Had an interview with a start-up, which was to be a direct contract (through a friend). Didn't have too much info before I arrived, but was told they had a new project / module that they needed developing for their core platform. It was work at home, decent rate, using own gear, cloud-based source control - brilliant, I thought!
Naturally, with them being a startup with limited staff and funds, they want someone who's as flexible as possible. I have learned not to be *quite* as flexible as I was when I was a permie (i.e. I generally don't let clients move me between projects, and make sure everything is stipulated in the contract itself), and to ask the right questions at interview stage. I make sure my contracts and working practices align with SDC / MOO (in spite of the constant battle against the grain and the chagrin of most of my clients).
During the interview, client said they needed this new module writing, but after getting some clarification, they mentioned "employing" me (despite also mentioning IR35 to me, and stating that their contract was IR35 friendly), and that I would work in exactly the same way as all their existing staff. They also said that they needed the flexibility to move me between modules / projects on a whim (based on their own client's requirements changing rapidly), and that my tasks would be allocated to me using agile / sprint / kanban - but I would not be making decisions or doing any architectural design - merely picking a card up and writing code. This raised some red flags, mainly because I always tend to be the technical lead on full life-cycle projects, and am usually the one making technical decisions and creating / allocating tasks to other devs on the team.
Anyway, I mentioned that I would want the projects I'd be working on specified in the contract, whilst trying my hardest to explain SDC without going into too much detail. Suffice to say that they didn't seem very keen on the idea (as they wanted total flexibility of what work I did). Interview ended pretty abruptly after that, with some frustrated looks on the client's faces. One of the interviewers even said he was a contractor for 15 years and never once came across SDC, and thought I was ill advised.
Suppose this is primarily cathartic, but keen on hearing what others think of this situation? Dodged a bullet, or have I just come across as awkward?
Naturally, with them being a startup with limited staff and funds, they want someone who's as flexible as possible. I have learned not to be *quite* as flexible as I was when I was a permie (i.e. I generally don't let clients move me between projects, and make sure everything is stipulated in the contract itself), and to ask the right questions at interview stage. I make sure my contracts and working practices align with SDC / MOO (in spite of the constant battle against the grain and the chagrin of most of my clients).
During the interview, client said they needed this new module writing, but after getting some clarification, they mentioned "employing" me (despite also mentioning IR35 to me, and stating that their contract was IR35 friendly), and that I would work in exactly the same way as all their existing staff. They also said that they needed the flexibility to move me between modules / projects on a whim (based on their own client's requirements changing rapidly), and that my tasks would be allocated to me using agile / sprint / kanban - but I would not be making decisions or doing any architectural design - merely picking a card up and writing code. This raised some red flags, mainly because I always tend to be the technical lead on full life-cycle projects, and am usually the one making technical decisions and creating / allocating tasks to other devs on the team.
Anyway, I mentioned that I would want the projects I'd be working on specified in the contract, whilst trying my hardest to explain SDC without going into too much detail. Suffice to say that they didn't seem very keen on the idea (as they wanted total flexibility of what work I did). Interview ended pretty abruptly after that, with some frustrated looks on the client's faces. One of the interviewers even said he was a contractor for 15 years and never once came across SDC, and thought I was ill advised.
Suppose this is primarily cathartic, but keen on hearing what others think of this situation? Dodged a bullet, or have I just come across as awkward?
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