The LifeMaven

Is it wrong to apply to multiple jobs that you have no real interest in?

This is a question I’ve thought about recently. I went on a job interview with several other candidates and found myself making small talk with a few as we went to college together.

One person said “I have like 5 or 6 offers.”

My thoughts are: what are you doing here then?

I know the importance of having multiple options, leveraging different offers, and so forth.

On the other hand, as one of the other potential applicants, it seems rather selfish to be hoarding offers like that.

Surely with 5 or 6 offers, one of those must have a strong appeal to you. You must have some feeling as to whether or not you’re going to accept.

So, if you have little to no intention of accepting the job, then why do you bother to apply? You’re taking up a spot that could be used for someone just as qualified who really needs the job.

This is especially true if the company views several candidates equally and only chooses one essentially at random.

What do you think? Should there be a limit on the number of offers an applicant has before they are interviewed? Or is it true survival of the fittest, and you need to take care of yourself first, fairness be damned?

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