When looking for a new job, you found several exciting advertisements. But what if they are offered by the same employer? On the one hand, you don’t want to miss any chance. On the other hand, you don’t want to leave the impression that you are applying for different positions at will.
Multiple application: Does it make sense or not?
Anyone looking for a job is generally not applying for just one position. Companies want candidates who can convincingly demonstrate that the job they are looking for is an ideal match for them. However, if you are urgently looking for a new job, you can usually not afford to just send an application. After all, the chances of finding something suitable quickly are greater if you have applied to several positions.
But what if you found more than one exciting job posting with the same employer? Many applicants are unsure whether it makes sense to apply for multiple positions with the same employer. If you apply for more than one position, you not only have a better chance of getting a chance – from the applicant’s point of view it can simply be annoying not to apply for a promising position in the first place, just because you don’t want the double application to be negative arrives at the company.
The multiple application may not work arbitrarily
On the other hand, you shouldn’t just apply for all jobs that you found at an employer and found halfway suitable. Applications aim to make it clear to what extent you are suitable for a particular position. It will be difficult to credibly provide such a justification for several very different positions. With the employer, the question could arise where your heart now hangs – or the suspicion that you are applying at random and are not deeply interested in any position.
This scenario is not very good for your chances. The good news: The message that you send out with a multiple application does not have to be negative. In addition, it does not say that your application for different positions actually goes to the same contact person in the company. Not every company stores applications and applicants centrally.
When a position is filled, the documents of the other applicants are usually deleted or destroyed. Hoping that they will come back to you when another suitable position becomes available or is to be filled at the same time is risky. You can only ensure that the decision-maker has you in the selection with a separate application.
What you should pay attention to when you send several applications at once
Multiple applications are not a problem in many cases, but can actually increase your chances of receiving positive feedback. However, you should proceed with caution so that you have a good chance and do not thwart yourself.
Many applicants fear that multiple applications can have any effect. On the other hand, it can also be interpreted in such a way that a candidate has a really serious interest in working for the company. Identification with the employer is an important prerequisite for a motivating way of working. And it is precisely this motivation that employers want. So it can speak for you if you try to join the company in several places at the same time.
Be careful when doing this. Always ask yourself what really suits you. If possible, keep two applications. The more applications you send to the same employer, the more difficult it will be to credibly demonstrate that a particular position is an ideal match for your qualifications. There is only an exception if the positions are very similar or which only differ in terms of working hours or workload. A job with identical content and a different location does not require a separate justification.
Always write multiple applications individually
In the case of multiple applications, be sure to write each application individually. Be aware: You will only be eligible if you can show that you have the best possible qualifications for a position. You should work out this suitability separately for each application. An application that has been sent out in bulk, in which you have not changed much more than the contact details and the title of the position, is in most cases not very promising.
Plausibly explain your suitability, always specifically about the desired position and the associated requirements. If you have reason to fear that a second application to the same company could cast doubt on your suitability for one of the positions, decide on a position and refrain from further applications.
It can make sense to send the individual applications a little later. If this does not cause any problems with the application deadline, this procedure can mean that your multiple application is less noticeable.
In most cases, however, there is no reason to hide multiple applications. On the contrary: there are arguments for pointing this out on your own. This is transparent for the employer and can prevent multiple applications from being viewed negatively. In any case, you should be prepared to explain your multiple applications in the interview.
Apply again after a rejection?
Not only when it comes to multiple applications for the same employer, but many applicants are also hesitant. Many are even more unsure if they have already applied to an employer in the past and received a rejection. However, if you have already unsuccessfully sent your documents to the company or if you received a negative answer after an interview, this does not mean that a new application is doomed to fail.
In many cases, hiring decisions are about nuances. If you haven’t been invited to the interview in the first place, there can be many reasons. They don’t have to be related to your fitness. Often it is rather the competition that was a little more promising than you. It also depends on the HR manager which candidates he considers interesting and which not. Another HR manager might assess it differently.
With a renewed application you show that you still want to work for this employer and are therefore motivated. If you have been positively remembered last time despite the rejection, the chances of being accepted are good. Only in a few cases does it make no sense to reapply. If you are sure that you made a really bad impression at the interview, another application is not very helpful. In most cases, apply again and give everything to convince this time.
Multiple application: Which mistakes you should avoid
If you proceed carefully and wisely, multiple applications can increase your chances of finding a new position. However, you should avoid certain mistakes so as not to involuntarily torpedo your prospects.
One of the biggest mistakes would be if your application is not as individual as possible. If it hardly stands out from the other application with the same employer, even though the positions are different, this can be a problem. The decision-maker then probably has doubts about how serious you are with your applications. In every application, you should credibly explain why you are aiming for the position in question.
Also, be critical when considering which position to apply for. If you are applying for a position that you obviously do not qualify for, it can be interpreted negatively. If the applications end up with the same recruiter, this may lead to the fact that he will also view your other application more critically.
It can also be viewed negatively if you send more than two applications to a company. It can seem as if the job isn’t that important to you – a no-go from the point of view of HR managers. Also, make sure that your applications do not contradict each other. If, for example, you state in an application that the position is your absolute dream job and you write the same thing again later about a completely different position, that is not very credible.