Dear Savvy,
I am in the post-grad school job search process and am wondering if it is appropriate to apply for more than one position within the same organization? I'm worried that it may show a lack of commitment, but they are all positions I'd be interested in and mostly qualified for.
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I don't think that applying for more than one position within the same organization shows a lack of commitment; in fact, I think it shows just the opposite. That you're interested in multiple positions doesn't necessarily mean that you're not focused on a certain position, but it does suggest how much you'd like to work for the company in question. As long as your qualifications meet the requirements for each position, you shouldn't be in danger of an employer viewing your application as frivolous.
The key is to treat each position as a unique opening with its own specific requirements. The most effective way to prove that you're not just applying for every available job under the sun, and are in fact interested in the jobs for which you're applying, is to tailor each resume for each position's requirements. Tedious? Maybe, but it's important to treat each position as though it is completely unrelated in order to present yourself as a distinctive candidate for each role.
If the company specifically says they don't want you to submit a cover letter, then I'd recommend including each job title in the objective section of your resume. I'm usually anti-objective, but this is one time that it would actually have a sensible function. If the positions fall under different departments and ask that you submit your application to different managers, be sure to include cover letters (if applicable) with each one.
Vivienne Westwood
Mon Showroom
mytheresa
hi...i actually think (from experience recruiting) that there is a very fine line between showing interest and appearing like you do not know what you want to do with your life or that you do not have a specialty. if you do apply for different positions, just try to watch for that balance. if it's a small company/department and they review every single application for every position, definitely only submit one or two very focused and confident resumes. also be sure to follow up with any contacts that you have within the company. if it's a larger company, submitting more may be fine. especially if the positions are in different departments.
1I definitely agree with sharnie. Plus, a lot of times companies will consider you as an applicant for multiple jobs, even if you apply for 1. I wouldn't submit a resume more than twice to a small company, and more than 3 times to a big company.
2as a recruiter working with a team of recruiters, ive seen that those who apply to multiple positions do in fact look like they may not know what they want. if the fields are similar in nature, i can understand, but generally speaking i would limit yourself with what you apply for within a company.
3I think it's okay to apply for a few, especially if they're in the same sector. However, it definitely wouldn't make sense to do something like apply for a tech position and an HR one and a janitorial one, or a bunch of positions that completely run the gamut.
4Go for it...thats so if they fill the others U still have a chance to work there in at least one of them.
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