internal recruitment cover letter

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• Cover Letter Examples

Cover Letter for Internal Position or Promotion in 2024

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Why change the company if you can stay in the one you're happy with? Especially if there's a chance to switch your current position or even get a promotion! But, whenever things like this are discussed in a chill-out zone in your office, casually joining such a conversation might not do the trick. 

There’s one thing that will help you boost your chances of getting the job you want in your company. Let’s learn how to create a perfect cover letter for an internal position!

This guide will show you:

• A cover letter for an internal position example better than 9 out of 10 others.
• Cover letter for internal promotion examples that let you plug in your core strengths.
• Step-by-step work plan for how to write a cover letter for an internal position.

This guide will show you a cover letter template for internal positions, plus tips for how to write your own great internal position cover letter.

Want to write your cover letter fast? Use our cover letter builder. Choose from  20+ professional cover letter templates  that match your resume. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.

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Sample cover letter for a resume— See more cover letter examples and create your cover letter here .

Targeting a senior-level job at your company? See specific cover letter examples below:

• Executive Cover Letter Example
• Manager Cover Letter Example
• IT Manager Cover Letter Sample
• Executive Director Cover Letter
• Project Manager Cover Letter

Want to explore your options even further? Visit our full selection of cover letter examples: Professional Cover Letter Examples to Apply for a Job in 2023

Let’s take a look at a perfect internal job application cover letter:

Cover Letter for an Internal Position Example

Graham Clarkson

Content Team Leader

623-474-8540

[email protected]

Jane Matters

Hiring Manager

QuadRollin’ Techs

[email protected]

It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to fill a creative director position here at QuadRollin’ Techs. When I first got my job as Content Team Leader, I instantly knew this startup was a place for years to come. I’ve proven myself a skilled creator now ready to become QuadRollin’ Techs Creative Director.

I’ve read the job posting carefully and know the position requires more responsibilities. But I also know I face similar challenges in my day-to-day work. 

• I’ve secured 5+ contracts with our top 3 clients.
• I’ve used strong communication skills to narrow down the daily brainstorming sessions to 15 minutes, saving us over an hour of work. 
• I was nominated for the Best Online Social Content Creator award at the ongoing 2022 AMVCA for my outstanding work on QuadRollin video ads.
• Furthermore, I’ve used my management skills to assemble a team of highly-skilled content writers, video creators, graphic designers, and performance marketing specialists that boosted Instagram ad conversion by 25% in less than a year. 
• And I’ve been doing all that while serving as the right-hand man for Kate Kinnear, our previous Creative Director.

The most compelling part of this position to me is that it’s the perfect fit. I’ve dreamed of working as a Creative Director at QuadRollin’ Techs for the past seven years, working hard and showing my proactive attitude every step of the way. Applying for this position is a dream come true. This position was my goal and the reason I joined the company in the first place. I strongly believe I can help our company create the next #1 mobile app in the mobile game category, prepare for the release of two sequels of our top games, and make our marketing shine all across social media platforms. Achieving goals, expressed in one of QuadRollin’ Techs mottos, Aim for the Moon, Shoot for the Stars, is what motivated me throughout the years. I am certain it will keep me motivated to deliver the best creations, assemble the best specialists, and bring the highest value as Creative Director in our company.

[email protected]

P.S. Please find Kate’s letter of recommendation attached, where she expressed how I’ve contributed to cutting costs by 25% in the last year by repurposing designs and introducing new ways of task management within our team. Can we schedule a time to chat about how I can exceed your expectations, as I’ve exceeded hers?

Pro tip : Do you know what will help you impress the hiring manager even more? An amazing resume for an internal position !

Now, let’s learn how to write a cover letter for an internal position!

1. Choose the Ideal Template for Your Internal Cover Letter 

Did you know that 83% of hiring managers claim that a cover letter is important to the decision-making process? That means there is a great chance that a hiring manager who recruited you also thinks a candidate with a cover letter is trying harder than the one without it. So you need to ace it from A to Z. And A, in this case, is the format of your cover letter .

So before writing your cover letter for an internal position, let’s see how to structure it.

Cover Letter for Internal Position—Checklist

• Your contact info.
• The company’s info. 
• Dear (hiring manager’s name). 
• Paragraph #1: an introduction + a great job-fitting achievement
• Paragraph #2: your key skills + the reason you’re the perfect fit for the job
• Paragraph #3: your passion + why you want the job you’re applying for 
• Paragraph #4: your call to action 
• Best regards + your name + your current title

That’s the basics. But you should also follow some guidelines to make your internal promotion cover letter as readable as possible:

• Choose a modern template for your cover letter . Also, make sure it matches your resume.
• Keep the ideal length of a cover letter . 3 to 4 paragraphs should be just fine.
• Set the cover letter line spacing and margins . Line spacing should be 1.15, and margins should be 1 inch on each edge of the document.
• Select a proper cover letter font . There are more options than Times New Roman, Arial, and Calibri.

Now you know the rules almost as well as your company’s address. So let’s start writing your cover letter!

Have you been working within the same company for years and in different positions? Learn how to list them on your resume: How to Show Multiple Positions on a Resume (At 1 Company)?

2. Begin Your Internal or Promotion Cover Letter With a Hook

You want to grab the attention of your hiring manager from the top of your cover letter. That’s why you should focus on creating a capturing cover letter intro that will make them want to read the entire document! 

How can you make a great first impression on your hiring manager for the second time (since you’ve already made it once)?

Here’s how to start a cover letter for an internal position:

1.  Create a professional internal cover letter header  that will include:

• Your name and exact job title in the top left corner
• The necessary contact information, such as your phone number and email address
• Add the city and date right below your personal information
• Write the addressee’s details (name, title, company name, email address)

1. Start with a personal greeting . That’s a great way to engage with your reader from the very beginning. Including some information about your company and explaining what position you're interested in and why is a great way to start.

2. Express your excitement about the opening . Mentioning how you always dreamt about the position you’re applying to and how it was your goal from day one in the company might do some magic.

Let’s see some examples: 

Cover Letter for an Internal Position [First Paragraph]

You can see that the first example shows a candidate driven by ambition, focus on the goal, and passion. The second example might be too casual. 

Also, is that an integration party small talk or a professional cover letter written by someone who’s trying to get a better job within a company he’s currently working for? It sure looks like a second one, despite a properly edited header.

Pro tip : Don't call your hiring managers “ To whom it may concern .” Even if you don’t know them personally, finding their name won’t take long!

3. Create an Ideal Middle for Your Cover Letter for an Internal Position

Internal hiring is 6x more effective than all other hiring sources. No wonder why your hiring manager might find your application more interesting than the one sent by an external candidate. However, you still need to explain why you’re the perfect fit for the role and why they should trust you more. The best place to do it is in the cover letter's middle section.

How to write a great middle part for your internal promotion cover letter:

• Highlight your relevant achievements . Focus on what you’ve done for the company and what were your biggest wins. 
• Mention some of the relevant skills that you think will convince the hiring manager that you’re the person they’re looking for.
• Focus on what’s quantifiable. That’s how you write about the precise change you made.
• Make it personal. Ensure the recruiters that it’s been your goal all along, learning and developing new skills allowing you to become a suitable candidate for that opening.

Let’s have a look at some examples:

Cover Letter for a Promotion or Internal Position Examples [Middle]

The first example gives you specifics, shows the candidate is ready to take over that role, and tells about their work history within the company, which is great! And an ending with a reminder of having professional references from a former coworker is also a fantastic idea. 

The second one needs more information. What relevant experience, what people, what difference has it made? No exact information. And the “ask my superior” part is just plain lazy.

Okay, so you’ve got your “why me” part ready. Now let’s check out how to end with a bang that will convince the hiring manager to invite you for a 1:1 before any other external candidate!

Pro tip : Mentioning past promotions on your resume or cover letter is always great. It shows you know what gaining experience within one organization means!

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check . Start building a professional resume template here for free .

When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

4. Conclude Your Cover Letter for an Internal Position Perfectly

Learning how to end a cover letter means leaving the recruiters with a great impression of yourself. If done correctly, your document will remain high on the pile on their desk. And who knows, they may visit you personally at your desk.

This is how you can end your cover letter for an internal position:

• Express your excitement again . Remember that you want to show the recruiters you really care about the opening. 
• Highlight your experience, skills, and passion . Those will help the company if you get different responsibilities. 
• Show your commitment . That’s a great way of expressing loyalty to the company, which every recruiter highly values.
• Try to schedule a meeting . A promise of how you can make a difference if given a chance can help you get invited for an interview.

Let’s look at the difference between a good and a bad cover letter for internal position endings:

Cover Letter for an Internal Position Examples [Ending]

The candidate from the first example shows how passionate he is and how he wants the job. He expresses that it was his long goal that he was trying to achieve. And now he has a chance to prove himself. Who would miss an opportunity to talk to someone trying to achieve their goal?

Would you consider the second application, though? Would you like to talk to that candidate? Would you visit them at their desk? No, no, no!

Pro tip : Writing a follow-up email might be a good idea to remind the hiring manager about your application. But remember to do it after at least a week from your first email, and include a resume and a cover letter in the follow-up.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here.  Here's what it may look like:

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key Takeaway

And that’s it! Writing a cover letter for an internal position can be that simple! So just to sum things up really quickly, here are some things you need to remember:

• Use the correct format for your cover letter for an internal position. Nothing says “a professional” more than a neat document.
• Keep them interested from the start, and keep them reading! That’s how you convince them you’re a great fit.
• Highlight your relevant skills and achievements. Tell them what you’ve done for the company and how you can do more.
• Express your excitement. Showing that you’re looking forward to even discussing the opportunity of switching positions can help you get invited to discuss it.
• Conclude with a call to action. Ask for a meeting during which you’d tell them how you can help the company even more.

And since you work in one company, try to talk to the hiring manager. Just ask them if they’ve received your email. That’s a good conversation starter, and it can immediately lead you to an interview!

Thanks for reading! Want to know more about writing a promotion great cover letter? Would you like to share your experience with writing an internal cover letter? Let’s talk about it in the comment section below!

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