am I obligated to tell interviewers that I’m considering other jobs?

This post, am I obligated to tell interviewers that I’m considering other jobs? , was originally published by Alison Green on Ask a Manager.

A reader writes:

When during the interview process is the right time to disclose that I am also pursuing other opportunities? Am I even obligated to disclose other opportunities to a potential new job? Is it wrong to see through an interview process if I’m not sure I even want the role in the end?

I have been in my current position for 10 years and I’m ready to make a move. So I started thinking about what’s next for me and began seeking new job opportunities.

Early in my search, I was contacted by a recruiter about a great position with lots of growth potential at another mission-oriented organization. The hiring process was very intense, took about six weeks, and entailed many meetings (virtual and in-person), test assignments, calls, etc. The recruiter did explain to me up-front what the process and timeline would look like and I agreed to it. However, during the process I realized that I have concerns about the organization, the role, and my ability to deliver as expected. Being new to this process and looking out for my own best interests, I never volunteered any of my doubts or concerns, and I never shared that I was continuing to assess other opportunities. I continued into each new step thinking “well, maybe…” and decided not to let my doubts affect my thoughts until the time came that I received an offer. Well, the interview process went well and I was surprised to receive a great offer well above the listed salary. The hiring team indicated that I was the perfect, and only, candidate for the job and they were excited for my acceptance.

While the offer feels almost too good to be true, and I now have dollar signs for eyes, there was still something holding me back from accepting right away — especially one other job I’m interviewing for that is well paid and fun with a remote schedule.

When I asked for time to think the offer over, things took a weird turn with both the recruiter (who seemed shocked I had doubts and was still entertaining other offers) and the hiring team, who seemed to think I was going to be an immediate “yes!” These reactions have triggered some self-doubt around whether I was wrong not to be clear with both the recruiter and the hiring manager that I had other irons in the fire. Should I have told them sooner?

From my perspective, I was led to believe that I was one of several candidates they were considering, so I certainly couldn’t have been sure that I would even receive an offer. When I expressed that to the recruiter, she indicated that I had been the only candidate for several weeks and much of the latter half of the hiring process was formality to get me into the role. Apparently, the hiring team thought I was a sure thing and is now scrambling back at square one with no chance of hiring someone before a staff member is out on medical leave.

After much reflection, I don’t think I’ll accept the offer. I’m in the early-mid stages of interviewing for other roles I am very excited about, and I know I can’t accept the first big offer I get just because the money is good if I don’t feel confident about the role being a good fit for me. I also recognize that however the hiring team and recruiter feel about my “no,” that doesn’t really matter and isn’t my concern. I have to do what’s best for me. But I can’t help but feel a little shaken by the whole thing.

So, as I forge ahead in my job hunt, how should I approach this moving forward? Is it best to keep everything close to the chest and always act 100% in my own interest, chips falling where they may? Or is it my obligation to be clear and up-front with a potential job about whether I am pursuing other roles as well since it may affect their hiring timeline or desire to keep other candidates in the running? Obviously I don’t think saying “I’m not sure if I want this job” is in my best interest during an interview process, but I feel bad now that this hiring team seems genuinely shocked. Is that just business, or should I be handling it differently?

They are being really weird.

It’s one thing for a hiring team to be a little surprised when a candidate doesn’t accept their offer. As a hiring manager, sometimes a candidate is so enthusiastic during your conversations that you do start feeling pretty confident they’ll accept (although even then, nothing is ever guaranteed and who knows if you’ll be able to come to terms on salary or other details). But it would be bizarre to assume a candidate isn’t talking to other employers too, or to believe they should disclose it if they are … and I don’t know why they would assume you knew (or cared!) that you were their only candidate. That is not how this works.

You do not need to explicitly tell employers that you’re pursuing other opportunities. It’s normally assumed, just like you assume they are talking with other candidates. (Frankly, if a candidate who actively wanted to change jobs was talking exclusively with me because they had their heart set on this particular position, I’d be concerned! There are never any guarantees at the end of an interview process, on either side.) Reasonable employers assume you have options and are looking at multiple jobs.

And no, it’s not wrong to see through an interview process if you’re not sure you’ll want the job at the end of it. The whole point of an interview process is for both sides to learn more about each other and each decide if they want to work together. You presumably don’t expect employers to only interview you if they’re sure they’ll make you an offer at the end of it, and it would be wildly unreasonable in the other direction too. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen — I hear from candidates all the time who were shocked they didn’t get hired, and there are interviewers who can’t believe their candidates have other options — but it’s not normal behavior, and you don’t need to plan your own conduct around it.