Prudent to Apply for Same Position/Different Departments at Same Company? [duplicate]

manpreet Best Answer 2 years ago

Basically within the same company there are two positions:

Coordinator in department X
Coordinator in department Y

Same position w/ the same exact duties, different department. Is there any adverse effect to applying for both concurrently?

manpreet 2 years ago

Good question with no straightforward answer. I have worked in companies where the view on that would be by applying for both you are showing a lack of focus on where you want to be and are wishy-washy. Other companies have no problem with you applying for both...some will even forward the resume/application so that both areas have the opportunity to see it.

If possible you should try and speak with either an HR person at the company or, if possible, with the hiring managers. This may allow you not only to figure out whether it's acceptable to apply for both but it may give you insight into whether both positions are identical in reality. It may be that you end up being interested in one more than the other and decide that is the only one you want to apply for.

If you are applying internally you could ask people you work with (even your current Mgr if they are OK with their people moving around/up) or HR and see what how the culture views this. Often times it is simply a personal opinion and not an accepted practice. I have seen a Director reject a resume for a college intern because she put down reading as a hobby. His view was that reading is a solitary activity and therefore they likely wouldn't be a good 'team player'. He was a good Director, that was his personal view but he made the final decision.