• Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
  • Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!

Unsuccessful interviews - never used to!

Collapse
X
  •  
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    #11
    'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

    Comment


      #12
      Wait till agents want you to sit a prove-it test before they will even submit you!

      https://www.proveit.com/default.htm

      Comment


        #13
        Originally posted by CloudWalker View Post
        Wait till agents want you to sit a prove-it test before they will even submit you!

        https://www.proveit.com/default.htm
        Brainbench is also a popular pre-interview screen.
        Never has a man been heard to say on his death bed that he wishes he'd spent more time in the office.

        Comment


          #14
          Originally posted by Stevie Wonder Boy
          I used to feel that way about them, but I've gotten quite a few gigs straight off the phone interview, now I look forward to them. I'm guessing you may have a slight lack of confidence? Think about doing a bit more preperation before the call. It sounds strange, but I try to have my CV and job description in front of me. So you are in effect seeing the same info as the interviewer. Also a good google on the company will help as you can sometimes be quizzed on that area. Maybe a google on industry trends for you skill. Just be ready to go when you get on the call. The other thing I try to do is just be myself and treat it like a project call where I'm being introduced to new people.
          +1

          Preperation is key. My memory is tulip at the best of times so I also write keywords onto my CV that I might want to drop into the conversation.

          I've been successful in all but one of my phone interviews and I've had a few over the years.

          Comment


            #15
            Originally posted by Batcher View Post
            +1

            Preperation is key. My memory is tulip at the best of times so I also write keywords onto my CV that I might want to drop into the conversation.

            I've been successful in all but one of my phone interviews and I've had a few over the years.
            For my second contract, I was warned that the guy interviewing me was an expert in this area and they needed someone at the same kind of level. I knew I wasn't at that level in that particular part of the Oracle schema, so boned up on it and when the call came sat with diagrams and slides printed out all around me.

            He never mentioned the technology at all during the interview, though.
            Best Forum Advisor 2014
            Work in the public sector? You can read my FAQ here
            Click here to get 15% off your first year's IPSE membership

            Comment


              #16
              Originally posted by psychocandy View Post
              ....Also seems to be a lot of tech type interviews recently... More than normal I'd say but hey ho....
              We are currently looking for a replacement for someone leaving. In 1 month i interviewed about 6 applicants with semi-decent CVs (binned 30 or so CVs sent by the agents) and 10+ years of contracting experience in the technology. All of them fail to answer half of the basic questions and none of them understands how the technology works.

              I don't understand how some hired them for their previous gigs, the only explanation that comes to mind that there was no technical interview or the person doing it was at the same level.

              So my guess is more people started realizing how many contractors are out there only relying on CV and lacking actual skills to do the job and started including technical interviews as part of the recruitment process.

              Comment

              Working...
              X