Can you ever obtain a job offer when there are internal candidates?

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I have just taken the 'thanks, but no thanks' call following completing a three stage interview as an external candidate.

The feedback was good. They liked me, I interviewed well, impressed with answers, demonstrated my skills and experience etc - but the internal candidate scored higher on systems and processes and recieved the offer.

Nothing in the job description on systems and processes and no questions posed at interview. I feel my time has been wasted as how could I compete with an internal candidate on company specific systems and processes.

The company have asked me to register on their talent system as although they don't have any roles for me currently, they would like to see me again. But I don't hold much hope I would ever get role at my level, that wouldn't have internal candidates applying and I can't compete on the scoring matrix. Am I just feeling abit bitter? Or could an external candidate get the edge over an internal candidate?

There’s absolutely a huge chance an external candidate will get the role over internal. I have been involved in recruitment in 2 of my jobs, the first one I would say most jobs although advertised externally were pretty much earmarked for an internal candidate and just had to be advertised to seen as fair (management dictated, I hated this). When I was involved in recruiting in my current role though most recently the jobs all went to external. External candidates do have an edge on internal in so much as they aren’t already set in certain ways, they can often have fresh ideas and suggestions of different ways things can be done from having worked in other environments, and it also often (for me recently) came down to relevant experience/qualifications/knowledge. It doesn’t matter whether you’re internal or external, if you are the best fit for the job then you’re the best fit. You could be external but have perfect experience, a relevant qualification, knowledge of a certain software, new ideas about processes, you’d absolutely get the job over an internal candidate without those things.

Yep, I did in a CS post. However I soon transferred internally as, my goodness can people have a grudge.

I was resented by my "team" for getting the post over a beloved colleague of theirs. Kind of regretted getting the post, but luckily internal recruitment worked in my favour "moving forward".

I have been a clerk when an external candidate got a position over the internal candidate (deputy manager type position in local government department). Internal candidate had acted up in very difficult circumstances and had done well so had strong expectations of being made permanent, as had everyone else.

However, boss said “this other one came along and I couldn’t say no”. He was right but, goodness, that was an awful day at work. And we had official visitors for a tour that morning, too. Boss admitted he hadn’t slept overnight knowing what his morning would bring.

Yes, I beat out an internal candidate who was temporarily in the position. It was somewhat awkward as he was offered a job in the seniority tier below so was still there, and I literally took his desk and his case load...

Yes, I did and have seen it happen several times since with other roles. It is tough though, especially if, as you say, they score you on processes and systems. How can that be fair?

Absolutely yes. I first got employed in the public sector against an internal candidate. During my career we appointed lots of externals over internal candidates. Of course, if your internal candidate is 'better' then they will get appointed.