Why Your Résumé Is Still Important When Applying Internally

Forbes

15-04-2025

Franklin Buchanan is the Founder of Post Up Careers and is a Certified Professional Career Coach.
You've been tapped for an internal job—congrats! But if your résumé doesn't match the hype, that opportunity could slip through your fingers.
Sure, you've got to ace the interview, but isn't the résumé just a formality? Not when internal mobility has been up 30% since 2021, per LinkedIn. Managers and senior staff are twice as likely to make these moves, meaning competition is fierce—and a standout résumé can set you apart, even internally.
You might assume it's optional if you were tapped for the role, groomed for succession or know the hiring manager. Connections are important; they can and should open doors, but your résumé determines if you can walk through them. Even with a referral, the team may not know all your wins.
A client once came to me for a résumé review before an internal application. They were a senior manager applying for a director-level position. Their résumé was fairly bland, with lots of task-oriented bullet points and no results or impact to speak of. I suggested updates, but they skipped it, banking on their reputation. Two months later, they returned—rejected.
Was the outdated résumé the reason they didn't get the job? They did get the interview. But that résumé didn't help their cause because it didn't sell their strengths, and they lost out.
Your résumé isn't just paperwork; it's your first impression. Focus on quantifiable wins—think 'Cut costs by 15%' over 'Managed budget'—and tailor your summary to the role.
If the hiring manager knows you well, then your polished résumé validates their opinion of you. If the hiring manager doesn't know you well and you've been referred, then your polished résumé validates the referral. If the hiring manager doesn't know you at all, then your polished résumé sets your job interview up for success.
Imagine the flip side, too. If the hiring manager knows you well and thinks highly of you and you turn in a sloppy résumé, what would they think about that? You have to match expectations, and your résumé can match your reputation.
So what should your résumé look like for an internal position? It should look exactly the same as if you were applying for this job at another company.
1. Write a short, tailored summary about who you are and what you bring to the role. For example, "Strategic business development executive with demonstrated experience building sales teams that achieved over 100% of plans for five consecutive years."
2. Make sure your skills section lists hard skills. Don't put soft skills like "problem-solving" in your skills section. Reflect what the job is looking for, but don't overdo it—listing nine to 12 skills is sufficient.
3. Make your bullet points actionable. Review the job posting and list out relevant wins. For example, "Secured $2.5 million in new business after hiring three new sales representatives, leading to expanded territories in four states."
When applying internally, it's your chance to match the hype and tee up a winning interview. Don't let it be anything less than your ticket to turning buzz into a handshake.
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