Applying to Multiple Jobs at the Same Company: What You Should Do
You’re between jobs. It’s crunch time — you’re desperate for a steady income and a family-friendly employer, and a company you’ve been eyeing has opened multiple positions. What an opportunity to get yourself in front of their hiring managers, right?
You’re ready to submit your resume to all their open positions because, why not? The more you apply, the higher your chances will be at scoring a job, right?
Hang on, you might not want to hit that “submit” button so many times just yet.
Have you ever thought about the ways that it can be harmful to your name if you apply to multiple jobs at one company? Chances are, your name will be remembered, and not in a good way.
You may think that you’d take any job if it was just at the right place, but think again. There are many aspects to consider when applying for jobs, and most of the time, the number of applications you submit doesn’t increase your chances of getting hired.
Are all of these jobs a good fit for you? You can’t possibly be the perfect fit for every single one of them, and your dream company is onto you.
These are all questions you should be asking yourself if you’re thinking about applying for multiple jobs at the same company.
Multiple applications might turn off your employer.
Your blast of job applications will probably all be viewed by the same hiring managers. That means they’ll remember seeing your name so many times and know that you applied to so many positions.
This isn’t a good thing.
It’s rather a turn-off. Employers might be taken aback by your forceful application tactics. They might think of you as an overachiever or even, (gasp) annoying.
The truth is, applying for multiple positions within a company is generally looked down upon by hiring managers. They want to see more focus in applicants so that they can find the right fit for specific positions. They really want to find the right fit for the job.
You’re not going to look like the right fit if you fit so many places.
Applying for multiple positions displays a lack of focus and understanding of self.
How can you be perfect for the job if you’re also saying you’re perfect for multiple other jobs? You need to focus on one job, one application and resume at your dream company. Figure out why you truly do make a great fit.
Companies look for this type of focus and self-awareness in applicants. You want to be that one person who truly stands out because your resume is the perfect fit. That “click” won’t happen if you’re only standing out as the one who sent in too many applications.
You’ll also lower the level of confidence you exude if you apply for too many positions, perhaps coming off as desperate. That would be less than ideal.
What you can do instead.
We get it — you're desperate for a job, and that’s why you’re sending out so many applications to the same company. It increases your chances of being hired, right? Actually… no.
Here are some things that you can do instead which will increase your odds of being hired:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to one specific job that makes a good fit.
- Learn to choose the job that is really calling to you.
- Reach out to your dream company for an informational interview.
- Beat the digital trends and submit your resume in person.
Find your passion and search for your dream job.
Finding the right job comes down to finding your true passion. It’s true that hiring managers are intuitive, so they can tell whether you whipped together a routine application, or you put your heart into applying for a particular position.
Quality will always beat quantity when it comes to job applications. It’s sort of obvious when you think about it now, isn’t it? In a world that’s increasingly digital, your employers like to find the actual person behind the resume.
Otherwise, it’s all just numbers and figures. You don’t want a job that hires based on numbers and figures, do you? But maybe you’re still unsure of what kind of job you really want, and that’s why you send so many applications.
Your insecurity shows through when you do this. You can’t prove that you’re the woman for the one particular job if you’re also saying you’re the woman for multiple other jobs.
But, how do you know which job you want if they all sound good? Maybe you just need some help finding your passion.
You can also check out these job-seeking websites if you’re stuck in a job-search rut.
Don’t miss out on articles like these. Sign up!
--
Valerie Sizelove is a freelance writer of blog posts, career guides and more. Her specialties lie in writing about mental health, administration and parenting. When she's not writing up a storm, you might find Valerie cooking a huge dinner for her family of 6 or tinkering around in her amateur vegetable garden. Books are pretty good, too. You can find her on LinkedIn and Facebook.
Why women love us:
- Daily articles on career topics
- Jobs at companies dedicated to hiring more women
- Advice and support from an authentic community
- Events that help you level up in your career
- Free membership, always