It’s somewhat paradoxical that companies talk about how they’re different from their competitors, but also seem somewhat obsessed with them. If a competitor is interested in something, they’re going to be interested too, and it becomes like a game. They’ve got to prove they’re better. This is part of the nature of competition, but rather than plumb this philosophically let’s see how we can use this to make you more appealing to the companies you want to work for.

“I just want to be transparent with you and let you know that I am interviewing with some of your competitors.”

The truth is you become more valuable when you point out that other companies (especially competitors) see value in you. It helps prompt the action. You seem like a hot commodity and, yes, you’ve harnessed the company’s competitive instinct to work in your favor.

Create the Need for Urgency

This is something you have to be subtle about, but something to keep bringing up throughout the interview process. Let them know that the battle is on for you. Don’t overplay your hand by talking about any sort of offer received unless you’ve received one and you’re ready to act on it. If you say you have an offer, they’ll want to see it, especially if you’re in the negotiation phase.

Sending out an email to your recruiter or to a hiring manager asking where they are at in their decision-making process and explaining that you’re progressing with another firm in a separate interview process isn’t rude. In fact, it’s likely they’ll have more respect for you for sharing and being transparent.

The better you understand how your company thinks, the better chance you have at getting hired. And just about every company wants to beat out the competition every chance they can get. Understanding this can give you a solid edge in the hiring process.

About NextGen

NextGen is the brainchild of longtime telecom professionals with nearly 50 years of experience and millions of dollars in Telecom Recruiting Services. We focus on establishing long term relationships with our clients and candidates so we can recruit the best and the brightest in the telecom industry. This ‘quality over quantity’ approach is at the heart of everything we do and has resulted in successful job placements at Fortune 1000 firms worldwide.