You see 社内公募 (shanai kōbo) on your company’s intranet and find a role you might want. Before sending an application, check the eligibility rules, deadline, required documents and when your manager is told. An internal posting is an invitation to apply, not a promise that you will move to that role.
Japanese labels on an internal posting
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning / what to check |
|---|---|---|
| 社内公募 | しゃないこうぼ (shanai kōbo) | Internal recruitment or open posting for current employees |
| 募集部署・募集職種 | ぼしゅうぶしょ・ぼしゅうしょくしゅ (boshū busho / boshū shokushu) | Hiring department / role |
| 応募資格・対象者 | おうぼしかく・たいしょうしゃ (ōbo shikaku / taishōsha) | Eligibility and who may apply |
| 在籍期間 | ざいせききかん (zaiseki kikan) | Required period employed; check the stated cutoff date |
| 応募締切 | おうぼしめきり (ōbo shimekiri) | Application deadline, sometimes with a time |
| 応募方法・提出書類 | おうぼほうほう・ていしゅつしょるい (ōbo hōhō / teishutsu shorui) | How to apply / documents to submit |
| 所属長への事前相談 | しょぞくちょうへのじぜんそうだん (shozokuchō e no jizen sōdan) | Consult your current manager in advance |
| 選考方法・面談 | せんこうほうほう・めんだん (senkō hōhō / mendan) | Selection method / interview or discussion |
| 異動時期・着任日 | いどうじき・ちゃくにんび (idō jiki / chakuninbi) | Expected transfer period / date to begin the new role |
| 待遇・勤務場所 | たいぐう・きんむばしょ (taigū / kinmu basho) | Terms and work location; confirm what changes |
How to decide whether to apply
- Check eligibility first. Read 対象者 and 応募資格 for employment type, time in your current role, required skills and any exclusions. If a condition is unclear, ask the contact listed on the posting before investing time in documents.
- Mark two dates. The 応募締切 is when you must submit; 異動時期 or 着任日 is when the successful applicant might move. These are different. Check whether a precise time is attached to the deadline.
- Read the manager notification rule. Some postings require a discussion with your current manager before applying; others describe a later notification stage. Follow the posted process rather than assuming applications are confidential or automatically shared.
- Prepare only the requested materials. The posting may ask for an application form, career history or reasons for applying. Our 職務経歴書 guide helps with work history headings, but use your company’s format if one is specified.
- Clarify the terms before accepting an outcome. Ask how role, workplace, schedule and pay would change. If selected, read the eventual personnel transfer notice for the effective date and destination, then prepare a handover for your current work.
Short questions you can use
Eligibility: 「この社内公募は、現在の在籍期間でも応募できますか。」
Kono shanai kōbo wa, genzai no zaiseki kikan demo ōbo dekimasu ka?
“Can I apply for this internal posting with my current length of service?”
Manager notification: 「応募前に、所属長への相談は必要でしょうか。」
Ōbo mae ni, shozokuchō e no sōdan wa hitsuyō deshō ka?
“Do I need to consult my current manager before applying?”
Terms: 「着任日と勤務場所、待遇の変更点を確認させてください。」
Chakunimbi to kinmu basho, taigū no henkōten o kakunin sasete kudasai.
“Please let me confirm the start date, work location and changes to the terms.”
What the posting may not answer
Company programs differ. A posting might say 異動希望 (transfer preference), 社内公募 (open internal application) or 配置転換 (reassignment), and their procedures need not be the same. Selection stages, confidentiality, manager involvement and whether an unsuccessful application affects anything are company-specific. Ask HR or the named contact for the written rules. A role description alone may not settle employment terms; compare any proposed changes with your current documents and request clear details before making a decision.
