Before you place an advertisement for the position, you may want to look within your organization for qualified candidates. Actually, your firm may have a policy that demands you post the position for consideration by current employees. Even if you want to hire from outside, you may have no choice but to consider inside candidates.
Let’s assume that you get some internal applicants. You will likely have to hold formal interviews with each one, even those whom you know are unsuitable for the job. Some candidates might fit the position, so you need to determine if these individuals would be willing and capable of learning skills they currently lack. How about familiarity with the product line and company? An interested and involved employee can compensate for lack of job experience with corporate and industry knowledge.
If you like one of your internal candidates, you may also want to review that person’s past appraisals and even talk to the individual’s current manager. Listen between the lines to be sure that you are being told the truth. Some managers may lie to keep a talented worker; others may lie to get rid of a troublemaker.