How to get a new job… in your current company

There will be times when you will get frustrated with your job. Maybe you are bored and dissatisfied with your current tasks and responsibilities. Maybe you don’t see a path to move up in your career. Or maybe, you want to completely change careers, and you’ll need to add a new skill or experience to make yourself more marketable. But what if you like your current company? Or they offer perks or benefits that might be hard to find- such as a great health insurance plan or a flexible work schedule?

One option to consider is an internal job transfer. This is a good way for you to venture and move forward to a new career without completely changing your life. You’ll get to keep the things you like in your current company and you’ll find it easier to convince your employer to hire you since you had (hopefully!) already proven yourself. 

Of course, transitioning to a new role comes with its own challenges. Follow these tips to make sure your transition go as smoothly as possible. 

An internal job transfer is a good way for you to venture and move forward to a new career without completely changing your life.

Have a clear goal in mind

Ask yourself these questions. Will you like the new role compared to what you currently do? Will it affect your pay or benefits? Will this move open up more opportunities in the future? How will the transition work? 

Make sure you know why or how you want to move. Never jump into a new career without doing proper research. Remember, switching to a new role requires a lot of planning and coordination between different departments so you need to ensure that you truly want this move to avoid any lost time, money or work in your company. 

Take on opportunities related to your target role

By taking on tasks and projects related to the role that you are targeting, you’ll get to acquire new knowledge and skills in that area. You’ll also get more opportunities to prove your worth, which will be helpful in convincing your company to consider you for a transfer, since you can show them that you are competent in this role and will be an asset. 

Talk to your manager

Initiating the topic might be the toughest, yet most critical part. Having your manager’s support is important, especially since they are the most familiar with your work, and can vouch for the quality of your work. Your manager’s endorsement will make a huge difference on your chances of being hired. 

Of course, it is up to you to convince them, so make sure you properly lay out why you want to make this move. It’s better to frame this on how it will benefit the company. For example- this role is a better fit for you therefore maximizing your output in the company, or that you’ll be bringing your expertise from your current position to the new one, which will increase productivity and profits for the company. 

Do your part in easing the transition 

If your transfer does get approved, make sure you’ll remain considerate of your old team. Don’t burn bridges by just leaving them in a lurch. Tie up all the loose ends in your current projects, conduct a proper turnover of your tasks, and help them scout around for your possible replacement.

Getting new opportunities doesn’t always mean leaving your company. An internal transfer might be just what you need. While it might be difficult to learn new skills and prove yourself in the new role all over again, it will still open you up to new career opportunities and help you gain valuable knowledge and experience.