Interview Insights: What other companies are you interviewing with?

Sometimes it’s out of curiosity that interviewers ask this question. Other times it’s a critical data point that taints their evaluation of your marketability. If you are interviewing with other companies then you can share this information if you are a junior to middle manager. If you are more senior then you might want to rethink your strategy.

A recent client vying for a senior leadership role within a toys company put his cards on the table and said that he is indeed interviewing with other organizations. The toy company went ahead and stopped its interviewing process due to my client’s “lack of commitment.” As a result, if you are a senior executive going after a senior-level role then consider this framework for answering this sticky question.

• Why would you put all your eggs in one basket?
• How extensive is your internal network?
• Where does your excitement for this company stem from?

Here is a sample response to this question if you are a senior leader going after jobs that require 15+ years of relevant experience:

I’m a calculated risk-taker.  I have a solid reputation in the toy industry. I’ve always admired Mattel from a distance and I have what it takes to fulfill your longer-term vision. I have evaluated other organizations however Mattel has a more powerful portfolio of global lifestyle brands with untapped IP potential, extraordinary toy design and development expertise and unmatched global sales and supply chain capabilities. It is without a doubt that by bringing my creative and my operational talent to Mattel that we can we can more quickly capitalize on growth opportunities and perform better for our customers, delight consumers and reward our shareholders. As a result, I am extremely comfortable in putting all my eggs in one basket – so to speak.

*Excerpts were taken from the Bloomberg Business April 2015 announcement of Christopher Sinclair as Chief Executive Officer of Mattel.

The insight is that it matters whether you are junior or senior when it comes to delicately answering this question. If you are a younger professional then you should mention that you are interviewing elsewhere. If you are vying for a top role at a competitive firm then don’t show all of your cards just yet.

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