Been there, done that but this is what I have learned.

For internal promotions you should request a meeting and go over your interview if you had one and ask for feedback. ( this is the advantage of promoting within, you can always get feedback and work on that) and let them know that you’re interested in promoting within the next 6-12 months if the opportunity arises.

My boss didn’t think the best of me but I sat down and ask for feedback and worked on the things that I wasn’t as strong on.  Got my promotion within 6 months. 

It never hurts to spruce up your resume though.  My previous company I got denied multiple times but I continued to work on my leadership and learning as much as I could even taking stretch assignments.  This gave me an edge when I finally felt ready to ask again.  But for sure if you want to grow and the opportunities are not there it never hurts to look somewhere else.  

But first definitely ask for feedback.  I want to be promoted again, spoke to my boss who feels I’m not ready but I’m having a 15 minute meeting once a week to see how I’m progressing and what I need to work on to move on to the next step.

It’s a process but if you’re willing to work through it, it should be rewarding.  One thing though, I was always and think I still am, expected to have my replacement ready to take over for me if and when I got promoted.  A couple times I got denied because there was no one to take over my duties.