Face to Face or phone interview????

**kanulondon** · 28 November 2008, 15:08

Originally posted by roadster198 View Post

Is face to face still the prefered method?

Phone call from Agency Thursday saying client looking to interview for a 2 month role for the council close enough to home that I can commute. No problem I said I'm currently down in the South West of England and would they do a phone interview? as I currently have travel arrangements sorted for next week and I'd lose a good bit of cash taking timeout to do a face to face.

Agency said they would need to check.

Phone call this morning it will need to be face to face and they already have 2 people for Monday they will get back to me if the two on Monday don't work out but it will still need to be a face to face.

Have these cocksockets ever delt with contractors before?????

Why face to face I'm no pretty but I don't have two heads either what would be said differently face to face that wouldn't be over the phone.

Sorry for the rant. Oh well just over three weeks to go and then it's the bench.

Had this recently...

Went for a role, client wanted to interview. I mentioned whether Telephone would be an option.

To which they said YES, however they are still going to interview 1 other person face2face. They will only interview me face2face is the other dude doesn't work out.

I think some managers just want to interview you once and be done with it all..?

**TykeMerc** · 28 November 2008, 15:09

Yes people prefer to interview face to face, a telephone interview for an initial screening chat maybe, but in the majority of cases face to face is preferred.

They can see how you present yourself physically and socially
They can read your body language, it's much easier to spot a bullcrap artist.
They can spot annoying habits that they couldn't tolerate in their workplace
It displays at least a shred of commitment that you're willing to make the effort to get there and present yourself well
People just prefer real meetings to the impersonal telephone

If it's their requirement to have a face to face and you aren't prepared to meet that then they would prefer someone who does.

This has nothing to do with you being a contractor, it's the way people prefer to do business.

**badger7579** · 28 November 2008, 15:11

that's councils for you. All part of contracting do you need the contract badly enough? If so take the hit otherwise move on

**roadster198** · 28 November 2008, 15:13

Originally posted by TykeMerc View Post

Yes people prefer to interview face to face, a telephone interview for an initial screening chat maybe, but in the majority of cases face to face is preferred.

They can see how you present yourself physically and socially
They can read your body language, it's much easier to spot a bullcrap artist.
They can spot annoying habits that they couldn't tolerate in their workplace
It displays at least a shred of commitment that you're willing to make the effort to get there and present yourself well
People just prefer real meetings to the impersonal telephone

If it's their requirement to have a face to face and you aren't prepared to meet that then they would prefer someone who does.

This has nothing to do with you being a contractor, it's the way people prefer to do business.

Yip fair shout I suppose. Last three contracts were phone interviews for well known companies. I just assumed they would make allowances for the fact that a lot of the times you may still be in a contract and losing a fair sum of money just for a 1 in 3 chance at a job. That'll teach me

**kanulondon** · 28 November 2008, 15:13

Originally posted by TykeMerc View Post

Yes people prefer to interview face to face, a telephone interview for an initial screening chat maybe, but in the majority of cases face to face is preferred.

They can see how you present yourself physically and socially
They can read your body language, it's much easier to spot a bullcrap artist.
They can spot annoying habits that they couldn't tolerate in their workplace
It displays at least a shred of commitment that you're willing to make the effort to get there and present yourself well
People just prefer real meetings to the impersonal telephone

If it's their requirement to have a face to face and you aren't prepared to meet that then they would prefer someone who does.

This has nothing to do with you being a contractor, it's the way people prefer to do business.

All makes sense really. The telephone interview I assume is only for screening, although I do know of people given gigs on the back of telephone interviews only

**roadster198** · 28 November 2008, 15:14

Originally posted by badger7579 View Post

that's councils for you. All part of contracting do you need the contract badly enough? If so take the hit otherwise move on

Basically said all I needed to know about working for them IMHO. Qulaity avatar by the way

**Jubber** · 28 November 2008, 15:17

The problem I have found in the past is the agent has got the 'nuts and bolts' of the job totally wrong. What the client wants, especially from a technical angle, most agents don't understand.

I always try and have a chat on the phone before a meeting to make sure I can offer the client the service they want. Once that has been established then I am more than willing to do a face to face.

J

**Jubber** · 28 November 2008, 15:18

Originally posted by kanulondon View Post

All makes sense really. The telephone interview I assume is only for screening, although I do know of people given gigs on the back of telephone interviews only

Yep

more than once

**ThomasSoerensen** · 28 November 2008, 15:23

Originally posted by kanulondon View Post

All makes sense really. The telephone interview I assume is only for screening, although I do know of people given gigs on the back of telephone interviews only

All my 3 contracts have been landed based on 15 minute phone interviews.

Face to Face or phone interview????