by Christopher D. Lee, Ph.D., SPHR
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Question: As the interview process can be lengthy and putting all your eggs in one basket may not be a good tactic, should you be transparent, if the opportunity presents itself, with the search committee?
Answer from Christopher D. Lee, Ph.D., SPHR: If a hiring official asks if you are a candidate for other jobs, you should always be transparent and forthright. In all likelihood, the question is posed because you are perceived as a good candidate for the position being discussed. While honesty is always the best policy, the sensibilities implied in the question should be acknowledged by providing an appropriate caveat. The hiring official wants to know two things when the question is posed. First is the degree to which you are interested in the position, and second is if there will be competition for your talents.
The first part of the question is also about ‘a bird in hand, two in the bush’ scenario. The only reasonable answer is, “I would prefer the job I am talking to you about — hands down!” Giving a reason or two about why the position and/or the institution is your unequivocal preferred option strengthens the response. No one wants to be the second choice, and this applies to organizations and hiring managers alike. Showing your enthusiasm for the opportunity is important because who would want to hire someone for a job that the person is not excited about?
The second part of the question alerts the manager or committee to the fact that you are in the job market. But you should not play hard to get. While it might seem tempting to create a little healthy competition for your talents by saying you have the interest of another employer when, in fact, you do not may well backfire. A hiring official who is making a close call might say to themselves, “I will hire Juan because Michelle will be less disappointed in not getting the job because she has a potential job offer with another institution.” So, as indicated above, adding the context to your response that their organization is your absolute first choice is a must.
That being said, the approach to this question will shift if you actually have another offer in hand. A promise to hire without an actual offer letter is not the same thing as an actual offer. There are too many stories of promised or implied job offers that, for a variety of reasons, were never put in writing. So be careful shifting tactics.
If you do have another offer in hand, you can have a forthright discussion with the new organization. If you participated in the interview and found the new position to be more suitable, you should just say so. Otherwise, the point is moot. This upfront conversation will allow you to have a win-win discussion with your prospective employer. The manager is likely to make their best offer upfront instead of holding some compensation in reserve. A low offer might signal — accurately or inaccurately — that the hiring manager is not as excited about you as you are about them. Having you rebuff a low offer could put your acceptance in jeopardy, so they are unlikely to risk losing your interest. If the new offer is lower than your current offer or just too low — all things considered — having established a rapport through forthright discussions can give you the confidence to say just that. Compensation aside, the open conversation also allows for a healthy negotiation of intangibles, benefits, perquisites, and the like.
Failure to disclose that you have other interviews or offers could be counterproductive. If given a second offer that is too low, it can be harder to negotiate in good faith and may make it appear that you are unreasonable or playing hard to get. If they had known you had a legitimately higher offer already on the table, their reaction would likely have been different. They would be more likely to assume their offer is too low and adjust it, versus thinking it is good and you are being demanding. In the forthright scenario, negotiations begin at a better, more accurate starting point. Introducing a competitive offer or a future interview anew-after having already been asked-will break the bonds of trust before the potential relationship starts.
If asked whether you are interviewing with other organizations or have another legitimate job offer, you should be transparent and always offer a positive caveat if the answer is yes. The advantage of doing so tells the potential employer why you are very interested in joining their team, but it also reminds them that the process is a two-way street. You are evaluating them as much as they are evaluating you. This honest scenario demonstrates your integrity and establishes an advantageous starting point for future negotiations.
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