“What other companies are you interviewing with?” feels like a trap: say too much and you seem disloyal, say too little and you seem evasive or unwanted. In practice it is mostly a planning question. The interviewer wants to know how interested you are, how quickly they may need to move, and what they are competing against. You can answer all of that honestly without naming a single company.
What the interviewer is trying to learn
Recruitment firms that publish advice on this question give a consistent list of reasons. Hays says employers ask to check that you are genuinely interested, to see whether your search is organised and focused, to learn whether you are talking to competitors, and to judge how quickly they may need to move. Insight Global adds that other interviews can signal you are in demand, which may affect salary and benefit discussions. AscentHR also mentions that employers use the answer to understand the wider talent market and prevailing salaries.
So a good answer gives the employer three things: a sense of your timeline, a sense of what kind of roles you are considering, and a clear statement of where this job sits among them.
The ground rules
- You do not have to name companies. Hays, citing the career writer Liz Ryan, says plainly that you don’t have to name names; you can also keep job titles and interview dates to yourself. Insight Global and AscentHR give the same advice.
- Do not exaggerate. Hays warns against inflating the scale of your search or how far you have progressed, since employers may check what you say.
- Do not criticise the other employers. AscentHR lists negative comments about other opportunities among the things to avoid.
- Finish on this role. Whatever you say about the rest of your search, the last sentence should be about why this job interests you.
Within those rules, the right answer depends on your situation. The scenarios below cover the common ones.
Scenario 1: You are interviewing with several companies in the same field
This is the most common situation and the easiest. Describe the search in general terms: the type of organisation, the type of role and the stage you have reached.
Illustrative: “Yes, I’m in early conversations with two other logistics companies for operations roles, both at first-interview stage. I’ve been selective; I’m only applying for roles with a regional remit. Of the three, this one is the most interesting to me because of the warehouse automation project you described.”
Why it works: it gives the stage and the type of role without names, shows the search is focused, and ends with a specific reason that refers back to something said in the interview.
Scenario 2: This is your only interview
Here the advice differs. Insight Global recommends simply saying you have no other interviews and explaining why this role is a priority. Hays suggests not saying so directly, and instead explaining that you are applying selectively or that your search has only just started. Both approaches avoid dishonesty; they differ on how much to volunteer.
A sensible middle course is to be truthful and add the context that makes it a strength rather than a weakness:
Illustrative: “Not at the moment. I’m in a stable role, so I’ve only applied where the job is a clear step forward, and this is the first one I’ve pursued. It’s the combination of client work and team leadership that made me apply.”
What you should not do is invent other interviews to seem in demand. If the employer later asks about them, or makes an offer and asks about competing deadlines, the story will be hard to sustain.
Scenario 3: You already have an offer
Do not hide it. Hays says that if you have an offer you should acknowledge it, frame it generally and keep the focus on the role in front of you. An offer changes the employer’s timeline, and they would rather know now than lose you without warning.
Illustrative: “I’ve had an offer from another company in the sector and I’ve been asked to reply by the end of next week. I haven’t accepted it, because this role is closer to what I want, particularly the move into product. If there’s any flexibility on your timeline, it would help me make the right decision.”
Be accurate about the deadline. If you need more time from the other employer, ask them for it rather than pressuring this one with a date you have shortened.
Scenario 4: You are in final rounds with a direct competitor
You still do not need to name the company. Describing it as “another firm in the same sector” is enough to tell the interviewer the competition is real. If you are working under a confidentiality agreement with your current employer, or if the other process was confidential, that is an additional reason to stay general; saying so is acceptable.
Illustrative: “I’m at final stage with another company in the same market, so I expect a decision within a few weeks. I’d rather not name them, as that process has been handled confidentially. I’m telling you because I’d like to give this role full consideration, and I think it’s the better fit.”
Scenario 5: The interviewer presses for names
Occasionally an interviewer asks directly, “Which companies?” A polite refusal is usually accepted. Hays suggests describing the others by sector and the kind of roles they offer if pressed.
Illustrative: “I’d prefer to keep the names confidential, in the same way I’d keep this conversation confidential if another employer asked. I can tell you they’re mid-sized engineering consultancies, and the roles are similar in scope to this one.”
Linking your discretion to how you would treat this employer’s information turns a refusal into evidence of professionalism.
Scenario 6: You are applying to very different kinds of roles
Career changers and graduates often apply across sectors. That is not a problem in itself, but an answer that lists unrelated jobs can sound unfocused. Insight Global suggests using the question to describe the types of companies or industries you are considering and how your skills fit both those roles and this one.
Illustrative: “I’m looking at roles where I can use data analysis in a commercial setting, which has led me to a mix of retail and banking. They’re different sectors, but the common thread is analysing customer behaviour, which is also what this role centres on.”
Find the thread that links your applications, and lead with it.
Scenario 7: An agency recruiter asks
Recruiters working for an agency ask the same question, sometimes earlier and in more detail, because they need to manage timings with their client. The same rules apply: give stages and timelines, keep names to yourself unless you have a reason to share them, and be honest about offers. It is reasonable to ask the recruiter how the information will be used.
A quick reference
| Your situation | Share | Keep back |
|---|---|---|
| Several early interviews | Number, sector, stage | Company names, dates |
| No other interviews | That you are selective, and why this role | Nothing invented |
| An offer in hand | That you have one, and the real deadline | Company name, offer details unless relevant |
| Final stage with a competitor | Sector, expected timing | Name, especially if the process is confidential |
| Applications across sectors | The common thread | A long list of unrelated jobs |
Keep track so your answers stay consistent
If you are applying widely, keep a simple record of each application: the role, the date, the stage and any deadlines. It makes this question easy to answer accurately, and it stops you giving one interviewer a different timeline from the one you gave their colleague. Tailoring each application also helps; the cover letter guide and the resume builder make it quicker to adapt your documents to each role without losing track of what you sent where.
Frequently asked questions
Is it rude to refuse to name the other companies?
No. Recruitment advisers including Hays, Insight Global and AscentHR all say you do not need to name them. A polite explanation that you keep such conversations confidential is usually respected.
Will saying I have other interviews hurt my chances?
Usually not, provided you also make clear why this role interests you. Many employers assume active candidates are speaking to more than one company, and it can tell them they need to move promptly.
Should I mention a salary offered by another company?
Only if it is real and relevant, and usually later in the process when pay is being discussed. In an early interview, it is enough to say you have an offer and when you need to reply.
What if I am asked this in a first-round phone screen?
Give the same kind of answer in a shorter form: whether you are interviewing elsewhere, at what stage, and any deadline. A screen is often where the recruiter is planning the timeline.