"Are you currently pursuing other opportunities?" and overeagerness

[kaitz33]

I had a phone interview yesterday where I was asked if I was pursuing other opportunities. I was a little unsure of what this question was asking.. Was it asking if I was job searching or was it asking if other companies were in the process of interviewing me?

I answered honestly.. I stopped job searching about a month ago because of demands from my current position, and also I am doing a very targeted job search for positions in this category (which aren't many). I am currently employed and my company is aware that I'm job searching but asked that I hold off until November because of a lot of vacations in Oct. I agreed simply because I was promised a glowing recommendation and also help finding another job (I did not share this). Plus, I have been job searching under the radar for over a year with no offers, so I figured what's another month off?

So is it better to be pursuing other ops or not? Because this company has extensive training I felt that it may be a way to screen people who were just looking for any job and that might leave with another offer. Is that a correct assumption? Or do they think that I'm a loser because no one else is interested?

Also, I was incredibly over eager in the interview. I did make it to stage two (which is 4 hours of testing, btw), but should I tone it down? Do hiring managers appreciate enthusiasm or are they likening it to desperation at this point?

I am really bad at interviews but I really, really think I could do this job well and it has everything I'm looking for. I just want this search to be over so I can concentrate on the rest of my life again.

thanks