Applying to the same company more than once?

GangBusters

If I apply for a job for example as a store assistant in Tesco but don't hear back, or I do hear back, get an interview but then get declined. Should I continue applying when the same job comes up in the future?

Does this look desperate and needy or keen and motivated? "They must really want to work for us if they keep applying" kinda thing?

Brynsam

GangBusters wrote: »

If I apply for a job for example as a store assistant in Tesco but don't hear back, or I do hear back, get an interview but then get declined. Should I continue applying when the same job comes up in the future?

Does this look desperate and needy or keen and motivated? "They must really want to work for us if they keep applying" kinda thing?

What's it matter what it looks like? I doubt anyone will join the dots (or if they do, it will be part of an automated process rather than the famous light-bulb moment!). Keep applying and good luck!

BookmobileBadGirl

Yes, keep applying but make sure you learn from your previous experience to improve for the next time.

Get feedback from your unsuccessful attempts so you can see where you were weak to improve for the next time

GangBusters

BookmobileBadGirl wrote: »

Yes, keep applying but make sure you learn from your previous experience to improve for the next time.

Get feedback from your unsuccessful attempts so you can see where you were weak to improve for the next time

How would I go about getting feedback? I think most interviewers don't tell you why you were not selected.

[Deleted User]

Just approach the company and ask if you can have feedback, generally this is offered if you have attended an interview.

Savvy_Sue

Also try not to make yourself really or increasingly annoying every time you apply ... We have had some 'serial re-appliers' at work whose initial contact with us has left us thinking "nooooo ..."!

RuuElisa

(Former recruiter here for a large company, we recruited around 8000 staff in the last quarter of 2018) It is QUITE obvious and evident when we see repeated applications. The moment we have your file up we can see that you're applying over and over. The mere fact that there's more than one leads us to open them up and see why you weren't successful, and can affect our decision-making on whether you even get past the first screening. One application probably doesn't matter and tells us that you're keen. If there are several, we're likely just to assume you're completely unsuitable, or applying for every job you find with no interest in the position itself, and dismiss your application immediately!

Ask the company how long your data is stored after an unsuccessful application. If this is say, 3 months, you can opt not to reapply until after the three months is up.

Others recommended you ask for feedback and I agree. The recruiter will probably be quite happy to obtain that feedback from the person who interviewed you and feed it back to you. If you actually address it and are otherwise a good fit, it can help your chances in future.

You can then, if you wish, ask that your personal data not be held by the company, and they are obligated to confirm to you that it has been removed as per the GDPR. This would mean that when you reapply, your previous application can't be seen. However, don't assume the recruiter or interviewer won't remember you. Feedback requests don't happen much and since we discuss you with the interviewer we sometimes remember you later on. GDPR removal requests are very, very rare and if you'd also asked for feedback, we'll probably remember you when you apply again. As an example, we are never going to forget the guy who turned up a day early in a grubby tracksuit, knew nothing about the job and then became belligerent when he wasn't successful - he was already memorable just from having 9 previous unsuccessul applications where he hadn't even been shortlisted.

Dakta

I always want to be a train driver, and on their recruitment portal you can see all your previous attempts.

Now, because there are a ridiculous amount of applications, the actual chance of landing the role is practically zero, and thats even if you're pretty suitable. I have a go every now and then and theres only one local operating company to me and they recruit maybe once or twice a year.

Why am I saying this?

I've had an interview with them nearly every year for the last ten years, always pass the paper sift, and assessments beyond that but always get nervous and mess it up at interview stage.

Maybe I'm not cut out for the role, but despite being inundated with repeat applications, and a system that could quite easily statistically rule me out on past trends, they still entertain me.

So I'd not lose hope at all, I would keep going. Though maybe I should consider a change of ambition

[Deleted User]

I think it depends on the company/job role/timing.

If you really want the job then by re-applying you'll either get ignored or have to think 'what can they do'.

I've done it myself that I've just gained an interview after 2 applications were rejected this year after 'meeting the benchmark but far to high level of applications' but I've had a recall for one of the town's bases that I'd applied for and that I was deemed unsuccessful three weeks ago!

Another situation was where I went to a recuitment night, had a great time, got on well with other candidates, wasn't one of the first to leave the building, but still early next morning awoke to no thanks and nothing else. Re-applied recently for a different position to no response at all.

Mrs_Soup

Back in the day when I was recruiting I remember interviewing the same chap two or three times for similar but not identical roles and he was pipped at the post. Eventually he was the best candidate for the job we employed him and he is still working there quite successfully 15 years later. Actually when I got my job I applied for 5 different (but similar) admin posts all in a few weeks - got interviewed by 4 and offered two of them.