How to Write a Cover Letter for an Internal Position

For an opportunity for promotion, lateral movement or growth within your existing company, the typical application process still applies. A key difference is that cover letters for internal positions will vary in tone, style, and content. 

In typical scenarios, applicants from outside the company will need to introduce themselves and their strengths and convince recruiters to interview them. However, cover letters for internal vacancies don’t require as much introduction, and can focus on applicants’ existing relationship with the company and how they can apply themselves to a new role. 

Although it might feel like you have an advantage applying to an internal position, cover letters for internal jobs are still important as you now have to convey your contributions, strengths and potential to existing stakeholders or managers in other departments. We’ll go through the basics of internal vacancy cover letters, as well as provide a cover letter template for internal positions.

Hiring internally can mean transferring departments, receiving a promotion or increasing the level of responsibility in your existing role. Regardless, internal position cover letters should detail your achievements and responsibilities of your existing role, and how you can apply them to a new position. Likewise, there are subtle differences between cover letters for internal promotions compared to general internal position cover letters. Here are our sample internal job cover letters:

💼 Internal Cover Letter for a Job Transfer 

💼 Internal Position Cover Letter for a Promotion

As you can see from the examples, cover letters for internal positions will vary in their content and detail. Even if you are sending an internal applicant cover letter to a colleague you know well, or you work in a small company, you still need to maintain professionalism when applying or writing internal position cover letters. When writing a cover letter for an internal position, the basics of job applications still apply, such as: 

1. A Clear Subject Line: 

As always, send your internal position cover letter and application with an appropriate subject line. Include your name and the position you’re applying for.

2. Greeting: 

There is a possibility you might be familiar with the recruiter or whoever is reading your internal position cover letter. Still, you should maintain professionalism with greetings, and use full names at the start of internal job cover letters. If you are unaware of who is receiving the applications, ask your hiring department who to address your internal position cover letter to.

3. Body Paragraphs: 

The content of the body paragraphs is what distinguishes cover letters for internal positions compared to regular applicants. To start, internal job cover letters do not need extensive self-introductions, and should lead with the fact that you are an existing employee. 

Use the body paragraphs to highlight your experience and understanding of the company, as well as how you can contribute to a new department or role. If you are writing an internal promotion cover letter, focus on your desire for a new challenge and the potential you have in an advanced role. 

4. Closing: 

End your internal vacancy cover letter with the same formality as any other cover letter. Always thank the recruiter for taking the time to read your internal position cover letter, and emphasize how you are prepared to advance your career with the company. 

5. Sign-Off:

End the internal job cover letter with a professional sign-off such as “Sincerely” or “Regards”, and your name.

6. Your Contact Information: 

If you are sending the cover letter for an internal position by email, include your contact information in the body of the email, as well as under your sign-off. 

Internal hiring can involve lateral and vertical movements, and this should be considered when writing a cover letter for an internal position. Although recruiters and managers might already be familiar with you, internal job cover letters still need to convince the team that you are a valuable fit. As mentioned earlier, the generic introductions can be skipped, as the focus of internal position cover letters should be on how you are an asset to the company.

For example, when writing an internal promotion cover letter, the emphasis should be on how your experience within the company has prepared you for a role involving more responsibility. Having many years of experience with a company does make you a loyal employee, but including your achievements, responsibilities and skills developed at the company will show recruiters you can handle a promotion. Internal promotion cover letters need to be comprehensive whilst concisely portraying how you are an asset to the company. Likewise, higher-level roles are often representatives of the company, so highlight how you embody company values in your cover letter for an internal promotion. 

Alternatively, lateral movements or department transfers are similar to regular job applications, but internal position cover letters can skip over details not relevant to the company. Internal vacancy cover letters should emphasize how you have built skills, relationships and industry knowledge through your existing position, and how these attributes can transfer to another role. Also, consider including your interest in the company’s scope of projects or industries in your internal position cover letter to justify your desire to transfer. 

As you can see, an internal promotion cover letter has much more emphasis on the applicant's potential compared to a regular internal applicant cover letter. Now that you know the difference, here are our tips for writing internal job cover letters: 

🎯 Detail how you’ve helped the company: 

Internal position cover letters should focus on how you have already brought value to the company. Reflect on how you have brought value to the company, either through your ideas, skills or work ethic, and expand on how you can continue to contribute that to a new role. For internal promotion cover letters, explicitly state how you have consistently contributed value and handled responsibilities with the company. Internal position cover letters should confidently convey that you are a capable and valuable team member. 

🎯 Highlight your skills: 

Think of projects, collaborations or duties where you have displayed leadership, innovation or achieved an outcome, using numerical metrics when applicable. When writing a cover letter for an internal position, highlight how you can apply these skills to a new or more advanced role. Also reflect on what you have learnt in your existing position, if you’re writing a cover letter for an internal promotion, and include that you are ready for a new challenge. If you have unique skills not utilized in your current role, include them in the cover letter for internal positions which might require them.

🎯 Mention company values and goals: 

If a company is hiring internally, they at the very least want a candidate who will work towards achieving company goals and values. If you can identify ways you can improve company reputation, embody company values and work towards business targets in a cover letter for an internal position, recruiters will look favorably upon it. For internal promotion cover letters, highlight how your skills can help you achieve company goals; for internal job cover letters, emphasize how your transferable skills make you an asset to a new team.

Now that we’ve discussed what to include in an internal position cover letter, it is time to write your own. Use our internal position cover letter template to help you out, and pay attention to our tips for writing an internal position cover letter compared to an internal promotion cover letter. 

--- Originally written by Bronte McNamara ---