cover letter for internal position nz

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Internal Position Cover Letter Example

Introduction of an internal position cover letter

Internal position cover letter body.

When applying for an internal position, your cover letter is like a personalised highlight reel that demonstrates your loyalty to the company, showcases your growth within the organisation, and reinforces your commitment to the workplace. 

But before you begin your cover letter for an internal position, it’s important to know how to build a convincing, compelling cover letter. 

In this guide, we’ll explore the essential sections of a cover letter, what to avoid, and how to build a cover letter that helps you stand out from other candidates. 

Internal position full text-only cover letter example

Dear Mr. Wihongi,

I'm excited to apply for the position of Store Manager after working for Silver Surf for nine years as Assistant Manager. During my time with Silver Surf, I've learned a range of skills and had some truly enriching professional experiences. From helping customers feel their best in Silver Surf clothing, to celebrating a range of milestones at Silver Surf, I'm confident in my ability to manage Silver Surf's growth and expansion across the Whangarei area.

As Assistant Manager, I have gained a comprehensive understanding of the daily operations that ensure our store not only meets but exceeds our performance goals. I’ve formed strong relationships with our team, fostering a work environment that is both positive and results-driven. My approach blends strong attention to detail with innovative problem-solving, ensuring that each day we deliver the exceptional service that our customers have come to expect and rely on.

I have proudly taken part in initiatives that boosted customer satisfaction rates by 25% and played a pivotal role in developing marketing strategies that increased foot traffic during off-peak hours. Through diligent inventory management, I was able to reduce excess stock by 30% and streamline the supply chain, which significantly improved our operational efficiency.

Leadership is inherently about inspiring confidence and guiding a team toward shared objectives. I believe my tenure with Silver Surf has prepared me to take on the Store Manager role, where I can continue to motivate our team, spearhead key projects, and contribute to our store's standing as a beacon of excellence in the Whangarei retail community.

I am looking forward to the opportunity to further discuss how my skills, experience, and vision align with the goals for Silver Surf Whangarei. Thank you for considering my application. I am eager to continue our journey together, aiming for new heights of success.

Ngā mihi nui, 

Katie Bradley

Sections of an internal position cover letter

All cover letters follow a basic format and structure. A cover letter for an internal position should contain the following sections:

• Header : At the top of the page, include the current date and necessary contact information, such as your phone number and email address.
• Greeting : Opt for a polite and professional greeting, using the recipient's name when known.
• Introduction : Begin your cover letter with a compelling opening that reflects your genuine passion for the internal position. Briefly highlight any relevant professional skills and experiences that can help you stand out as a top candidate for the position.
• Body Paragraphs : In the body paragraph section of your cover letter, expand upon any key accomplishments from your current role. Discuss any unique skills and achievements acquired during your current position to help distinguish you from external candidates.
• Conclusion : Conclude your cover letter by reiterating your professional strengths, and end with a persuasive call to action statement.
• Signature : Finish your cover letter with a warm, professional farewell, followed by your full name.

We recommend keeping your cover letter for an internal position to one page. A single-page cover letter ensures your key qualifications are quickly accessible, holding the reader's attention without overwhelming them. 

If you’re searching for similar cover letters or need more inspiration before you get started, be sure to take a look at our cover letter library , or check out the cover letter examples below: 

• Team Lead Cover Letter Example
• Customer Service Cover Letter Example
• Administrative Assistant Cover Letter Example

For more helpful tips and insights, our how to write a powerful cover letter guide can help take your internal position cover letter to the next level. 

In the introduction of your cover letter, focus on elaborating on your skills and experience gained within the company. Starting with a strong and engaging introduction can grab the attention of the hiring manager right from the outset.  Take the time to reflect on your accomplishments and the diverse skill set you have developed during your time with the company, emphasising these strengths early in your cover letter. Remember to align your talents with the needs of the position, showing how you are a perfect fit for this internal opportunity.

Hi Mr. Wihongi, 

I’ve been working here for ages and I think after all this time, I’m the best fit for Silver Surf. As you know, I’m from Whangarei so my skills help me a lot when it comes to connecting with people. 

Remember that it's essential to present your cover letter professionally, ensuring it is free of errors, grammar mistakes, or any formatting faux pas. Keep language formal and professional, and consider having a trusted friend or family member review your application to catch any minor errors you might have missed.

Here are our top tips for crafting a compelling body paragraph section: 

• Expand upon any roles and responsibilities you have held within the company
• Discuss any achievements or milestones that help demonstrate your leadership and knowledge of the company’s goals and values.
• Elaborate upon your track record of achieving or surpassing company goals and objectives

First body paragraph: Your suitability for the role (skills & experience)

We recommend focusing on the following: 

• Connect your past successes to your future potential: Draw a direct line between the achievements in your current or past roles and how those experiences have prepared you for the new position. Use specific examples to demonstrate how you have added value to your team or the organisation where possible.
• Highlight relevant skills: Since you’re already part of the organisation, highlight how your interpersonal skills have been refined over your time with the company.
• Identify and address new challenges: Show initiative by identifying future challenges or opportunities within the new role or department and articulate how your skills and experience make you uniquely qualified to address them.

Align your cover letter to the job description

Writing with the job description in mind helps demonstrate how you are the right fit for the role. It also shows hiring managers that you have carefully read and understood the key requirements and expectations of the role. Since you're applying for an internal position, it also shows that you don't take your current position in the company for granted.

Second body paragraph(s): Alignment with the organisation 

In your cover letter's second paragraph, show how the work you’ve already completed aligns with the goals and values of the company. While you likely already have a strong understanding of the company’s values, it’s still important to highlight how you embody these values at the company. 

For example, if you were applying for an internal position at the New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA), it would be important to showcase how you embody their values.  The NZTA lists some of its values as : 

• Showing respect for all people
• Building better relationships
• Speaking up when it matters
• Helping others succeed

You could list instances where you went above and beyond to help customers or staff or discuss moments where you showed bravery and spoke up for others. The key is to share concrete examples of your achievements within the company that demonstrate your commitment to their core values. Elaborating on how you effectively embody the values of the company can improve your chances of job success. 

We also recommend expanding upon how your leadership and skills can help improve company success. Make sure it’s clear how you fit the specific job you’re applying for based on the job description. 

Call to action & conclusion: A fitting ending

To end your internal position cover letter , reiterate your commitment to the company and your genuine interest in the position. Make it clear that you are enthusiastic about bringing your knowledge, skills, and experience to the role, and that you're open to discussing the position in greater detail. A strong call to action statement can also help convince employers to reach out to you at a later stage. 

Finalise your cover letter with a polite and professional sign-off, such as “Warm regards,” or “Ngā mihi nui,” followed by your full name. The goal is to leave a lasting impression that reflects your commitment to the company. 

Key takeaways

Before you begin drafting your cover letter for an internal position, remember to customise your letter to match the job description, outline your company knowledge, and show your commitment to the company’s future. 

At cvapp.nz, we make it easy to refine your internal position cover letter with our cover letter templates and our exclusive cover letter builder . Kickstart your career journey today!

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How to write an NZ cover letter (with examples and templates)

Along with your CV, a cover letter is essential to any NZ job application. Let's get you started.

Every New Zealand job application should include a cover letter.

This document is key to showing an employer you’re serious about their vacancy, and for demonstrating what you bring to the table . Despite its importance, many people aren’t sure how to write a cover letter – and their applications suffer as a result.

That’s why we’ve created this guide, giving you advice on everything from what to include, to how to lay it out.

We’ve also snuck in a few examples to make life even easier for you … aren’t we nice?

Cover letters vs. CVs: what’s the difference?

To understand the role cover letters play in job applications, it’s important to realise how they differ from CVs:

1. Purpose:

CVs give a broad picture of you as an applicant – providing details such as educational background and employment history . By contrast, a cover letter targets why you want this specific role, and how your skills and experience make you a great candidate.

While there will be areas of overlap as you select qualifications or abilities to draw out in your cover letter, it definitely should not be an elongated version of your CV.

An NZ cover letter should be no longer than one page, while CVs are usually between one and two.

The most obvious visual difference between these documents and CVs hinges around bullet points.

While your CV should be a bullet point bonanza, cover letters favour full sentences. That’s not to say you can’t have any bullets in a cover letter, just use them more sparingly.

You should include a cover letter with every job application.

What to include in a cover letter

1. your contact info, the date and the business’ address.

At the top of your cover letter should be:

• Your full name, contact details and home address
• The date you submit the application
• The business’ postal address

It should look like this:

Head up your cover letter like this.

2. Your opener

People worry about how to start a cover letter , but there’s a simple formula and structure for getting this right:

Make it personal : start with ‘dear’, and address it to a person – i.e. the hiring manager. If their name isn’t in the job listing, try a good old fashioned stalk of the company website, or ring the business and find out. ‘To whom it may concern’ is a no go.

Make it clear : organisations often list multiple vacancies at a time, so make it obvious which position you’re applying for. A sentence like, ‘I’m writing to apply for the Marketing Assistant role, as advertised on Trade Me Jobs’, will do the trick.

Make it punchy : next, add a snappy one-liner summing up why you’re interested in the role and what you’d bring to their business. Remember, you can go into more detail in the interview itself. For example:

3. Why them

A common cover letter mistake is to only focus on yourself. Before choosing you, employers want to know why you’re choosing them. This helps sort candidates who are genuinely passionate about their organisation from those who are mass applying to anything and everything.

Warning : this section is not about inflating the hiring manager's ego by flattering the company – be positive, but be thoughtful.

Now, it’s time to sell yourself.

This section of your cover letter is where you highlight your most relevant skills and experience.

You can draw on anything from previous work experience to certificates and qualifications. The important bit is linking whatever you mention to the job – simply listing skills is not the answer.

To do this effectively, you need to carefully study the job ad and identify what capabilities the employer values most. If your Trade Me Jobs Profile is up-to-date, you can then quickly skim your skills and experience to find those which most closely match the job description.

Top tip: the more detail you can give, the better. Helped raise sales? Great. Helped raise sales by 6%? Even better.

If you want to add some extra skills or information to this section, a bullet point list is a good option. Note : only do this after introducing your headline examples in full sentence form, as above, and keep your list to three or four concise bullets.

5. Signing off

The end of your cover letter should (politely) prompt the reader to get in touch with you to arrange the next steps. Make sure you end on a high, and continue the energy from earlier in your closing sentence, for example:

How to format a cover letter

With your content sorted, it’s now about nailing the visuals. Cover letters are usually easier than CVs in this regard, as they’re laid out like a traditional letter. However, there are a few things to bear in mind:

• What font should I use? Keep it simple, and the same as on your CV. If your font is hard to read, or too small, the letter will end up in the wrong pile.
• How long should a cover letter be? New Zealand cover letters should be under one page long.
• Should I use paragraphs? Would you read huge, unbroken chunks of text? We doubt it, so make sure to break up your cover letters into paragraphs.
• What are the correct cover letter margins? Leave these at their default setting so your cover letter has plenty of blank space, and doesn’t look crowded.

All done? Not quite.

Perhaps the most important stage of cover letter writing is proofreading. After all that hard work, you don’t want a few silly typos or poor punctuation letting you down.

So check it yourself, then get someone else to have a look, then have a final glance.

Once you’re happy, it’s time to attach it to your application, and hit send.

Al Hall is a regular contributor at Trade Me Jobs and Trade Me Property. He’s dedicated to helping people succeed in their aspirations to find their dream job and place to live.

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Templates and examples to help you create your own CV's (resumes) and cover letters.

What's on this page?

Cover letter template and example, skills-focused cv for changing career or gaps in your work history, work-focused cv for career progression, skills-focused cv for school leavers, specialist cv's, find out more, create a cv online with cv builder and it saves automatically.

You can use our CV Builder to create your CV.  It'll automatically save to your careers.govt.nz account.

• CV Builder – create your own CV online  

Don't want to use CV Builder? Use our CV and cover letter templates by saving them to your computer

If you don't want to use CV Builder, you can use the templates on this page to create your CV and cover letter. 

Save and name your templated CV and cover letter

• When you download the templates, remember to save them on your computer as a Word document and a PDF.  Employers may need either format.
• Name your documents with your name, the application date, and the job you're applying for. For instance, "Mere Smith 1 Oct 2023 Water Engineer CV". This helps employers keep track of your documents.

Read our examples and use our templates to create your cover letter. Remember to save it on your computer.

Cover letter examples:

• Cover letter example (Word - 16KB)
• Cover letter example (PDF - 0.1MB)

Cover letter templates:

• Cover letter template (Word - 20KB)
• Cover letter template (PDF - 0.1MB)

Use a skills-focused CV template if you haven't had many jobs, have gaps between jobs or are changing career.

Skills-focused CV examples:

• Skills CV example (Word - 27KB)
• Skills CV example (PDF - 0.1MB)

Skills-focused CV templates:

• Skills CV template (Word - 25KB)
• Skills CV template (PDF - 0.4MB)

Read about describing skills in your CV:

Use a work-focused CV template if you're changing to a similar job or a higher-level role in the same area, or want to highlight your work experience and career progression.

Work-focused CV examples:

• Work CV example (Word - 27KB)
• Work CV example (PDF - 0.4MB)

Work-focused CV templates:

• Work CV template (Word - 26KB)
• Work VV template (PDF - 0.4MB)

Use a skills-focussed school leaver CV template if you're about to leave or have recently left school.

School-leaver CV examples:

• School leaver CV example (Word - 26KB)
• School leaver CV example (PDF - 0.3MB)

School-leaver CV templates:

• School Leaver CV template (Word - 25KB)
• School Leaver CV template (PDF - 0.4MB)

Some careers require a particular style of CV.

CV's for academic, creative, engineering, health, legal and teaching careers:

• University of Otago website - CV and Cover Letter Guide (PDF - 0.3MB)
• University of Oxford website - CVs for creative careers
• Victoria University website - CV/Resume Preparation for Teaching (PDF - 0.7MB)
• Free job hunters' workbook

Updated 22 Sep 2023

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