Mentioning interview with another company?

Playdo

Hello Polycount,

I have a couple of interviews lined up, but haven't set the dates yet. Do you think it's a good or bad thing to mention that I also have an interview with another company?

I guess it could work in my favour as I'll seem to be in demand, though it may also work against me (the company feeling like they're not my sole priority). Good to get your opinions ..Especially any hiring staff.

Richard Kain

You don't mention contact with other companies until you have a job offer on the table. Interest from other companies is a bargaining chip. Don't wave it around right off the bat, save it until you've gotten some manner of offer.

Tread lightly in this area, there are plenty of ways for it to work against you. Less scrupulous hiring managers could use such information to call around and bad-mouth you to other companies to make sure that they can hire you for cheap. This kind of behavior is less likely when you're an established presence in the industry, but it's a real risk when you're just starting out.

More than anything else, such information is good for pressuring a potential employer into making an offer sooner. They will be more likely to make an offer quickly if they think you might be off the market soon.

aesir

It hasn't affected what we do very much when an applicant has mentioned it to us.

Justin Meisse

Richard Kain wrote: »

Tread lightly in this area, there are plenty of ways for it to work against you. Less scrupulous hiring managers could use such information to call around and bad-mouth you to other companies to make sure that they can hire you for cheap. This kind of behavior is less likely when you're an established presence in the industry, but it's a real risk when you're just starting out.

I hear a lot of industry rumors about various studios and I haven't heard of any crazy enough to take a legal risk like that just to pare down a jr salary.

Fomori

Richard Kain wrote: »

You don't mention contact with other companies until you have a job offer on the table. Interest from other companies is a bargaining chip. Don't wave it around right off the bat, save it until you've gotten some manner of offer.

This sounds like good advice.

I've heard in the past that it can be good to show that you're in demand. But having been in on the interview process previously, and seeing first hand the hiring manager being disappointed at a possible hire not committing 100% because they had another interview, I would suggest you don't mention it until it's an offer.

Super

I wouldn't worry about making it knowledge you're talking to other companies, especially if they ask. In my experience this results in them not dilly-dallying around wasting anyones time. Coming off like they'e the only company to show any interest in you looks weak and could make them wonder why.

katana

In the case of having an offer on the table with Company A and having Company B interview you with an offer to follow, you could mention after the offer that you have another offer (which presumably is higher) asking them to match it, if you prefer Company B.

You can't really use it to go back and forth in a sort of bidding war.

Everyone's situation is different. If anyone asked me if I was interviewing with other companies, I generally say yes, of course.

They don't need to know specifics though. Just your seriousness in getting the job you want to have.

aesir

katana wrote: »

You can't really use it to go back and forth in a sort of bidding war.

While I've never done this, I've had a friend that did. He went back and forth between two companies a couple times, both of which raised their offers twice. He went with the people he originally intended to work for which was actually the lower paying job.

Playdo

Thanks ..Insightful replies. I asked because both interviews are in the same city. I'd travel up and stay there for a couple of days, and need to plan both interviews for the same trip. Wasn't sure if it was wise to mention it, and make arranging things easier.

Richard Kain

Justin Meisse wrote: »

and I haven't heard of any crazy enough to take a legal risk like that just to pare down a jr salary.

I'm not saying it's common. But there's ALWAYS someone crazy enough. Best not to take risks you don't have to.

The big issue at the moment is that all the power is in the hands of the employers, at least where the video game industry is concerned. The competition for jobs in that area is so fierce that employers get to pick whoever they want, with twenty more qualified applicants waiting in the wings. They're spoiled for choice.

Playdo wrote: »

Wasn't sure if it was wise to mention it, and make arranging things easier.

If they ask, then go ahead and mention it. There's no reason not to. I would just hesitate to bring it up yourself unless the company seems pretty serious about making an offer.