Offer from a Different Field

So, I had a successful second interview for a copywriting position, and received this e-mail from the recruiter:

"Good news - you're on the 'short list' of top candidates for the copywriter position. I will know more by mid-week next week, but the next step is likely a quick writing project.

Please keep me posted if you think you will are getting close to offer stage with any other companies. I'll be in touch soon. Have a great weekend!"

Yay! So now I'm preparing by pouring through their website to prepare myself for the writing project.

My question is this:

I also had a second interview for a very different position (an assistant at a daycare center). The daycare center said they would give me their decision around mid-week as well. The copywriting position is the only copywriting position I applied for (because these positions seem to be few and far between, and the other ones I looked at didn't really appeal to me), and it is my first choice. So--if I get an offer from the daycare center, do I tell the recruiter? I want to appear competitive and in-demand, but if she asked what the offer is for, would I appear wishy-washy and not committed to copywriting?

If you're going to tell them, which you may want to do, then I'd hold back on telling them what exactly the position is and where because giving them that information won't help your position much. I'd say tell them if it were another copywriter position.

I think one wants to stay as quiet as possible and not say too much in interviews and communication with prospective employers. They'll use any tidbit of info you volunteer to them against you to eliminate you because there are so many other people out there available to work.

That's how I'd play it. Good luck.

Thanks! How would you go about politely declining to provide specific information if asked to do so by the recruiter/prospective employer? I would want to do so in a way that doesn't seem suspicious.

L in Boston, Massachusetts said: So, I had a successful second interview for a copywriting position, and received this e-mail from the recruiter:

"Good news - you're on the 'short list' of top candidates for the copywriter position. I will know more by mid-week next week, but the next step is likely a quick writing project.

Please keep me posted if you think you will are getting close to offer stage with any other companies. I'll be in touch soon. Have a great weekend!"

Yay! So now I'm preparing by pouring through their website to prepare myself for the writing project.

My question is this:

I also had a second interview for a very different position (an assistant at a daycare center). The daycare center said they would give me their decision around mid-week as well. The copywriting position is the only copywriting position I applied for (because these positions seem to be few and far between, and the other ones I looked at didn't really appeal to me), and it is my first choice. So--if I get an offer from the daycare center, do I tell the recruiter? I want to appear competitive and in-demand, but if she asked what the offer is for, would I appear wishy-washy and not committed to copywriting?

Don't tell them. They probably wouldn't understand if you said you had another offer at a day care center. They'd also expect it to be in copywriting, and these people have attitudes. Just pick the best offer that you get, and don't tell them you might get that offer at a daycare center.