Applying for multiple similar positions at a company (non-profit)
September 18, 2014 8:36 AM   Subscribe

Applying for multiple similar positions at a company (non-profit). Can I re-use the same cover letter?

So, I am applying for several research analyst positions at a non-profit. They all deal with the same focus areas (education), they are just for different projects. They even list virtually the same qualifications/requirements. Do I need to write a brand new cover letter for each one (which would truly be re-stating the exact same information - just in a different way) or can I use the same cover letter?
posted by anansi to Work & Money (6 answers total)
 
Reuse the cover letter.

Any competent HR department at an organization will circulate your resume internally for similar positions anyway, and any competent manager at an organization will be looking for resumes with the relevant code words even if you didn't apply for the job in question. As a result, the question is somewhat academic - even if you made a new cover letter for each position, it is likely that one of your cover letters would end up being the one that everyone reads.
posted by saeculorum at 8:40 AM on September 18, 2014


No, you cannot use the same letter. The odds are close to 100% that they'll cross the same desk at some point, and you'll look like you don't give a damn. That being said, you can probably get away with similar wording, so write one and then ring a few changes on it.
posted by Mogur at 8:40 AM on September 18, 2014 [2 favorites]


I agree that you barely need to change the cover letter, but you Do need to change it for each position, if only to state your interest in that position. I agree that code words are all that people look for, so if the listings ask for very similar skills you can reuse all of that stuff about how proficient you are at those skills. But at least change the position/title for each.
posted by ldthomps at 8:48 AM on September 18, 2014 [2 favorites]


It probably depends on the size and level of bureaucracy of the organization in question, but if I were faced with this I would probably only apply to one position, the one I most wanted, with the expectation as said above that your info will probably be shared internally and that I'd have an opportunity to indicate interest in other positions if it came to that.
posted by AndrewInDC at 8:54 AM on September 18, 2014


Best answer: I would note in the letter that you are also applying for the other positions. Otherwise it looks like you're just blasting them with resumes.
posted by mskyle at 9:09 AM on September 18, 2014 [4 favorites]


Best answer: mskyle has it right. You should actively apply to all the positions that interest you - do not assume HR will circulate your resume to other departments, that is madness - and mention that you've done this in your cover letter. I'd also slightly rejigger each cover letter to use the key words from each job posting.
posted by schroedingersgirl at 12:12 PM on September 18, 2014 [1 favorite]


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