Should You Communicate That You’re Interested in Multiple Positions at a Company?

You’re ridiculously excited about a company. So excited, in fact, that you’re pretty much willing to apply for each and every open position they have posted on their careers page—whether that means you’d be the VP of marketing or just restocking the vending machines.

First things first, that’s awesome! Finding an employer you really connect with can be half the battle during a job search, and it’s great that you’ve found one you feel so passionately about.

But now you’re left with another big question: Can you apply for more than one job with the same company? And, if you do, should you communicate that to the employer?

Unfortunately, this is another one of those scenarios that comes with a sort of flaky answer: It depends. Your best course of action depends on a bunch of different factors and variables, including the specific employer and your own situation.

But, while there isn’t a cut and dried answer for you to fall back on, that doesn’t mean you need to toss up your hands and call the whole thing a mystery. Use these three questions to take a close look at your circumstances and decide on your next steps.

1. How many positions are you interested in?

To start, determine how many open positions with the company that you’re realistically interested in. If you find yourself leaning toward two, that’s not a problem. But, if you feel as if you’re willing to apply for any job—regardless of what it is—you might need to stop and reevaluate your career goals.

Yes, your desire to just get your foot in the door with a particular company is understandable—and maybe even a touch admirable. However, you need to make sure to keep yourself in check and resist the temptation of submitting your name for consideration for everything from the mail room to the corner office.

Why? Well, that sort of approach not only makes you difficult to evaluate, but it can also cause you to appear desperate. You’re much better off keeping a narrow focus and only apply for the positions that you’re truly a good fit for.

That way, if you do decide to tell the hiring manager or interviewer that you’re interested in multiple positions, you can rest assured that you won’t come off as a needy stalker with no standards.

2. Are you qualified for more than one position?

If interest was all it took, job searching would be easy. But, as you already know, that’s only one side of the coin. You can’t just be interested in a position; you need to be qualified for it.

So, if you’re thinking of telling the hiring manager that you have your sights set on a few different available opportunities with the company, you first need to ensure that you can actually fulfill the requirements of all of those positions.

It’s always important to be realistic in your job search. And, honestly, tossing your hat into the ring for something that you’re not truly qualified for will only inspire confusion for the hiring manager—and might even negatively impact your chances of landing the job that you actually are qualified for.

3. Where are you in the hiring process?

Here’s perhaps one of the most important questions when deciding whether or not you should loop the company in on your interest in multiple positions: Where are you in the hiring process?

If you’re only just getting started with applying or are just going through your initial phone screening, that can be an appropriate time to express your interest in another available opportunity.

If you are applying to multiple positions, make sure that you take the time to tailor your resume and cover letter for each position you apply for. This step becomes even more important when you’re applying for different jobs within the same company.

However, if you’re further in the hiring process, you’re usually better off keeping your lips zipped about any other opportunities that pique your interest. You definitely don’t want to be in your final interview—moments away from signing an offer letter—and then chime in with, “Hey, I saw you guys are also hiring a Social Media Manager. That sounds interesting to me too. Can we chat about that job really quick?” That sort of approach will only make you come off as noncommittal, flaky, and perhaps a little easily distracted.

Be Deliberate About Applying For Jobs

When you find yourself extremely excited about a company, it can be tempting to completely blanket their entire office with your resume. However, expressing interest in every single available job isn’t necessarily your best approach.

If you find yourself debating whether or not to share that you’re interested in multiple positions, ask yourself these three key questions to decide on the best course of action for your unique situation. Good luck!