How To Write An Expression Of Interest Letter For An Internal Job

You don’t always have to change companies to make progress in your career. In some cases, an internal move, or promotion, may be the perfect next step.

If you are settled in your company, have positive relationships with colleagues and already understand the responsibilities of the role, it could be the ideal opportunity.

It may benefit the employer too. Rather than hiring externally, they retain staff who are a ‘culture fit’ and avoid an extensive onboarding process.

However, if you aren’t directly approached by management to take on a new role, you will have to apply for it. Typically, this process is initiated by writing an expression of interest letter.

While you may already be familiar with best practices when writing a cover letter, there are certain nuances to be aware of when it comes to applications for internal roles.

In this article, we explain how to write an expression of interest for an internal job and throw in some top tips to ensure you stand out from the crowd.

A different approach: Cover letters for internal roles

You aren’t going to rip up the rule book when it comes to writing an expression of interest letter for an internal role.

Many of the key cover letter writing fundamentals still apply.

In terms of length, you should keep it to one page maximum. If you find yourself writing more, you are probably providing excessive or unnecessary detail.

Remember, your manager already knows you – this allows you to be more selective in what you choose to write.

Building on this, as a current employee, your approach will be a little different.

The tone of the cover letter will likely be less formal. Of course, the nature of your relationship with the decision maker will influence the extent to which you adapt this – and of course – professionalism should remain front and centre.

When it comes to effective cover letters for internal roles, a narrative approach is often used.

Activate your inner storyteller. Reflect on your journey thus far within the company and the progress you have made in your current role.

Your reflections will demonstrate your potential for further growth as well as your connection to the company.

Keep your focus on your current role and journey within the company. While mentions of prior work may be relevant if there is a skill or experience match worth flagging, the impact you have made in your present position will be of foremost interest to the hiring manager.

If you have all the potential content for an expression of interest letter but feel unsure about how best to put it together, reach out to a specialist cover letter writing service for some advice and support.

Moving internally: What to include in an expression of interest letter?

Include the key fundamentals of a cover letter.

It might seem unnecessary, given you are an existing employee, but we recommend including your contact information, and dating the letter.

When you’re addressing the letter, you should use “Dear” as opposed to something more familiar. A less formal tone doesn’t mean you should be any less professional.

Ensure you are clear about the purpose of the letter from the beginning. State the role you’re applying for and, if appropriate, your current role.

This is particularly important if you are moving departments and the application process is being handled by a colleague who is less aware of your position in the company.

Should you be applying on the basis of a recommendation of a colleague, it is worth flagging this up. Indeed, if you are able to provide a supporting reference or include a quote from them, this could be a boost to your application.

Demonstrating professional progress is absolutely vital when writing an expression of interest letter for an internal job. Show the hiring manager that you’ve been proactive and hard-working since gaining your current role.

Have you gained any professional certifications since joining the company, or attended training courses? Perhaps you have learnt how to use certain tools or software, or now are working in a more client facing role.

Take some time to consider your achievements and, if you have a lot, pick out those most relevant to the role you’re applying for.

Of course, personal growth is great, but the hiring manager will also want to know how you have contributed to the organisation’s success.

Highlight specific accomplishments from your time at the company. For example, a time when you were involved in a successful pitch for new business or how changes you made to processes resulted in increased outputs.

Wherever possible, support these statements with hard facts. By what percentage has revenue grown since you began working in your department? How many new clients have you brought in since joining?

Facts backed by stats are always a winner when you write a cover letter for an internal job.

Recap: best practices and common errors

Skills, achievements and enthusiasm for the role are key when writing a cover letter, whether for an internal or external role.

But even when you have adequately covered these bases, there are a few things to be sure to avoid to make your letter as impactful as possible.

It’s really common for cover letters to be laden with clichés. Anyone who is in a hiring position will have seen and heard these phrases time and again. Whether they’re a colleague or not, steer clear of them.

Accuracy is vital. Whatever your accomplishments, a letter full of spelling and grammar errors is not going to make a good impression.

Indeed, it will undermine your suitability for the role as it demonstrates a disinterest in your application, as though you have rushed it off on deadline.

Check and check again. Ideally, ask someone else to proofread it for you as it’s often easier for a fresh pair of eyes to spot any errors.

How to write an expression of interest letter for an internal job

Writing an expression of interest for an internal job is more a case of evolution than revolution in terms of cover letter best practices.

The fundamental principles of a strong cover letter remain the same, although you will look to slightly adapt the tone and be laser focused on your successes in your current role, as opposed to throughout your entire career history.

If you’d like further support with writing a cover letter or CV, you may want to make use of a professional CV writing service like PurpleCV.

For further advice to support your job search, head to our specialist blog section.