Is it ok to apply to multiple jobs at the same company? What is one best practice when doing so?
To help candidates apply to multiple job openings in the same company, we asked hiring managers and recruiters this question for their best advice. From using discretion when applying multiple times to keeping the number of applications reasonable, there are several tips to help guide you when applying to multiple jobs at the same company.
Here are eight best practices for applying to multiple jobs at the same company:
- Use Discretion When Applying Multiple Times
- Make Sure You Meet The Requirements for Each Position
- Apply To Multiple Jobs But Personalize Each Application
- Weigh The Unintended Consequences First
- Show That You’re Trying To Add Value
- Consider Jobs That Are Related
- Do Not Apply for Multiple Positions Out of Desperation
- Keep The Number of Applications Reasonable
Use Discretion When Applying Multiple Times
It can be enticing to apply to every opportunity that aligns with your values and matches your skills. However, when applying to the same company think about the context of the different roles you are applying to. If it is a large company with several opportunities posted to different cities, try to investigate if it is the same recruiter managing each posting or different by region. Also, if you are applying to different positions at the same company, you can always reach out to the recruiter or hiring manager on LinkedIn, Indeed, etc. to explain why you think you might be a good fit for the specific opportunities and ask for a call to walk through it with them.
What you don’t want to do is apply to every single listing the company has indiscriminately. Many companies use an Applicant Tracking System, when you re-apply it just updates your profile within the system. Applying to every new job post is usually a red flag for recruiters looking for talent.
Colton De Vos, Resolute Technology Solutions
Make Sure You Meet The Requirements for Each Position
When applying for multiple jobs with the same company, make sure that you carefully review the requirements for each position and make sure you actually meet them before submitting. There are those “serial applicants” that use the same application to apply from a janitor to executive jobs and everything in between, and they don’t qualify for any! If they do, it is hard to tell because the application is always the same. These serial applicants don’t even realize that over time, they build a “reputation” that may result in their applications not even being taken seriously any longer.
Patty Hickok, NANA Regional Corporation
Apply To Multiple Jobs But Personalize Each Application
Yes, it is OK to apply to multiple jobs at the same company as long as you do not exceed the maximum number of applications per company. There is a chance that your application will be disqualified if it exceeds the limit.
In general, there are two best practices when applying for more than one role: Do not apply for more than one job in a row – this is called “churning,” and will get you disqualified from the vast majority of companies. Almost all recruitment platforms are fine-tuned to recognize it, and it’s a major red flag so don’t do it.
Quality always trumps quantity. Apply to fewer positions but with more thorough, personalized applications, which show that you are interested in working at each company. Give them a reason to reply to you by tailoring each application (especially the cover letter) and show that you genuinely care and are at least a decent fit for the position.
Peter Bryla, ResumeLab
Weigh The Unintended Consequences First
Applying to multiple jobs at the same company is okay if: they are similar to one another, you are qualified for them, or if they match your experience and career trajectory. If not, don’t do it!
If you are applying for a job you are absolutely underqualified for or is not related to your experience but hope by some miracle you get an interview. This does a few things: Your resume is now in their system for that role; your name will be associated with that position for any future applications; it wastes time for everyone. How can you expect a recruiter or hiring manager to take any of your applications seriously if you are applying to positions with varying levels of expertise? Plus, when you finally do apply to a role that matches your qualifications it may raise red flags when your application history is reviewed. Only apply to multiple jobs if you’re qualified or mostly qualified to each of them.
Dan Reed, Top Prospect Careers
Show That You’re Trying To Add Value
I believe strongly in giving my team autonomy so that they may find their purpose in their professional lives – and they have a green light when it comes to applying for different positions. If they feel they can make a greater impact working in a different role, I would encourage them to seek such a change. They may apply for different positions, but it is important for them to know why they think they would excel in the individual roles they’re applying for. How will they add value to the team in that position? They need to be ready to give a clear answer to that question.
Mona Akhavi, VRAI
Consider Jobs That Are Related
In short, applying for multiple jobs at the same company is fine. However, be sure the positions you are applying to relate to your expertise and one another. Oftentimes it is the same hiring manager reviewing multiple positions at the same company. If the hiring manager sees you are applying to every job in every department it can come off as spamming the company. Try only applying to the positions that best match your work experiences and skills, and be sure to create a unique resume for each position that you apply to illustrate your understanding of how the positions differ.
Bryor Mosley, Southern New Hampshire University
Do Not Apply for Multiple Positions Out of Desperation
Companies like to hire personnel who have applied for various positions not out of desperation but out of conviction. This is because while a move made with conviction is well-thought-out and dependable even in the long-term, a decision taken in desperation can never be trusted. So if you’re applying for multiple positions, make sure you have valid reasons for your move. If you do not have logical reasons for your decision, refrain from doing it because it may even cost you that one position you were well-suited for.
Dillon Hammond, Achieve TMS East
Keep The Number of Applications Reasonable
If candidates see several job offers within a single company that match their experience and interests, it’s often difficult to stop oneself from applying to all of them. And it’s okay to apply for more than one job at a company, as long as we keep the number reasonable. In practice, this means responding to a maximum of 3 positions, sticking more to 1 or 2. So instead of applying for all available positions, (which often less than align with your resume), find one or two in which you have a chance of success. After all, you don’t want to come off as a desperate person looking for any job.
Moreover, if someone from the company has already reached out to you about one of the job offers, you can always ask which position they think best suits your experience. You may get the green light to apply for multiple openings. Be open about that. You don’t want the recruiter to feel like you’re doing something behind their back.
Nina Paczka, Resume Now
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