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Applying for two positions in the same dept?

In our newest "how can we help you?" thread, a reader asks:

Say one department is hiring for two positions. A candidate has AoS's appropriate for both postings and applies to both. Should the candidate worry about one application undercutting the other? Should they avoid making themselves seem too different? My instinct is to say that materials should be tailored to each position and hence should (or could) highlight different dimensions of the same projects, as relevant. Is that right?

My understanding is that when there are multiple searches in the same department, the search committees usually operate independently of one another. So, although I could be wrong, I wouldn't think one application would undercut the other. But I think the OP's instinct that materials should be tailored to each position is probably right.

What do readers think?

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6 responses to “Applying for two positions in the same dept?”

  1. Mike Titelbaum

    I would suggest that the candidate:
    (1) Definitely apply for both positions
    (2) In each cover letter, note that they have applied for both
    (3) Tailor descriptions of various projects as appropriate for each job
    (4) Don’t say anything in one application (say, about future projects planned) that is contradicted by the other application

    Reply
  2. JDF

    Seconding Mike Titelbaum, I would be inclined to submit identical applications except (a) stating which job it is in the cover letter and (b) having a different writing sample in the AOS for each job.

    Reply
  3. Elizabeth

    Unlike Marcus, in my department the search committees are the same when there are multiple jobs advertised. I also noticed the UCL job ads specifically say that if you apply for the specialized one, you’ll automatically be considered for the open rank job too.

    Reply
  4. Bill V.

    OP could also just email the department chair or search chair to ask if they need to apply to both to be considered for both. One letter that explains how you can do both areas might be the right thing in some cases–the committee(s) seeing that you cover both areas might find that attractive if, say, they are trying to build or augment an area of strength. (FWIW, some departments are small enough that the same search committee runs the process for both searches, or the whole department is involved in all searches.)

    Reply
  5. four cents

    In my exchanges with search committee members over the years who simply want to hire the best candidate, I have a hard time believing that the committees will be impressed in this scenario unless you truly can claim both AOSes, meaning you have legit publications and teaching experience in both. Otherwise, I could see them rating both applications as mutually weakened by the other. If they’re going to hire you, they’re going to hire you in one area over the other – the one they deem strongest. You should know which one that is, and apply to that one (I think).

    Reply
  6. grymes

    Having been on the hiring side in this scenario, I can report that four cents’s claim that “if they’re going to hire you, they’re going to hire you in one area over the other–the one they deem strongest” isn’t always true. If the dept likes your application enough to seriously consider you, they’ll appreciate having maximum flexibility in how they consider you. It could be the case that you’re their second favorite candidate overall: their second favorite candidate in the first pool but their favorite candidate in the second pool. In that scenario, if you just apply for the first job (and HR rules can be VERY strict about this), the department may not be allowed to hire you for their second line. So apply for both positions (and be transparent about it).

    Reply

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