"We’ve all been there. You’re talking to someone in a romantic setting, and if you’re being honest, you’re not super into it. Then, someone else expresses interest in them, and everything changes. Something primal kicks in, and suddenly, you see this potential partner for all their pros. I mean, they’re so in demand. You clearly must have missed something in your initial judgment if they’re such a catch!
It’s a classic trope. In When Harry Met Sally, Harry realizes his love for Sally only after seeing her with someone else. In Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy fights his attraction to Elizabeth until seeing her with Wickham (real or not) makes him jealous. However, this phenomenon isn’t limited to romance—it’s coming up in the workplace, too. Being “in demand” might actually be the secret to landing a job you’re interviewing for—even if you have to create the illusion (er… lie) that you are.
Let’s get one thing clear: The Everygirl does not usually cosign lying, especially lying in interviews. Greatly overselling your skills, like saying you know how to code when you can barely figure out how to update your laptop, or completely making up parts of your resume, will almost always come back to bite you in the butt. However, this tip comes straight from hiring experts who agree that seemingly in-demand candidates actually have the upper hand. Ahead, we’re getting into how this can work to your advantage and what you should know before actually trying it.
How creating the perception of demand can help you land a job
Hiring experts on TikTok recommend that candidates always respond “yes” when asked, “Are you currently interviewing elsewhere?”—even if the role in question is the only one they’ve applied for. Recruiter Hanna Gets Hired and interviewing expert Anna Papalia both shared in a video that this tactic can make you look more in demand and less desperate, which can help you land a job faster and negotiate a better salary. It’s human nature to want what we can’t have, according to Papalia: “The less you want it, the more they want you.” Apparently, a sense of competition and scarcity is just as effective in job interviews as it is in dating.
Hanna Gets Hired agreed in her TikTok, pointing out that we associate scarcity with quality. “When we see something that is in high demand and comes with a high price tag, we automatically assume it’s better quality,” she explains. Luxury fashion pieces, like designer handbags, are a great example of this. With that in mind, “[A hiring manager’s] perception of your willingness to walk away from a job opportunity is one of your greatest pieces of leverage in landing a job,” Hanna explained. Basically, they aren’t going to want to lose you.
How to leverage the tactic in interviews and negotiations
So, if this little white lie gives you so much bargaining power, how can you make sure you’re using it to its fullest potential? It doesn’t require much beyond confidently maintaining that you have other job interviews. If asked directly whether you’re actively interviewing, answer yes. If there’s a follow-up question about where you’re interviewing, you can just say, “I would prefer to keep that confidential.” It really is that simple.
“[A hiring manager’s] perception of your willingness to walk away from a job opportunity is one of your greatest pieces of leverage.”
In addition to this, when asked about salary expectations, Hanna Gets Hired even recommended responding, “I’m interviewing for positions that pay X dollars.” Once you get an offer, use a competing job (real or fictional) to negotiate a higher compensation package. Hanna emphasized that there should always be an undertone of how important compensation is and that you’re willing to take your skills somewhere else if that means you will be compensated appropriately.
So, is lying that you’re in demand a smart move?
If you’re still skeptical, the proof is in the pudding (or, well, the comment section). Many users shared how they put this tip into practice and the results it yielded. One person commented that after telling an interviewer they had other interviews lined up, the company sent them an offer letter that night for a higher position than the one they had originally applied for. Another user witnessed this firsthand in their workplace: An intern initially had their request for a full-time position rejected, but once the hiring manager heard that the intern had received a full-time offer elsewhere, they quickly hired them, rejecting the shortlist of candidates who had already gone through five rounds of interviews.
Now, we can’t say for sure that this small tweak will be the deciding factor between a job offer or not, but it’s definitely worth a try in your next interview. Who knows? You might just speak another interview or a new job into existence. Just don’t let it lead you down a slippery slope of résumé fibs.
Lauren Blue, Assistant Editor
As an Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Lauren ideates and writes content for every facet of our readers’ lives. Her articles span the topics of must-read books, movies, home tours, travel itineraries—and everything in between. When she isn’t testing the latest TikTok trend, she can be found scouring Goodreads for new releases to feature on the site.