Whether you are looking for an internship or your first job, it is very rare that you only apply to one job offer. If the idea is to maximize your chances of a job interview going well, it is important to prepare for the question “do you have any other avenues” so as not to be taken by surprise on the big day? .
This is one of the most common interview questions. Recruiters are aware that candidates are engaged in several recruitment processes simultaneously. It would therefore be a shame not to prepare for it in advance or to come up with a penalizing response.
What the recruiter is looking to know behind this question
If the recruiter asks you this question, it is because there is a good chance that your profile is of great interest to him and that he wants to have an idea of your value on the job market. It’s not just candidates who are competing, companies are also competing to find their rare gem and the profile that best suits their needs. The recruiter is looking to assess your wit and logic. If your answer is poorly structured or poorly worded, this may reveal several aspects of your personality and your sincerity in this case.
Having applied for several offers without any connection between them can also give a bad image of you. It is in fact recommended to have a well-defined field of activity and to apply for similar offers, in order to give the impression of not “applying at random”. This reveals your determination to enter a specific sector. “ This question, which I systematically ask at the start of the interview, simply allowing me to see what type of advertisements the candidate is applying for and to know if these are close to the position that I plan to offer him. » specifies Gaëlle Marre, associate director of the Office Team firm, Keljob.
Why shouldn’t you say too much during an interview?
If the recruiter asks you this question, the ideal is to answer sincerely, without going into details (name of the competing company, feelings about the interview, preferences, etc.). Just give an answer like: ”jI am currently in exchange with a company operating in the banking sector, for a credit analyst position to be filled on a work-study basis starting in September”. Giving more details than this could harm you.
Paradoxically, recruiters appreciate being in competition with other companies. This demonstrates the attractiveness of your profile. “ A candidate is necessarily more attractive if he is already being courted », confirms Yves Gautier, recruitment coach, specialized in job interviews, at Keljob. Having other job prospects can even create recruitment urgency and speed up your integration process within the company.
Things to absolutely avoid
If you have not yet had a job interview, you will naturally not have any other job offers. It is therefore preferable to favor sincerity and simply answer that you are at the beginning of your research and that your other avenues will start soon. “ It’s no shame not to have any other leads. Especially since there can be plenty of reasons that can explain this: a candidate who is just starting his/her approach and who has not yet put his CV on a job board, another who wants to target his research on a only one sector of activity or a last one which evolves in a very competitive sector… » explains the associate director of Office Team.
If the recruiter asks you how long ago you started your search, don’t lie. It is always better to answer questions truthfully rather than being tricked and seeing your chances of joining the company disappear.
Example of answers to give during the interview
To answer this question brilliantly, we recommend that you reflect on your motivations for joining the company and thus turn the question to your advantage.
It is important to be optimistic and avoid responses like: “If I am not involved in your company, I would not know what to do with my life, especially in such a complicated economic context”. On the contrary, it is recommended to provide compelling answers that highlight the company in question:
- “I do indeed have other avenues, but the opportunity that best meets my expectations is the one for which I am interviewing today. »
- “My choice is mainly focused on your company in view of its values and the possibilities for career development. »
- “Your offer is the one that appeals to me the most. If I applied to your company, it is not by chance. »
It is by supporting your words with arguments and in-depth knowledge of corporate culture and its values that you will succeed in gaining ground against other candidates. A key element differentiating the company and cited during the interview can work in your favor.
