In this new blog series, our mbaMission Career Coaches offer invaluable advice and industry-related news to help you actively manage your career. Topics include building your network, learning from mistakes and setbacks, perfecting your written communication, and mastering even the toughest interviews. To schedule a free half-hour consultation with one of our mbaMission Career Coaches, click here.
Applying for multiple positions at a company can be either an effective strategy or a dangerous one. You need to know your target audience. Will hiring managers view multiple applications as evidence of your lack of focus and commitment, or will they perceive your passion for their company?
Before you consider applying to multiple positions within the same company, we suggest you take the following steps:
- Gather information on the company’s practices regarding multiple applications. Seek advice from networking contacts and/or HR to understand if they look favorably upon the practice or discourage it.
- Learn more about each position (again, from HR, networking contacts, or peers who have held the position or similar positions), and be sure you have a good grasp of the differences and similarities among the roles. If the roles are similar (same function, skill set, etc.), you have a better reason for applying to multiple positions. Understand whether the positions have the same hiring manager.
- Research the backgrounds of people who currently serve in each role of interest at your target firm or other firms; use LinkedIn. Are there any trends among their backgrounds? Is your background more similar to one of the positions than the others?
- Evaluate each position and ask yourself, “Why am I applying for this position?” Can you articulate clear reasons why you are qualified for and interested in more than one role? You do not want to come across like you are just applying to every job that you see without really evaluating how you can contribute to the organization in that role.
When you apply, focus on doing the following (these tips apply whether you are submitting one application or multiple):
- Treat each opening as a unique position, each unrelated to the others.
- Tailor your resume and cover letter for each application (check out our previous blogs on writing effective resumes and cover letters).
- Focus on proving that you are a qualified and distinctive candidate for each role.
Have you been admitted to business school? If so, do you want to get a head start on defining your career goals? Do you need help preparing for job interviews or learning how to effectively network with your target employers? Or maybe you want to be a top performer in your current role but are unsure how to maximize your potential. Let an mbaMission Career Coach help via a free 30-minute consultation!
