in the same position as external candidates, meaning all your application materials are necessary.

"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"

Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot

Furthermore, internal resumes allow you to use specific client names, programs, and initiatives that the hiring manager is familiar with. You can include reviews from your colleagues and department manager to prove that you are the ideal candidate. A specific and detailed resume will demonstrate how you’ve made an impact on the company since you were first hired.

Essential Components of Your Internal Position Resume

Unlike typical resumes, resumes for an internal position focus more on your career paths within the company. All you’re doing is adding to an already submitted resume while focusing on relevant achievements, skills, and goals. However, you need to write a new one and include these essential components.

• Contact information: The header features your full name and contact information. You will include your phone number, physical address, email address, and professional profile, such as LinkedIn. This section also allows you to upgrade your information if you have moved within the employment period.
• Professional summary. You must write a new professional summary to demonstrate your growth within the company. This section features your career objectives and an overview of your professional life within the organization.
• Work experience. In an internal resume, this section focuses on your duties and achievements within the company. However, if your previous experience from a different employer is relevant to the position, it is essential to add that to your resume. Alternatively, if you don’t have extensive experience working for the company, you can also rely on previous experience.
• Education. Your education history is significant because it helps the hiring manager determine whether you’re the right candidate for the role. Add relevant education history to this section.
• Skills. This section is where you get to brag a little and showcase your skills. Note down previous skills and all the skills you learned as an employee of the company. These can include technical skills and soft skills that are relevant to the position.
• Additional sections. These sections include the hobbies and interests you picked up, courses, awards, certifications, memberships, and other relevant information. These sections are not mandatory, but they can help boost your resume and place you ahead of other internal candidates.

5 Tips for Writing a Strong Internal Position Resume

Your resume can make or break your application. Generally, hiring managers go through hundreds of resumes, and many lack the patience to understand a poorly written resume. Here are five essential tips to guide you in writing your internal position resume to avoid such instances.

• Write a new resume. When writing a resume for an internal position, it is advisable to write an entirely new resume instead of editing your previous resume. You will need to add new skills, achievements, and promotions. In addition, writing a new resume shows that you are serious about the job application.
• Change your professional summary. Altering your summary is important because, over the years, your career aspirations and goals will change. You will achieve your career objectives and develop new ones, making your previous professional summary irrelevant. In addition, your professional summary must align with the target position.
• Use keywords. Hiring managers seek the services of resume scanning software to select the best resumes. These scanners detect specific keywords set by the managers and separate the resumes accordingly. To ensure your resume is prioritized, go through the job description and include relevant keywords within your application.
• Focus on your internal achievements. Demonstrate your accomplishments as a hard-working employee, team player, and leader. If the hiring manager is impressed by your hard work and commitment as a loyal employee, you will likely become the best candidate for promotion.
• Adapt the company language. As an employee, you already understand the company culture. That means you can use company language in certain sections of your resume. For example, if your employer is focused on client satisfaction and mentoring as the key company goals, ensure you strategically add these words to your resume.

Internal Position Resume Examples

If you have a hard time drafting the perfect internal position resume, you can use resume builders, which feature templates and resume samples. We have also outlined two resume examples to guide you during the writing process. One focuses on the skills section and the second one features a full resume template for internal positions.

Internal Position Resume Sample: The Skills Section

While the specific skills included in this section may vary based on the keywords mentioned in the job description, below are some of the typical qualifications professionals tend to have within their documentation.

• Data analysis, content creation, SEO, and CRM, which are requisite skills in digital marketing
• Excellent sales skills to enhance client growth and loyalty
•   Adept leadership skills demonstrated through timely deliveries in the sales department
• Interpersonal skills to maintain solid client relationships and the marketing team
• Project management skills to facilitate professional development opportunities
• Knowledge of Semrush, Google Analytics, Hubspot, WASK, and Act-On

Sample Internal Position Resume Template

Phone Number, Email Address

LinkedIn Profile

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Write a captivating summary that will capture the reader’s attention. In 2-3 sentences, express a bit of your personality, experience level, achievements within the company, and career objectives.

WORK EXPERIENCE

List your work experience using bullet points and in chronological order. Remember to include all your promotions (if any) and responsibilities. You can also list your key achievements below each role.

Company, City, State

Dates Employed

• List responsibilities

Key Achievements

• List relevant achievements

List your education starting with the highest degree. If you advanced your education after receiving employment, state that clearly in this section. You don’t have to add high school information if you have a university degree.

List all the relevant skills using bullet points. Remember to tailor these skills to match the job opening. You can refer to the section above.

CERTIFICATIONS AND AWARDS

List all your certifications and awards. You can skip this section if you don’t have any certifications or awards.

Internal Position Resume Template Resources

• Microsoft . Microsoft offers different resume templates for internal company promotions and transfers. They are downloadable word documents that you can tailor to suit your application.
• Template.net . This site features several resume templates for different career fields. You will find internal position templates for sales managers, audit directors, communication managers, and more.
• Indeed . This popular job search platform also offers resources on writing a strong resume. There are templates, tips, and examples for writing your internal position resume. 

Importance of an Internal Position Cover Letter and Resume

An internal position cover letter and resume are essential for the organization and employees. These application materials make the process more credible because all internal candidates follow the same application process. In addition, you have the opportunity to showcase your demonstratable success and contributions to the company.

Internal Position Cover Letter and Resume FAQ

Your cover letter should focus inward, highlighting your contributions to the current company. You will include measurable outcomes of your work and the relevant experience that makes you the ideal candidate for the position.

Yes. A resume is mandatory when applying for an internal promotion or transfer. Writing a fresh resume allows you to include any relevant achievements, skills, and education certificates you attained after your employment. These additions make a significant difference in your job application.

An internal position cover letter is less detailed compared to a resume. Your cover letter offers a brief introduction of your interest in the position and why you are the right candidate. It also highlights significant achievements and skills, whereas a resume gives a more detailed overview of your work experience and broader career plans.

The best way to apply for an internal position is to submit a well-crafted cover letter and resume, expressing your interest in the position. Leverage your skills, achievements, and contribution to the company to prove that you are the right fit. Once your application is submitted, you can send a follow-up a few days or weeks later, depending on the feedback timeframe.

About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication .

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Blog Cover Letter Help Cover Letter for Internal Position or Promotion

Cover Letter for Internal Position or Promotion

So you’ve got your eyes on a job opportunity in your own company. Though you have insider knowledge of the job, you’ll need to convince the hiring manager you’re the best applicant. Read on for writing tips and example cover letters you can download.

As featured in: *

You don’t have to hop from company to company to move up the career ladder — even if that’s what most employees mistakenly believe .

A great job opportunity might be available at the place you already work.

But for your internal application to be a success, you’ll need to make a cover letter — whether you’re pursuing a promotion or a transfer to another department.

The key to writing the best cover letters is to tell the employer why you’ll excel at the job and your reasons for applying.

The same is true of writing a cover letter for internal positions.

But as you already work for the hiring company, there are some key differences between how you should handle an internal application and how you write a cover letter normally.

Ready to move through the ranks? In this article, we’ll cover what an internal cover letter is, what to include in your letter, and how to take advantage of your current position within the company.

Don’t forget — you’ll also need to write a CV for an internal position or promotion! And if you’ve been promoted before, learn how to show promotions on your CV to convey your career progression clearly.

What’s different about a cover letter for an internal position?

When you apply for an internal position, you already work for the hiring company. This gives you a couple of important advantages over external candidates:

• You know more about the position, culture, and work environment
• The employer knows you already, or they can find out about you by asking their colleagues

This will affect how you start your cover letter . For example, if you work for a small company or already know the hiring manager, it may not be necessary to introduce your current position — especially if you’re applying for a promotion.

Instead, your introduction should outline your career plans within the company. You can do this by teasing some of the skills or experiences that have prepared you for the role’s responsibilities.

You should also use your knowledge of the company to align yourself with its core values.

Writing cover letters for a promotion vs internal transfer

How you should write your internal cover letter depends on what kind of transfer you’re applying for.

If you’re writing a cover letter for a promotion, you should focus on underlining your excellent performance in your current role and demonstrate how this performance has prepared you to take on greater responsibilities.

If applying for an internal transfer, focus on hard skills (job-specific abilities) and soft skills (character traits) that transfer well between your current job and the job you hope to get.

For example, if you were hoping to move from a sales role to a marketing role, you could highlight transferable skills like community outreach skills and written communication to show the hiring manager how you’d excel as a member of their team.

You should also make a CV highlighting the same transferable skills. But remember to expand on those skills in your cover letter, rather than just repeating the information you put your CV .

Cover letter for promotion example

Here’s an example cover letter for a promotion that demonstrates how the applicant’s current role has prepared them for increased responsibility.

Cover letter for promotion example (text version)

Contact Person’s Name 5 Old Palace Road Guildford GU2 7TU 01483 527593 [email protected]

Dear [Mr/Ms/Mx] [Contact Person’s Name],

As a loyal employee of Springr, I’m thrilled to apply for the position of Associate Marketing Manager. During my three years in the role of Digital Marketing Specialist, I’ve demonstrated an expert understanding of social media analytics, content strategy, and market research, all key skills that you’re seeking in this hire. As a result, I believe myself to be an excellent candidate for this job.

Springr needs a manager with hands-on paid media and social media experience who can stoke up consumer interest and excitement about our upcoming product launches. During my tenure, I oversaw the implementation of 4 product launch campaigns, increasing social reach and engagement by an average of 60%. My ability to carry out insightful audience research to craft engaging user-centred content was instrumental in the success of these campaigns.

Working with Springr has also allowed me to foster the leadership and organisational skills expected of your next Associate Marketing Manager. In addition to training and onboarding new full-time employees, I’ve mentored 5 interns, all of whom went on to apply for positions at Springr after graduation.

Springr’s core values of innovation, teamwork, and continual development have allowed me to flourish as a marketer, and I’m excited to continue my professional growth with the company.

Thank you for considering me for the role. I’d be delighted to meet with you at your convenience to further discuss the available position. I’ll be following up with you next week to confirm your receipt of my application.

Cover letter for internal position example

If you’re applying to transfer to another position in the company, you’ll want to show the employer that your target position is better aligned with your career goals. One way to do this is by highlighting important transferable skills that you mastered in your current role, as with this example:

Contact Person’s Name 1 Petersfield Avenue Slough SL2 5EA (01753) 1234-567 [email protected]

As a dedicated employee of Superb.ly, I’m excited to apply for the position of Sales Development Representative. As you can confirm with my manager, Kimberly Alcott, I’ve developed first-class communication skills and expert knowledge of our products in my present role as a customer service coordinator at Superb.ly. While I’m content with my current position, the sales development role is more in line with my career interests.

I see you’re seeking a candidate with hands-on experience in sales activities such as nurturing and retaining leads. I handle 90+ calls a day for Superb.ly’s customer service department and have an average customer satisfaction rate of 85%, among the highest in my team. My excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills would make me an excellent first point of contact for prospective customers, as demonstrated by my spotless record addressing customer queries.

Superb.ly’s plans to expand its operations in Europe align perfectly with my own goals within this company. With a BA in German with French, I’ve been seeking an opportunity to apply my language skills to my profession and am eager to take on the responsibilities involved, including travel.

Given my knowledge of both the company and the markets in which you’re expanding, I believe myself to be an excellent candidate for this role. It has been a privilege to work with Superb.ly, and I look forward to discussing this opportunity with you further at your convenience. I’ll follow up with you next week to confirm your receipt of my application.

How to write a good cover letter for an internal position

Wondering how to word a cover to secure an internal position? We’ll guide you through the process.

1. Write a strong introduction

Writing a cover letter introduction for an internal position differs from how you’d write one for a job at a different company.

While you’d normally start a cover letter by giving your name and work history and outlining your qualifications for the job, the content of an internal cover letter introduction should reflect how well you know the hiring manager.

If you’ve worked with the hiring manager before, it’s not necessary to introduce yourself in full.

A more effective approach is to write a short cover letter outlining your career goals, your commitment to the company, and how taking the role serves you in your career.

This introduction would suit a cover letter for an internal position in a small or large company:

The applicant states that they’re already an employee of Superb.ly and highlights their commitment to the company.

They also highlight two key skills for the hiring position, which tailors their letter to the job and helps their application stand out.

Giving the name of a manager or supervisor will make your application more credible — though only do this if you’ve discussed the transfer with your manager first.

2. Outline your qualifications

As with any cover letter, your second paragraph should convince the hiring manager your relevant work experience and skills make you the best candidate for the position.

If you’re applying to transfer to a different area of the company, highlight hard skills and soft skills you’ve developed in the new position.

If you’re applying for a more senior position, you should also show how your hard and soft skills have prepared you to take on greater responsibilities.

Including numbers will make your cover letter more specific and easier to read. For example, the applicant above says that they handle 90+ calls daily, so the hiring manager can immediately grasp their responsibilities within the company.

The applicant also does an excellent job of highlighting soft skills, such as communication and interpersonal skills , which are important to both customer service and sales roles. Demonstrating strong relevant soft skills demonstrates to the manager that you’d excel in your new role.

3. Explain why you want to make the move

When applying for an internal position, it’s important to create a strong narrative to convince the hiring manager you’re not only well qualified for the position but eager to grow with the company.

Regardless of the industry, employers look for candidates who stick around and provide a good return on investment for the company.

Showing the hiring manager your long-term career goals align with the company will reassure them you’re the kind of employee worth investing in.

Use your knowledge of the company to your advantage.

In the example above, the applicant uses the company’s plans to expand into foreign markets to demonstrate how some of their untapped skills will be useful moving forward.

They also align their career goals with a company objective.

You may use company values, work culture, or the targets and objectives of the hiring team to justify your desire for an internal transfer.

4. Make a positive closing statement

While your goal is to change jobs, you also want to demonstrate your commitment to the company.

Finish your cover letter by expressing gratitude for your current position, asserting the value of the open position to your career plans, and the benefits you can offer the hiring team.

Show eagerness to discuss the position further and let the hiring manager know you’ll follow up on your application.

A positive attitude about your current job and readiness to take on new responsibilities will reflect well on you as an employee and show loyalty.

Seb Morgan is a Career Counsellor for CV Genius, where he helps job seekers and professionals get more out of their careers. With over 7 years of experience in business and lifestyle journalism, he's written for a stack of careers-focused publications, including Oxbridge Home Learning, Study International, theHRDirector, and Employee Benefit News, and his expertise includes skill development, interview preparation, and CV and cover letter writing. West Midlands born and raised, Seb has since lived, worked, and studied in 4 countries across 2 continents. He speaks 4 languages and has survived job interviews in 3 of them. He currently also freelances as a travel and culture writer. Reach him at [sebastian] @ [cvgenius.com] or via LinkedIn.

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How To Create A Cover Letter For An Internal Position

In This Guide:

Cover letter for internal position template, setting the tone, connect your experiences and skills.

Show Gratitude (It's Not About Me, Me, Me)

You've worked hard, put your time in, but now you're looking for something more.

Your dedication and patience have paid off because now you found a new position that you know that you're qualified for.

And best of all: It's inside the company that you're working at.

After seeing how hard you work, your manager may have tapped you on the shoulder for a promotion. Your leadership skills make you the ideal candidate for a management position, and now you need your cover letter to reflect that.

Or maybe you have the drive and ambition to go further than the current position that you're in. You've seen a job opening in another department at your company, and you want to throw your hat in for the position.

Whether you're being promoted or looking for a job that better suits you, your cover letter needs to show that you will excel in the new position that you're applying for.

You have a major leg up on the rest of the competition because you already know the people, vision, and values of the company that you're applying for.

You have your foot in the door, and now all you need to do is pry it open a little more and step in.

We can help you with that.

In this article, you'll learn:

• How to set the tone for a cover letter for an internal position.
• How to connect your experiences and skills to the position that you're applying to.
• How to quantify your achievements at your current job.
• How to show gratitude to your current manager, team members, and the organization for which you work.

While I've got you here, if you're looking to create a cover letter which will wow any hiring manager, Enhancv has over 500 examples of professional cover letters to gain information from.

Upload & Check Your Resume

Drop your resume here or choose a file . PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.

Dwayne J. Nicole

Marketing Analyst

312-456-5555

[email protected]

Linkedin.com/in/dwayne-nicole

Chicago, April 18, 2022

Bryanna Bartlett

Senior Marketing Director

Northern Electric, Inc.

450 Pullman Road

Chicago, Illinois

Dear Mrs. Bartlett,

As a loyal employee of Northern Electric, I am excited to be interviewing for the position of Marketing Manager in the North-east region. I have worked under Shawn Tuttle for the last few years as a marketing analyst. Shawn has mentored me in the role of customer relationship management for the last three years, and I have grown leaps and bounds in my understanding of how to properly market and sell the products of Northern Electric. I am truly grateful that Shawn has recommended me for this promotion, and I also feel confident that I can excel in this role and help to provide future growth to the company.

I have been with the company for over 10 years, starting out on the sales team. I pride myself on my ability to learn quickly, and I have developed excellent communication skills, with both customers and team members. As well, I create a great rapport with the customers with whom I spoke, making sure that their needs were covered, which can be easily seen in my customer satisfaction which is 97%.

In the last three years working under Shawn, I've gained experience overseeing sales teams, and as a result of my work I have seen my sales team produce a 5% increase in profits this quarter. In fact, under my leadership, we saw sales of our new line of PLC computers grow by almost 10%. Throughout this time, one of the things that differentiated me from other marketing analyst team leaders was that I promoted a holistic view of customer relationships, utilizing Customer Relationship Management software. I gained a special understanding of how to turn inbound leads into clients, all the while prioritizing the needs of the clients.

I've read the job description for the marketing manager of the North-eastern region, and I believe I will excel in the position because I have already performed many of the requirements found within. I have filled leadership positions, and I excelled because I chose a servant leadership model, one in which I chose to lead from the front and take into consideration the needs of other team members.

Thank you for your time and consideration in reviewing my application. My supervisor will be happy to meet with you to shed light on any of the items that I mentioned in this cover letter. Please reach out to me if you need more information about my work experience and technical skills. I would be happy to help with anything that you need.

Dwayne Nicole

Writing a cover letter for an internal position is like reuniting with an old friend.

You are a known entity within your organization .

Good for you! That first step of networking is already out of the way!

It may be even better if you are applying for a new position within your organization which is overseen by your current manager.

And even if you don't have a relationship with your hiring manager, you will have made a name for yourself within the organization. They will know of you, even before you apply for the job.

But before you jump into writing your cover letter, the tone that you use for your letter is incredibly important. Check out the tips below to help craft a cover letter which hits the mark:

Keep The Tone Professional

One of the most important things to keep in mind when writing a cover letter is that it is a formal letter.

An article in the Atlantic states that a cover letter's main purpose, from when it was first introduced in the US in the 1930's, was "to paint a picture that might not easily emerge from the denser material that was, well, under cover."

What a cover letter does is show the hiring manager that you are the most capable, dependable person for the position.

If you want to show that you are the most capable person for the position, keep the tone fairly professional by using these methods:

Properly Format Your Cover Letter Header

By including a properly formatted cover letter header, you show you view this document as a formal, professional letter. Even if you are simply dropping the letter off in your manager's office, be sure to include information like:

• Personal information: your name, your email address, phone number,
• The date you are writing
• The hiring managers information: their name, position in the company, and the address of your company.

If you'd like to see more examples of how to format your cover letter header, check out this article on Enhancv which provides examples and solutions to create a properly formatted cover letter header.

Keep The Body of The Letter Professional

Remember, a cover letter is a document that is addressed to a specific person, usually the hiring manager. Even if you know the hiring manager from your current position, try to keep informalities out of the writing.

Also, try to avoid negative comments about your current manager.

Use Your Cover Letter To Tell a Story

The dominant tone of your cover letter should be geared towards an exploration of your story , with an emphasis on what makes you exceptional, and the ideal candidate to fill this position.

It's hard to sell ourselves. Even those whose current role is in the sales and marketing field may have a difficult time with sharing about what makes us unique.

Many of us have been told from when we were little we shouldn't brag about ourselves.

But I'll tell you that when writing a cover letter, the most important thing you can do is share about your accomplishments, how you've grown as a leader and gained technical skills and abilities.

It's not bragging to explain where you excelled in your position.

Soft Skills Vs. Hard Skills

Soft skills.

Soft skills involve people skills, like communication, leadership, and any habits which make you work better in a team. When you are applying for a promotion, highlight the soft skills that you've gained through your current position, especially those that involve leadership.

Soft skills to promote in your cover letter include:

• Your ability to collaborate within teams
• Your public speaking ability
• Your ability to problem solve
• How you manage your time
• Leadership skills
• Your ability to adapt

Check out this article if you’d like find descriptive words to describe yourself:

The Best Words to Describe Yourself on a Resume

Hard Skills

Alternatively, hard skills are technical skills which you gain through years of experience working in your field, as well as skills that you've gained through school or other courses. If you're considering transferring to another department, highlight relevant technical skills which would make you the perfect fit for that department.

Although hard skills completely depend on the field within which you work, let's look at one example which can help you understand which hard skills to promote. If you are an IT security manager, some hard skills that you could promote include:

• Your knowledge of cloud computing
• How you visualize and create virtual images or maps
• Your experience with IT Security management software
• Your understanding of enterprise architecture management

Highlight Soft Skills For A Promotion

When you write a cover letter for a promotion, you should highlight your experience in a leadership role. Provide examples from your current job of when you've managed teams of colleagues.

Point to quantitative results that you've shown as a leader of a team. If you’ve seen a major sales profits increase while you were the team leader, mention that you were the one leading, encouraging, and facilitating the growth of your team members throughout the process.

Here are some examples which you can use for your cover letter:

• If you were the team lead for a sales team and you saw sales increase in one quarter 6%, highlight those results in your cover letter.
• If you introduced new software which allowed your team to better collaborate on projects, as well as introducing everyone to that software, mention the percentage of people that adopted the software into their regular, everyday work.

Promote Hard Skills for a Transfer

When you're moving laterally within a company, moving from one department to another, you should consider highlighting hard skills that you've learned in your current position, which are transferable to another department.

Transferring is typical within the IT industry, and many of the skills you gain in one position can be transferred to another department.

For example, if you were working in the IT field and you wanted to get to the cyber security field, there are a lot of skills that you may have gained along the way which could be promoted in a cover letter:

• Mention any courses that you've taken throughout your time working in the IT field. Specifically, if you've learned specialized cyber security software, mention the software by name.
• Highlight the role that you may have played in addressing the company's need for greater security of cloud computing programs.

Show Gratitude (It's Not About Me, Me, Me)

In your cover letter, try to give credit to where credit is due. If you're mentioning your current supervisor, highlight the ways in which they have played a major role in making you into the person you are today.

Every single person on this earth can owe their success to a select number of people in their life.

Show gratitude to those that have helped you.

Also, a cover letter is written to a specific person, and therefore, shows some gratitude to the person who is reading the cover letter. Thank the hiring manager for taking the time to read through your cover letter. Ask them if they need any more information from you.

If you're interested in learning more about how to end your cover letter, check out this article on how to end your cover letter .

• Keep the tone of your cover letter professional by including a properly formatted cover letter header.
• When transferring to a new position in your company, use hard technical skills that you've learned to prove your competency.
• When writing a cover letter for promotion, highlight the soft skills that you've learned, like communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Show gratitude to your current manager as well as the hiring manager whose reading the document.

Creating a cover letter from scratch isn’t easy. We totally get it! So why not let us help you? At Enhancv, we have a custom Cover Letter Builder which you can use to create the perfect cover letter for an internal position.

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How to Write a Cover Letter for an Internal Position and Examples

Whether it’s for a role in a department you’ve been hoping to join, or another role within your team, an internal...

Whether it’s for a role in a department you’ve been hoping to join, or another role within your team, an internal job application should emphasize why you’re the best fit for the role. To do this, you need to make the most of your cover letter. 

Being a part of the company doesn’t necessarily place you above external applicants. While you have valuable company knowledge, you still need to put as much effort into your application as you would when applying for a job externally.

So yes, you do need to include a cover letter for your internal job application. In fact, 47% of recruiters consider cover letters essential for internal roles. And as many as 45% of hiring managers read the cover letter before the resume. So it’s your chance to make a strong first impression.

“The key to standing out is not to assume that your work speaks for itself. In addition to performance metrics, showcase your softer skills like effective communication, leadership, and adaptability. 

“Draw attention to instances where you've proactively solved problems or helped to streamline processes. 

“Your cover letter and interview should together paint a picture not just of a competent employee, but of a forward-thinking, proactive leader,” says Danilo Godoy , Founder, Wahojobs .

In this article, you’ll learn how to write the perfect cover letter to help you land that internal role, and review examples from our cover letter generator that’ll save you time spent writing a cover letter from scratch. Let’s get to it. 

Our Top Tips for Writing an Internal Cover Letter

You’re looking to position yourself as a strong candidate with a thorough understanding of the organization and requirements of the role. Here are some essential tips to keep in mind when crafting your internal cover letter to help you stand out from the competition.

Step 1: Apply for the role like you would any other

You might be applying for an internal role, but that doesn’t mean you should be lax with your application. You need a memorable cover letter that includes all the key points you’d outline in an external job application, such as:

• Why you’re interested in the role
• Any notable achievements and career successes
• Your personality traits that make you a good fit for the team

Step 2: Start on a strong note

Avoid saving the best for last when writing a cover letter . Hiring managers are pressed for time, so pay special attention to your introduction. This is where you’ll catch their attention. Here are some tips for making a great first impression in your cover letter intro : 

• Introduce yourself with your current job title and state the role you’re applying for.
• Share your career goals and passions that align with the requirements of the role you are applying for.
• Mention any relevant qualifications and achievements.

Step 3: State your transferable skills and knowledge

State the skills you’ll bring from your current role that can be applied to the new position, and the relevant knowledge you possess that makes you a great candidate. Showcase your value and highlight your commitment to growth, both for your role and for the company at large.  

If you can show them that you have skills and knowledge that can be used to fulfill the new role quickly and efficiently. This puts you ahead of the competition. 

Step 4: Use your company knowledge to your advantage

You already know how your employer operates, and likely have insights into how this role fits into the broader business. Use this knowledge to your advantage by stating how your skills can solve specific pain points and achieve core business goals. 

By explaining your familiarity with company processes, you’ll demonstrate how much easier it will be for them to onboard you into the new role.  

Hiring managers often favor internal candidates for new positions . Here’s why:

• If you already know how the company processes work, onboarding and training times are shorter. 
• Internal hires are more cost-effective (costing as much as 1.7x less than external candidates) and come with a reduced time-to-hire. That’s because of the time and money it takes to advertise new roles and conduct background checks and any other vetting procedures. 
• Your track record is already easily accessible, and you have already integrated into the company culture.

Step 5: State the name of a colleague who is willing to vouch for you

Another great tip is to include a colleague as a reference to vouch for your work ethic and impact. This could be your manager or co-worker. Hiring managers often need to contact suitable references when vetting candidates. What’s better than someone already working for the company? 

Important note: Speak to your manager about your intention to apply for the new position. This shows integrity and maintains honesty and professionalism throughout the hiring process. Once your manager or supervisor is on board with your decision, they will be an invaluable reference and can support you throughout the application process. 

Cover Letter for an Internal Position Example 

Here’s a professional cover letter example you can adopt to speed up your application process.

Why Does This Cover Letter Work?

The cover letter example provided above creates a solid backbone for an application.  

• It starts with an exciting introduction showcasing the eagerness of the applicant to apply for the new role. 
• It states key and quantifiable achievements in the applicant’s current role to highlight the value they bring to the table. 
• It states the applicant's specific transferable skills that make them fit for the new role.
• It states how the applicant is upskilling to prepare for the new role. 
• It states a key organizational goal and how the applicant’s skills can be useful. This is a great example of how to use your knowledge of the company to your advantage. 
• It includes the name of an insider who can vouch for the applicant, serving as a vote of confidence. 

With our AI cover letter builder and wide range of ready-made, easily customizable templates, applying for that internal role is much easier.

How to Write a Cover Letter for an Internal Position or a Promotion

Internal cover letters differ slightly from those written for external roles but still follow many of the same principles. 

1. Follow the Best Practices for a Standard Cover Letter Format

A standard cover letter format includes six core elements: the header, salutation, opening statement, main body, closing statement, and an official sign-off. 

The job post should explain whether to include your cover letter as an attachment or as a document. You will usually be guided on file format, but if there is no information provided in the job ad, a PDF is usually best.

• Spacing : Leave a paragraph space under the heading, intro paragraph, main body text, and conclusion. 
• Font : Ensure that your cover letter and resume use the same type of font and size. Your cover letter needs to be easily readable and meet the requirements for applicant tracking systems (ATSs). In most cases, this will be point 12 font size, and a standard font such as Calibri or Times New Roman.
• Length : Cover letters should never be longer than one page. Your letter should fall somewhere between 250–400 words, broken up into paragraphs for easier reading.

Don’t forget to proofread your letter thoroughly. Spelling and grammatical errors make you look unprofessional.  

2. Start With a Compelling Opening Statement

Your cover letter introduction or opening statement should capture the hiring manager’s attention. 

Since this is an internal position cover letter, begin by expressing how excited you are to apply for the new role. Explain how you’ve been preparing for a career pivot while working in your current position. 

Experts advise you to: 

“Show how your current role has prepared you for this new job, or what extra insights or skills you bring to the table as an internal applicant that give you an advantage over any external hires they’re considering. It can also be valuable to show ways that you’ve made an impact on the company in your current role, or highlight some key accomplishments that demonstrate your value and past successes as an employee.” — Matt Erhard , Managing Partner at Summit Search Group

Your opening statement can also begin with highlighting a specific pain point the organization hopes to solve through the new role and how your skills position you as the best person to solve the problem. 

“I am writing to express my interest in the Senior Full Stack Developer position at Sparkles Limited. As a current Full Stack Engineer at Sparkles Limited, I have had the opportunity to work on various projects and contribute to the company’s success. I am excited about the possibility of taking on a more senior role and continuing to make a significant impact on the development of innovative software solutions.”

3. Highlight the Impact You’ve Made 

Emphasize your value and the difference you’ve made in the organization. This will help you stand out as a candidate. Talk about what you’ve achieved in your current role and how that makes you a great choice for this new position. 

To start, explain the skills, methods, and tools you used to get the required results. Wherever possible, quantify your results with data to make a strong case for how your work contributes to overall business goals. 

“During my time at Sparkles Limited, I have been involved in the development of APIs in .NET Core, impacting thousands of students and internal users. I have also implemented software principles such as SOLID and Clean Code, which have been adopted by the entire team.” 

Add Some Real-Life Results

To emphasize the impact of your abilities, ensure you add real-life results and data. This could demonstrate how you helped exceed a set target in your current role or how you helped save costs and get even better results than planned. 

By stating real-life results and outlining how they impacted the business bottom line, the hiring manager can see how much value you already bring to the table. It also encourages them to think about how much more the business can benefit from your involvement in the new role. 

“Additionally, I have contributed to the development of mobile applications using React-Native and C# and have provided documentation and support to facilitate the work of my colleagues.”

Experts agree. Matt Erhard , Managing Partner at Summit Search Group , had this to say:

“Provide specific, measurable proof of your impact as an employee thus far. The more tangible data that you can point to showing the value you bring to the company, the more you’ll stand out as a candidate.”

4. Expand on How Your Work Experience at the Company has Prepared You for This Role

To make for a strong case on why you’re a perfect fit, indicate how your current position relates to the new role you’re applying for. 

To start, state your transferable skills, both hard skills and soft skills. You can also note any specific responsibilities you carry out in your current position that will be needed in the new role. Make sure you’ve cross-checked these against the job description.

In addition, list examples of collaborative projects you worked on that are related to the new position and how they have prepared you for the role.

“Beyond my technical skills, I am a strong communicator and collaborator. I have experience working in cross-functional teams and understand the importance of effective communication and teamwork to deliver successful projects. I am also a web content writer for dev.to and Bit News, where I have written articles on emerging technologies and technology news, reaching a wide audience and demonstrating my ability to explain complex concepts clearly and concisely.”

Share the Qualifications You’ve Gained Over the Period

To strengthen your cover letter, add any relevant training you have under your belt, certifications acquired, and personal projects where you gained additional experience. This demonstrates your commitment to growth.

“Over the past few years, I have honed my skills as a full-stack developer, working with various technologies, including Vue, React, React Native, .NET Core, and SQL (PostgreSQL). I have also gained experience in Agile methodologies, design patterns (TDD, DDD, SOLID), and web design principles (Adobe XD, UX/UI).”

And if you’re applying for a promotion, include details on any leadership experience or skills. 

“If you have taken on any leadership roles in your current position that is a great thing to include. This doesn’t need to be a formal leadership position. Demonstrating how you’ve served as an informal leader within your team can also show that you’re ready to take on this responsibility in a more formal capacity.” — Matt Erhard , Managing Partner at Summit Search Group

5. Include an Internal Referral 

Including the name of an internal referral who will vouch for you is another crucial part of nailing an internal cover letter. This could be your manager, a colleague, or even an individual in the department you are looking to move into. An internal referral positions you as a reliable and trustworthy candidate who is fully immersed in the organization. 

Experts like Matt Erhard , Managing Partner at Summit Search Group , agree this is a winning strategy: 

“Another thing you can do to stand out is include a reference from someone in leadership within the company. Having a trusted individual who can vouch for and verify your capability can make a major difference when hiring teams are choosing which candidates to move forward through the process.”

6. Thank the Manager for Their Time

End the letter by thanking the manager for the time they took to review your application. You should also express gratitude for the growth opportunities the company provides. 

“Thank you for considering my application. I am excited about the prospect of continuing my professional growth at Sparkles Limited and would love the opportunity to continue to contribute to the company’s growth and success.”

Ready to Apply for a Promotion? Use our Cover Letter Template

Now that you’ve settled the basics, it’s time to send in your application for that internal promotion. However, you don’t need to write your cover letter from scratch, especially when you are pressed for time with other work commitments. This is where our cover letter templates come in.  

With our ready-to-use cover letter templates, applying for a new role is quick and easy. With just a few tweaks, you can tailor your Rezi cover letter to meet the requirements of any internal role. 

Expand Your Knowledge with Our Cover Letter Resources

Knowledge is power, and with expert cover letter knowledge, you can take your career to new heights. 

On our blog, you can gain in-depth knowledge on how to write a cover letter, know what a good cover letter includes , and get access to a wide range of diverse and comprehensive cover letter examples . 

And once you’re ready to get started on the perfect cover letter, you can try Rezi for free today .

Astley Cervania

Astley Cervania is a career writer and editor who has helped hundreds of thousands of job seekers build resumes and cover letters that land interviews. He is a Rezi-acknowledged expert in the field of career advice and has been delivering job success insights for 4+ years, helping readers translate their work background into a compelling job application.

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How To Write A Cover Letter For An Internal Position Or Promotion (with Examples)

• Cover Letter Examples
• Best Cover Letters
• Cover Letter For Internship
• General Cover Letter Templates
• Career Change Cover Letter
• Promotion Cover Letter
• College Student Cover Letter
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• How To Write A Cover Letter For A Job With No Experience In That Field

Find a Job You Really Want In

When you find a position you’re interested in, you’ll likely still need to apply just like everyone else, which means you shouldn’t neglect your cover letter. This is why knowing how to write a cover letter for an internal position is important.

Whether you’re going for an internal position or a promotion, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll go over how to write a cover letter for an internal position or promotion, provide a sample cover letter, and give you some tips to keep in mind when writing yours.

Key Takeaways

When writing a cover letter for promotion, you should put just as much effort into it as you would when applying to an external position — don’t assume you’ll automatically get any favor just because you already work at the company.

Be specific about why you’re the right candidate for this role and how you’d help the company by working in that new capacity.

Your cover letter for internal promotion should only be one page long, so include only the necessary details.

How to write a cover letter for an internal position or promotion

Cover letter example for an internal position or promotion, cover letter for an internal position or promotion template, tips for writing a promotion or internal cover letter, how an internal cover letter differs from a standard cover letter, cover letter for internal position faq.

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In order to craft a stand-out cover letter that will stand out among the pile of other applications, it will be crucial to understand the specific elements that should be included. Those include (in order of appearance):

Date and contact formation. This should include your contact information and the date of submission.

Be sure to also include the employer, hiring manager , or recruiter’s name (whoever will be reading the cover letter) and professional information.

Opening paragraph. Explain how your current role prepared you for the new position. Include information regarding the specific role and department that you’re applying for.

Body paragraph. This should be a detailed (but brief) explanation of your current role, previous experience, and notable achievements at your employer’s company. Be sure to highlight both “hard skills” (technical skills) as well as “soft skills” (interpersonal communication skills).

Closing paragraph. This paragraph should show your expression of gratitude to your employer for your previous experience with the company up to this point, and for the opportunity to be considered for the role you’re now applying for.

You can also include information regarding how the recipient – i.e., the hiring manager or your employer – can get in touch with a trusted referral (be sure to confirm with that referral beforehand that he or she is willing to have their information included in your cover letter).

Closing and sign off. End with an appropriate closing and your signature if you’ll be handing in a physical copy of the cover letter.

Keeping in mind all of the themes that we’ve already outlined above, here’s a cover letter sample for an internal position or promotion:

August 10, 2023 Marissa Swarts Human Resources Manager Swarts & Sons Enterprises [email protected] Dear Mrs. Swarts, I’m excited to submit my candidacy for the role of Content Strategist in the company’s Marketing department. I began my employment with Swarts amp; Sons in August 2018 as an Assistant Copywriter. I have spent the last two years honing and broadening my abilities and learning a great deal from my managers within the department. I believe that the job requirements of the Content Strategist role that you’ve outlined on the company website match the skill set I have developed during my tenure with the company. I’ve contributed to a wide range of valuable projects for the company. Beginning in February of 2019, I spearheaded the new blog strategy which has become the primary format for blog post drafting and publishing across the entire Marketing department. Additionally, I helped launch a department-wide training program on basic SEO practices in May 2019. This program has boosted our company’s website traffic by as much as 25%. If you’re interested in learning more about my experience and accomplishments within the company, I encourage you to reach out to my supervisor , Edwin James ([email protected]). I have worked closely with Mr. James over the course of the last two years, and he would be glad to answer any questions that you might have about my suitability for the Content Strategist role. Thank you very much for your time and for the opportunity to be considered for this position. It’s been a great privilege working with Swarts amp; Sons, and I look forward to continuing to grow within the company. Sincerely, Andy Axelrod

Here is a template to help you get started on your cover letter. Be sure you tailor it to your specific needs before sending it to your hiring manager or recuiter.

August 10, 2023 Dear, Mr. Smith, I am writing to express my strong interest in the [position name] within [department name], as advertised on the company’s internal job posting. Having been part of the [current department name] team for [years on the team], I am excited to have the opportunity to contribute my skills to a new role that aligns closely with my career aspirations and the goals of the company. Throughout my time with [company name], I have consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to the company’s success, such as [mention specific achievements, projects, or initiatives you’ve been involved with]. In my current position as [current position title], I have developed a foundation in [mention specific skills, responsibilities, or accomplishments], which I believe puts me in a position for success in [position you’re applying for]. I am particularly excited about [mention specific aspects that intrigue you]. This opportunity aligns perfectly with my long-term career goals, and I am eager to contribute to [department name]’s success. Thank you for your consideration. I welcome the chance to discuss how my experience and enthusiasm align with [position name] in more detail at [your contact information]. Please find my resume attached for your review. Sincerely, [your name]

You should never assume that you will get the position just because you have experience within the company. You should also stick to a professional format when writing your letter. Here are some more tips to keep in mind when writing your cover letter for a promotion or an internal position:

Don’t assume. Don’t expect that you’ll be chosen solely on the basis of the fact that you have experience within the company you’re applying to. If you’re keenly interested in a job opening, there’s a very good chance that a large number of other internal (as well as external) applicants are too. Make the effort to put your best foot forward with a polished application and cover letter.

Be truthfully self-promoting. By drafting and submitting a high-quality cover letter, you have a golden opportunity to communicate the specific reasons why you’re the ideal candidate for the role in a way that doesn’t sound braggy. Talk about your skills and accomplishments without stretching the truth but also without being self-deprecatingly modest.

Don’t take your cover letter lightly. In many cases, it (along with resumes ) will be a key factor in a hiring manager’s decision regarding which applicants are qualified to advance to the interview stage .

Stick to a classic, professional format. Adhering closely to a tried-and-true cover letter template (like the one we’ve outlined above) will help you to create a cover letter that will grab the eye of any hiring manager without making them work too hard to figure out how your letter is laid out.

Remember brevity is important. Hiring managers and HR employees tend to be very busy people, and it’s one of their job requirements to review dozens (and sometimes hundreds) of job requirements.

Don’t lie. You should never lie on your cover letter or resume, but this is especially important for a cover letter for an internal position or promotion.

Now, it’s important to understand from the outset that the process of drafting a cover letter for an internal position or promotion will differ in some important respects from that of a cover letter that’s submitted by an external applicant.

Cover letter for internal position. In the case of a cover letter for an internal position or promotion, the hiring manager will very likely already be (at least somewhat) familiar with the applicant’s background and experience, which makes it very important for the applicant to record details as truthfully as possible.

Standard cover letter. In the latter case, an employer will be largely unfamiliar with the applicant’s professional profile, so there’s always the chance that the applicant might risk exaggerating (or fabricating) some of the information that’s included. This leads to an understandable wariness in the minds of many hiring managers when they’re reviewing the qualifications of an external candidate.

It’s also important to bear in mind that internal applicants have some significant advantages over external applicants in the review and hiring process. As an internal applicant, you’ll be able to:

Draw on specific contributions that you’ve already made to the company

Include references who are (ideally) trusted acquaintances of the hiring manager

Understand what the company values and use that to your advantage

These factors make it much more likely that your application will be favored – and ultimately selected – during the hiring process.

Do you write a cover letter for an internal position?

Yes, you should write a cover letter when applying for an internal position. Writing a well-crafted cover letter helps distinguish you as a strong candidate for promotion among your competition and allows you to formally apply for the position.

How do I write a cover letter for a promotion?

When writing a cover letter for a promotion, be sure to explain your interest in the job and what your qualifications are for the position. Although your hiring manager may already know your accomplishments and experience, it’s a good idea to reiterate them all in one document to demonstrate your readiness for a new position.

Additionally, you should include your knowledge of the company’s mission, needs, and the growth you have experienced in your current position thus far.

Including these things reminds your employer that you have a history with the company, that you have directly contributed to its success, and that you are invested in its mission and goals.

Craft your cover letter for promotion exactly as you would a regular cover letter, but be sure to add the prior mentioned specifics to demonstrate the value of promoting an internal employee versus hiring an outside candidate.

The first paragraph should begin with a statement of interest regarding the position. Here you can summarize your career goals and any stand-out qualifications or accomplishments.

Your second paragraph should discuss your qualifications and experience in more detail by including figures and data when possible.

Your third paragraph should expand on your improvements in your current job since joining the company. Be sure to tie these to the open position at hand.

Your final paragraph should remind the hiring manager of your interest and include the next step in the hiring process. Don’t forget to express your gratitude before signing off with a formal closing.

How do you start a promotion cover letter?

Start your promotion cover letter by saying, “I would like to formally apply for the [job title] position in the [department].

When you send a cover letter internally, it’s assumed you have discussed the position at hand with your current or new hiring manager.

They may anticipate you applying, so it’s a great idea to articulate that this is simply your formal application when crafting your cover letter.

How long should your cover letter be for an internal position?

Your cover letter should only be one page for an internal position. You should only include the necessary details that pertain to the position that you are applying to. Your cover letter should be one page single-spaced.

Is a cover letter for a promotion necessary?

Yes, a cover letter for a promotion is necessary if the job requires one. You should never assume that you are going to get a promotion just because you work for the company. You should write your cover letter the same way you would if you were applying as an outside candidate. Make sure you are professional in your letter. Just because you work with the hiring manager doesn’t mean you can slack off.

Harvard University – Resumes and Cover Letters

Broad Institute – Cover Letter for a Job

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Kate is a graduate of Brigham Young University, where she completed a degree in Comparative Literature with a minor in Mathematics. She lives in the Pacific Northwest and enjoys hiking and reading.

Matt Warzel a President of a resume writing firm (MJW Careers, LLC) with 15+ years of recruitment, outplacement, career coaching and resume writing experience. Matt is also a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Internet Recruiter (CIR) with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing Focus) from John Carroll University.

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Cover Letter for Internal Position or Promotion Examples

You come first, leave last. You put in the effort, the hours, the sweat. You’re a big fish in a small pond. Let’s make a splash.

Advancing within your current company not only demonstrates your loyalty but also your ambition to grow alongside the organization.

Crafting a thoughtful cover letter for an internal position allows you to showcase your achievements and readiness for new challenges. This guide will help you position yourself as the ideal candidate for that next step.

In this guide:

• Two cover letter examples: a sample cover letter for internal position, and a cover letter for promotion.
• How to not trip up on the basics: the cover letter format.
• A quick and ready template to start from in minutes.

Save hours of work and get a cover letter like this.  Pick a template, fill it in. Quick and easy. Choose from  18+ cover letter templates and download your cover letter now.

Create your cover letter now

What users say about ResumeLab:

I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: “Wow! I love your cover letter.” Patrick I love the variety of templates. Good job guys, keep up the good work! Dylan  My previous cover letter was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful! George

Looking for different cover letter examples and guides? See:

• Cover Letter for Internship Position Examples
• Cover Letter with No Experience Examples
• Customer Service Cover Letter Examples
• Data Analyst Cover Letter Examples
• Digital Marketing Cover Letter Examples
• Executive Assistant Cover Letter Examples
• General Cover Letter Examples
• Librarian Cover Letter Examples
• LPN Cover Letter Examples
• Manager Cover Letter Examples

Depending on whether you’re applying to a new internal position, or you’re asking for a promotion, you must adapt your approach. See how these two examples differ.

1. Cover Letter for Internal Position Examples

Our sample cover letter for internal position applications comes from Maria, who in her job as a warehouse manager revolutionized her site and made huge profitability gains, and is now looking to progress to an operations manager position.

Let’s see how she spins her yarn to display just how much she has done for the company.

#1: Cover Letter for Internal Position Example

Maria C. Dixon

Warehouse Manager

3016 Fulton Street

New Martinsville, WV 26155

304-390-6463

[email protected]

New Martinsville, Feb 25, 2020

Richard Hawkes

HW Operations

7 Industrial Road

Austin, TX 73301

Dear Richard,

I would like to implore you to consider me for the position of Operations Manager you have advertised externally. I have been with HW for 3+ years now as a warehouse manager, and in this time, achieved huge profitability gains each consecutive year.

I believe I have what it takes to perform as an Operations Manager for HW. As a Warehouse Manager at New Martinsville, I turned around the site which was losing $140k p.a. into one that closed the last year with $280k profit. Additionally, we closed this January with a $35k profit, our record month since the creation of the warehouse. I did this by rearranging the warehouse setup into thematic zones that have items that are most often bought together close to each other. This allowed us to reduce the average daily distance walked by a picker from 7.6 miles to just 4.3 (making employees happier, too!), and reduce average parcel completion time from 14.2 to just 8.1 minutes. These improvements allowed us to not have to use seasonal part-time workers, and even sustain record profits with just 31 employees, instead of 37 full-time and 20 seasonal workers.

I believe that the aptitude and effort I demonstrated, especially the savings increases and costs reductions I have made in my warehouse, could be scaled to the wider company, and I believe it to be necessary, at a time when 25% of our locations are operating under the red line. 

When could we meet to tell you about how we could roll-out these improvements to even our most remote locations in record time?

Best Regards,

What if you’re after a promotion that hasn’t been advertised as an open position? We got you.

Our cover letter for promotion comes from Alejandro, a junior developer in a software house, looking to progress to a normal developer position with more pay and perks.

Example #2: Cover Letter for Promotion

Alejandro S. White

4917 Yorkshire Circle

Seattle, WA 98101

423-512-2311

[email protected]

linkedin.com/alejwhitendro

github.com/alejo99

Seattle, Jan 9, 2020

Jane Employer

Head of Development

Easy Software

1 Tech Avenue

I am writing to you to update you on my progress and contribution as a junior developer in the past 12 months I have been at Easy Software, and to implore you to consider promoting me to a developer position.

As a junior developer, my responsibilities revolve around supporting the senior members of the Dev Team—being delegated the easier, partial tasks, testing, debugging, brainstorming, as well as working on software documentation, internal and external. In the past 12 months, I have been the most effective debugger out of our 6 junior developers, fixing 1228 bugs across 21 applications. During brainstorming sessions, I often contribute to the discussion with senior devs with meaningful ideas, such as the addition of the public tracking functionality to the Seattle Transport Authority project, which reinvigorated public transport use in Seattle, and increased it by 5% in the first month, and another 12% in the second since implementation. Very often, while testing, I am able to independently fix some of the more serious issues that occur, whereas most of my colleagues refer them to the senior devs. I believe I have shown enough maturity, drive, and skill to make the move to a full developer position. 

I am currently making a bigger-than-junior impact in my junior developer position. I am a firm believer that in a developer position, I will be able to make an even bigger impact, and allow Easy Software to grow and produce even more interesting and innovative products.

When could we meet for me to tell you about how I fixed the CoffeeMate bug that had the whole team baffled for 2 days?

Kind Regards,

Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our good cover letter examples.

2. How to Make Your Cover Letter For Promotion Blow Them Away

1. format your cover letter for internal position neatly.

They know you. They think they do. They know you as much as you can get to know someone during idle chat at lunch, after 2 drinks too many at the sushi spot during the Christmas Party. That’s a great place to start. Don’t mess it up by busting out the Comic Sans like it’s 2002.

Here are the rules to ace the cover letter format :

• Align text to the left without justification. 
• Use 1-inch margins on all sides.
• Your cover letter font should be the same as your resume font —use a classic like Bell MT, Arial or Garamond.
• Use 1.15 line spacing. Drop a line between each section, and between paragraphs.
• The best length for your cover letter is one page.

So, what to include in your cover letter for internal positions?

2. Make a Header With Your Contact Information

This may be a formality, but do not omit anything. Make sure the header matches your resume header , if you are sending a resume that is. The rest shouldn’t be a problem, find out who’s going to be dealing with the application and put down their details.

Cover Letter For Internal Position: Header 

[ Your Full Name]

[ Your Job Title ] (Optional)

[ Address ]

[ Phone Number ]

[ Email Address ]

[ LinkedIn Profile ] (Optional)

[ City and Date ]

[ Hiring Manager’s Full Name ]

[ Hiring Manager’s Position ]

[ Company Name ]

[ Company Street Address ]

[ City and Zip Code ]

Expert Hint: Remember, whatever you do: Do not be smarter than your boss .

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3. Introduce The Position You’re Applying For

Get right to business. Address your cover letter by first name. Start off your cover letter by identifying the position you are seeking, and justify it with a relevant factor of your performance in your current role. 

Fill these [blanks]:

Cover Letter For Internal Position: Introduction

Dear  [Hiring manager’s Name] ,

When I heard of the new  [target position name]  position being created, I immediately saw the parallels from my current position that make me the right fit. Having worked the last  [number of years]+   years as a  [previous position title] , I have spent a lot of time honing  [a parallel skill or responsibility]   skills, resulting in  [metric/improvement/achievement] , and leading me to believe I am ready to progress to this position with more responsibility.

Expert Hint: Do not be callous, even if the hiring manager is your best buddy. Do not write that ‘they have to look no further’, or that ‘you decided to save them money on recruitment’. Always treat as if a stranger will read it, because they very well might. Worse, someone you know might read it, you might not get the position, and it will sting. Explain how you understand the company culture and will be a smoother transition to promote you than someone from the outside, but do not big yourself up needlessly.

4. Make a Case For Why They Should Promote You

Take a piece of paper and split it into two columns. On the left, write out your every responsibility, duty, the things you do at work. Even if you did them once. Think, “If I was trying to tell someone how good I am at it, what would I say?”. Think numbers, achievements from your resume .

Fill that page. When you’re done, walk away, come back in a few hours, and write down the things you’ve suddenly remembered. Now, take the description of the new position, of its duties and responsibilities, and highlight the things that match with your list. 

Here are the components of your promotion cover letter’s second paragraph. Remember to back it up with the evidence. Bonus points if you can compare yourself to the ‘company average’ or even better—your past self. They may not know about your improvement, so let them know. 

Start with this:

Cover Letter for Internal Position Sample: Second Paragraph

In my  [X]+   years as a  [your position name] , I have excelled at  [matching responsibility/duty 1] , on occasion even managing to  [achievement/metric 1]   for our company. While  [matching responsibility/duty 2] , I have been able to  [achievement/metric 2] , contributing to  [a company metric, perhaps the company made record profits that year] . While at the start of my spell with  [company name]  I have only been able to  [underperforming metric 1] , however, after  [remedial steps/training you took]   I am proud to say that I have  [talk about your improvement and what it means for the company] . I am keen to keep developing further at maximum pace, and this opportunity is the right move for both I and  [company name]  to grow.

Expert Hint: We as humans are prone to believing people are watching and judging us all the time. Nothing could be further from the truth. Before you put yourself in the spotlight, make sure there is nothing that will ruin your chances accidentally, on social media for example.

5. Make The Final Interview

Companies always want to grow. They want to make more. However, companies cannot grow if the people don’t grow—or the number of them. Surely, it is better to have the more experienced with the company culture rising, instead of keeping them down and plugging strangers in higher up. 

The costs of training a new person are higher, their adaptation time is longer—it is not certain that they will ever fit into the company culture. These are all valid arguments, but not to make in this form. Do not ever try to uplift yourself by putting down other candidates. 

Explain simply how promoting you would be more cost-effective, have a higher chance of success—not how hiring your competitors would be disastrous.

Fill in the [blanks]:

Cover Letter for Internal Position Sample: Third Paragraph

The culture of  [company name]   is something I am intertwined in. I am asking you to allow me to grow, which I will return in kind. It is more beneficial to the smooth running of the company to allow the people with the know-how and understanding of the business to rise and take more responsibility. I understand the business, how it operates and its goals. The company is aiming to  [describe the goals here] , but the company cannot grow if the people do not grow.

6. Close the Deal

Normally at ResumeLab, here’s where we advise people to ask for the interview. However, unless the position is in another division, country, etc., you can wager going for a ‘I’m looking forward to’. Usually, this can be seen as arrogant or even callous, but you ought not to worry.

A lot of people use that expression freely in their applications, and here it’s valid, and less-committing than usual—you can simply say you look forward to catching up with them about it, which could mean an interview, or could mean catching them in a hall. 

Cover Letter for Internal Position Sample: Sign Off & Call to Action

I’ll look forward to catching up with you about this opportunity. I am eager to tell you more about how  [something you did]   and managed to  [achievement] .

[Digital copy of your handwritten signature]

[Your Full Name]

[Phone Number]

[Email Address]

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Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You’re the perfect candidate and we’ll prove it. Just pick one of 21 resume templates and get started now .

As you write a cover letter for internal positions and promotions, remember to:

• Get the formatting and header absolutely right—or it looks foolish.
• State what position you’re applying to, and introduce yourself with a relevant achievement from your resume in this capacity, or parallel role.
• In the second paragraph, draw on your experience in your position, and how much, and how well you do the things that your new job focuses on.
• Describe your drive, passion, and commitment in the third paragraph.
• Request an interview/call and sign formally. 

Do you have any more questions about writing a cover letter for internal positions? Did you find our cover letter for internal promotion example helpful? Leave us a comment, I’ll be more than happy to hear from you!

About ResumeLab’s Editorial Process

At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines , ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets . Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.

Dave is a career expert delivering a wide range of well-researched advice regarding the job hunting and application process. At ResumeLab, his data-driven resume and cover letter guides help readers capitalize on their potential.

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How To Write A Cover Letter for an Internal Position With Examples

Have you ever wondered if you should write a cover letter when applying for an internal position within your company? The answer is yes, it is crucial to demonstrate your interest, qualifications, and growth within the company. A well-crafted cover letter can set you apart from other internal and external candidates, increasing your chances of landing that new role.

In this article, we will dive into the importance of a cover letter in the hiring process, the benefits of writing one for an internal position, and practical advice on how to create a compelling cover letter tailored to the new role. By the end of this article, you will have the knowledge and tools necessary to craft a cover letter that will help you stand out and increase your chances of success in the application process.

Reasons for Writing a Cover Letter for an Internal Position

Writing a cover letter for an internal position is beneficial for various reasons, including showcasing your achievements, demonstrating your understanding of the company, and expressing your interest in the new role. A well-written cover letter allows you to:

Showcase your achievements : As an internal candidate, you have a unique advantage over external applicants – your experiences and accomplishments within the company are already known. A cover letter is an opportunity to remind the hiring manager of your strengths and achievements, which can set you apart from other candidates.

Demonstrate your understanding of the company : As an employee, you're familiar with the company's mission, culture, and needs. This knowledge can be a valuable asset in your cover letter, as it shows that you understand the company's values and goals, and how your new role can contribute to its success.

Express your interest in the new role : A cover letter allows you to communicate your interest in the new position and how it aligns with your career goals. By expressing your enthusiasm and commitment to the new role, you demonstrate your motivation to succeed and make a positive impact on the company.

Show gratitude for your current role and growth opportunities : Acknowledging your current position and expressing gratitude for the opportunities you've had within the company can create a positive impression on the hiring manager. It demonstrates your appreciation for the organization and its support in your career growth.

Stand out among other internal and external candidates : A well-crafted cover letter can help you stand out from other applicants by highlighting your unique qualifications, experiences, and accomplishments. This can increase your chances of being considered for the internal position.

What to Include in Your Cover Letter

An effective cover letter for an internal position should include essential components such as an introduction, relevant experience, accomplishments, and a closing. To create a compelling cover letter, consider the following tips:

Write a strong introduction : Start your cover letter by addressing the hiring manager personally and professionally. Mention your current role within the company and express your interest in the new position. This sets the tone for the rest of the letter and reflects your familiarity with the hiring manager.

Showcase your relevant experience and qualifications : Highlight your experience within the company that is relevant to the new role. This can include specific projects, responsibilities, and achievements that demonstrate your ability to succeed in the new position.

Highlight your accomplishments : Emphasize your accomplishments within the company, using strong language and action verbs to showcase your success. For example, you might write:

"During my time as a project manager, I successfully led a team of 10 to complete a critical project on time and under budget. This achievement resulted in a 15% increase in annual revenue for our department."

Express gratitude and interest : Thank the hiring manager for considering your application and express your enthusiasm for the new position. Explain how the new role aligns with your career goals and how you believe it will contribute to the company's success.

Close with a call to action or expression of enthusiasm : End your cover letter with a clear and concise call to action, such as requesting an interview, or an expression of enthusiasm for the opportunity. This demonstrates your eagerness to move forward in the application process and leaves a lasting impression on the hiring manager.

Examples of Cover Letters for Internal Positions

Providing examples of successful cover letters for internal positions can help you understand how to create your own compelling cover letters. The following examples illustrate key components and strengths of effective cover letters for internal positions:

Example 1: Cover Letter for an Internal Promotion

Example 2: cover letter for an internal job transfer.

These examples showcase the importance of tailoring your cover letter to the specific position, highlighting your achievements within the company, and expressing your enthusiasm for the new role. Use these examples as inspiration for crafting your own unique cover letter for an internal position.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoiding common mistakes in your cover letter can increase your chances of being considered for the internal position. Here are some important mistakes to avoid:

Using generic language and clichés : Make sure your cover letter is tailored to the specific position and company culture. Avoid using generic phrases and clichés that could apply to any job or company.

Focusing too much on your current role : While it's essential to highlight your accomplishments within the company, be sure to focus on how your skills and experience relate to the new position. Show how your current role has prepared you for the new opportunity.

Making assumptions about the hiring manager's knowledge of your work : Don't assume that the hiring manager is familiar with your accomplishments or the details of your current role. Clearly explain your achievements and how they relate to the new position.

Sounding entitled or overly confident : While it's essential to showcase your skills and qualifications, avoid sounding arrogant or entitled. Express gratitude for the opportunity and demonstrate humility in your cover letter.

Not proofreading for spelling and grammatical errors : A cover letter with spelling and grammatical errors can leave a negative impression on the hiring manager. Take the time to proofread your cover letter carefully before submitting it.

Final Advice and Next Steps

Following the advice provided in this article and taking the next steps will improve your chances of success in applying for an internal position. To ensure your cover letter is effective:

• Review your cover letter and make necessary revisions.
• Seek feedback from trusted colleagues or mentors.
• Network within the company and maintain positive relationships with colleagues and supervisors.
• Stay informed about internal job openings and opportunities.

By putting these tips into practice, you can create a compelling cover letter that will help you stand out among other candidates and increase your chances of landing that internal position. Good luck with your application process!

2 Examples – How to Write a Perfect Cover Letter for Internal Position

By Status.net Editorial Team on October 17, 2023 — 13 minutes to read

• Understanding the Basics of an Internal Cover Letter Part 1
• Example of a Successful Cover Letter for Internal Position Part 2
• How to Write a Perfect Cover Letter for Internal Position Part 3
• How to Highlight Your Skills and Achievements Part 4
• Aligning Your Goals with the Company’s Vision Part 5
• How to Close Your Cover Letter Part 6

Part 1 Understanding the Basics of an Internal Cover Letter

When crafting an internal cover letter, your main goal is to showcase your skills, work experience, and achievements in a way that demonstrates your value within your current organization. Since you’re already part of the company, you have the advantage of being familiar with its culture, goals, and priorities.

• Start by addressing your internal cover letter to the hiring manager or the person responsible for the internal job posting. Be sure to include the specific job title you’re applying for, mentioning the internal job posting number if applicable, to ensure clarity.
• In the opening paragraph, express your enthusiasm for the new opportunity and briefly mention your current role in the company. Highlight your understanding of the job requirements and explain why you are the ideal candidate for the position. Share your achievements and the impact you’ve had in your current role, using specific examples such as project successes or increased team productivity.
• In the middle paragraphs, delve into your accomplishments and skills that are relevant to the desired role. Discuss your proficiency in specific software, tools, or processes that are essential for the new position. Show the connections between your current skills and the new role requirements, demonstrating your ability to adapt and contribute to the company’s success.
• Don’t forget to mention any relevant professional development or training you’ve completed, showcasing your commitment to personal growth within the organization. Also, share any instances where you’ve worked closely with the team or department you’re applying to join, further proving your ability to collaborate and work well within that particular group.
• As you wrap up your letter, reiterate your enthusiasm and interest in the role, expressing your gratitude for being considered. Make sure to include your contact information, inviting the hiring manager to reach out with any questions or to schedule an interview. Remember to proofread your cover letter before submitting it to ensure it is error-free and professionally presented.

Part 2 Example of a Successful Cover Letter for Internal Position

Dear [Name],

I was excited to read about the [Job Title] position within our company. With my extensive experience in [Department] and proven record of [Accomplishment], I believe I’m a strong fit for the role.

In my current position as a [Your Current Job Title], I have achieved [Provide Examples of Successes]. I also recognize the importance of [Skills or Qualifications Required for the New Role] and have honed my skills in these areas through [Courses, Certifications, or Workplace Experience]. I’m eager to apply my expertise to this new challenge and make an even greater impact on our team.

I appreciate your consideration for this internal opportunity and look forward to the chance to discuss my candidacy further.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I’m writing to express my keen interest in the [Specific Job Title] position, as advertised internally under [Job Posting Number]. Having been a dedicated member of the [Company Name] team, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute my skills and experience to [Department or Team Name].

In my current role as [Your Current Position], I’ve had the privilege of collaborating closely with the [Department or Team Name] team on projects such as [mention a specific project]. This experience has allowed me to understand the team’s dynamics and the importance of teamwork in achieving our goals.

One of my notable achievements during my tenure here has been [mention a specific achievement], where I [briefly explain the achievement and its impact]. This accomplishment reflects my ability to meet challenges head-on and drive tangible results.

I believe my proficiency in [mention relevant skills or tools] and my understanding of [mention industry-specific knowledge] align well with the requirements of the [Specific Job Title] role. Additionally, my commitment to continuous improvement is evident through my participation in [mention relevant professional development or training].

I value the relationships I’ve built within the [Department or Team Name] team and look forward to strengthening these bonds as we work together towards achieving our shared objectives.

I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss my potential contribution to the [Department or Team Name] team further. Please feel free to contact me at [Your Phone Number] or [Your Email Address] to arrange a conversation at your convenience.

Thank you for considering my application. I am eager to continue my journey with [Company Name] in this new capacity.

[Your Name]

Part 3 How to Write a Perfect Cover Letter for Internal Position

Starting your cover letter on the right note sets the tone for the rest of its content. Begin by addressing the hiring manager or your direct supervisor if you know their name. If you’re unsure of the name, you can use a professional-sounding, generic greeting like “Dear Hiring Manager” or “To the [Department] Team” .

Next, express your excitement for the opportunity to apply for the internal position. Share something positive about the company that has inspired you during your time there:

“Since joining the team two years ago, I have been consistently impressed by [Company]’s dedication to innovation and our clients’ success. I am excited about the prospect of continuing to contribute to these values in the [Position Title] role.”

Briefly introduce the purpose of your cover letter in a clear and succinct way:

“I am writing to express my interest in the [Position Title] role that was recently posted on the company’s internal job board. With my experience in [relevant skills/department], I believe I can make a significant impact in this new position.”

In the following paragraphs, make sure to convey how your background and experience align with the job requirements. Focus on highlighting your accomplishments and transferable skills, which will demonstrate your competence for the role. For example:

“During my two years in the [your current department], I have successfully managed and completed [achieved goal/project], resulting in a [measurable outcome, e.g., 15% increase in productivity]. I have also taken on additional responsibilities, such as [extra work/tasks], showcasing my adaptability and commitment to [Company].”

Emphasize your eagerness to discuss the opportunity further in an interview. Mention your availability to meet and provide additional details about your qualifications:

“I am enthusiastic about the prospect of bringing my expertise and passion to the [Position Title] role and would welcome the opportunity to discuss my candidacy further. Please let me know when we can arrange a meeting to discuss how my skills can help [Company] reach its goals.”

Remember to maintain a friendly yet professional tone throughout your cover letter, and focus on showcasing the value you bring to the company and the position. Keep it concise and engaging, and you’ll be one step closer to securing that internal opportunity.

Part 4 How to Highlight Your Skills and Achievements

Emphasize how your current skills and experiences are relevant to the position you’re applying for. Here are some tips for effectively highlighting your skills and achievements:

1. Focus on relevant skills and experiences : Make sure to include the key skills and experiences that are specifically required for the position. Think about your current responsibilities, any projects you’ve successfully completed, and any experience in the department you are applying to.

2. Quantify your achievements : Whenever possible, provide specific numbers or metrics to demonstrate how your accomplishments positively impacted the company. For example, mention the percentage increase in efficiency in a process you improved, or the amount you saved by implementing a new strategy.

“As the Marketing Coordinator for the past two years, I have successfully managed multiple campaigns, increasing our brand visibility by 30% and achieving 20% growth in online sales.”

3. Try to use action verbs : Begin your sentences with strong action verbs such as developed, implemented, or managed. This not only makes your cover letter more engaging but also emphasizes the impact of your achievements.

Example : “ In my current role, I successfully managed a team of 12 and implemented a new workflow process, which increased department efficiency by 18%. This experience has provided me with valuable insights on managing diverse teams and delivering projects within tight deadlines.”

“In my role as Customer Service Representative, I successfully implemented a new system for handling customer inquiries, resulting in a 25% increase in efficiency.”

“I have become well-versed in working with cross-functional teams, and my strong communication skills have allowed me to collaborate effectively with colleagues at all levels of the organization. These experiences will serve me well in the Project Manager position, where teamwork and communication are crucial for success.” “Through regular collaboration with the marketing team, I have developed strong interpersonal and project management skills that will be valuable in my potential role as Marketing Coordinator.” Finally, make a connection between your current role and the internal position you are applying for. Explain how your experiences and strengths make you an ideal candidate for the new opportunity. For example: “With my extensive experience in customer service, I have a deep understanding of our client base. This knowledge, combined with my marketing skills, will help me excel in the Marketing Coordinator position and drive the success of our campaigns.” Do not be afraid to show some personality while maintaining a professional tone. This will give your cover letter a unique touch and help you stand out from other applicants. Consider sharing relevant connections to the new role or any special interests that make you a great fit for the position: “Outside of work, I am an active member of our local environmental group, which has allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the field. This passion will enable me to drive positive change in our projects and create even more impactful solutions for our customers.

4. Show enthusiasm for the internal position : Express your excitement about the opportunity to grow and contribute within the company. Mention any specific aspects of the position that inspire you, such as the potential for leadership or the opportunity to learn new skills.

Example : “ Having spent three years in our company’s marketing department, I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to apply for the Senior Marketing Analyst role. I’m excited to leverage my experience in data analysis and strategic planning to contribute to our company’s growth in this leadership role.”

“I am passionate about our company’s goal to provide innovative, eco-friendly products to consumers worldwide. Through my marketing efforts, I have helped establish our brand as a leader in the industry, and I am excited to bring that same dedication to the Project Manager role.”

Use these tips to create a compelling cover letter that highlights your skills and achievements, and leaves a lasting impression on the hiring manager.

Part 5 Aligning Your Goals with the Company’s Vision

You’re already familiar with the organization’s values and objectives since you currently work there. Emphasize on how the new role will allow you to contribute even more towards the company’s growth and success.

As a dedicated employee at (…) Inc., I have always been inspired by our mission to provide sustainable solutions for our clients. Pursuing the Project Manager role will enable me to contribute more effectively to this mission by managing resources and leading teams efficiently.

Highlighting your relevant achievements within the company is another way to align your goals with the organization’s vision. Mention any significant accomplishments and how they have positively impacted the business. For example:

In my current role as a Marketing Coordinator, I successfully launched our new product line, resulting in a 20% increase in sales. I am confident that my skills and experience in marketing will transfer seamlessly to the Project Manager role, allowing me to make an even greater impact on our company’s success.

To showcase the longevity of your commitment to the organization, discuss your long-term goals within the company and in the new position. Here’s a possible way to do this:

I see the Project Manager role as an opportunity not only to contribute more to XYZ Inc. but also to grow and develop professionally. In the future, I hope to further expand my skills, take on more complex projects, and continue to support the company’s mission.

Using these strategies in your cover letter will help demonstrate the synergies between your personal goals and the company’s vision.

Part 6 How to Close Your Cover Letter

Ending your cover letter on a strong note is essential. The closing paragraph should leave a lasting impression on the reader, expressing gratitude and excitement about the opportunity. Here’s how you can close your cover letter effectively:

1. Reiterate your interest and qualifications : Briefly summarize your key skills, highlighting how you are a great fit for the internal position. This will help the reader to remember your strengths and achievements by the time they finish reading your letter.

Example: “I am confident that my background in marketing, combined with my innovative mindset and passion for the brand, make me an ideal candidate for the Marketing Manager role.”

2. Mention your desire to contribute : Internal positions offer you a chance to grow and benefit the company. Communicate that you’re excited to use your skills to provide value and that you’re eager to make a positive impact.

Example: “ Given my in-depth knowledge of our company’s goals, I look forward to leveraging my experience in driving successful marketing initiatives and contributing to our team’s overall success.”

3. Show gratitude : Appreciate the opportunity to be considered for this position and thank the reader for their time and consideration. This shows your professional attitude and acknowledges the effort made by the hiring team.

Example: “Thank you for considering me for the Marketing Manager position. I appreciate the opportunity to further discuss how my experience and skills can support the team’s objectives.”

4. Close with a call-to-action : Encourage the reader to take the next step and let them know you’re excited to continue the conversation. Prompt them to reach out to you, and provide the best way they can contact you.

Example: “I am eager to discuss my potential contributions and would be happy to answer any questions or provide further information. Please feel free to contact me at [email address] or [phone number] at your convenience.”

To end your cover letter formally, use a closing salutation such as “Sincerely” or “Best regards.”

Frequently Asked Questions

1. what are the key elements to include in a cover letter for an internal position.

A well-written cover letter for an internal position should include:

• A specific mention of the job you’re applying for.
• A clear and concise summary of your qualifications and experience.
• Examples of your accomplishments within the company.
• An expression of your enthusiasm for the new role.
• A mention of how your familiarity with the company adds value.

2. How should I tailor my cover letter when applying for a promotion within my current company?

To tailor your cover letter for an internal promotion, be sure to:

• Emphasize your achievements within the company.
• Address any new skills or qualifications required for the position.
• Reference specific projects or initiatives you’ve contributed to.
• Explain how your knowledge of the company culture can benefit the new role.
• Show that you’re familiar with the responsibilities and expectations of the position.

4. What tips can you offer on showcasing my achievements in my internal cover letter?

To showcase your achievements in your internal cover letter:

• Quantify your accomplishments using numbers or percentages.
• Highlight how your achievements have benefitted the company or team.
• Discuss specific projects or initiatives you’ve contributed to.
• Use strong and confident language when describing your successes.
• Provide context by tying your achievements to the required skills or qualifications of the new role.

5. How can I address my familiarity with the company culture in my cover letter for an internal position?

To address your familiarity with the company culture, you can:

• Mention how your understanding of the company’s values and goals allows you to contribute effectively.
• Discuss experiences working with diverse teams or cross-department collaborations.
• Explain how your knowledge of company procedures helps you navigate day-to-day responsibilities.
• Share examples of how you’ve fostered a positive work environment or supported company initiatives.
• Indicate that your existing relationships with colleagues can facilitate a smoother transition into the new role.
• Cover Letter vs. Letter of Interest vs. Letter of Intent
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• 9 Inspiring Examples - How to Write a Thoughtful Apology Letter
• 10 Inspiring Examples: How To Write a Cover Letter
• 3 Examples: How to Write a Career Change Cover Letter
• 5 Examples: How to Write a Letter of Employment

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Blog Cover Letter Help Are Cover Letters Necessary?

Are Cover Letters Necessary in 2024?

Yes, cover letters are necessary in 2024. A good cover letter can provide context for your application and set you apart from other candidates.

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Our free-to-use cover letter builder can make you a cover letter in as little as 5 minutes. Just pick the template you want, and our software will format everything for you.

Do I need a cover letter?

Yes, you do need a cover letter in these common situations:

• The job description requests or requires a cover letter
• You have a referral for your cover letter
• The job requires strong writing and communication skills

Even if the job description says “cover letter optional”, it’s still important to write a great cover letter and attach it to your resume. Competition is fierce for the best positions, so why not give yourself the extra opportunity to impress an employer?

To find out how often hiring managers really read cover letters, the Resume Genius Research Department recently conducted a survey of 625 hiring managers . We found that 45% of respondents always read cover letters , while 38% usually read them.

How important is a cover letter when applying for work?

Cover letters (also known as letters of application ) are important if you’re serious about getting a specific job . If you take the time to write and submit a thoughtful cover letter, it improves your chances of hearing back from an employer.

According to our survey, 68% of hiring managers believe cover letters are important, compared to just 6% who say they aren’t.

If that’s not convincing enough for you, consider this: when asked how cover letters impact their hiring decisions, 82% responded that a strong cover letter can persuade them to invite an otherwise weak candidate for an interview.

In addition, 51% of hiring managers responded that a weak cover letter can deter them from inviting an otherwise strong candidate for an interview. So, it’s important to make sure that if you’re writing a cover letter, you’re writing it well.

If you don’t have much time to spend on cover letters, try using a free AI cover letter generator that can help you craft a unique and tailored cover letter to go with your application.

Why are cover letters important?

The overwhelming majority of hiring managers think cover letters are important, and you should too. Here’s why:

1. Cover letters complement your resume

Your resume provides a concise, black-and-white look at your qualifications, background, and skills.

Your cover letter, on the other hand, adds a bit of color to your application — giving employers some insight into your personality and motivations.

For instance, if you list some professional accomplishments on your resume , you have room to elaborate on those accomplishments in your cover letter. Or you can take examples from your resume’s work experience section , and use your cover letter to describe how those experiences make you the best candidate for the job.

When you write a strong resume and cover letter that work together in harmony, your application gives hiring managers a holistic, positive picture of you as a candidate.

2. Cover letters allow you to describe how you’re a good fit for the position

The whole job application process is really all about one thing: showing employers you’re the best fit for the job.

While you can do this in your resume by showcasing your relevant experience, your cover letter provides the unique opportunity to elaborate on the why and the how. It’s your chance to pitch yourself as the ideal candidate.

Here are some great ways to convince employers you’re a great fit for the position with your cover letter:

• Show how your specific background makes you uniquely qualified for the position
• Describe how you’re a great culture fit
• Demonstrate your passion and interest in the work
• Explain how your past achievements demonstrate the skills needed in the role
• Illustrate how your professional goals align with the company goals

You might even be required to write a cover letter for an internal position or promotion, in which case your cover letter is an opportunity for you to show how you’ve grown as a professional during your time at the company.

3. Cover letters showcase your communication skills

Written and verbal communication skills are important across most industries . Even if your background is in hard sciences or engineering, you still need to write reports, send emails, and communicate with colleagues.

While your resume is a great place to list your skills, a cover letter gives you the opportunity to actually showcase your writing and communication skills.

Cover letters are especially important in industries that require strong writing skills, like marketing, publishing, academia, or media. If you’re applying for a job in these industries, submitting a well-written cover letter can help you make a powerful first impression and give you an edge over other candidates.

4. Cover letters help you overcome a lack of experience

With 82% of hiring managers in our survey saying that well-written cover letters can convince them to interview candidates who otherwise lack relevant qualifications, this is perhaps the biggest reason to write a solid cover letter.

If you’re a recent graduate and your most impressive experience is relevant coursework , then submitting a cover letter is a good way to convince employers you have the skills and qualities they’re looking for in a candidate.

Companies value passionate, engaged employees, and understand that all of our professional journeys begin somewhere. Your cover letter is an opportunity to highlight your passion for a particular career or industry, and show how even without experience, you’re ready to learn and grow quickly in the role.

5. Cover letters can help you explain any unusual circumstances

Do you have a significant career gap on your resume or a history of job hopping? Is the address on your resume from a different state than where the company is located?

Your cover letter is the ideal place to clear up any potential questions employers have about your application.

Using your cover letter to explain these things upfront can help improve your chances of getting called for an interview and might spare you some awkward interview questions .

Frequently asked questions about cover letters

Here are answers to some of the most common questions about cover letters:

Do you have to write a cover letter for every job?

No, you do not have to write a cover letter for every job, but writing a cover letter can help increase your chances of getting hired.

If you’re really interested in a position, it’s best to write a cover letter unless instructed not to.

Tailoring your cover letter to each job makes it much more impactful than sending a generic letter. According to a ResumeGo survey , 78% of hiring professionals said it was easy to tell the difference between a generic and tailored cover letter, and 81% said they valued tailored letters much more.

Is a cover letter necessary for an online application?

A cover letter is not always necessary for an online application, but it can be a good way to introduce yourself to the hiring manager and provide additional information that’s not included in your resume.

If the job posting specifically asks for a cover letter, then it’s definitely necessary to include one. However, even if a cover letter is not explicitly required, including one can demonstrate your interest in the position and help you get an interview.

Do I need a cover letter for a part-time job?

Yes, you need a cover letter for a part-time job if:

• It’s requested by the employer
• You have extra information to share (e.g. explaining an employment gap)
• You want to maximize your chances of landing an interview

Should your cover letter match your resume?

Your cover letter and resume should complement each other and have a consistent look and feel. The easiest way to do this is by using matching resume and cover letter templates . Using a matching cover letter will make your application professional and cohesive.

While it’s a good idea to make your cover letter and resume match, this doesn’t mean that they should be identical. Your cover letter is an opportunity to expand on the information provided in your resume and to personalize your application to the specific job and company.

Should your cover letter be attached to your resume?

Yes, it’s a good idea to attach your cover letter to your resume when applying for a job. This way, the hiring manager can easily access both documents and see how your qualifications and experiences align with the position.

When you’re submitting your application, you should attach your cover letter and resume as separate documents, usually in a PDF or Microsoft Word format. You should also choose a resume file name that will help the hiring manager easily identify and organize the files.

Are optional cover letters really optional?

Yes, optional cover letters are really optional. However, including a cover letter – even if the employer says it’s not required – will give you a huge advantage over applicants who choose not to send one. Cover letters strengthen your job application because they allow you to do things a resume can’t, such as:

• Showcase your personality
• Display your enthusiasm for the job or company
• Provide evidence of your noteworthy accomplishments
• Explain work gaps or other issues on your resume

So if you have time to write a cover letter, you should always make the effort.

Is the cover letter dead?

No, the cover letter is not dead. Most companies require you to submit or upload a cover letter as part of the application process. They’ll check to make sure you’ve included one, and if you haven’t, they may reject you outright for not doing what was asked.

Additionally, the cover letter is an important factor in the hiring decision for many hiring managers. For your best shot at moving through to the interview stage, always include a cover letter with your application.

Additional cover letter resources

If you’re still unsure if a cover letter is necessary or not, then you should write a cover letter just to be safe. Here are our top resources and cover letter tips to ensure your cover letter improves your application:

• How to write a cover letter
• How to address your cover letter
• How to start a cover letter
• How to end a cover letter
• Cover letter format
• How long should a cover letter be
• Cover letter spacing
• Cover letter fonts
• Cover letter templates
• Basic cover letter templates
• Modern cover letter templates
• Google docs cover letter templates
• Cover letter examples
• General cover letter
• Career change cover letter
• Cover letter for internal position
• Relocation cover letter
• Best cover letters

Corissa Peterson, CPRW

Career Advisor & Senior Content Writer (CPRW)

A dedicated member of the Resume Genius team with a passion for the career space, Corissa is always looking for ways to create useful resources for job seekers, from writing job-specific resume samples to crafting in-depth articles on how to ace interviews. Corissa graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.A. in Philosophy and a certificate in Peace and Conflict Studies. Corissa’s articles have been published on Diversity Jobs, Recruiter.com, Teachstone, and Jobillico, among others, and her career advice has been featured in Bloomberg Businessweek, GOBankingRates, and UpJourney. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.

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Cover letter for internal application

Writing a cover letter for internal positions is a unique experience. The company already knows your background, current level of performance, and how you fit in with company culture, yet you must still be able to prove you’re the right person for the job. Learn how to write an internal cover letter to stand out and gain an edge over external applicants when applying for a new role in your current company.

Highlight your company knowledge and culture

Many resume articles can show you how to create a list of skills, but hiring managers also want to know if the candidate they select for the job will fit in with the company culture they’ve worked so hard to build.

The good news is that if you’ve worked at the business for any length of time, you already have what you need to convey this in your cover letter. Here are three ways to communicate this important distinction to the person reviewing your application.

Showcase familiarity with processes and procedures

Hiring someone internally often means less work for the hiring manager because they don’t have to acquaint you with how things are done around the office.

Therefore, you want to communicate to the hiring manager that one advantage of hiring you is that you already understand company processes and procedures. Note ways you’ve adhered to them in your work, such as always speaking courteously to customers or showing professionalism when collaborating with teammates. 

Demonstrate your understanding of goals, values, and mission

Remind the hiring manager of the company’s strategic goals and mission. Then, tell them how having you in a new role will help them meet them.

What skills do you bring to the table that will help company leadership get where they want to go? Why will exercising those skills in a new way be the key to unlocking the company’s potential and helping the team move forward?

Display an awareness of company culture and dynamics

Hiring managers want candidates who fit in with company culture, knowing those who do are often happier, more engaged, and more productive.

As you write about your work and accomplishments in your current role, discuss how you’ve upheld and positively contributed to company culture and dynamics. This is especially important if it's something you’ve been recognized for in the past.

Discuss your current position and achievements 

Since you already work for the company, you may have an advantage over others applying from outside.

Remember, however, that while the HR manager may know who you are, they don’t necessarily work closely with you each day. Consequently, they’ll likely need you to help them see the full picture of your professional achievements. Here are several ways to accomplish this in your cover letter .

Talk about your role in depth

In a cover letter for internal positions, it’s important to write about how what you’ve done so far relates to the company’s overall mission or has helped it reach its goals. This shows that you take your current role seriously and aren’t just trying to avoid a job you dislike.

Showcase your overall growth

When writing a cover letter for an internal position, examples of growth in your current role are critical. If the hiring manager can clearly see how you’ve helped your team get to the next level, they’re more likely to believe you’ll do the same in a different position.

Highlight your transferable skills

As you tweak your resume examples and cover letters for internal positions, it’s important to lay out how your current job has prepared you to take on new challenges and move forward in your career. What have you learned that will help you be effective in a different role or capacity?

Expert Tip:

Use numbers and figures in your cover letter for internal positions to quantify your achievements and show growth. While anecdotes can be impactful, numbers can paint a much clearer picture of your overall improvement for the person reading your application.

Align with the new responsibilities

Though writing about your current role and achievements is important, you must also ensure that the hiring manager understands your enthusiasm and readiness for the new role. Here are some tips for aligning your skills, experiences, and achievements with a given position.

Read the job description thoroughly

The first thing you should do is review the job description. It might be tempting to think you already have an in-depth understanding of the new role because you work for the company, especially if you currently work closely with that team or department.

However, the purpose of a cover letter for internal positions is to convince the hiring manager that you’re perfect for the role. This means your letter must match what they think is important in terms of skills and experiences.

With that in mind, make a note of the skills the hiring manager has deemed necessary for the position and focus on them when writing your cover letter.

Connect your background and current role

Once you know what skills to focus on, you’ll need to gather facts and stories that help you connect them to your background and current role. How have your training and experience helped you develop the necessary skills for the role? Have any of those skills produced tangible or quantifiable results? If so, describe those results.

"It’s important to write about how what you’ve done so far relates to the company’s overall mission or has helped it reach its goals."

Consider professional relationships and references

When it comes to writing a cover letter for an internal position, your professional relationships mean a lot.

The hiring manager likely has a lot of trust in the managerial and executive staff at your company. If any of these leaders endorse or can vouch for your skills, accomplishments, work ethic, or adherence to company culture, their opinions will doubtlessly hold weight with the HR staff.

Because hiring managers also want to hire candidates who are team players, you’ll want to make sure your co-workers can put in a good word for you about your collaboration skills.

While you can include these references or testimonials separately from your cover letter or resume , consider including them in your cover letter to back up your anecdotes. That way, you won’t be the only one speaking highly of your abilities.

Mention career goals and development

Many cover letter articles drive home the fact that hiring managers appreciate candidates who have taken the time to visualize their career aspirations.

Doing so shows that you fully understand the role, what it entails, and how it will help you reach your personal and professional goals. Because you’ve thought about these things in depth, the HR team knows you’re more likely to work hard and stay long-term.

For this reason, you should mention your career goals when polishing your internal cover letter templates . Tell the hiring manager how this role connects to your overall professional development plan. Then, help them see how your growth has and will continue to help the company move forward.

Closing statement

The closing statement of your internal cover letter should be just as impactful as the rest. Use the last paragraph to reiterate your enthusiasm for the new role you’d like to take on and frame that excitement as a way to assist the company in reaching its strategic goals.

It can also be helpful to affirm your long-term vision as an employee. Let the hiring manager know you want to grow within the company and are willing to take on new challenges to make sure that happens.

Write an internal cover letter that helps you gain an advantage

The key to writing an impressive internal cover letter is to focus on how the skills you’ve developed in your current role can help you do a great job in the new one.

Start your letter by reminding the hiring manager of your recent achievements. Then, align your skills and accomplishments with the job you’re applying for and explain how those things will help the company reach new heights.

Don’t be afraid to use a cover letter or resume template if you need help crafting your internal application.

With the help of a few cover letter examples , internal applications will be much more polished and compelling. Instead of worrying about writing the perfect letter, you can get it done faster, move forward with your professional development, and land a coveted new role within your organization.

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How to write a cover letter for internal position

Cover letter for internal position.

Writing a cover letter for an internal position is slightly different from a traditional cover letter for an external job application, as you already work within the company. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write an effective cover letter for an internal position:

Cover letter Format for internal position

Please note that you should customize this template to match your specific situation, the internal position you’re applying for, and your own experiences and qualifications. Be sure to emphasize how your current role has prepared you for the new position and how you can contribute to the company’s continued success.

Sample Cover Letter Templates

Cover letter for promotion

Promotion cover letter examples, seeking a promotion within the same department.

Seeking a Cross-Departmental Promotion

Click Here for Cover letter templates

Seeking an Executive-Level Promotion

Remember to customize these templates to your specific situation, ensuring that you highlight your relevant achievements and qualifications for the promotion you are seeking.

In conclusion, a cover letter for a promotion should be a concise yet compelling document that showcases your accomplishments, qualifications, and enthusiasm for the new role. By addressing the above key points, you can present a strong case for why you are the ideal candidate for the promotion and leave a positive impression on your employer. Remember to customize your letter to your specific situation and the position you are seeking.

How to Write a Cover Letter for an Internal Position or a Promotion

Author: Melanie Lasala

| Editor: Andy Agouridis

Table of Contents

1. Start with a convincing narrative

2. state how your current role prepares you for the new job, 3. demonstrate how you’ve made an impact, 4. use your knowledge of the company to your advantage, 5. express gratitude.

Do you love working at your current company but are looking for a change? Whether you want to transition to a different role, pursue a higher-level position, or transfer to a new department, checking out and applying for an internal job opening could be a good option for you. But don’t be too complacent. Being an existing employee doesn’t necessarily mean you are first in line for any open position your company is trying to fill. In most cases, you will be competing with external applicants. So, how do you prepare for the internal hiring process to demonstrate that you’re the strongest candidate?

The first thing we suggest doing is to meet with the hiring manager responsible for filling the position you’re interested in applying for. This way, you can have a better understanding of the job and the expectations that come with it, express your interest, and talk about your fitness for the role. However, even if you had the chance to communicate your candidate value proposition, you may still be required to submit an application, including a cover letter , to officially apply for the position. So, in this article, we would like to share some key tips on how to effectively create a cover letter to help you secure a new role or promotion with your current employer.

Your cover letter should have an interesting introduction to encourage the hiring manager to read it to the end. Aside from stating what position you are applying to, introduce yourself in a brief and captivating manner by explaining how you are qualified for the role. Don’t assume that the hiring manager who will review your qualifications already knows your background just because you currently work for the company. So, make sure to highlight your relevant skillsets while also demonstrating your enthusiasm and genuine interest in the role. See the example below.

“As a current Marketing Manager of the marketing department, I would like to formally apply for the open Sales & Marketing Director position. Since starting as a Marketing Representative at ABC Incorporated five years ago, I have quickly mastered the skills necessary for the role that helped our department surpass annual sales goals consistently, resulting in my promotion to a managerial role after two years. I look forward to reaching new milestones in the coming years and am excited to leverage my well-honed leadership, sales, and marketing skills for this new challenge.”

Your cover letter gives you an ultimate chance to communicate the specific reason why you are the ideal candidate for the role. So, it is important to create a targeted cover letter to make a positive impression and capture the hiring manager’s attention. To do this effectively, review the description thoroughly and note all the requirements the job is looking for. Then describe how the new job matches your current job functions, skillsets, and career goals.

Use examples to discuss how your current position has prepared you to effectively handle the new role. For instance, you can highlight past projects you’ve worked on that are related to the job functions of the position you’re applying for. Include specific details, transferrable duties, and the measurable outcomes you’ve delivered. You can also consider mentioning training programs you’ve completed or certifications you’ve earned that can be beneficial to the new job. This way, you can be perceived as someone who can continually impact the company in a positive way.

What the hiring manager is looking for are goal-driven candidates who show strong initiatives and produce results. To prove to them that you have what it takes to succeed in the new role, show how you have made an impact in a quantifiable way. Adding numbers to your cover letter is an effective way to make a strong case that can help you secure the job. In addition, it does not only help the hiring manager understand the value you’ve already brought to the company but also gives them a clearer picture of what you can provide in the new role.

When you mention your quantitative achievements, consider adding a brief description of how you are able to achieve them. Did you lead a team? Were there any tools you used? Explain the actual tasks you’ve done to demonstrate your ability to share ideas, influence a team, or solve problems to deliver the expected outcomes. This will also help showcase your great understanding of getting things done in the company. You can use the example below as your guide.

“Throughout my career at the company, I’ve grown from creating compelling content for our social media channels to planning and managing various promotional events, which increased our client base by 53% in less than a year. This contributed to growing our overall yearly revenue by $1.5M. My hands-on approach to leading the marketing team has been instrumental in ensuring the smooth flow of each event. If hired as the new Sales & Marketing Director, I am certain that I will be able to bring the same level of commitment and results along with me.”

As an internal candidate, one of the best advantages you have over external applicants is your insider knowledge of the company. It will allow you to better explain how your target position matches your long-term career goals. So, make sure to capitalize on this knowledge to craft a convincing narrative about why you like working for the company and how considering you for the role can help them achieve their current mission and goals. Including these things in your cover letter will show the management that you’re enthusiastic about growing along with the company, increasing your chances of securing a spot for the next stage of the application process. Here’s an example.

“I have always been inspired by the company’s commitment to making people’s lives better by providing suitable product solutions. I am thrilled at the prospect of translating my five years of marketing experience into more meaningful work as a Sales & Marketing Director to help you deliver on your mission of ensuring our products reach these people in need. I am confident that the experiences and skill sets I have gained during my time at ABC Incorporated, along with my passion for the work being done here, make me an excellent fit for the role.”

Thanking the hiring manager for considering your application is the best way to conclude your cover letter . Demonstrate your gratitude for the opportunities the company has given you to grow within your current position. Doing so will allow the hiring manager to see that you appreciate every training and increased responsibility they offered you and that you’ve taken good advantage of them. Then, express your readiness to come for further discussion or provide additional information they need that will help them reach their final decision. Let us give you an example .

“Thank you very much for your time and the opportunity to be considered for this position. It has been a great privilege working with ABC Incorporated since early in my career, and I look forward to continuing to grow within the company. Please let me know if there is any other information I can provide, and I would be happy to send it your way.”

When applying for an internal position or promotion, do not presume that you will be selected solely because you currently work for the company. In addition to external applicants, there are very good chances that many other internal candidates are keenly interested in the job opening too. So, to make your application stand out, make sure to send an application with a well-crafted cover letter .

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Importance of a Cover Letter for Internal Positions

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How to Write a Cover Letter to a Previous Employer

How to apply for an internal government job, good objective statements for a financial analyst.

• How to Make Your Cover Letter General for Career Fairs
• How to Write an Unsolicited Cover Letter

Writing a cover letter might seem like a waste of time if you’re applying for an internal position, but assuming that another department manager appreciates your skills and contributions to the company is a mistake. Even if the department manager knows you, she may be unaware of the extent of your previous experience, knowledge and special areas of expertise.

Introduce Yourself

A well-written cover letter serves as an introduction. It not only summarizes your qualifications, but also details the personal qualities that make you a good choice to fill the position. The cover letter presents the most pertinent facts about you in the best possible light. When you take the time to write a cover letter, you let the hiring manager know that you take the internal job application process seriously. A good cover letter serves as an enticement to read your resume, which should be updated to include your current skills and level of experience.

I enthusiastically submit my application for the Accounting supervisor position. Working at this corporation for the past five years has given me many opportunities for using my training and skills as a certified public accountant and graduate of Carlson School of Business.

Summarize Relevant Experience

Your cover letter allows you to highlight your experience with your current company and with previous employers. Chances are even if you are well-known in your current company, a manager won’t necessarily know every detail about what you do during the day. Other departments may only see the results of the work you do and might not understand the skills and expertise required to carry out the work. The hiring manager also won’t know about your previous experience. If you performed several tasks relevant to the open position in another job, it’s important to mention this, rather than risk the manager dismissing your application as lacking sufficient experience.

My current job duties include cost accounting and internal auditing. I am known for my honesty and integrity. Previously, I worked at an accounting firm in Baltimore where I also managed the office and supervised five accounting clerks.

Mention Special Qualifications

Use the cover letter to briefly explain any special qualifications that make you a good candidate for the job. Any special skills and qualifications that are specific to your company can give you an edge over outside candidates. It’s important to note if you have accreditation, certification or training in your field. If you have a good working relationship with the manager’s department, detailing your experience working on joint projects will emphasize how much you already know about the department’s role in the company.

I am seeking this promotional opportunity because I have many solid relationships within the company and a demonstrated track record of being a team player. Compiling the J.D. Gurney report is just one example of how I worked collaboratively with other departments to meet a pressing deadline.

Promote Company Ties

You have one asset that other applicants for the position don’t: your proven relationship with your company. You’ve already demonstrated that you are a reliable, loyal employee. End your letter by explaining why you like working for the company and what give you a competitive edge.

If offered the position, I can start immediately and quickly get to work in the new job with minimal orientation, or training in company policies, which I already understand and follow.

• The University of Iowa: Cover Letters
• Purdue Online Writing Laboratory: Cover Letter Workshop

Working at a humane society allowed Jill Leviticus to combine her business management experience with her love of animals. Leviticus has a journalism degree from Lock Haven University, has written for Nonprofit Management Report, Volunteer Management Report and Healthy Pet, and has worked in the healthcare field.

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WTO / Letters and Emails / Cover Letters / Cover Letter for an Internal Position (Examples & Tips)

Cover Letter for an Internal Position (Examples & Tips)

Whenever you find a new job opening in your current company, you might want to get that job. However, in other circumstances, you might get bored working in the same department or want more money to meet your needs. In these circumstances, you must write a cover letter for an internal position. In addition, it is a cover letter to your employer if you want to change your position or department while staying in the same company.

Writing an internal position cover letter introduces yourself and explains why you are interested in the position. A good cover letter will demonstrate your ability to communicate and sell yourself. Therefore, it should be concise and free of errors.

In your cover letter, focus on your accomplishments in your current job and how they align with the requirements of the new position. In addition, make sure to highlight any skills or experiences that would make you a successful candidate for the new role. Doing this will show that you are qualified for the job and motivated to make an impact in your new position.

This article is an elaborate discussion of writing a cover letter for an internal job position, including:

• What an internal position cover letter is
• How to apply for an internal position
• Differences between an internal position cover letter and a standard cover letter
• Steps for writing an effective cover letter for an internal position
• Best practices and tips to consider when drafting internal position cover letters
• What to do if you want to land an internal position within your organization

What is an Internal Position Cover Letter?

An internal position cover letter is a cover letter that an employee writes to apply for an open position in their company. A company employee writes an internal position cover letter to apply for an internal position that is currently open. It highlights your experience, skills, and qualifications and supports your claims. An internal position cover letter is often used when internal employees are looking to move into another department or when employees want to change positions within their current company.

How to Apply for Internal Position

When you are interested in an internal position that has opened up at your company, it is crucial to follow the proper steps to apply for the job. You may be familiar with the process of applying for a job . However, specific details are needed when applying for an internal position.

Below are some pointers on how to apply for an internal position:

• First, you need to know the availability of a position . You can usually find all the open positions by checking your company’s internal port, contacting human resources directly, networking with your colleagues, by asking the manager if they can put you up for a promotion.
• Next, check the eligibility requirements . Ensure you qualify for the job before applying. Look at the requirements and whether they match your skills.
• The next step is preparing your cover letter .
• Lastly, prepare for the interview . Internal interviews are very similar to regular interviews.

Internal Position Cover Letter Vs. Standard Cover Letter

An internal cover letter is a type of cover letter used when applying for a position within a company. This differs from a standard cover letter when applying for a position with a new company. You will want to include specific things in an internal cover letter that you would not necessarily include in a standard cover letter.

For example:

Recruiters are familiar with the applicant in the case of a cover letter for an internal position or promotion. They know about their background and experience, so applicants record details as honestly as possible.

However, for applicants using standard cover letters, employers are primarily unfamiliar with applicants’ employment profiles. Therefore, there is always the possibility that applicants may exaggerate some of the information provided. Therefore, HR managers may be wary when checking the qualifications of external candidates.

Tip: Discussing your career goals with the employer is essential when eyeing a new position. After that, contact the human resources department and demonstrate your intent. Inquire about current openings and discuss different career paths you might be interested in. It would help if you also considered leaving your resume with the hiring manager.

Six Steps of Writing Cover Letter for Internal Position

When writing an internal position cover letter, you must highlight information from your resume that is relevant to the position. You must also highlight why you are the best candidate for the job.

Below are six essential steps of writing an internal position cover letter:

Step 1: Begin with the most critical information

When you apply for an internal position, it is vital to start your cover letter by introducing yourself. Start with your name, contact details, and the date. Then, write the name of the company and the hiring manager’s name. Before you write the letter’s body, address the recruiter with a proper salutation. For example, “ Dear hiring manager.”

Step 2: Use narrative to write your experiences

Narrative writing allows you to write your experiences powerfully. When writing the body of your internal position cover letter, it is best to use narrative writing since you are talking about your job history. With narratives, you can take your experiences and craft them into a story about how those experiences helped shape who you are today.

You should also share the role you would like to be considered for. In this paragraph, you should highlight how you will be able to handle the new role’s responsibilities. Start with why you are interested in the new post and think you would be a good fit.

Tip: Since the cover letter is the first thing someone sees from you, it must be exceptionally well written. A well-written cover letter appeals to management’s interest and compels them to hold an open discussion with you about your potential position change.

Step 3: Explain your current role and how this role has prepared you for a new job

This paragraph is the most detailed of all sections, as it allows you to talk about your current job and what it has taught you. It would be best if you also spoke about how this job has prepared you for the new role you are applying for. You can then wrap up the body of your internal position cover letter by highlighting any relevant skills and experiences that have helped you excel in your current role.

Furthermore, your experience should prove that you’re flexible, driven, and optimistic about the work you’d be doing in the position to which you’d like to transfer . Include a brief description of your current transferrable duties and how the new job matches your skill set and career goals.

Highlight previous experiences or projects relevant to the new job’s functions. Include specifics and tangible results. Additionally, remember to customize your cover letter depending on whether you’re applying for a promotion , changing departments, or taking on a new position within the same team.

Step 4: Show you have made an impact

Write about the impact you have made in your previous/current job. When you apply for an internal position, it is essential to show that you have made an impact at your company. You can discuss some of the projects you have worked on and how they have benefited the company.

You could also talk about any awards or recognitions from your employer. This will show that you are not only a capable employee but also one whom the organization values. It’s advisable to always back your accomplishments with stats and figures which act as hard evidence.

Tip: Quantifying your accomplishments is essential when writing an internal cover letter. When you quantify your accomplishments, it shows the hiring manager exactly what you have accomplished and how many times you have done it.

Step 5: Include a trusted referral

One of the essential elements of an internal cover letter is to have a trusted referral. A referral is someone who can confirm your skills, experience, and qualifications, for example, your colleagues. Sincere endorsements from reputable referrals like colleagues and managers can support the idea that you are the ideal candidate for a position. Include their information, such as their name and contacts, and a summary of why they recommend you for a position.

Step 6: Show your gratitude

Remember to express your gratitude for being considered for the role. In addition to stating that you feel you are a better fit for the position, thank the hiring manager or whoever else is responsible for giving you a chance to advance within the company. Be sincere and enthusiastic, and make sure your letter is free of grammar or spelling errors. However, avoid groveling since you want the recruiter to know you are confident about your skills.

Cover Letter for Internal Position Sample

James Applicant

665 Apple Street

San Diego, CA 33457

580-455-323

[email protected]

August 9, 2022

Ashley Anita

Director, Communications

Walmart Retail

223 Business Rd.

Manhattan, NY 45689

Dear Ms. Anita,

I am writing to formally apply for the Communications Specialist (Retail) position currently listed in the company website’s jobs section. I believe my qualifications and expertise make me a strong candidate for this job. I have been a loyal employee for nearly five years, and during that time, I have come to understand your company, its mission, and its values. I am impressed by the work in the communications department and would love to be considered for a promotion within the retail division.

My current position involves managing social media and developing new marketing content. I am very organized and detail-oriented, attended several seminars to increase my knowledge in my field of work. I aim to become an asset to your team by providing editing services and creating new ways of communicating effectively with the public. I feel my retail industry knowledge will allow me to contribute quickly and efficiently in this position.

Within the past five months, I have been leveraging my talents to work with a team five days a week, learning new skills and assisting in managing social media accounts. This past year has provided me with invaluable experience and responsibility. I feel confident that the skills gained in my current role would help provide an even more valuable service to the new position.

I have also displayed my capacity to interact with representatives from functional departments and business lines, continuously receiving exceptional ratings on my yearly performance reviews from my superintendents. In addition, I oversaw benefits communications and employee relations and coordinated activities to ensure that all projects were delivered on time.

I want to discuss this with you over lunch to negotiate this position. I am confident that I have the knowledge and expertise required for this position. I eagerly await your response. Thank you for your time.

Cover Letter Examples

Practices to Consider While Writing

When writing an internal position cover letter, there are a few best practices to remember. Below are those good practices to consider when writing an internal position cover letter:

Don’t assume

When you’re applying for an internal position, it’s important to remember that you’re not the only one who wants the job. Just because you already work for the company doesn’t mean you’re a shoo-in for the position. Instead, you may have to work hard to prove that you’re the best candidate. Therefore, ensure you write a great cover letter that puts you in a prime position for the job.

Promote yourself truthfully

As you write your internal position cover letter, it’s essential to be truthful about your qualifications and experience. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t promote yourself. Highlight your successes and skills without appearing to be bragging, making you the perfect candidate for the job. With some self-promotion, you can ensure that your internal position cover letter gets you the job you want.

Don’t take it lightly

Although you are probably excited about the promotion, don’t take it lightly and fail to be organized when writing your cover letter. The intonation in your cover letter should show the seriousness of your objective and the experience.

Use a professional format

You must follow the appropriate format when writing an internal position cover letter. When writing an internal position cover letter, it is also essential to use a professional tone. You do not want to give an unprofessional impression or as someone who does not care about the organization’s reputation.

Be honest about your qualifications for the job. Don’t exaggerate your skills, even if you possess certain traits closely related to the position or the company. Don’t lie if you do not have any experience with a particular technology or program.

Remember brevity is important

Keep it brief, using only a few sentences to make your point. Put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes. How long would you want to spend reading a cover letter? If your letter is too long and there is nothing in it that makes you stand out, the hiring manager could become bored or frustrated very quickly. Cover letters should be 250-350 words long and divided into three to four paragraphs . If you submit a printed copy, ensure your cover letter is no more than a page long and in 12-point font .

What to Do If You Want Internal Position

Suppose you are interested in a specific internal position. In that case, make sure that your cover letter maintains a professional manner at all times. This means avoiding errors such as misspelled words or poor grammar.

Consider the following points:

Volunteer for leadership positions

It is critical to volunteer for leadership positions within the company. This shows your dedication to the company and willingness to work hard and learn new skills. You do not need a promotion to a higher position to be a leader. All you need is a chance to demonstrate leadership skills.

Take advantage of corporate training opportunities

Take advantage of corporate training opportunities if your company offers them. The best way to ensure an internal promotion is to be the best employee you can be and work hard each day. The best way to accomplish this is to learn as much as possible about what it takes to succeed in your desired role.

Know people from other departments

Building relationships with people from different departments is one of the best ways to improve your career and get an internal promotion. Many offices have departmental subgroups where people gather. A person may work in a place over many years and be practically unknown to those outside their team. That’s a challenge if you want to progress through the ranks. This unfamiliarity could work against you.

Communicate with your current boss

Before submitting your internal position cover letter, speak with your manager, and don’t be afraid to communicate with your current boss. They may be able to give valuable insight into what is most important when it comes to achieving success in the position you are interested in.

Use the same courtesies

When you go to your boss to ask for an internal promotion, you must also show respect by being courteous and polite. When interviewing for an internal position, you should follow the same procedures. Don’t let familiarity substitute your etiquette.

Avoid office politics

When applying for an internal position, avoiding office politics is crucial. This means being careful not to say anything negative about your current or previous department and not gossiping about colleagues. Those who get along with everyone are the ones who get promoted and advance to positions of leadership. This is because they maintain positive relations and do not get involved in office quarrels. As a result, they rise above office gossip and earn respect from their colleagues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Informing your boss could give you a leg up in the interview process. Your boss may be able to put in a good word for you or give you some insight into the company’s plans for the future. Additionally, your boss may appreciate your honesty and forthrightness.

Yes, your manager has the legal right to refuse a transfer or set terms and conditions for relocating to a different position as long as they don’t violate the employment contract or general workplace policies.

At big corporations, you may be able to be transferred to another department or division with very little notice. However, depending on the type of organization that you are working for and your position, you may need to give a month or more of notice before an internal transfer is considered.

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Top Well-Performed Cover Letter for Internal Positions

A cover letter is crucial if your goal is to convince the employer that you are the right person deserving of a promotion. It is the first thing that attracts management attention. This article will give you the answers to every concerning question:

• What is a Cover Letter for Internal Positions?
• How to compose a decent cover letter?
• Which types of cover letters for internal positions prevail today?
• Potent examples of the best cover letters
• Instruction on writing a cover letter for an internal position recommendations

If you don’t wish to risk your job progress, it is recommended to have your cover letter composed by an expert for the best results. With our assistance, your cover letter will be written diligently and skillfully.

What is a Cover Letter for Internal Positions

A cover letter for internal positions is a document in the form of a letter that is sent along with your resume in response to a job offer. When we talk about promotions within a particular company, an employee will be requested to compose a personal cover letter for an internal position. Indeed, today most companies require writing a cover letter when applying for a higher position. Providing cover letter for internal position is optional, but the manager will be pleasantly surprised by your initiative.

Whether your aim is a vertical shift or a lateral transfer, do not neglect to create an internal job cover letter. It helps to stand out among other candidates and interests the recruiter. Telling in detail about all your achievements in the current company, explaining the motivation to work further - all these are necessary to prove you are a person who deserves better.

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Why are Internal Cover Letters a Step Towards a Dream Job?

Sooner or later an employee can face the problem of stagnation and express an interest in the new role, a more decent one. Even though a strong desire is a good driver of motivation, it is not enough to get a promotion.

A cover letter for an internal position is crucial for describing a candidate’s qualifications in a proper way. It usually turns out to be even more important than the resume as it is a concise announcement of your main document.

The Structure of a Cover Letter for an Internal Job

An appropriate cover letter format must include the following blocks:

It is desirable to address the letter to a specific person.

2. The body of a letter

This part of an internal position cover letter consists of two integral elements. The first is a short explanation of your motivation. The second is a statement relating to your personal qualities.

3. Contact information

4. Signature

Do not forget that a cover letter is only an introductory document to the resume. Thus, it should be a concise statement substantiating your professional and personal qualities for the position for which you are applying.

There is nothing worse than a long, novel-like cover letter that makes the HR manager feel tired at the sight of it. An ideal cover letter length is 250-350 words, which is a one-page maximum. Note, that it is recommended that the text is formatted in 12-point font.

Engaging Introduction to a Cover Letter

Your cover letter for an internal job posting should have an interesting beginning. It is crucial to encourage a company manager to read it to the end. There is nothing more boring than using common phrases and patterns found on the internet. This demonstrates an indifferent attitude to the requirements of the employer. Be yourself, try to catch the attention of a person who will consider your position. Show that it is composed specifically for the company in which you see yourself.

Composing a Cover Letter for Promotion

A cover letter is not a universal document, suitable for any situation. For example, a cover letter for internal promotion stands out for its significance as it must include more compelling statements.  Composing  a cover letter for promotion - describe what new skills you are competent in. Prove you are a reliable person, ready to take up more difficult responsibilities.

Creating a Cover Letter for an Internal Job Transfer

If your goal is creating a cover letter for an internal job transfer within the same company, consider the following recommendations. First, emphasize your gratitude for being a part of the team. Second, indicate how passionate you are about promoting your company in the market. And most importantly - describe your technical skills enabling you to work even better after an internal transfer.

Advertise Yourself: Describing Personal Qualifications and Skills

A professional cover letter does not copy your resume at all! The resume contains information about your skills and experience. In turn, an internal applicant cover letter should describe how you can use them to the company’s advantage.

Do not write too much about your character traits. Anyone can write that he is a hardworking, responsible and inventive laborer. It is better to include a list of courses and programs you’ve completed or objectives you’ve managed to meet. A hiring manager will consider your applicable talents first of all.

Signify Your Achievements in the Current Position

Include only the information that is relevant to your desired position. The employer will definitely assess your contributions if you manage to stand out from the crowd.

Note that the information in this part depends on the overall aim of your internal job posting cover letter. For example, if you want to get a promotion, focus on those results that prove you can be a leader and guide the team. If your desire is a lateral transfer, you should emphasize the progress the company achieved due to your technical capabilities.

Express Gratefulness for Considering Your Candidacy

To correctly conclude your cover letter for internal job transfer, think about expressing gratitude in a polite way. As well as at the beginning of your document, it is essential to include a personalized and thoughtful appeal in the final part. Thank the recruiter for accepting your request and reading the cover letter.

The final paragraph should not exceed one or two sentences. Still, it is recommended to include the wishes to land the interview and express readiness to come to the discussion or provide further information.

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Common Types of Cover Letters for an Internal Position

There exist several types of cover letters for internal positions. Let us consider the most common ones:

• Promotional cover letter. In this document, an employee must prove in detail to the employer that he is ready for a higher position.
• Letter of interest for internal position. This document includes information relating to the working background within a large company and motivation to get a transfer.

This list is non-exhaustive as some other types can also be included: a cover letter of gratitude; an inquiry; confirmation; or description.

Sample Cover Letter for Promotion

While using ready-made templates for composing a personal promotional cover letter is sometimes risky, it is better to acquaint yourself with some cover letters for internal promotion examples:

Look at cover letter examples by industry you can find at https://skillhub.com/cover-letter-examples

Email Cover Letter for Internal Position Example

Read a sample cover letter for an internal position and learn how to write a cover letter for an internal position properly.

Recommendations for the Cover Letter for Internal Position Improvement

To create a perfect cover letter for promotion and increase your chances, follow some cover letter tips which have already helped many people get their dream job:

• Do not write about personal qualities that are not related to the job.
• Focus on specifics.
• Demonstrate your knowledge of business etiquette.
• Add emotion and personalize your message.
• Write about responsibility and readiness to learn.
• Strive for brevity.
• Use bulleted lists.
• Be careful with spelling and punctuation.
• Do not ask about work schedule, salary, conditions.

Cover Letter Template for Internal Position

To make the hiring process easy for yourself, make sure your cover letter is composed impeccably. For this purpose, analyze applying for an internal position cover letter sample:

Your Contact Information

The Name of a Hiring Manager

The Name of a Company

1. First paragraph:

A specific statement about the position you apply for and a few key benefits that demonstrate suitability for the position.

2. Second paragraph:

Examples of accomplished and achieved results.

3. Third paragraph:

How you can contribute to the business's mission.

4. Conclusion:

Requesting a meeting and expressing gratitude.

5. Your Signature.

Application of Knowledge in Practice

There is no doubt that reading this article has increased your chances of getting hired. Having all the answers in hand you can start moving forward to creating your perfect cover letter. But how not to forget all the essential information and structure it in the head? Here is a digest of all tips as to what makes a good cover letter:

• An attractive and well-planned cover letter will help you stand out and land an interview.
• The cover letter should show the employer what the company will get from you.
• It is crucial to be attentive to the format of your cover letter, avoid large volumes and be careful with the style.
• Use sample cover letters for internal positions to make sure your document does not contain any errors.

After reading, you are still not sure how to write a cover letter for internal positions and maybe you need a professional content writer help? Try our Skillhub's cover letter writing service . You'll get an adjusted cover letter for your potential job position. In case you a need a perfect resume to stand over other candidates, our executive resume writing service is over there. Our professional experts are always happy to have your back and consult you about career writing !

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