When recruiters ask 'Are you interviewing anywhere else?"

Hi,

When recruiters ask this question initially, is it good to tell them that I am interviewing at another/competitor firm just so that they may make me a better offer?

or is it better if I say I am not interviewing any where else and this the job I am really interested in.

Thanks,

WG

Its always better to tell if you are interviewing at other places, off course you do not need to mention where exactly. This helps in negotiations as well as speeding up the process.

Why would you lie/make yourself sound stupid by telling them that this is the only one job you've applied for?

Honesty is more often than not, the best policy.

If you're interviewing elsewhere it shows your desirable. It doesn't mean you wouldn't be committed to the interviewers firm or the job if you were offered a position either.

If you are a new grad or a recent grad looking to make your first move then it makes sense to admit to interviewing elsewhere. It generates confidence in the agency that they have a credible in-demand candidate. It sometimes generates a sense of urgency at the hiring firm too.

At a more senior level, things change. It's often better to imply you are very happy, incredibly successful and very well thought of at your current firm. You will of course listen to opportunities that significantly move your career forward, but given how well you are doing, these are unlikely to come up more than one at a time and perhaps only once or twice a year.

Senior people undertaking multiple interviews are clearly desperate to leave their current firm.

And therein lies the secret as to why Mr Cool earns so much DO$H!

I wish some of you guys would write a blog, I could read it endlessly!

although i am not in a senior capacity, my strategy was very much a case of "i'm not looking to leave but this opportunity has turned my head".

mainly because it's the truth, but also because i've only been with my current employer for a year so i needed to answer the question of why i was looking to move.

I wonder how they would respond (other than not making you an offer) if one answered along the lines of "why do you want to know?"

Thanks all. Seems like it does make sense to say I am interviewing elsewhere.

When recruiters ask this question initially, is it good to tell them that I am interviewing at another/competitor firm just so that they may make me a better offer?

or is it better if I say I am not interviewing any where else and this the job I am really interested in.

Depending on your level of seniority there are a number of reasons why you will be asked this. At one end of the spectrum, the recruiter may be looking to ascertain where and with whom, to generate potential leads; at the other end of the spectrum, no recruiter wants to be oblivious to potential competition to an offer, and wants to know if you are interviewing elsewhere so that they can ensure any potential competitor/counteroffer can be dealt with.

Somewhere in the middle is a human being who doesn't take kindly to being lied to when they have proactively approached you for their client, and who would understandably resent having their time and confidence in you wasted.

You wont get a better offer just because you are interviewing with a competitor - companies don't actually think that way, and are usually very reluctant to hire a candidate who wants to instigate a bidding war. This tactic can often backfire - if you don't get the offer from the company in question, and are then seen not to move to one of the others you said were interviewing you, suddenly you look very, very undesirable to the market. And yes, word spreads.

Interview for the roles you are actually interested in. If you are interviewing with several firms, say so, tell the recruiter what stage you are at, but don't mention the company names. Chances are they are all similar organisations anyway.

Treat people like fools and they will soon enough find the only remaining fool in the conversation.