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Firm A in Market X, which you really, really want, gives you a callback and asks where else you have callbacks.

Problem is, all of your other callbacks right now are in Market Y, but you have applied to firms in Market X and haven't heard back yet. You tell the firm you really want to work in Market X, which is completely true, but don't mention that you are also applying to Market Y.

If Firm A asks about other callbacks, should I bother mentioning callbacks in Market Y if the firms in Y are similarly ranked or higher ranked vault firms even though they are in Market Y? I really would prefer to work in Market X, but Market Y has been more responsive so far. I don't want to sound like I would prefer to work in Market Y, simply because I have more callbacks there.

This happened to me recently on cb interviews. I'd rather not get into details. I think, honestly, it's a gossipy/middleschoolish impulse. Who else is interested in you? I was frank about my interest in both markets, but made it clear it was a 50/50 split between the two and that good fit with a firm would seal the deal. I never told them any specifics on cbs. Just said, I have several, and since this season is moving slower than others, I didn't think my current cbs would be really representative of my bidding strategy ... and then pivoted back to why the firm I was at was a good fit (for really legit, sincere, resume/experience/interest-based reasons).

In other words, get good at not answering while giving a set of reassuring reasons why not answering is appropriate. I really liked the firm I was at, so my vibe was that the other firms were 2nd choices.

But the #1 takeaway here is this is a ? you gotta be prepared for, regardless of the specific response. I think evasion was ok for me ... no one pressed me on it. I don't think it hurt me but time will tell.