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[helenlh]

Personally, I don't think it is a legit question for the SC to ask in the interview.
But, what if one of them asked: what are the other schools you have applied?

Any suggestions about how to handle this?
Thanks.

[larryc]

Smile. "Oh I have applied to a couple of other jobs. And you?"

[embitteredhistorian]

Smile. "Oh I have applied to a couple of other jobs. And you?"

PRICELESS!

I got this question in a post-doc app years ago (didn't get the job). Thinking back, I realize that the professor I would be working with was a real d-bag, so I'm glad I didn't get it, in hindsight. I told the truth, and I didn't get the position.

However, the person who did get it was much, much more qualified than me.

[imawakenow]

I received that question at a school where I interviewed.

I said, "I have several other interviews scheduled, but I'd rather not say at which schools." Then I just sat there. The person who asked it then moved on.

[ls410]

I've never been asked where I applied but in the interview for my current job, I was asked if I still had active applications (was a late in the year search).  They weren't interested so much in where, but more in letting the dean know there was still competition and thus a need to be speedy with decision making and paperwork.  I said something along the lines of "I've had several interviews but have not accepted any offers yet".

[carebearstare]

Depends on when it is in the season and what your status is at the other schools. When I was on the market, if I had campus interviews and this question came up, I simply said where I was interviewing. If I hadn't had an interview or was waiting after a phone interview, I said "I've put out a number of applications and am awaiting further contact." As someone else mentioned, this question usually comes in order to provide information about how competitive you are, not to be sneaky, sabotage other searches, etc.

[shamu]

But, what if one of them asked: what are the other schools you have applied?

"I wish I were at liberty to discuss the 5 offers I had already received, but I am awaiting answers from a few more schools, plus, of course, this one."

[shamu]

On a more serious note, the context is critical. Did they ask that because they are thinking of who they need to compete with or just out of curiosity? In any event, a generic answer could be: "I only responded to ads for which I was a good fit at places I would really enjoy working. I thought long and hard of each position, and I think I would be an excellent fit for the ones to which I applied."

[mozman]

I was asked variants of this on all my interviews.  I always said some version of "You know how it is, we all have multiple irons in the fire."  

One place ("State U") knew I had an offer from a different, better institution ("Ivy").  The chair of the State U search committee had never heard of me (he was in a different subfield) and called up his buddy at Ivy who was in my subfield.

Chair: "Hey buddy, what do you know about mozman?"

Buddy:  "I think he's great - we just offered him a job."

(I actually had received the offer phone call from Ivy while waiting in the airport to interview at State U)

I found out about this afterward and it pissed me off - I felt it was a breach of confidentiality.

Ended up getting offers from both places but didn't take either one.

mm

[larryc]

Shamu's answer is excellent.

[sagit]

Perhaps answer the question as if they had asked: What kinds of schools have you applied to?

Respond in a way that describes the type of school or type of position you are hoping to get.  For example, Oh yes, I have also applied to other small liberal arts schools.  I am very interested in working closely with undergraduates in the classroom and my research lab.  

If you don't like the question, just answer one that you do like :)  If they're not idiots they'll leave it at that.  If they are idiots and press you, use one of the other fine responses on this thread.

[dr_prephd]

Respond in a way that describes the type of school or type of position you are hoping to get.  For example, Oh yes, I have also applied to other small liberal arts schools.  I am very interested in working closely with undergraduates in the classroom and my research lab. 

Yes, this. You can answer a lot of intrusive questions this way. I have been getting some that are along the lines of that, and I usually answer that I'm looking for a small college with a large sense of community and a student-centered environment blah blah blah. Of course, I really mean it. I do.

[biologist_]

I got this question a lot when I was applying for grad school.  I always gave a complete answer.  The PI's asking the question knew most or all of the other people/programs to whom I had applied, so they always said something about how I couldn't go wrong with those choices, etc.

I would feel less comfortable answering during a TT interview, but Shamu and Sagitta sound right.

[squidward]

I don't expect the question is illegal, but it can certainly make you wary as a candidate.  On the other hand, it may be that the people asking are actually concerned about the outcome of your job search.  If they think you are qualified enough to bring to campus along with several other highly qualified people, and spend some time getting to know you, maybe they feel bad that they can only offer one person the job.  It can be nice to know that you have other prospects and perhaps won't be unemployed if they can't offer you the job.

Of course, maybe knowing that you've got other interviews makes you more attractive - if other people are interested in you, you must be great.  Or it just re-affirms their assessment of you.

[dr_prephd]

I don't expect the question is illegal

This is where the conundrum lies. There are no questions that are "illegal." It is, however, illegal to discriminate based upon certain information, which is why HR makes people shy away from asking certain questions (about marital status, for example). If those questions were asked, and a person felt they were discriminated against based upon their answers, then they would have a possible law suit on thier hands. Therefore, the SCs tend not to ask those questions officially.

However, and this is a big however, all sorts of people can and do ask all sorts of questions, none of which are illegal. Answer as you feel best able to given the circumstances, and remind yourself that you probably don't want a job at a place where people will discriminate against you because of your marital status, your race, gender, age, religion, or the other places where you've applied. In other words, just be you, to the best of your ability.