My older kid (one year post graduation) is applying for a job that sounds interesting and for which they are reasonably --but not completely – qualified. The same company has another job, which they are less interested in, that pays less and for which they are better qualified.
It’s a small subsidiary (about 150 employees) of a very large company (over 100k employees). I think the subsidiary will do its own hiring.
Should my kid send two separate applications? Or can they add a line to the cover letter for the first (higher paid, more interesting position) indicating that they are also interested in the second position?
My son was recruited by similar companies, the larger and a wholly owned subsidiary. He talked to the recruiter and they made him choose. Since your kid is applying, can’t they just apply to both? If so, that’s what I would do, independently.
I would recommend applying to both. Then if they are lucky enough to make it to a phone screening for either, take that opportunity to express interest in that company overall and potential fit for both positions.
Before any indication of interest from the company your kid can apply to as many positions as they’d like with the company/subsidiary.
Once they’re in the process (the company has expressed interest) they should discuss with the recruiter involved.
My son was in a similar situation - Applied to multiple positions and got selected to be interviewed for 1. At that point he was told no more applications should be submitted.
You need to apply to each job individually to be considered for each one. Job applications are very automated these days. The hiring manager will not see your resume unless you have submitted to their specific position.
Yeah there’s a reason all these firms have an HR system that stores your info.
So for each job you apply, it’s already there.
Chances are, if it’s a subsidiary it will use the parents HR system even if they are the ones hiring.
Like the common app, he’ll have his info stored and then can apply to each job. Each job may have additional questions, just like colleges do and he’ll likely have to fill out his demographic info for each.
If he applies to two or five, the company will have record in his profile.
It sounds like everyone is in agreement that they need to apply to both. I guess the concern is that the cover letters will be somewhat different, which I was wondering if it would be a problem especially since the HR department may be small if the 117 person subsidiary does their own hiring.
The cover letters should be different as the positions are different? They can have a similar format and some of the same info but each should highlight something that grabs the reader about that particular position. While being brief. Cover letters shouldn’t be too long!
Many companies let you apply now without cover letters. If they do, make it short and simple and particular to the job you are applying for.
My daughter recently filled a job opening reporting to her. She had hundreds of applicants. She didn’t have the time to read cover letters, she simply looked at the resumes.
My son just did this – he applied to both positions, and mentioned in both cover letters that he had applied to both.
He is in the 2nd interview stage, and was asked which one he was most interested in. He said both were appealing but A was closer to his long term interests, but B was agreeable. If need be, he offered, he could actually do A and much of B temporarily while they searched for a person for B.
HR gave him a mock project for A, which he finished and now we wait. It seems the company posted A and B separately, thinking they’d have a better chance to fill at least one and not expecting someone who could do both would surface. Anyway, you just never know. Good luck!