Secured job interview but

[psychocandy]

Absolutely this and IMO is part of the skills a contractor has. Our job is to get work. The bit on client site is easy. Hell, even the permies can do it. If it's your job to get work surely knowing how the process works is pretty fundamental. Getting upset because you are being messed about a bit as 2nd option is permie mentality.

Perhaps I've missed something. How was the OP 2nd option? He was asked to attend an interview. Unless told otherwise I would assume I was being interviewed on an equal basis to a number of other candidates. Client then would decide who, if any, they wanted.

No-one goes to an interview if client says we've got someone lined up but we want to see you just in case.

Its not about having experience in building teams, its about being fair to people. If you have a position, if you invite someone to interview, at least give them all an equal chance and decide afterwards. Anything else is just being a nobhead in my book.

[northernladuk]

The thing is, a lot of times you know that you already have the best guy for the "job".
Especially if you are recruiting a true specialist role and have contacts in industry,technical forums etc.

Yeah. I think the client took a risk not seeing someone else in case the first guy gives backword but if they interviewed him Wednesday and he's sat there Monday then the risk has evaporates. Every case is dependant on what the client wants so there is no real standard process.

You get a bunch of CVs so you interview the strongest candidate first. Could save you some time. It's not common you are all on an equal footing. Quite often someone will shine so you see them first. Thinking you are on an equal footing with everyone else is a mistake.

[northernladuk]

Perhaps I've missed something. How was the OP 2nd option? He was asked to attend an interview. Unless told otherwise I would assume I was being interviewed on an equal basis to a number of other candidates. Client then would decide who, if any, they wanted.

No-one goes to an interview if client says we've got someone lined up but we want to see you just in case.

Its not about having experience in building teams, its about being fair to people. If you have a position, if you invite someone to interview, at least give them all an equal chance and decide afterwards. Anything else is just being a nobhead in my book.

Am glad I can't see this type of crap so I don't have to respond. Being fair to people? From the mercenary guy. What a crock of tulip.

Not understanding how it works and calling other people nobheads because you don't is being a nobhead.

[MrMarkyMark]

Perhaps I've missed something. How was the OP 2nd option? He was asked to attend an interview. Unless told otherwise I would assume I was being interviewed on an equal basis to a number of other candidates. Client then would decide who, if any, they wanted.

No-one goes to an interview if client says we've got someone lined up but we want to see you just in case.

Its not about having experience in building teams, its about being fair to people. If you have a position, if you invite someone to interview, at least give them all an equal chance and decide afterwards. Anything else is just being a nobhead in my book.

You are assuming all people are equal, they are most certainly not.
For example there may be a rate range on offer, across a number of similar roles, not everyone is purchased at the same day rate.
To attract a known person they may get £100 PD over another, its just the way it is. As experienced contractors they know not to discuss rate, with others, so no issues.

Anyway, this all adds up to running projects that deliver. If its my "job" to deliver them, then I will make that happen, equal chances, being fair, perceived as a "nobhead" don't come into it.

This:-

You get a bunch of CVs so you interview the strongest candidate first. Could save you some time. It's not common you are all on an equal footing. Quite often someone will shine so you see them first. Thinking you are on an equal footing with everyone else is a mistake.

[DallasDad]

3h before I was due to attend they ask if they can move it to the next day?
I say fine but the next morning they phone and say the position has gone as they interviewed someone yesterday

You perhaps were too accommodating.
You should have twigged what they (agent?) probably were up to and insisted on them keeping original appointment.
You may not have got the interview or subsequent gig but you would have kept the upper hand.

Console yourself you may not have been 2nd at all!
There is of course the alternative reason - agent shafted you saying to the client that you could not attend because they had someone else in mind willing to take a lower rate to put forward that gave the agent a bigger cut.

[northernladuk]

You perhaps were too accommodating.

What's he going to do, tell them in no uncertain terms they WILL interview him as agreed? I don't think so.

You should have twigged what they (agent?) probably were up to and insisted on them keeping original appointment.

You can't assume everytime an interview changes someone is up to no good. Even if they are it's non of your business. You have to dance to the tune or not at all at interview stage.

You may not have got the interview or subsequent gig but you would have kept the upper hand.

But he never had the upper hand.

Console yourself you may not have been 2nd at all!

One person got the gig. OP didn't. Oh, you mean he could have been 3rd or 4th?

There is of course the alternative reason - agent shafted you saying to the client that you could not attend because they had someone else in mind willing to take a lower rate to put forward that gave the agent a bigger cut.

Possibly but it's a poor model. Clients aren't going to stick around with agents that are so blatantly obvious. A better model for the agent is to give a quality service and the client sticks with them surely.

You can't read bad things in to every situation else you are going to end up client/agent hating like some members here and then making mistakes or not playing the game properly because you are blinkered by your opinion. OP didn't get the gig so going on an agent hating trip isn't going to achieve anything anyway. A bigger man would just suck it up and carry on looking.

[billybiro]

So they interviewed someone they wanted, put the offer to them, they accepted next day so didn't need to see you. You've not lost anything as you were in second place. It's how the game goes.

Unfortunately, it can go like that, yes.

However, isn't it strange how, when you've interviewed with a client and they take a day or two to decide they want you and offer the contract, and in the mean time you've interviewed elsewhere and already accepted another offer, so you turn down the original clients offer they (and the agent) get all pissy and they really don't see that as "how the game goes".

What's good for the goose and all that.....

[SueEllen]

Perhaps I've missed something. How was the OP 2nd option? He was asked to attend an interview. Unless told otherwise I would assume I was being interviewed on an equal basis to a number of other candidates. Client then would decide who, if any, they wanted.

No-one goes to an interview if client says we've got someone lined up but we want to see you just in case.

Its not about having experience in building teams, its about being fair to people. If you have a position, if you invite someone to interview, at least give them all an equal chance and decide afterwards. Anything else is just being a nobhead in my book.

Clients can and do only interview one candidate.

[LondonManc]

Yeah. I think the client took a risk not seeing someone else in case the first guy gives backword but if they interviewed him Wednesday and he's sat there Monday then the risk has evaporates. Every case is dependant on what the client wants so there is no real standard process.

You get a bunch of CVs so you interview the strongest candidate first. Could save you some time. It's not common you are all on an equal footing. Quite often someone will shine so you see them first. Thinking you are on an equal footing with everyone else is a mistake.

Bingo. If you're a perfect fit at the right price, why waste your time (as the interviewer) and that of others by interviewing people that you're only going to, on a psychological basis, be trying to find reasons not to take on now you've already found who you perceive to be best fit, especially if they're on a higher day rate. Depending upon the agent's commission model would drive whether he'd push a higher (percentage commission) or lower rate (fixed budget).

[MrMarkyMark]

Clients can and do only interview one candidate.

This. Had one just recently, luckily they only had one person to let down, when the budget was pulled, me