interview question

[alecstilleyedye]

i've got two job interviews next week, and i recall being asked in previous interviews whether or not i had had interviews anywhere else recently.

as the two jobs are not directly related, should i mention that i've got one tomorrow/had one yesterday?

i'm torn between mentioning it, and risk looking like someone applying for anything and everything, and not mentioning it, at the risk of not appearing a popular candidate.

what would you do?

 

[Norm]

Generally, yes, it shows that you aren't sitting doing nothing and it shows that there is some competition for you. I'd be positive about it, though, saying what's similar and what's better about the current interview, and what you think you'd get if you got either of the jobs.

 

[MattHB]

Absolutely. After all, your as much interviewing THEM as the other way around.

 

[biggs682]

yes i would and there is nothing wrong with you asking them how many others are being interviewed for post applied for . best of luck

 

[marinyork]

It depends whether they are fishing to find out whether you are 'sitting around doing nothing' as Norm charmingly put it or whether they are looking for an excuse not to give you a job. I've had both.

I've never seen it as a particularly useful question as some people have a high interview rate to jobs applied for ratio in a lot of jobs applied for, some people may not have an interview in a year or two and some people may apply for very few interviews and get them. None of these things show that someone is 'sitting around doing nothing' in fact the one that superficially appears as the most 'successful' is the one 'doing nothing'.

 

[PaulB]

Interviews are a two-way street. You want as much from them as they want from you. If they ask if you've been interviewed, you have as much right to ask them if they've interviewed anyone else for that position. If YOU haven't been interviewed by anyone else, you're not in demand whereas if THEY haven't interviewed anyone else, they are having trouble filling the vacancy.

And lastly, NEVER accept them telling you 'we'll be in touch'. Ask them there and then if they will give you the job. You want to leave the room knowing fully what their decision is. Even when they tell you they have other people to interview, ask them if they have any reservations and if so, why?

 

[Norm]

...whether you are 'sitting around doing nothing' as Norm charmingly put it

Which proves, perfectly, that someone will find fault, whatever you do.

 

[marinyork]

Which proves, perfectly, that someone will find fault, whatever you do.

I'm sure you're a decent employer. But the question is a direct dig at other things that could be asked at interview and in that sense it isn't a very clever question, it's crude.