Debate !

[weemster]

What is most important whilst in a contract 1) Your ability to do the job OR
2) The ability to fit in.

i.e Contractor#1 tulip hot but hasn't really grasped the art of team work OR Contractor#2 Not as tulip hot (lets say half a good for arguments sake) but has grasped the art and is able to stimulate better cohesion in the team ?

[BrilloPad]

What is most important whilst in a contract 1) Your ability to do the job OR
2) The ability to fit in.

i.e Contractor#1 tulip hot but hasn't really grasped the art of team work OR Contractor#2 Not as tulip hot (lets say half a good for arguments sake) but has grasped the art and is able to stimulate better cohesion in the team ?

Could we have a poll? plus andyw option.

I think these days you need BOTH. When I started either was sufficient.....

[cupidstunt]

What is most important whilst in a contract 1) Your ability to do the job OR
2) The ability to fit in.

i.e Contractor#1 tulip hot but hasn't really grasped the art of team work OR Contractor#2 Not as tulip hot (lets say half a good for arguments sake) but has grasped the art and is able to stimulate better cohesion in the team ?

Can contractor#1 be tought to be become a team player?
Can contrctor#2 be trained up to be on a par with #1 given time?

[weemster]

Could we have a poll? plus andyw option.

I think these days you need BOTH. When I started either was sufficient.....

Good Point !

In answer to your question cupidstunt - I think contractor#2 can be taught AND contractor #1 wouldn't even understand the question.

[TheBigYinJames]

The correct answer is: it depends.

Some jobs need a lone wolf, so it doesn't matter if they get on with the team or not, there may not even be a team. I've had gigs like that, remote working ones, where all I have to do is talk to the customer now and again for updates.

Some jobs (like my current gig) have a load of people I have to interact with, BAs, PMs other developers, Systems Test people. Can't be a lone wolf here, I simply coudn't do my job working alone on this one.

It also depends what you mean by "fitting in" - if that means being friendly and approachable and helping others in the team out to achieve group goals, fair enough. If it means going on Karting weekends and getting tulip-faced every Friday with "the boys" then I'm afraid I keep that kind of stuff for my real friends, not for people I happen to share a piece of carpet with for 8 hours a day.

Saying that, over the years I've made some good friends from gigs, and they crossover.

[weemster]

The correct answer is: it depends.

Some jobs need a lone wolf, so it doesn't matter if they get on with the team or not, there may not even be a team. I've had gigs like that, remote working ones, where all I have to do is talk to the customer now and again for updates.

Some jobs (like my current gig) have a load of people I have to interact with, BAs, PMs other developers, Systems Test people. Can't be a lone wolf here, I simply coudn't do my job working alone on this one.

It also depends what you mean by "fitting in" - if that means being friendly and approachable and helping others in the team out to achieve group goals, fair enough. If it means going on Karting weekends and getting tulip-faced every Friday with "the boys" then I'm afraid I keep that kind of stuff for my real friends, not for people I happen to share a piece of carpet with for 8 hours a day.

Saying that, over the years I've made some good friends from gigs, and they crossover.

Fitting in means "if that means being friendly and approachable and helping others in the team out to achieve group goals, fair enough."

[Spacecadet]

not for people I happen to share a piece of carpet with for 8 hours a day.

That phrase tends to reflect badly on the person using it, its rather too dismissive of the people you work with for 30+ hours a week

I agree - Fridays night and weekends are your to do as you please, but making some sort of effort into out of hours socialising* does have its benefits.

*I don't mean corporate organised events, I just mean the more informal meals/drinks.