Are internal interviews predetermined

[Workworried]

Keen to go for internal promotion. Role advertised for 1 week only. Working the team but wasn’t encouraged to go for, not discouraged just wasn’t suggested I go for.

thoughts or experiences please?

Work im*

Well if you don't put in for it, you definitely won't get it. Give it a whirl, you've nothing to lose.

Realistically, a one week closing date does suggest there is someone lined up. However, sometimes it’s good to throw your hat in the ring to signal you’re interested in career progression and get known or seen by interviewers. Plus it can be good practice for the next opportunity. IME no one will tell you explicitly not go for something so asking directly doesn’t always help.

Thanks for the encouragement, just trying to manage my own expectations I guess

Thanks @cromwell44 actually is two weeks , sorry just checked again. Does that change your view?

Internal only does usually indicate they have someone in mind. I only advertise internally if I feel there is someone in my team who would meet the brief, otherwise I would advertise externally.

That said, I have known the internal candidate they have lined up fail to get the job....

Good advice from cromwell44, never hurts to signal you're looking for opportunities to progress.

In my old NHS job, internal vacancies were usually "aimed" at certain individuals

Standard 2 week window for jobs advertised where I work so that wouldn’t mean anything

If you’re in the team, do you have any insight into who could be in line for the role? ie does someone deputise for someone in a similar role so this would be a natural progression for them?

either way I’d apply, get your name out there and that you want to progress if nothing else

check your handbook/intranet publication on this.
where I work we have a 4 weeks policy and each opporunity has to be announced 2 weeks before opening for applications.

Definitely go for it, they might have a preferred candidate but that doesn't mean the candidate necessarily wants the job.

2 weeks is still quite a short window but as others have said you have nothing to lose and even if you don’t get it, it might be a good signal of interest in progression. Is the role only being advertised internally and is 2 weeks normal for where you work? In the end no one can second guess so you have to decide whether the effort in applying is worth it. Good luck.

well I wouldn’t open a role internally only unless I knew who I expected to give it to.

In my experience all roles appear to be predetermined, and if you get lucky one appears to be determined for you! Call me syndical but it’s happened in my recent place so many times now there’s no point in me applying.
Applying does show drive, however so may not be wasted even if it’s not for you.

Totally agree

We are obliged to advertise internally for a short period before launching an external hunt. I have no idea if the search looks like internal only for the first week or two (for various reasons, there is a vanishingly small chance of finding an internal candidate)