The question “Are you interviewing anywhere else?” oftentimes makes candidates break into a cold sweat. It does seem tricky, however, understanding the interviewer’s motives and grasping appropriate answering techniques will help you overcome this obstacle with your head held high.
In this article, we are going to figure out why hiring managers ask this question, give a few example answer options, and discuss absolute no-go tricks when answering this question during the interview process.
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For many people, the automatic reaction to this question would be fear and suspicion. It may be explained by a common misconception that the interviewer may perceive the yes-answer as a lack of dedication and engagement. Say, you don’t consider them exceptional and put them on the same line with other employers. That’s why potential candidates prefer hiding the truth and not sabotaging their interviewing process.
The reality is often quite the opposite. If we talk about companies with a highly developed culture and healthy environment, they are interested in hunting a person who shares their values. Knowing your worth is one of the signs that the potential employee is in healthy relationships with themselves. Consequently, they are highly likely to maintain healthy relationships with others.
Therefore, by revealing the fact that you are going through interviewing processes in a few companies simultaneously, you will only look valuable to your interviewers. Don’t deprive them of learning that you’re a competitive and in-demand candidate with other currently available job options. This knowledge may well motivate them to accelerate the hiring process and send you the job offer faster.
Besides the key consideration, which is being honest, there are some others that will help you make the right impression when answering this tricky interview question:
Yes, I am actively interviewing with other companies. However, I am particularly excited and interested in cooperation with your company. Firstly, according to the online reviews of your current and former employees, your company has cultivated a supportive and nurturing working environment, which is one of my priorities. Secondly, I am impressed by the progress your company has demonstrated over the past several years. I feel that with the similar values we share, my experience, and my skill set, I can become a good fit for your company and participate in making a common contribution to the industry.
I have only started my job search. I have little experience in the industry, and I am only starting my career journey. That’s why I am interested in finding a strong and supportive organization that will find my skills and experience useful for them and that will help me develop and grow as a real professional. I am convinced that your company is exactly the one I’ve just described. From my side, I promise dedication, engagement, and loyalty throughout the journey.
No, I am not engaged in communication with other companies. I decided to focus my effort and attention on the interviewing process with your company. Having done some research, I discovered that your company meets all my requirements for a new workplace. By saying it, I mean the level of company culture and values that are being promoted in your organization, the list of duties this position implies, and, of course, remuneration and career prospects. I also truly believe that my expertise in the field will be beneficial to your company, and we will be able to create a prospering tandem together.
There are a few tricks that will play into your hands when being asked about parallel interviews in other companies.
Every job opening has a detailed description of the responsibilities and opportunities the position implies. Pick some of those which you find significant or attractive and mention them right after the question about other interviews. Let the hiring manager understand why exactly their company has sparked genuine interest in you.
Explain that you are actively exploring multiple companies to find the best fit for your skills and career goals. To make it more illustrative, specify what aspects of particularly their company’s policy resonate with you and how your values and professional ambitions align with theirs. By doing it, you show that you take the job search responsibly and care about your well-being.
Highlight your enthusiasm for their organization and the employment opportunity they offer. In such a way, you’ll show that you recognize their value and distinguish them from others. Express your excitement and admiration regarding their achievements – you can easily search for this information about any company online. Employers are very eager to hire people who see their company as more than just a source of money.
You are not obligated to disclose details about other organizations you are having interviews with. The interviewing side isn’t supposed to induce you to tell even the names of the companies you are dealing with or, for god’s sake, badmouth their competitors. This is an absolute red flag for you as a candidate.
There are two fundamental ideas that you should always keep in mind: don’t count your chickens before they hatch, and pride comes before the fall. The interviewing process may be going exceptionally well, however, it doesn’t mean anything until you have received a job offer. Telling haughtily about your expertise will talk interviewers into thinking that you’re just blowing your own trumpet.
Honesty is the best policy, especially if you’re bad at lying. Should they expose you as a liar, you put at risk all your further career prospects. You may easily get labeled as an unreliable and dishonest candidate in the circles of hiring managers and forget about getting a decent job. Therefore, don’t invent interviews with household names, don’t exaggerate the number of companies, or brag about received job offers unless this is all true. Hiring managers often network, and it drastically facilitates the process of checking the information their candidate provides.
Remember to maintain a professional tone throughout your response and avoid negative comments about other companies. Firstly, your interviewer will consider it a lack of appreciation from your side for offered job opportunities. Second, if you gossip about another company, you may well do it about their company too. Gossiping is a surefire sign of toxicity and unhealthy environments. Prosperous companies exclude any possibility of those in their workplace because they know how destructive such people are for their prosperity and success.
