If the company is comfortable with hiring internally (some aren't) then it's common. If people have good managers, the managers will give their direct reports a

If the company is comfortable with hiring internally (some aren't) then it's common. If people have good managers, the managers will give their direct reports a heads up when they see a position that they think the employee will like more and suggest they apply internally. You probably don't hear about it often because a selfless manager is the unicorn of the business world.