How to Answer "Are You Interviewing With Other Companies?"

Give an honest, brief account of where you are in your search, then explain what interests you about this opportunity. If you have a real decision deadline, mention it. You do not need to turn the answer into a list of employers or pretend that interviews are offers.

Indeed's guidance on this question emphasizes honesty and a general description of your search. The practical distinction is between useful scheduling information and private details that do not help the conversation.

Match your answer to your actual situation

These are illustrative responses, not scripts to repeat regardless of the facts.

You are having early conversations

I'm speaking with a few teams about operations roles, mostly at the first-conversation stage. I'm particularly interested in this position because it combines process improvement with day-to-day team support.

This tells the recruiter that your search is active without manufacturing urgency. Replace the reason with something genuinely relevant to the role.

You are further along elsewhere

I'm in a later interview stage with another company, but I don't have an offer or a decision deadline. I'd appreciate understanding your next steps so I can coordinate my availability.

Do not call a scheduled final interview an expected offer. The distinction matters if someone asks for dates or offers to accelerate the process.

You have an offer with a deadline

I have another offer with a response deadline of Friday, October 9. I'm still interested in this role. Is it realistic to complete the remaining conversations before then?

Use the actual date, including the time zone if relevant. Ask what is possible rather than demanding a decision. You can also ask the offering employer for more time, but neither organization has to change its process.

This is your only active interview

This is my only active interview process right now. I'm targeting roles where I can work closely with customers and improve onboarding, which is why this opening caught my attention.

That is a complete answer. There is no need to apologize, invent competitors, or explain every unsuccessful application.

If they ask which companies

You can describe the type of role or industry without sharing names:

I'd prefer to keep the company names private while those conversations are ongoing, but the roles are similar in scope. I'm happy to share any timing constraints that affect this process.

Keep the tone matter-of-fact. A recruiter may simply be trying to understand your search; a privacy boundary does not need to sound accusatory. Do not disclose another employer's confidential assessment material or negotiation details.

Avoid turning interest into a promise

"You're my first choice" is unnecessary if it is not true. "I'm interested because..." lets you show enthusiasm while continuing to evaluate the manager, work, and terms. Likewise, do not promise to accept an offer before you know what it includes.

Before the call, write down your actual stage, any confirmed deadline, and one reason for your interest. Then prepare for the broader recruiter screen. Your goal is accurate coordination, not winning a competition over who has the most interviews.