Interview Question: Are You Looking for A Job with Any Other Companies?
How to Answer Interview Question: Are You Looking for A Job with Any Other Companies?
Job interviews always seem to find ways to give candidates the chills- you never truly know what questions to expect. And when you feel like you are making some progress, they throw you a curveball. Are you looking for a job with any other companies? Prepare yourself because they just might ask you this, and it is a tricky question.
Employers and interviewers seldom ask random questions. No matter how odd the question sound, there is always a method to their madness. Thus, when a question such as this comes up, it could become an opportunity or a trap. It all depends on how well you know how to analyze, interpret, and answer the question.
How to answer the question like an expert, including what not to say, are what we are about to discuss. Also, you will discover why interviewers ask this question and how the perfect answer can help you land the job.
Let’s get down to business!
How answering this question satisfactorily can become an opportunity
Perhaps the last thing you would have thought about hearing the question for the first time was getting an opportunity afterward. Although intense, this question can quickly bring you instant success if answered correctly.
It could make interviewers raise their offers.
Interviewers purposely ask candidates whether they are looking for a job elsewhere to know their next point of action. If a candidate answers this question like a pro, he or she could start a bidding war. A good answer from a candidate can quickly put the potential on the hot seat.
The potential employer could end up being in a situation where they have to make a quick decision about you. If at that moment the employer sees you as a priority addition, they could tempt you with an offer. A serious employer would go as far as improving the offer just so that you won’t work for their rivals.
A potential employer could speed up the hiring process.
Another opportunity that can come out of this process is that you could land your next job sooner. Employees and businesses are always in competition with rival businesses. They know what could give them the edge over their competitors and skilled human resource is a prime example.
Since their gain is another business’s loss in hiring you, they would speed up the hiring process. In fact, some employers would hire candidates on the spot to risk seeing them working for their rivals. Therefore, if you handle the question superbly, you could go from zero to 100 in your job search.
You could hijack the interview.
If all things go well, you could become hot property in an instant. When any employer, regardless of the field, has a one-on-one meeting with their star acquisition, they savor it. At that moment, employers take their time to figure out the potential talent.
Before you know it, you could have the undivided attention of the interviewing team. The moment you have more room to not just answer questions but express your thoughts, you have hijacked the interview.
How to answer the interview question
Answering this interview question convincingly boils down to some important factors. Pay attention to some of the dos and don’ts in answering this interview question.
Don’t deny having interviews scheduled elsewhere
It is normal for any candidate to be nervous when faced with such an interview question. This type of question would make a million thoughts go through a candidate’s head.
Candidates who have other interviews lined up or that have previously interviewed with other companies would be under more pressure. It is because the question would make candidates wonder if their association with other companies would disqualify them.
However, lying would be a big mistake. While you think having scheduled job interviews elsewhere would make employers lose interest in you, it’s the opposite.
For instance, saying, “No, I have an interview elsewhere. You are the only company I am interviewing with” is wrong. It could either mean that nobody wants you or that you seem to lack ambition.
Instead, respond with:
“I have been called for job interviews with other esteemed organizations among which you rank highly.”
This response makes you seem honest, and sought-after in the industry, and also shows your admiration for the employer.
Make the current employer feel like they are your priority
Every employer wants to hire candidates who would love to work with them. When an interviewer asks you this question, besides telling the truth, you could feed their ego in the process. As a rule, whenever you go for an interview, make the potential employer your priority at that moment.
Making the employer feel like a priority when asked the question is straightforward. When asked if you are still looking to interview elsewhere, respond in this manner:
“Indeed, I have scheduled job interviews with other top companies like yours for this position. However, I am an admirer of your establishment and this position already has the essential challenges I crave professionally.”
This response shows that you have other interviews but you are willing to take their offer.
Don’t disclose information about other interviewers
It is fair to say that this is a tricky question. You will find out more when you explore why interviewers ask this question next. By asking this question, candidates could let out some information about their other interviewers. Information like their offers, proposed salary, benefits, and more, could be disclosed in the process.
Do not say a word about any offer they might have given you. It is okay to hint at something or a figure, but won’t divulge the exact information. The reason is that some interviewers are specialists hired by various companies to conduct interviews. Thus, it could be a red flag for them to see you disclose such information.
Also, these interviewers and employers sometimes know people in rival companies. They could use the information you give them against their rivals. Consequently, you might become the casualty of a silent corporate war.
For instance, if the interviewer asks how much you have been offered elsewhere, you could say:
“I do not believe I am permitted to disclose that information. However, I would say that the offer was a reasonable improvement on the industry standard for the position.”
Here, you have told them a lot without saying anything. The least they would be thinking about here is going above what they were willing to offer initially.
Why would an interviewer ask if you are interviewing with other companies?
Believe it or not, this question is not random. Interviewers are trying to get some information out of you if they go as far as asking something somewhat private. Rest assured it is mostly a good sign if this question comes up. Let’s examine the interviewer’s motives.
They already have an interest.
If at this stage of the interview you are still not sure of your chances, this is a sign. When a potential employer asks this question, it is usually because they already have an interest in you.
Firstly, no employer would hit any candidate with this question at the start of the interview. As the interview goes on, interviewers ask this question after a series of satisfactory answers and comments from a candidate. You probably won’t have any other questions heading your way after that.
The interview went well.
Once an interviewer asks you if you are still interviewing with another company, you have made a good impression. A good interview mostly precedes a favorable outcome for the candidate. On the other hand, when an interview ends badly, it rarely results in a job offer.
Knowing that an interview went well fills a candidate with confidence, especially if happens during the interview. Thus, if you hear the potential employer ask this question, know that the interview went well and could get better.
They want to know if they should pursue you further.
Sometimes, job interviews end up better than expected which puts employers in a tough spot. Some candidates make such a good impression that employers are caught between breaking protocol or not. In such a scenario, employers look for the tiniest details to help them make good decisions.
Rest assured it doesn’t mean that they have lost interest in you. It only means they want to know whether they should make a big, instantaneous decision about you or not.
Here, employers are at a crossroads between snatching a potential talisman and allowing their rivals to hijack them. Thus, your response will help them make the decision.
They want to find out how much salary they should offer.
Have you stopped to wonder why else would your interviewer want to know such information? It has to do with a lot of things including money. When an employer strongly feels that a candidate is the one they need, they will make an offer.
However, since every business is always looking to cut costs while they maximize profit, they will be cautious. That is why they ask this question perhaps to know if you have had any offers yet.
Firstly, they would like to, at least, match the offer to tempt you into working for them instead. Secondly, the employer wouldn’t want to overpay for your services even though they are desperate for your services. It is never okay to disclose such information. Therefore, you must be careful not to spill the beans.
It could be for research or a survey on the labor market.
On rare occasions, employers or interviewers ask this question for a different purpose entirely. This is where they randomly ask candidates if they are looking for a job elsewhere. No matter what the candidate says, it would have little to no effect on the outcome of the interview.
How to tell if the interviewer is asking the question for research is not difficult. Usually, this question comes when an interview is going well. Thus, when there is no hint that the interview has gone well, then the question is most likely for research.
To know your availability.
When an employer wants a candidate, they would like to know where their heart or head truly is. Sometimes, candidates line up interviews to move on to the next interview if it doesn’t work out.
This puts the potential employer in a position of uncertainty as to whether the candidate wants to join them. Therefore, employers ask this question to know whether the candidate is available if they were to offer them the job.
To see if you are in demand.
Sometimes employers like to take their time with their options, especially when they have many. When interviewers have many talents looking for jobs, they sometimes go for the most wanted one.
Thus, when they ask you this question, it could be to know if you are hot property in the industry. Indeed, if a candidate has a series of interviews lined up, it says something positive about the candidate. Therefore, employers want to know this to poach candidates before their rivals do.
To know where they stand on your priority list.
Once an employer wants you, they are eager to know what your intentions are. It is not uncommon for candidates to use a potential employer’s offer to get a better offer elsewhere. Thus, employers ask candidates if they’ll still be interviewing elsewhere after their meeting.
The response the candidate gives the interviewer would either give them the confidence to pursue the partnership further or not. If the employer has the assurance that the candidate is open to working for them, they could table the offer.
Conclusion
Interview questions can be intimidating, especially when they ask you whether you are looking for a job in another company. Yet, you could quickly turn the situation into an opportunity if you give a satisfactory and clever response.
An interviewer has reasons for asking candidates this question. The moment you know what the reasons are, you are halfway through knowing the best response to give them.
Have you ever been asked this question in a job interview? Please let us know how you handled the situation in the comments box below.