How to Get the Job Over the Internal Candidate

There are few more dreaded phrases in the job search process: “There is an internal candidate.”

Many companies will share such details in the later stages of the process in the name of transparency, but few external candidates will welcome the knowledge. Every job search is competitive, but when you’re up against an internal candidate, you have your work cut out.

Keep the faith. There are a few sneaky strategies to deploy.

Firstly, you need to tell yourself that their candidate is not their ideal choice. 

There is an obligation to advertise every role internally but absolutely no obligation to conduct an external search. Recruitment is an expensive and time-consuming business, so an ideal internal candidate would simply be offered the job. 

Armed with this confidence booster, here is how you can adapt your tactics:

Get granular about the role requirements. Think about the content of the interview(s) thus far and try to work out the core requirements of the role. While you can’t ask directly about what the internal candidate is lacking, a laser focus on ticking every box will put you at an advantage. The internal candidate will be lacking in certain areas, of that you can be sure.

Focus on the value of an external perspective. Subtle nudges around the topic of fresh perspectives could be all you need to shift attitudes. While you should not seek to go in and change everything, there is often much value in a change in mindset and approach. An internal candidate might have a new job, but they will still toe the company line.

Outline your cultural understanding and fit. One of the significant advantages is that they are already a proven cultural fit. This may well be the case for you, but in this situation, you need to make an extra effort to demonstrate it. Push the right buttons to build rapport, be friendly, and adopt a positive attitude about the possibilities.

Internal candidate espionage

Time for some job search espionage. Okay, so be careful here, but it is perfectly possible to work out who you are up against. Check out the competition using a partner’s or friend’s LinkedIn account in stealth mode (so members can’t see who viewed their profile). Think about the experience they could be missing and focus your sales pitch on those gaps.

Having said this, when the job description is threadbare, is only advertised on the employer’s website and application details are vague, it may well be the case that an internal candidate is in pole position. In this situation, use your judgement. Don’t spend too much energy pursuing a role that is not yours.

The odds get longer if an internal candidate is involved. If you are keen on the role, adopt the above strategies and prove that you are simply the best candidate for the position.

***

This blog is shared with Job Seeker Duetists. 

Written by former recruitment ghostwriter Paul Drury (not AI).