I am in the market for a new job and getting calls and recruiters always ask me "Are you actively interviewing? Where are you in the process with other companies?". I talked to Amazon and they asked me this after every round (before rejecting me).

I am talking to 3 companies and they all want to know this. They claim to ask because they "want to be cognizant of your situation" and if they need to speed up the process. Yeah right, I know they are doing things in my interest.

My questions are:
1. What is their hidden motive?
2. What is the best possible answer I can give them?
3. What NOT to say?

PS: I don't trust companies and know that they are not above lying to me and other candidates if it serves their interest.

I am a recruiter and typically we ask this because we want to know where you are in the interview process with other companies. We like to know this so we can go back to the hiring managers and expedite the interview/offer process if we really like you and you have other offers pending. What ulterior motive could we possibly have for asking this question lol? Also, that question can typically be found in a standard set of interview questions that all recruiters have.

Read the "1 offer in hand" thread for more insight into a similar situation.

If I were in your shoes I wouldn't be completely honest and say you're interviewing with 3 other companies. It would make it seem like you're not really interested in them. I would be vague and let them know you've had other interviews but are really interested in working for their specific company. Once you get close to the offer stage with another company thats when you can let the other company know about it. If they like/want you enough then they will expedite things on their end, if not then they will let you go.

Nm

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I am a recruiter and typically we ask this because we want to know where you are in the interview process with other companies. We like to know this so we can go back to the hiring managers and expedite the interview/offer process if we really like you and you have other offers pending. What ulterior motive could we possibly have for asking this question lol? Also, that question can typically be found in a standard set of interview questions that all recruiters have.

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I interviewed with Amazon AWS last month and they asked me that so many times. After every interview I had to tell them if I was interviewing with other companies. These are the questions:

• Are you actively interviewing elsewhere?
• Do you have any pending offers? If so, do you have any response deadlines?

Maybe it is as simple as them wanting to speed up the process if I have a pending offer, but I don't know and I generally don't trust recruiters to be honest and this is with more than 20 years experience working with them. I want to make sure I give them the "right" answer that works for me, hence the question.

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If I were in your shoes I wouldn't be completely honest and say you're interviewing with 3 other companies. It would make it seem like you're not really interested in them. I would be vague and let them know you've had other interviews but are really interested in working for their specific company. Once you get close to the offer stage with another company thats when you can let the other company know about it. If they like/want you enough then they will expedite things on their end, if not then they will let you go.

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Thank you, this is good to know. I was conflicted because it could work both ways.

"I am working with 4 companies"
This could be taken as since the candidate is talking to 4 companies, they may not be interested in us.

"I am not working with any company right now"
Hmm... no one is interested in you? Maybe there's something wrong with you.

Since I am not a recruiter myself, I don't know how they would interpret my answer. So if you say it is better to say there are some interviews but really interested in this company then I will answer along those lines.

infinity ag said:

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I am a recruiter and typically we ask this because we want to know where you are in the interview process with other companies. We like to know this so we can go back to the hiring managers and expedite the interview/offer process if we really like you and you have other offers pending. What ulterior motive could we possibly have for asking this question lol? Also, that question can typically be found in a standard set of interview questions that all recruiters have.

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I interviewed with Amazon AWS last month and they asked me that so many times. After every interview I had to tell them if I was interviewing with other companies. These are the questions:

• Are you actively interviewing elsewhere?
• Do you have any pending offers? If so, do you have any response deadlines?

Maybe it is as simple as them wanting to speed up the process if I have a pending offer, but I don't know and I generally don't trust recruiters to be honest and this is with more than 20 years experience working with them. I want to make sure I give them the "right" answer that works for me, hence the question.

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If I were in your shoes I wouldn't be completely honest and say you're interviewing with 3 other companies. It would make it seem like you're not really interested in them. I would be vague and let them know you've had other interviews but are really interested in working for their specific company. Once you get close to the offer stage with another company thats when you can let the other company know about it. If they like/want you enough then they will expedite things on their end, if not then they will let you go.

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Thank you, this is good to know. I was conflicted because it could work both ways.

"I am working with 4 companies"
This could be taken as since the candidate is talking to 4 companies, they may not be interested in us.

"I am not working with any company right now"
Hmm... no one is interested in you? Maybe there's something wrong with you.

Since I am not a recruiter myself, I don't know how they would interpret my answer. So if you say it is better to say there are some interviews but really interested in this company then I will answer along those lines.

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Very strange for amazon to keep asking that, but maybe its part of their process or standardized interview questions that theyre forced to ask. Some recruiters will ask this, and some wont. I typically dont ask if they are interviewing with other companies, but a lot of candidates will disclose this info on their own. Regardless, most companies/recruiters know its a tough market and they have to act fast and not drag along the interview process. Case in point, I did a phone interview with a company last Tuesday, 2nd phone interview the next day, and I got an offer 2 days later. Thats how it should work.

Its a very delicate game that we play with companies when we are candidates interviewing. We want companies/recruiters to feel special like they are the only one we are interested in, but also at the same time let them know we have other options. Its kind of like dating lol. If you make it sound like you have too many options then a company might back off because they feel like you probably wont accept their offer or not truly interested in working there. If you make it sound like you have no options then they might lowball you or slow play the interview process. I think keeping it vague but also confirming your interest is the best way to go. Something like, "Ive had a few other interviews but honestly your company is my top choice and I am very interested in working for you."