Advice for applying for an internal vacancy?

[XeNoN89]

An internal vacancy has come up that I want to go for and I would like some advice on how to approach it and any tips.

I'm currently in the IT Helpdesk team and the vacancy is in the IT Infrastructure team, so i'm already pretty closely involved with the hiring manager (we actually all used to be under one team)

I've informed him of my interest and he said to send over an updated CV. My CV isn't usually tailored for applying for a specific role, I generally use the cover letter to focus on that stuff so was just going to send my CV updated with my employment at this company and a cover letter with the details about the vacancy and why i think i would make a good candidate etc

I'm actually pretty under-qualified for the job but I have the advantage of being familiar with a lot of the infrastructure and how the company works in general and will state that i am willing to do training for certifications they want and to learn on the job as well. This is a brand new position, not a replacement for a leaver so i think I can also say I have an advantage in that I can learn specifically what the company requires and be generally more focused on the areas they want me to. I don't see this as a downside for the company as they have nobody doing this job at the moment anyway.

Another area which is a potential advantage, but i'm not sure if i should mention, is pay. I would accept a very small pay rise to move over to this new position which from looking around would be significantly less than the going rate if they were to hire someone externally who was already more familiar with the job and certified.

So is there anything I should be thinking about or doing?

Any potential tips if i get an interview, should I just approach it like any normal job interview?

 

[Hulkster]

So the first thing I would say would be to get in touch with the hiring manager - but I see you already did that, so that's a good start. How long have you been at the firm?

Hiring internally gives companies a lot of benefits because you already know the business, and external recruitment can be extremely expensive

Regarding pay - I would advise that you do not undersell yourself. If they think you are up to the job then you should (and deserve) that raise. It may be weighted down a little to be commensurate with your experience, but saying "oh I will accept X" will likely lead you to earning less if successful. This happens all the time. I hate the "what are your salary expectations" question because often this really means "tell us the minimum you'll accept". If they bring up pay and say that it would be lower then have the conversation. Ultimately, you are moving up the ladder internally and you should absolutely be compensated for it. I'd also suggest saying you're very keen to be trained but don't just say you'll pay for it all out of your own pocket etc. Companies who invest in their staff have a much better chance of retaining them. Now don't get me wrong, I am not suggesting saying you'll not accept a penny less than 10k or something like that, but at the same time don't be the one to say you'll do it for a couple of quid a week more. I had EXACTLY the same idea in my head earlier in my career when having a meeting with my boss after 6 months. I had decided on a number I would say if asked. I was chatting with a a colleague about the meeting beforehand and he said it was too low, but I felt awkward. In that case, I tried to play it cool in the meeting and say things like well I have achieved X and I am well on the way to achieving Y - and my boss dropped his number first - it was double the raise I had decided I'd be happy with. So that's when I learned that lesson!

Cover letters for internal vacancies are going to depend on the business. I worked in a firm where during my tenure I was promoted twice. The first was pretty informal but the second was advertised internally and part of that was a CV and cover letter. Just make sure it is polished and check what the requirements are on the job spec in terms of what you need to do to be considered.

I've interviewed and subsequently green-lighted lots of guys who are perhaps a under experienced and/or under qualified - but passion is absolutely key. I'd much rather have someone who is 'almost there' but keen to learn and hungry to get stuck in over hiring someone at the top end of the bracket who is somewhat apathetic to the position. Of course it's not always that clear cut and sometimes experience is essential and a priority; so it just depends on the business.

For the interview - absolutely, treat it like any other and take just the same approach.

Good luck!

 

[OspreyO]

I would suggest the pay should factor the increased responsibility of the new role.

 

[dowie]

re: pay, you'll probably find there are some HR rules regarding internal promotions/pay rises - companies do try to keep costs down and they do know what you currently earn and what they've had to pay you in previous years to get you to stay. If you've seen the role advertised externally for substantially more than you earn then sadly you shouldn't necessarily get your hopes up - you're probably right to be mindful that you're not necessarily going to get a massive rise for asking for then moving into a new role - unlike an internal promotion or someone leaving and them asking/needing you to fill this role you're actively applying for it.

That being said you may get a substantial rise later as a result of good performance, especially if you're initially below market rates when you move to the role then prove to be very useful in it - they'll likely want to make sure they retain you. Also I wouldn't point out to them that you're willing to accept only a small amount nor would I bring it up, there is still a chance that they are willing to pay you a hefty rise so perhaps better to leave that possibility open.