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Interviewing for two different roles with the same company... Tips for successful outcome?

6 replies

Poppins2016 · 04/10/2022 21:34

The TLDR version: I'm looking for advice and tips on successfully handling an interview for two roles (with the same company) at once! Has anyone been offered a job after such an interview? What do you think helped?

And the longer version with some more background explaining why I'm so invested:

I'm worried that interviewing for two different roles will put me in a weaker position for being successful in being offered a job. I suppose there are pros and cons (and I might be in a stronger position in some ways... x2 roles = double the chance?).

My background is Administration>Office Manager>PA.

I'm desperate for a career change (and one that includes the chance for progression into a senior role and a higher salary). I'm bored, 'stagnating' and hate the drudgery of my current role... I've looked at alternative PA/Exec PA roles but they all fill me with the same 'not that again' feeling of dread. I'm good at it, but it's just not 'me' any more.

I've thought about moving into operations, project management or marketing roles as I have relevant transferable skills (via my current role) and an interest in those areas, but it's proving tricky to find a role when so many companies require direct experience rather than just overlapping experience + transferable skills. I'm also looking for part time work (two young children), so that adds an extra layer of difficulty.

I applied for a project manager/coordinator role at the weekend thinking that I didn't have anything to lose but didn't seriously expect to hear back from the company.

Today I received a call from the director which turned into a mini phone interview to see whether it was worth meeting for a face to face interview. He mentioned a marketing vacancy that's also available and asked whether I'd be interested in meeting with both roles in mind (I agreed).

I have a genuine interest in both roles and having looked at the job descriptions, I feel I could do both.
I've done some research into the company and like the look of the culture and what they do. This is also the first company to offer me the opportunity to 'escape' from my current career (or lack of) and I recognise that this opportunity is like gold dust! So, essentially, I'm pretty invested in the opportunity to work for this company and would really like them to offer me a job (subject to me still feeling the same way at the end of the interview, of course)!

I don't really want to do a 'pick me'/'I'll do a role, any role' dance... but it feels as though that might be somewhat unavoidable if I'm interviewing for two roles? I'm thinking I'll come at it from the angle of "I think I can do either role, I can offer x,y,z/have these strengths which fit into each role in x way(s)... I'd love to progress my career by joining your business, do you think we can make it work"?

OP posts:
Poppins2016 · 05/10/2022 08:15

Bump! 😊

OP posts:
LadyLolaRuben · 05/10/2022 08:31

I'd go into the interview and tell them all about you - your skills, experience, knowledge, achievements etc. Tell them about everything relevant to the roles open to you. Then you can work with the interviewers to see which role vmvests fits you. You know you and they know the jobs and company. So you can work together to get the one that best fits you. Its great theyre thinking about more than one role for you - they must like the sound of you. It gives you more chance if being successful. I was offered a job that I didnt apply for originally on two occasions and they turned out to be the best jobs of my career to date. Best if luck OP.

Poppins2016 · 05/10/2022 09:43

Thanks LadyLola, good to hear that you've been offered roles that you didn't apply for! Sounds as though my thinking was about right re setting out my skills and seeing what they think...

Worst case scenario, this will turn out to be good practice. Best case (the one I'm hoping for), I might even get a job! 🤞

OP posts:
Poppins2016 · 05/10/2022 12:33

Bumping again, could really use any and all the advice that people can offer!

OP posts:
Poppins2016 · 05/10/2022 17:22

Bumpity bump bump... 😊

OP posts:
MrsTeaShore · 05/10/2022 19:16

Sounds like the right approach to prepare re your strengths and suitability for each of the roles in turn. They’ll likely want to get a feel of what role you would fit best into. So it definitely sounds positive although you might also want to prepare some genuine questions about each role so that you are prepared when they ask “any questions ?” . You don’t want to come across as complacent . And also you genuinely might might find out information that makes you feel you’d prefer one over the other. And do all the usual preparation on terms of why you want to work for the company, and make sure you have lots examples of when you’ve done XYZ (the STAR technique for interview answers). Best of luck !

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