Applying for Multiple Jobs at the Same Company - Good and Bad

Applying for multiple jobs at the same company. When is it okay? What can you do instead? When a company offers a number of interesting job openings, it's tempting to apply for all of them in the hopes of getting an interview. This technique can work in some circumstances, but most of the time it is preferable to apply for only one job.

How to decide to apply to multiple jobs at the same company

According to conventional thinking, the more applications you fill out during your job hunt, the greater your chances of landing a position. While this is true for various organizations, recruiting professionals advise limiting the number of applications you send to a single company. Here are the stages to determining whether or not you should apply for numerous opportunities at one company and how to do so:

• Make a decision on what you want to do.
• Determine your credentials.
• Determine the number of tasks that will fit.
• Make use of the 80% rule.
• Make your applications unique.
• Make contact with the recruiter.
• Keep in touch.

Decide what your goals are

Job searchers who are just starting out in their careers can not have a clear idea of what they want to accomplish. This might lead to people applying for jobs at any company or for any position, regardless of the job description or required credentials. Consider what you're interested in and what you're excellent at to help you find the perfect job. Make a list of your discoveries.

Identify your qualifications

Make a list of all of your credentials for potential employment, both in terms of education and experience. Find out what your strongest skills are by asking previous professors, instructors, employers, or coworkers. Think about your abilities. Use this data to figure out which position will allow you to shine.

Pick which jobs fit your experience

Take the lists you made in stages one and two and combine them. Compare those to the many job posts you're looking at inside the same company. The postings that do not fit your lists should be ignored.

Deploy the 80% rule

If you have more than one job ad in front of you at this point, it's time to use the 80% rule. It states that you should submit your application if you satisfy 80% of the requirements for the employment. Even if you satisfy 80% of the other criteria, consider not applying if you do not meet hard qualifications (things like language fluency or citizenship that cannot be altered fast or easily).

Tailor your application

Customize your resume/CV, cover letter, and any other application materials for each job. In your resume, provide relevant education and experience. In your cover letter, mention that you are looking for various roles within the company. Explain why you are the best candidate for each post.

Contact the recruiter

Make contact with the recruiter or human resources department and explain why you're submitting numerous applications. If you're looking for many jobs, it's better to be honest about it. This shows initiative and that you truly believe you would be a good fit for one of many opportunities, rather than applying to every job that comes your way regardless of credentials.

Follow up with them

After submitting your applications, follow up with the company a week or so later. Request an informational interview if you were not chosen for any of the opportunities. You can ask for feedback on your applications and general credentials during this meeting. If it's the company that interests you the most, tell the recruiter that you'd want to work for them and that you'd like them to keep you in mind for future possibilities that match your talents and credentials.

Alternative to applying to multiples jobs with the same company

Alternatives to applying for numerous positions at the same organization

If you determine that applying to several positions at the same company isn't the best option after completing the previous stages, consider the following scenarios with different application options:

Alternative 1

Several job vacancies have been offered by a company where you've always wanted to work. You used the 80 percent rule and discovered that you only fulfill the qualifications for one position. So, what are your options?

Fill out an application for the only position for which you are qualified. Instead of submitting several resumes and cover letters, devote that time to creating great and appealing application papers for this one opportunity. Then, request a coffee appointment with the recruiter or Human Resources department. Explain your interest in the company and ask if there are any other roles for which you can be considered during this discussion.

Alternative 2

For the same company, two job openings have been listed. You can't choose between the two since they both seem like professions you'd like doing. So, what are your options?

Begin by evaluating your credentials. You are probably better qualified for one position than the other. Fill out an application for the position.

Alternative 3

Several job openings are advertised by a company. Because you are unsure of what type of work you want to pursue, you contemplate applying to all of them. So, what are your options?

Make a request for help. Make contact with previous bosses or teachers. Inquire as to what talents they believe you possess and which positions they believe would be a good fit for you. Request informative interviews at a range of companys using your professional network. Inquire about the duties and responsibilities of various roles on a daily basis. Make a list of which positions pique your interest and which do not. Use all of this information to focus your job search on a set of jobs that you are both interested in and qualified for.

Why applying to multiple positions could look bad

It has the potential to make you appear desperate. When hiring managers notice that you've filed many applications at the same time, their initial impression is likely to be that you're desperate for work and don't care what type of work you get.

This is why it's critical to call ahead and explain why you're submitting multiple applications, as well as to ensure that you truly qualify for and are interested in the positions.

It can cause recruiting employers to mistrust your genuine interest in the opportunities. This is especially true if you do not adapt each application to the specific job for which you are applying, since this can give the impression that you are more interested in advancing your career than in the role itself.

Hiring managers are constantly on the lookout for reasons to exclude candidates, and they are unlikely to give you the benefit of the doubt on this, particularly if other applicants demonstrate that they have conducted study and are invested in the role.

This might give the impression that you are unsure of your qualifications and competence. If you're unsure of what you want to do or what you're excellent at, recruiters are likely to notice when you submit numerous applications.

While everyone goes through this at some point, employers do not want to recruit individuals who have not taken the time to determine their strengths or who are unable to commit to a single concept long enough to see whether it is a suitable match.

How to apply to more than one job at the same company

Each opportunity requires a unique resume/CV, cover letter, and application. When applying for many jobs at a same business, one of the worst things you can do is submit the exact same application each time.

Hiring managers will notice this and will believe you're simply spamming every company you come across with applications in the aim of being hired.

Tailor your resume

Reorganize and rewrite your resume/CV to demonstrate your genuine interest in each opportunity. This emphasizes the job description's requirements and indicates that you've conducted research on the organization and position before writing your cover letter.

Make contact

Contact the business. Prior to submitting your applications, contact the company's recruiter or human resources office to inform them that you will be applying for many opportunities. Explain why you'd like to work for the company (and why) and why you feel you'd be a good fit for either role.

This stage is critical to demonstrating to hiring managers that you are not simply looking for work but are involved in both the company and the individual employment prospects.

Follow up

Re-contact us if you do not hear back within a week after applying. If you are truly interested in working for the company, contact them and request an informational interview to learn more about the organization and the qualities they are looking for in a candidate.

Explain why you'd like to work for the company and ask if they'd consider you for any future opportunities that they feel would be a better fit for you.

You can even inquire as to what they were looking for in your applications and how you might improve your abilities in order to be a more viable candidate the next time around. Maintain a good attitude, gracefully accept comments, and then take efforts to improve.

Common questions

Questions from job seekers.

Do hiring managers appreciate you wanting to apply to multiple positions at the same company?

Yes, you can apply for several roles with the same business, but there are some factors to consider before you begin applying for these opportunities. For example, it is advised that you modify your cover letter and resume for each position to which you apply, ensuring that your abilities and keywords align with the job description criteria for each job posting.

Additionally, your cover letter should detail why you are interested in each position. To make your work worthwhile, you should have a genuine interest in each position you apply for inside a company. Hiring managers are typically adept at detecting whether an applicant is applying without real purpose or interest.

Will I lose a relationship with a hiring manager for wanting to apply to multiple positions?

No. The same hiring manager should assist you in submitting multiple applications. Especially if this is your "dream company," and you've expressed that.