About a month ago, I applied to a job that seemed like a very good match for me at a company I wanted to work for. I got a response back from a recruiter saying that they filled that role internally, but would I be interested in interviewing for another similar role. Of course, I said yes and I had a phone interview with the recruiter a few days later. Unfortunately, the recruiter contacted me a few days later to inform me that they restructured the role and I would probably be overqualified for it now. The recruiter encouraged me to keep applying for opportunities at the company that matched my skillset.
I recently applied for another role at the company. The role wasn’t quite as good of fit for me as the one I applied to last month, but I was certainly qualified for it. Again, I was contacted by a recruiter (a different one than the first time) and then setup to interview with the hiring managers. The interview went ok, I am not confident that I will ultimately get the job.
In the meantime, the original role that I applied to a month ago that I was told was filled internally, was posted again. I want to a apply to it, but I am unsure if I should because of where I am in the recruitment process for the job I had the interview for. I’m nervous that if I apply for the job again/contact the recruiter, I might be jeopardizing the chance I may have for the role I interviewed for. Any advice appreciated!
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12 Comments
12 Comments
Amanda Sewell
118
Strategic Partnership Manager outside Philly
11/24/20 at 2:16PM UTC
I would think about which role I really want and go for that one. You may sacrifice your opportunity at this new role, but if it's not really the role you want you would be sacrificing anyhow.
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Brittny Jones
32
Associate, Marketing & Investor Relations
11/24/20 at 11:02PM UTC
Definitely talk to your recruiter and explain your case. Since you're working with a new recruiter, mention that you'd originally wanted X position, but when told it was no longer available, applied for Y position. Once you realized X position was open again, the position that ultimately drew you to the company, you couldn't NOT pursue the opportunity again. Make the case that you're a stronger candidate for X position, and that while you still willing to consider the Y role, both you and the company would be happier with you in the X role. Be sure to stress job fit and company productivity. Leave them with the impression that while you'd be great at the Y role, you'd be excellent at the X role.
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1 Reply
Lindiwe Stenberg
38
Crafter of unique marketing solutions
11/28/20 at 5:08PM UTC
Well said! Structuring it as being of greater value to the company is always a good idea. Also, keep in mind what you actually want to do. You don't want to end up at a less than ideal job.
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Laura
73
Environmental and Laboratory Supervisor in IL
11/25/20 at 1:26AM UTC
To echo the other two comments, have a conversation with the recruiter. It can be very frustrating to keep applying only to be told that the position has been filled internally. On the other hand, she might very well think you would do well in some of these positions but as the recruiter doesn't make the final say and it's a series of different managers who are choosing someone else. It's rough to keep applying and being told an internal candidate got the job. Take heart that these kinds of things happen to internal candidates as well.
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Alisha Johnson
21
11/25/20 at 3:29PM UTC
I have been a recruiter and i do have experience working with candidates interviewing for multiple roles. Roles being restructured and taken down then reposted happens too often unfortunately, but if you are interested and meet the criteria they are seeking still pursue the opportunities.
I work for a large company and encourage external applicants to apply for as many roles they have an interest in and meet the criteria, if you move forward with multiple positions in the interview process just be transparent with the recruiter. Ultimately, the recruiter wants you to do well and for you to be moved forward in their role if they are contacting you but it’s challenging when they don’t have the final say.
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Michele Ramirez
24
11/25/20 at 3:43PM UTC
It's certainly not uncommon for a qualified candidate to be contacted about multiple roles with similar requirements in the same company. It's happened to me in the past, and in one case, I didn't get the job I was initially contacted for, but the role I eventually accepted turned out to be the best role in my career to that point! If the role you initially applied for is open again, there's nothing inappropriate about reaching out to the recruiter you discussed the opportunity with the first time around. I would ask a few questions, to confirm why the internal candidate is no longer interested in the role - did the role change somehow? Did the hiring manager change? Was there some sort of department restructure that made the role unattractive to the internal candidate? Stay connected with each recruiter you've spoken with so far - sometimes jobs that seem to be the same are posted by different divisions in the same company, but they can have entirely different recruiting teams sourcing for the roles - and they may not know similar jobs are posted in other divisions. Good luck!
User edited comment on 11/25/20 at 3:45PM UTC
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Farah Bajwa
190
Manager | Mentor | Consultant | Coach
11/28/20 at 2:07AM UTC
I agree with Brittny - have an open discussion with the recruiter and get clarity about the availability of the original role. I've been in a situation where the original position reposting was actually a system glitch.
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Deborah Frincke
132
11/28/20 at 1:50PM UTC
Work with your recruiter. With large organizations, this is common - and a great sign, because it means they have many opportunities for you to grow your career there. In my current and previous role, we always gave external candidates the right to choose if they received two or more offers, and often delayed the interviews to maximize choice.
Note, sometimes the internal candidate really is best. It doesn't mean the competition was unfair or scripted. I wouldn't worry about that. Best of luck!
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Nicolette Thompson
17
11/28/20 at 6:22PM UTC
Have a conversation with the recruiter. Some companies look for a good fit in a candidate and then try to find the best fit role - so you could apply to work for the company in whatever capacity they need. Trippy, right?
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Jodi Brockington
73
Always connecting...
11/28/20 at 6:51PM UTC
As someone who does diversity and inclusion sourcing - your experience is what good companies do-with solid candidates. Hiring managers are always looking for the candidates with the skills and the fit into a company/department and/or team. I believe you should apply for the other role simply based on your experience with them-it shows you truly are interested in working at the company and let the recruiter know you have applied for another role- to get them moving on your hiring process. Remember to be patient and go with the journey. There is a lot that goes on in the hiring process. Your next career move is in the making!
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Michelle Wilkinson
93
11/28/20 at 10:01PM UTC
From personal experience, some of these companies are so incredibly huge and there are so many recruiters for these companies, they expect you to have multiple job applications. I even had recruiters working together to schedule me for multiple interviews for two of the jobs I had applied for.
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Anonymous
11/28/20 at 10:52PM UTC
I wouldn't "disqualify" the company over it, but it is curious that they said the first job was filled internally, but then posted it again a month later. There may be a good explanation, but I would call the first recruiter and ask about it politely.
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