which job or all of them?

[Feelingsensitive]

I am looking to return to work after 3 years off. I have found a company that interests me who are advertising three jobs at different levels. I fulfil most of the criteria for all of them. The more senior job (and the most well paid) appeals to me the most but this is the one I fulfil the least criteria for. Should I apply for all 3 jobs or the one I fulfill the most criteria?

Hmm - I would apply for one and not all.

Off top of my head - I would go for the middle one, assuming I met MOST of the criteria for this, and all the essential ones.

Once you're in, you're in. You may not get the high level post if you apply directly.

Will b interested to see what othes say.

I was in a similar position about 18 months ago and applied for both jobs - but I made sure that I wrote 2 completely different applications tailored to each role.

I would try hard to read between the lines of the job descriptions - often jobs at different levels can have very similar jds - the main difference is seniority and responsibility. try to get a real feel for the 3 different levels and try to work out which one is closest to you, your skills and your last job. I would then apply for 2 jobs. if the middle job is the closest match then I think you need to ask if you want to stretch yourself - but also take a bit of a gamble, by going for the top one (as well as the middle one) or play safe

I think applying for all 3 (if they really are different levels) could rule yourself out of the top one iyswim. it sends out a message that you're not entirely confident.

best prep of all would be to find a friend of a friend who has worked for them and who'd talk to you a bit.

Thanks for your advice. Decided to go for top and middle one. The bottom one just wouldn't have paid enough. Fingers crossed.