Will my manager hate me if
I apply for another position within the same company
Throughout our career, there are times when we search for something new to do, something new to learn, something new to be a part of.
Ideally, we could find or could create the opportunity within our current role, current team, current company; whenever the desire to take on more challenge springs up.
If you’ve been in the same role for less than two years,
there’s probably more to learn and plenty of opportunity to initiate new projects within the same team.
And if you’re in a big department, there could be opportunities for collaborations with other teams within the same department. It’s worth talking to people, networking, learning about the priorities and objectives of adjacent teams.
If you’ve been in the same job for four years or more and find yourself wanting to search for other opportunities, why not look for a new role within the same company?
You would have the advantage of knowing the organization from within – its strategy, key objectives, people, technology, ways of working, etc.
It’s win-win for you and the company.
Before sending any internal applications, I suggest that you first:
Discuss with your current manager
Have a career conversation with your current manager. This could be during formal performance reviews and/or informal catch-ups.
It’s important to let your manager know:
- that you are considering other roles
- that you would like to stay within the same company
- that you would update them if you have found a role that matches your skills and interest, so that you can work on a timeline and transition plan together
- what you are searching for
- what you have contributed and learned from the current team
- why you want to find growth outside your current team
The objective of the conversation is to invite your manager to support you in your continuous growth and long term career.
It is the respectful way, it’s also the mutually beneficial way.
In this manner, your manager could also plan ahead for the team.
Your manager could potentially point you to the right direction if they know other teams or departments looking for your profile and skill set.
It’s also possible that your manager would not be excited about the idea of your departure, but they would appreciate not being blindsided.
Ask HR. Apply through internal jobs website
Next step would be to talk to an internal Recruiter and/or HR Business Partner.
If you already know what team or department you are keen on, approach the HR assigned to that. If you don’t have a specific team or role in mind yet, browse your company’s career page or internal jobs website for what’s available.
Explore roles outside your current location (if you’re open to moving).
Update your resume and job profile in your internal company website.
Connect with the people in the team you want to join
I encourage you to have a chat with the people in the team or the department you want to join.
Socializing could lead you to find a job opening, and it provides you valuable insights about what they do, how they work, and who are key people to know.
Reach out to the hiring manager
Finally, when you’ve found a role that you want to apply to, talk to the hiring manager for the role.
Find the opportunity to let the hiring manager know
- that your current manager is aware of your search for a new position within the company
- that you have received guidance from HR
- why you are interested in the role
- how your current skills and experience would be of value to their team
- how your current skills and experience would enable you to learn and perform well in the new role
- that it would be faster for you to move internally and acclimate as compared to an external hire
- that it is beneficial for the company that its people build experience in multiple areas of the organization
- that you would be open to double-hat or shadow for the role, if possible
The goal of the conversation is to demonstrate your value to the hiring manager, to understand the role better and see if you’re a good fit, and to gain an idea on the timing and transition should you be successful in applying for the position.
Apply for the role and be pro-active in handling your transition
If all goes well and you get the job, congratulations!
Help set the realistic expectation when you can fully transition out of your current role and into your new role. Be available for transition meetings.
Your current manager should not hate you, hopefully they would be happy for you.
You would make them proud by doing well in your new team.
You might even find ways to help your old team through your new position in the new team.
It’s always good to maintain healthy career connections. Your manager probably applies that principle to themselves too.
