Gig Dilemma - Don't want to piss anyone off but.....

[kanulondon]

I am doing a mystic meg and looking into my crystal ball for next week.

Basically I have a face 2 face interview with Company A on Monday afternoon.

The role is good, the rate is good, and it's close to where I'll be staying in London (with family, as I live in Edinburger )

Anyway, I am going to assume that if I impress them enough, they may offer me the role within the usual 24 - 48 hrs

Issue is as follows - I had an interview with Company B last week. And I know I'm through the second round (whittled down from 5 candidates)

The role is GREAT, the money is GREAT (£100p/d more) and I've been told that they will definitely extend if I do a good job (they need someone in place until 2010)....best bit the role is literally 15 minute walk from where I live in Edinburger....

Only thing is, as I haven't had the 2nd interview as yet I do not believe matters will be finalised until the end of the week, by which time I am very certain that Company A would have got back to me (and hopefully offer me the role)

I've heard it's not a good thing to burn bridges and bite the hand that feeds, but if the role comes good with Company B I'd like take it up.

Dr Pepper moment - What's the worst that could happen, if I were to have to pull out of the role with Company A (again, being optimistic and presuming I was offered the role) to go with Company B?

Views please....

Has anyone else been in this situation?

Oh yeah...I am currently in a permie role now.

[Liability]

Kanu

Few things

- You say you are in a permie role? I assume both roles will wait for you to leave or have you already left/handed in your notice?

- As you may know - the contract market has dived in the last quarter and will no doubt be topsy turvy into next year - are you certain the roles will go on to long term engagements? You have to take into account that alot of clients will say anything to get the person they want for the immediate role onboard.

- You could probably delay giving an answer for at least 2 days - but the Agency will no doubt be on your case with [more than likely] lies on how they want you to commit faster etc so just bear that in mind.

Both seem good opps for you - I just hope you have thought this through...

Worse case? You lose both by delaying - best case? You get the Monday interview the same day....contracting is a risk - welcome to the Risky Side!

[Turion]

K, no dilemma exists. You must live in fantasy land and you're taking the piss by saying Edinburger. Where is this Edinburger place?

You are not contractor material. 'Contract B' is a fantasy perpertrated by an agent. We contractors do not do '2nd interviews'.

Also you're telling us you're happy to take this london role that you've not even yet had an interview, let alone an offer. Sounds like you wanna leave the burger place. Tired of flippin?. Fact is there is no offer and no-one has said they want you - only you seem keen to get out. Why not tell us the real story?

[kanulondon]

Thanks Liability. The Gig with Company B is guaranteed to 2010 (that came from hiring manager not Agent) as they have a written contract to support this bespoke service onsite. The gig with Company A is listed as a 6 month affair

Edinburger = Edinburgh , it's a colloquialism I've picked up whilst living here.

I appreciate the advice, and yes I am aware of the pitfalls.

Can I ask why every response about taking a first contract is always met with the

'KEEP AWAY' 'DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR DOING?' replies ?

Ever thought that this n00b has done their homework and really wants to make a REAL go of it? And isn't put of by the perceived risks?

I am not living in a fantasy land thanks very much and YES I know there is no offer on the table, and there may well be NO offers come the end of next week...but I live in hope and I need to be prepared. Hence me trying to solicit views via the forum.

In terms of the role with Company A, I am obviously going based on a detailed job specification (which is good) and the topic I've been given for a presentation I'm going to be preparing for the interview (a specific requirement of the client)..but it could all go horribly wrong when I turn up on Monday I guess. That being the case I'd know to concentrate on Company B

Although you say contractors don't do 2nd interviews....I'm doing a 2nd interview and that's not agency bulltip. It's Company B's hiring manager chat..as it will be an onsite gig for their client...I need to be vetted by them as well apparently...

[Ardesco]

Thanks Liability. The Gig with Company B is guaranteed to 2010 (that came from hiring manager not Agent) as they have a written contract to support this bespoke service onsite. The gig with Company A is listed as a 6 month affair

My dear chap, the reason that they hire contractors is so they can kick us out of the door with about 5 mins notice when they are short of a few pounds. Nothing is guaranteed until 2010

[kanulondon]

My dear chap, the reason that they hire contractors is so they can kick us out of the door with about 5 mins notice when they are short of a few pounds. Nothing is guaranteed until 2010

Fair play. The I should have said the role is open until 2010...of course there is no guarantee I'll be there past a week and thus DOOMED!

[tim123]

Fair play. The I should have said the role is open until 2010...of course there is no guarantee I'll be there past a week and thus DOOMED!

When I started my current gig on June 4th, the company was still recruiting the last of the 20 engineers it had been seeking since xmas.

In August, we had a presentation of the product road map going forward that stated, after the new year they would be looking for another 30 engineers.

In November, they announced 40 redundancies (from about 100) in the engineering department.

How quickly things change.

tim

[zara_backdog]

K, no dilemma exists. You must live in fantasy land and you're taking the piss by saying Edinburger. Where is this Edinburger place?

You are not contractor material. 'Contract B' is a fantasy perpertrated by an agent. We contractors do not do '2nd interviews'.

Also you're telling us you're happy to take this london role that you've not even yet had an interview, let alone an offer. Sounds like you wanna leave the burger place. Tired of flippin?. Fact is there is no offer and no-one has said they want you - only you seem keen to get out. Why not tell us the real story?

Eh hello - are you curently in a contact then?

Sign of the times - I myself have had a 2nd interview for a Contract role and so have a few other contractors I know-seems clients are being far more chosey looking for a contractor and taking longer to decide. Yes there still is the 20 min interview Thursday- start Monday gigs - but be prepared for clinets to take longer to decide. I myself have just had an interview for a role I applied for several weeks back.

So, if you were asked back for a 2nd interview are you telling us you would tell them to get stuffed?.

I do agree - not the best time to start contracting.

[Turion]

Eh hello - are you curently in a contact then?

Sign of the times - I myself have had a 2nd interview for a Contract role and so have a few other contractors I know-seems clients are being far more chosey looking for a contractor and taking longer to decide. Yes there still is the 20 min interview Thursday- start Monday gigs - but be prepared for clinets to take longer to decide. I myself have just had an interview for a role I applied for several weeks back.

So, if you were asked back for a 2nd interview are you telling us you would tell them to get stuffed?.

I do agree - not the best time to start contracting.

Never done a 2nd interview in 10 years and since 2002 only telephone interviews. If times were really bad, provided the first interview was done by telephone I may consider turning up for face 2 face int, if I was not working at the time.

I agree with this post from Jubber.

The idea of being a skilled flexible resource is having these exact qualities already. I state quite clearly on my CV what I have to offer. The client is welcome to talk to me about what he wants and I'll tell him if I can do it or not. If the client wishes to talk with pevious companies I have worked for he is welcome to do so.

I do not need to be tested, interrogated, prodded or run round an obstacle course before I start a piece of work. To tell you the truth, I have no wish to work for a client who would want to do this anyway as we probably would have different ways of working and expectations.

[Liability]

Never done a 2nd interview in 10 years and since 2002 only telephone interviews. If times were really bad, provided the first interview was done by telephone I may consider turning up for face 2 face int, if I was not working at the time.

I agree with this post from Jubber.

The idea of being a skilled flexible resource is having these exact qualities already. I state quite clearly on my CV what I have to offer. The client is welcome to talk to me about what he wants and I'll tell him if I can do it or not. If the client wishes to talk with pevious companies I have worked for he is welcome to do so.

I do not need to be tested, interrogated, prodded or run round an obstacle course before I start a piece of work. To tell you the truth, I have no wish to work for a client who would want to do this anyway as we probably would have different ways of working and expectations.

Turion - What kind of roles do you go for?

Practically all my contracts have had two interviews. Phone followed by a face to face - Ive always pretty much got the gig on the phone but they have sstill asked for me to come in and then offer me it there or within the same day.