Dear Savvy,
I'm wondering what you think is the best method for getting into a company. I am looking for a job in my area, and there is a specific company that I want to work for.
My knee-jerk reaction is to apply for any job that I am capable of doing, but the more I think about it the more I think that it may not be a good idea. Does applying for every job available at a company look bad or does it get your name into company conversation?
See my answer when you read more.
Savvy says: It's great that you've found a company that interests you. Just like you are following your instincts to get a job there, you should follow your hunch that applying for every job available isn't a good idea. That doesn't mean that you can't apply for more than one position at the company, but you should be selective about the positions and it should be obvious why you are applying for each one.
While submitting applications for various positions can show how much you want a job with the company, it could very well send the message that you are out to get any possible job and don't care what it is. Employers want candidates who are focused, seem to know what they want, and have a clear idea of what they can offer as an employee.
You know how enthusiastic you are about this company, but there's no way for the company in question to know you're not applying for every job available at 10 others in a broad attempt to find employment. The trick is to focus your job search within the company to just a couple positions that you're qualified for, and submit separate resumes tailored to the requirements for each position.
L'Autre Chose
Ben Sherman
Dessous
another thing that you can do is try to find the main number for the company and have them transfer you to HR. that way you can have a conversation directly with someone there to let them know how much you're interested in the company and that you would love to talk about how you could be a great fit for some of the open positions. sometimes i think that you get lost in a database if you just submit your resume online, so try to find an email or phone number for a person and go that route as well.
1I worked for a great company and was hoping to move up within it. The catch: this company preferred to hire outside and held a policy to not even accept current employees' resumes until two weeks after the job posting, after tons of outside resumes had poured in. Super lame. I obviously don't work for them anymore.
2like Savvy said, it's good/okay to apply for more than one, but don't just apply for, like, a reception position when you have a technical master's degree, for example, just to get your foot in the door or else they'll just think you'll do anything for money and you're crazy depserate and unfocused.
but by applying for a couple, they will see your name, and then they may read your resume and think "oh, she'd be great for this other position based on her qualifications"... i know when i was hired, another guy who interviewed for my job was also hired, but for a completely different position because it fit him so much better
a smart recruiter will always keep an eye open for good resumes even if it's for a different position, so get your name out there...just make sure a job isn't totally below you and that you'd actually want to do it in the event that you got offered it. because if you turn them down after a whole process, that will be the end of you at a certain company. and if you get hired in one job and so desperately try to switch to a different job as soon as you get there, that won't give a great impression either.
3This was really helpful. I recently was turned down for a job at a company that I REALLY wanted to work for, and I found a similar job in a different department that I was thinking of applying for. I know I am qualified. Think it's okay to go for it?
4DCBaxter — I can't think of a reason not to go for it, just tweak your resume and cover letter. It could be that you weren't the best fit for the other position but may be for this one. If you see it as a great opportunity, go for it!
5I was trying to find a position in a company, and after defending myself, the HR department made it very clear that for the position I was interested in, they would only consider candidates that previously worked for competing companies in the same position.
That EOE is a bunch of...
6Does that advice apply for the same kind of position within the same company? I am applying for editorial positions in my company, but I feel like a broken record when I go into HR to talk about why I would make a good editor for some imprint that is not much different from the speech a made the week before or another imprint.
7You left out a lot of specifics. I was in a similar situation. I couldn't find a reasonable job for a year after I graduated. I interviewed with a city for a museum job, but didn't get it. A few months later, I interviewed for an executive assistant job (with the same city) in the IT dep and I got it. The job or the title isn't glamorous, but I am networking since I am new to the area. And my bosses couldn't be more supportive of my career goals, and they have encouraged me to pursue more challenging positions.
I would say call HR and get more information about what they are looking for in each position. That way you can decide which one or two jobs you should apply to. I wouldn't recommend applying to 5 different jobs at once. . .over time, its ok!
8I agree with Savvy. I say pick and choose the jobs that really interest and apply to you, and submit your resume to those. More than one is ok but applying to all of them can seem a bit desperate. And obviously, you should tweak your cover letter for each position; that helps show your passion for a specific position.
9This helped me so much! Thanks everyone.
10Who's the pretty lady?
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