UPDATE: Thanks everyone for all of the insightful and positive messages! Unfortunately, I just heard back from talent acquisition and I didn’t get the job. They ended up going with an internal candidate. I asked for feedback and was told that the team thought I was amazing and had nothing but good things to say about me but ultimately they went with someone who had “company knowledge.” I’m so disappointed because I went through 3 rounds of interviews, 2 of which were in person and lengthy, and the whole process took over a month. The struggle continues lol. Anyway, since you were all so kind to comment thought I’d give you an update!

25 Comments

1. AnonymousOctober 10,2024 at 9:49PM UTC

   There is usually a reason that internal candidates are not top of mind when considering new roles with internal offers and promotions. They are usually, but not always, not qualified for the spot. Otherwise they would have been tapped and the role never made available to outside candidates.

   A hiring manager generally knows who the Rockstars in his company are or made aware of them by a colleague. So while they may entertain internal interviews as part of protocol, they are mostly looking for someone they haven't watch insider the company.

2. AnonymousOctober 10,2024 at 10:00PM UTC

   Yes, you have nothing to lose and we all learn from interviews as it strengthens our interviewing capabilities. State jobs sometimes post they are seeking internal candidates only. And I have seen state jobs that rejected internal candidates after they interviewed. I actually know some of them. Not sure about corporate, though I've worked in it and we hired from the outside. Go for it, learn from it and see what happens! Good luck!

3. AnonymousOctober 10,2024 at 10:26PM UTC

   Yes and I was hired instead of the internal candidate. While I was hired, please be careful of that situation as it didn't work out in the end for me.

4. AnonymousOctober 11,2024 at 12:18PM UTC

   I'm not the OP, but could you please provide a bit more context to your warning?

5. AnonymousOctober 11,2024 at 12:44PM UTC

   I'm not the one with the warning, but it is possible that if this is a management role, one of the internal candidates could be working for you, and if they are resentful, they will be hard to work with. That happened to me when I was promoted to manage a team outside the team I worked on.

6. AnonymousOctober 11,2024 at 4:07PM UTC

   I was hired instead of the internal candidate. I didn't know about the employee and that he / she would be a member of my team until I started at the organization. Once hired, it took me a long time to resolve internal conflicts and that took a toll on my relationship with senior leaders.

   My team wanted the internal candidate to be hired and were frustrated by existing situations. I spent so much time dealing with these issues and it didn't work out long term. While I tried to remain positive, it quickly became a toxic environment for me. I did my best and even promoted some staff but they wanted things to change but yet wouldn't support my efforts.

7. AnonymousOctober 11,2024 at 7:59PM UTC

   Makes sense (I asked the question). I have a few instances where we hired an external candidate for a manager role when internals had expressed interest. In some cases, I gave the new person a heads up, so they were aware in case anything popped up.

8. AnonymousOctober 12,2024 at 5:22PM UTC

   Applaud that you gave the external candidate that information ahead of time. During my first week I learned about a lot of problems that looking back I would have reconsidered accepting the offer. My tenure at the company was filled with a lot of angst and while I'm currently seeking a new role, it made my stronger for my next position.

9. AnonymousOctober 11,2024 at 12:20PM UTC

   Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Most companies will want the best candidate for the role, and that may not be someone internal. And if they had a superstar internal candidate that they wanted to offer the position to, why would they post it externally (there is no requirement to do so in most instances...one exception I know for sure is for immigration cases, but if you look at posting carefully, you should be able to pick when it's that scenario).

10. AnonymousOctober 11,2024 at 12:36PM UTC

    You always stand a chance because the internal candidates have to go through the same process you do. Some who applied will be qualified, and some won't. The big question you will never know the answer to is if the internal candidates were asked to apply because someone inside is pulling for them or offering them a promotion. They may have to interview outside candidates per company policy (many government agencies have this policy). It is also possible HR posted it internally for anyone to apply to. You have a better shot with the second scenario than the first, but a third scenario is that they had to advertise the position internally but prefer someone from the outside to bring in new and fresh ideas. Since you don't know which is the case, I would interview with the third scenario in mind. Assume they want/need someone from the outside, so highlight your creativity and the new and innovative things you have done and could bring to the organization. A company I once worked for required that HR post all new positions internally for two weeks before they were advertised on job boards or to outside recruiters.

11. AnonymousOctober 11,2024 at 12:42PM UTC

    YES!! Worth it! The added value of an external hire can bring in a new POV, a new mindset, a refresher for a team, etc. It's great that a company tries to promote from within, but they don't always have someone truly ready, but will check their guts with speaking with externals. Many times this is highlighted and stands out in the interviews. An internal sometimes fails because they don't treat it like an interview, believe me, I've seen it.

12. Paulla Fetzek, MSEdOctober 11,2024 at 1:17PM UTC

    Hello!

    You most certainly do. You may have a specific skill set that is needed, which no one within the company does. As others have said, you also bring a fresh perspective and this can be a welcome change.

    Unless a company is hiring for a brand-new position that's completely out of the wheelhouse of their internal employee talent, I believe a company should always allow internal applications. But it's understandable if they look outside too.

13. AnonymousOctober 11,2024 at 5:17PM UTC

    I definitely have insight, often internal candidates are considered and don't make the cut. HR intervenes in the aftermath to guide the internal folks who don't make it to show the path and the how they can get there for the next time. A larger company usually has internal folks and often they post internally for 5-10 days before considering external candidates. Keep the faith, you are in round 3 and if they want new blood in the team you have a strong chance. Ask why the role is open. If it was a promotion, or someone who left because they moved on or failed in the role your approach should be slightly different using that information to help show why you can be different that the person who left, or similar if that persons loss was regretted. Don't give up!

14. Susan RoblesOctober 11,2024 at 10:34PM UTC

    Lots of good comments already.

    Many companies must follow internal policies or often Federal guidelines that require position recruitment be competitive. It is a bummer when the insider has a lock on a job and you are merely a box to check.

    However, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Good luck! Let us know how it turns out.

15. Erin VegaOctober 12,2024 at 1:59AM UTC

    Looking forward to seeing your next post here about the new job you got!!

    Speaking with internal candidates is a formality for most companies. Since they currently work together, they most likely know how the internal candidate performs. That being said they must give chances to their internal candidates as well. If they wanted to move forward with the internal candidate, I would hope that they not drag it out for external candidates.

16. Maggie StoneOctober 12,2024 at 12:48PM UTC

    It is absolutely worth it. You could bring something to the role that the internal candidate doesn’t. I will give you an example. My husband was up against an internal candidate and he won because he brought an area of expertise that the other candidate didn’t have. Think of how you add value and pursue this if you want the job. Good luck!

17. GirlBossanova934974October 12,2024 at 1:20PM UTC

    As others have already said, you have nothing to lose by pressing ahead. However, I don't buy this story that some HR GENIE is out there ensuring that external candidates AND internal candidates get the same chance of getting hired. UNFORTUNATELY these days, the corporate world has turned very ugly these days. Lots of shady business and even shadier managers handing things. Too many times, the internal resumes are slid in under the back door to the hiring manager and HR is nothing more than a cheap rubber stamp. The fact that this company dragged external candidates to round three and then acknowledged internal candidates were present makes me really wonder. WHY NOW? WHY NOT during the 1st round? Oh......the external candidates might bolt and run right there and then? PROBABLY SO!

18. AnonymousOctober 15,2024 at 8:17PM UTC

    Sadly I think you may be right that the company didn’t want to scare off external candidates in the first round. I feel very disheartened that I didn’t get an offer after three rounds of interviews (two in person!) especially since the hiring team was very complimentary throughout the process. I feel duped. Like they knew they were hiring an internal candidate all along and I was just played. Total bummer.

19. AnonymousOctober 12,2024 at 2:03PM UTC

    Many great comments already, I’ve made it a practice to ask if internal candidates are being considered in the first round of interviews, especially if they ask if you have further questions. If you’ve made it this far, probably a good sign! I say go get that job!!!!

20. RosemaryacOctober 12,2024 at 3:52PM UTC

    It's always worth pursuing. You never know who may read or see the applications, internal and external. You may not get the job you applied for, but if your qualifications caught someone's eye, somewhere down the line they may talk to someone inside the company, informally, or at a networking event and you may come to mind as a good candidate for another job.

21. AnonymousOctober 12,2024 at 5:54PM UTC

    I’d go for it. You’re in your 3rd round, so they obviously like you!

22. Michelle SiskoOctober 12,2024 at 10:36PM UTC

    Definitely go for it. I am actually leaving my job because every time there has been an open position in my department they have taken the outside candidates over the internal candidate.

    The only way to get a promotion is to apply for it. No one just gets a promotion. My coworkers and I have come to the conclusion that we will never get promoted, so I’m leaving to hopefully go somewhere where I have the opportunity to move up.

23. Swen EichelbergerOctober 13,2024 at 8:54AM UTC

    Perfectly

24. AnonymousOctober 13,2024 at 1:16PM UTC

    In many states, jobs have to be make available externally as well as internally. I was an external hire and within the first few weeks connected to the person who was being considered internally to ensure she was okay with not being selected - she saw my resume as it was make public to the institutional nd agreed I was the better candidate - of course she is watching me like a hawk (lol) and I make sure to connect with her in positive grateful ways. She is a star for sure!

25. Nancy CincottaOctober 13,2024 at 9:16PM UTC

    The internal candidate who did not get the job seems emotionally and professionally mature. I can see others not being so gracious