3 Times You Think Applying to Two Jobs at One Company Is the Right Move (and What to Do Instead)
By | Richard Moy | www.themuse.com
I have vivid memories from my hiring days of going through applications for various roles and finding that one person who decided to submit an application for every single one. It happened more than you’d think—and honestly, it happened more than even I anticipated when I was new to recruiting. However, as I started reviewing more and more resumes, one thing became apparent: Somewhere out there is a person who is apparently telling people that the best way to get an employer’s attention is to apply for as many of their opening as humanly possible.
However, this is usually not the case. And I get it. There are situations in which you think this is the best possible idea. To avoid losing out on a potential dream position, here are a few of the most common times you’ll be tempted to apply for everything—and what to do instead.
1. Your Dream Company (Finally) Has Multiple Open Jobs
Common wisdom might say that most “dream” companies are always hiring, but that’s just not always the case. If an organization hasn’t always had open roles, and suddenly posts a couple of job descriptions to their careers site, it’s tempting to throw caution to the wind and say, “Let’s see how many times I can get my resume in front of the hiring managers.” The problem is that if they hire this infrequently, the fact that you’re applying for everything will make a first impression that might be too much to overcome.
What to Do Instead
Of course, if there’s a specific opening at your dream company that you think you’d be a good fit for, go ahead and apply. However, if the organization’s posted a handful of gigs that you simply do not have the skills for, show a little restraint and try something different. For example, think about reaching out to express your interest in the company and requesting a coffee meeting—after that, when a role becomes available that you are the right fit for, you’ll already be on the radar.
