Is It Bad to Apply to Multiple Jobs at the Same Company?

With a few exceptions, hiring managers don’t appreciate resume spamming.

However, applying for two or three similar positions, with carefully drafted cover letters, is acceptable. Especially, if you can give the human resources manager a call, to explain why you’re interested in more than one position.

At the very least, you can mention why you’re applying for multiple jobs in your cover letter. That should get you past the anger of an overwhelmed hiring manager, as well as the applicant-tracking apps.

Applying to random jobs that you aren’t suitable for is the biggest faux pas. Similarly, sending out the same resume with the same cover letter to all the available jobs is a red flag to HR personnel.

That’s when it’s bad to apply to multiple jobs at the same company.

What Are the Reasons for Applying to Multiple Jobs at the Same Company?

When you can’t find a job, working at your dream company is a faraway goal worth getting by any possible means.

To some people, this means applying to all the job openings on the announcement board. This isn’t a great strategy for finding a job you love, but I do understand why people would want to do this.

If you’re doing a job search, there are some good reasons though for applying to multiple jobs at the same company.

1. There Are Multiple Available Jobs

This is the sweet smell of a feast that attracts a hungry belly. As you browse through the successive listings a glamorous company leaves on a job board, you’d want to have them all.

Most people would naturally imagine what it would be like to get a job offer for every one of these openings.

2. You’re Qualified for Both Jobs

Having the necessary skills needed for various jobs motivates job seekers to take a chance on every possible position.

In some people’s minds, the regular approach of applying for a single job seems to be increasing the timeline to get a job.

3. You Really Want to Work for the Company

Places like Google, Netflix, Tesla, and Hilton are among the dream companies for most people. Plenty of job seekers assume that if they apply to multiple jobs, they’d have better luck in landing at least one of them.

How to Decide if You Should Apply to Multiple Jobs at the Same Company?

What happens when you see five great job openings at a wonderful company? Should you put all your eggs in one basket? Or have a finger in every pie? Even the proverbs don’t seem to be in agreement here!

1. Figure Out What You Want to Do for Work

A good place to start is yourself. What do you really like doing?

People usually feel more comfortable and entertained while doing certain activities. And the opposite is also true, they’d feel burdened and bored by other occupations.

Interestingly, what we used to do when we were kids sheds a lot of light on what we really like. Also, what we excel at, and perform effortlessly, is often the best profession for us.

2. Identify Your Qualifications and Relevant Skills

All jobs have prerequisites and basic requirements. Be honest about what you can and can’t do. You can jot down your points of strength, as well as your weaknesses. And from there, draft a strategy for your next career moves.

As you work through listing your skills, try to gather tangible proof of having these qualifications.

3. Figure Out Which Jobs Fit You

Some of the jobs would be a perfect match to your character, interests, qualifications, and life situation. Other jobs might have high-sounding names, but some of the ingredients that go into the mix are missing.

If you’d like to take on a top management role, but you have to attend courses in the evening or have a couple of infants waiting at home, then this move would be overwhelming to you.

4. Ask Yourself Why You Would Want Either Job

Being brutally honest is the greatest cure for hesitancy. Ask yourself why you want to take either job and answer this question in writing.

Reading your answer should give you enough clarity to choose one over the other, or decide to apply for both.

5. Make Sure You’re a Good Fit for Both

Put yourself in the shoes of the hiring manager, and re-read your resume and cover letter. As you do so, go through the job requirements and outlined skill set once again.

Would you be on the shortlist?

The answer should tell you everything you need to know!

When You Should Apply to Them Concurrently?

Now that you’ve decided to apply to multiple jobs at the same company, you should make one more decision. Should you apply concurrently? Or at different times?

When You See Job Postings That Are Very Similar

Job postings for similar similar positions are fair game to job seekers. It wouldn’t be surprising, even to the hiring managers, that people apply to both.

An opening for a math books editor and a physics books editor at Longman would probably pull the same crowd.

When Both Are Good Fits for You

Having a broad skill set that qualifies you for many roles isn’t uncommon. You could be a great candidate for a marketing position, and at the same time, you can do wonders in the PR department.

In that case, you can apply for both jobs, but make sure to explain in the cover letter why you’re a good fit for both roles.

When the Positions Are in Different Departments

If there are two lucrative jobs in different departments, you can still apply for the two of them. There are often different hiring managers for each department, so might as well target them separately.

To cover the possibility that both departments have the same HR, you can clarify your situation in the cover letter.

When You Should Stagger Your Applications?

Staggering your job applications over some time, instead of sending all of them at once, is necessary for certain situations.

When You Have In-Depth Experience

Having loads of experience in performing a certain role usually limits a person’s mobility across different roles.

For example, actors who are known for performing exceptionally well in comedies, wouldn’t be the first choice to play Macbeth. Waiting a little should have some merit.

When the Jobs Are Very Different

If the job openings are polar opposites, then it wouldn’t be wise to apply for both positions simultaneously.

A classical example is applying for a job opening in sales, and another in maintenance. Even though both might require an engineering background, the skill set needed in one differs immensely from the other.

Putting some time between both applications is wise. You can demonstrate acquiring new skills during that interval, which would legitimize the move.

When You’re Applying for Management

Managerial roles are substantially different from ordinary positions. The requirements for accessing the C-suite are particularly high. It’s rare that an individual would have the needed credentials for two managerial positions at the same time.

This changes within months though, and after updating the resume, a candidate can apply for another managerial spot.

How to Communicate That You’re Interested in Multiple Positions

Proper communication is the key to success in all endeavors. So if you decide to apply to multiple jobs, then you’d better follow these essential steps to maximize your odds of getting an interview.

1. Apply to the Best Fit

After marking the positions you’re interested in, make sure that you’re a good match for the job. You can ask your mentors, career coach, previous employers, supervisors, and friends about your strongest points. And build your selection process based on that feedback.

Some job boards find out through complicated AI algorithms if you’re the best fit for a certain job. That’s the difference between ZipRecruiter and Indeed, as the former would let you know if an employer would consider you.

2. Mention in Your Interview or Communication

The first impression any hiring manager gets after spotting several resumes belonging to the same job applicant is often unfavorable.

The only antidote to that negative perception is understanding the rationale behind this bold move. You can schedule a meeting with the hiring manager, or explain yourself in the cover letter.

How to Apply for Multiple Jobs at the Same Company?

There’s an etiquette to applying for multiple jobs at the same company. And it’s not just for the sake of decorum and politesse, this actually boosts your odds for success.

Use the 80% Rule

If you’re not too sure which jobs are in your league, use the 80% rule. If you fulfill eight out of ten of the job requirements, then you can safely apply for that position.

Repeat the same process for the other job on the list, and make sure you have the same percentage there too.

Tailor Your Applications

If your resume contains odd jobs, disparate professional experiences, and a hodgepodge of companies, then the hiring manager wouldn’t know what to do with it.

Even though you have all the needed expertise for seven different jobs, you’d still not be considered for any job at all.

Tailoring your application to a specific job means including the relevant information only. If you have to change your resume for different jobs, you can do that. And remember to explain the details of this presentation in your cover letter.

Contact the Recruiter

Schedule a meeting with the recruiter if you can. Face-to-face encounters are the most effective means of communication.

Express your interest in the company, and why you believe that you’re a good fit for more than one role.

Can I Use the Same Cover Letter for Multiple Jobs at the Same Company?

Each job you apply to has a unique set of requirements. That’s why you need to write individual cover letters addressing the details of each.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it Okay to Send Multiple Applications to the Same Company?

Applying for multiple jobs at the same company is acceptable within reason. Only do this if you believe that your skill set is suitable for both positions.

Along with that, you should try to get in touch with the hiring manager and clarify your interest in the company and suitability for both openings.

Also, you need to stay within the correct amount of jobs to apply for, which is often two or three jobs max. More than that comes across as careless behavior and resumes spamming.

Is Being a Job Hopper Bad?

Back in the day, job hopping was a deal breaker. In our current market, it’s more of a grey area.

Some employers don’t focus too much on past experiences, as long as you can demonstrate your skills and dependability. Others still appreciate company loyalty and professional maturity.

In general, leaving a company after a year isn’t frowned upon. But random and recurring job hopping isn’t a good look.

Wrapping Up

Most people have experienced the predicament of having to choose only one job from a listing of ten equally attractive positions.

It’s tempting to apply to all of them simultaneously, and many job seekers do that. They even use the same cover letter and resume for the lot. Needless to say, this is the easiest way to get dismissed.

Applying for two or three jobs at a time is permitted, as long as you have the necessary qualifications. Contacting the recruiter is a great move, but writing a candid explanation in a cover letter is good too.

Is It Bad to Apply to Multiple Jobs at the Same Company?

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