Morgan Lerette ⋅ Glendale, AZ AAA ⋅ 6 years experience

Daniel,

Depending on the size of the company, management positions are filtered and then sent to a recruiter. Recruiters can transfer applications but I wouldn't bank on it. If you are highly qualified for multiple positions, show that and apply for it.

Apply to multiple opportunities. Make sure you change your cover letter and resume to fit each position as a "project manager" is much different than a "product manager". Show how you are more than qualified for each position. So long as you keep it in check (apply for 2 not 20) you should be just fine.

Happy hunting,

Morgan

Po Wong ⋅ Orlando, FL Johnson & Johnson (retired) ⋅ 40 years experience

Hi Daniel,

As Morgan and Susan stated, it is OK to apply multiple jobs in a larger company. Most larger companies have different recruiters and usually they have little connection due to specific functions and locations. But your cover letter and resume has to tailor reflects to the specific job you apply.
Example: Project management job is different from Business Analyst role even though they both require high level of analytical skills. Your resume should have different emphasis on your skills and accomplishment to attract the recruiter’s attention.

Kathy also has very good point about “ job seekers apply for customer service, accountant, HR specialist, and Sales Executive all at the same time! Well, likelihood is that this person does not have a serious focus on their career.”
It also depends on individual skill set. Ex. If one is a certified Black belt in Process Excellence. It is not out of bound to apply jobs related to Project management, operations, process improvement, supply chain and engineering within one company. But it will but odd to apply jobs on HR, accounting and sales at the same time.

There are many different situation requires slightly different approach. Feel free to contact me on “Private” message if you like to have further conversation.

Thanks for your service!

P.S. My son is also an Air Force Captain who just graduated from AF Weapon School.

Jan Case ⋅ Sunnyvale, CA Hewlett Packard ⋅ 20 years experience

Hi Daniel,

If you are applying for multiple positions, it's hard to tailor your online resume to one unless they are closely related. The challenge is that once a recruiter has looked at an online resume, they may not go back even if you update it. So ... if you have a new resume based on tight alignment to a specific job, I'd send it to the recruiter directly.

Good luck!
jan

Shayla Manzanares ⋅ Colorado Springs, CO Hewlett Packard ⋅ 15 years experience

Hi Daniel,

I'd like to add a point...although the topic is around applying for multiple positions with the same company and good advise has been given on the etiquette of submitting your resume, I would also recommend utilizing your network to help assess what a manager is looking for in a position posted. For instance, leverage your connections through Linked-in that work for the company to learn more about the postion and also potentially help to get your resume highlighted during the initial resume screening process.

Best of luck.
Shayla

Daniel Kim ⋅ Fullerton, CA U.S. Air Force, Captain ⋅ 9 years served

Morgan / Susan / Kathy:

Wow, all excellent advice. Thank you so much. I definitely don't want to be seen as the guy "shotgunning" his resume. What I'm discovering (through help from many people here!) is that the resume is just a way to get my foot in the door. It's a momentary snapshot to pique interest but I do need to be selective & intentional in my search. And great practical advice on relocation concerns... will be sure to note that on my submissions.

What is your take on adjusting an online profile w/ requisite resume once an application has been submitted? I know Taleo (another topic entirely) allows for this in most cases.
For instance, if I submitted an application two weeks ago and am not getting the desired response through filtering or lack of buzzwords, can I tweak my online info via an improved resume to garner a second look?

Everyone has been unbelievably helpful. It is very much appreciated! Hope your week is winding down nicely.

Daniel

Kathy Stanislawski ⋅ Grayslake, IL Xerox ⋅ 20 years experience

Hi Daniel,

I agree with both Morgan and Susan that applying for multiple positions at a larger company is perfectly fine as each position will likely have a different recruiter. Just be sure to target positions that you are qualified for. Keep in mind that each recruiter can see all the positions you have applied for and if you apply for too many OR for various positions with different requirements and/or levels of experience -- you can appear to be less focused and / or not very serious about your job search. For example, I have seen job seekers apply for customer service, accountant, HR specialist, and Sales Executive all at the same time! Well, likelihood is that this person does not have a serious focus on their search and they do not have a clue as to what they qualify for. Just doesn't look good.

Also, keep in mind that recruiters will often look at where job applicants are located -- if you are not in the city that the job is in, they may pass you by. So... if you apply for jobs in different cities/states, make sure that they know you are willing to self-relocate. That can be hard though due to completing online applications and recruiters rarely reading cover letters that may contain this type of information. If this is the case for you, I suggest putting this somewhere in your resume near the top.

Good luck!

Kathy

Susan Jischke ⋅ West Lafayette, IN ⋅ 5 years experience

Hi Daniel,

I agree with Morgan, you certainly can apply to multiple positions if you are a good fit for the position. If the jobs are similar, I wouldn't necessarily say you need to update your resume. However, if you are considering different paths, then tailor your resume for the different opportunities in order to highlight the right skills and experiences. In a large company there may be several very similar job postings in different parts of the business and therefore different recruiters may manage the postings. You should not assume that your resume will make the rounds to find the right position, I would recommend you apply to each one individually.

Best of luck in your search!
Susan