New gig offer not quite what it seemed

[Roger Mellie]

Hi all,

I'm new to CUK but have been a long time lurker, mainly finding out what I need from previous posts and threads. However, I'm now in a strange situation with a potential gig which I wonder if any of you could advise me on.

Had an interview earlier this week with a large Consultancy which consisted of discussing my experience, a grilling via their technical guy in the interview and general HR type questioning. Position was for someone to be based at their client's site along with client permies. Turned out the previous contractor got a new gig and left, so I'm his replacement.

Yesterday, I was made an offer via the agency and all seemed well. Now the agency have called me to advise that the client's client (namely a permie on-site) wants to speak with me before a formal offer is to be made, I have to call him at a specific time today. Agent told me "the on-site permie wants to just talk with you first before a formal offer is issued. We'll set up the time for today and give you the number to call". In my head I was thinking "why should I have to make the call?" but I remained professional and polite so agreed to make the call once I had the details. I was then asked to try and hide the fact I'm a contractor who is going to be the prospective new bloke at the consultancy. I sort of agreed but stated that if I'm asked directly then of course I will have to tell the truth. Agent agreed with this approach, or should I say, seemed to agree. To be honest, I have no idea what these people think, so am probably naive to assume he agreed with me just on face value.

I have no issues with going a long with this, but something tells me that the permie wants to conduct his own interview with me. And if he's not satisfied then I don't get the gig. It's only an assumption, but the interview process to get this far was like jumping through hoops. So I didn't really expect this 'next stage' after a verbal offer?

BTW, I'm not interested in suing, legal threats or grabs for money. Nothing is signed, offer was verbal and was meant to be sorted this morning. Now this? I just feel a little uncomfortable with the fact I've been told to call someone who, I think, will actually decide my fate?

Really not sure on this one. First time for me that this has cropped up.

Your thoughts would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

Roger.

P.S. sorry for the bad grammar.

[SlipTheJab]

I would go with the call, can't hurt if you've come this far. Maybe the bloke just wants a quick chat to make sure you're a 'team fit'?

[Roger Mellie]

I would go with the call, can't hurt if you've come this far. Maybe the bloke just wants a quick chat to make sure you're a 'team fit'?

Apologies, I should have added that I intend to go with the flow and be professional. Just a first for me, thought I'd already cleared the hurdles.

Many thanks for your advice.

[gigahoe]

You've got no alternative really, other than declining and walking away. I guess you're right in that the people on site are wary about someone new coming in when the last person left mid project. Perhaps they weren't working out thus the client wanting to vet the people.

I'm in a similar position, in that I contract to an outsourcing company and am then on site with one of their clients. So although the outsourcing company are the people that pay my invoices and therefore are the ones I need to keep on side, the reality is I have two 'bosses'.

[SlipTheJab]

You've got no alternative really, other than declining and walking away. I guess you're right in that the people on site are wary about someone new coming in when the last person left mid project. Perhaps they weren't working out thus the client wanting to vet the people.

I'm in a similar position, in that I contract to an outsourcing company and am then on site with one of their clients. So although the outsourcing company are the people that pay my invoices and therefore are the ones I need to keep on side, the reality is I have two 'bosses'.

NLUK will be along in a minute to chastise you

[dty]

NLUK will be along in a minute to chastise you

He used quotes and everything!

[Roger Mellie]

You've got no alternative really, other than declining and walking away. I guess you're right in that the people on site are wary about someone new coming in when the last person left mid project. Perhaps they weren't working out thus the client wanting to vet the people.

I'm in a similar position, in that I contract to an outsourcing company and am then on site with one of their clients. So although the outsourcing company are the people that pay my invoices and therefore are the ones I need to keep on side, the reality is I have two 'bosses'.

Thanks, yes that does make perfect sense. Haven't received a time as yet - so sitting here biting my nails and wondering what's going on

[gigahoe]

He used quotes and everything!

Yep, that's my pathetic preemptive defense!

[JRCT]

I think that seems perfectly reasonable. Doesn't happen very often, but if you're going to be working closely with this guy, then maybe he wants someone that he can get along with and that fits into the culture of the place - that's important to some organisations - rather than test your technical skills or experience.

What I do find bizarre is the agent asking you not to reveal yourself. Surely this guy has requested that you phone him, therefore he knows who you are and why you're phoning. How can he ask you any questions if he doesn't know who you are? What are you going to pretend to be, an insurance salesman?

[FatLazyContractor]

Forget what NLUK is going to say, but please make a few things clear here:

As I understand, the entities are you(Contractor), Agency, Consultancy, End Client. The End Client is consultancy's client. You are entering into a contract with the agency to work for the Consultancy. And you are at the Consultancy's grace on who you will be working for (the End client in this case). The agent tells you to hide the fact that you are a contractor and instead make it appear like a permie at the Consultancy.

Is this the story?

If it is, I then have a suspicion on the relationship between the Client and the Consultancy and I'd presume the client was bitten by the previous contractor supplied by the Consultancy and want to be tulip clear about who will work.

That said, Agency gets paid by the Consultancy and not the end client. What is the status of your Opt-out?

If the end client says NO, what will happen to the contract between you and the agent?