Interview Tips : Permie v Contract

[Scrag Meister]

Both of my contract interviews have been

1. 15 min telephone interview to check that I know what a computer looks like, and how the keyboard works. etc...

2. 3 part interview, about 2 hours or so.
Manager, 20 mins
Team of 3 tech interview 1 hour 20 ish, went well, lots of motorbike and social chat too.
and
a.n.other from nearby team to check I was human and checked the personality fit. 20 mins

[norrahe]

My contract interviews have varied from a 20 min chat where your cv is not the focus but more you as a person to a 90 min grilling where you speak with many and various managers.

As other people have said, you are there to present you as person, your skills and to sell yourself, always go in expecting the worst and prepare yourself for that too.

[DeludedAussie]

NOB25?

Oh clippy - Find something better to do

[Aman]

Without going through the interview appraisals I've written up for many interviews I've not noticed much of a difference between interviews for permanent, contract or interim roles other than the ommision of discussion about my aspirations for the future.

Interviews have varied in their content, style and structure and have included
Technical questions about swiches, routers, protocols, operating systems, BSSs (always)
Assessment centre (rare)
Multiple choice tests (commonly)
Written tests (rare)
'Informal chat' (there is no such thing) in a bar. (rare)
Having to give a presentation (always take one with me anyway)

It's all down to the people in the interview whether the interview focus on results, capabilities, skills ...

I have only had one pre-intervew by telephone for a permanent role and many for contract roles. Odd that clients/employers should be more accommodating of the 2000k round trip required to attend interviews for contract roles, rather than permanent ones.

I suppose a client taking on contractors has more leeway in what R&S processes they adopt than for perm. R&S processes have to be auditably fair and consistent for perm roles because permanent candidates can take a prospective employer to tribunal whereas that's rather more difficult for a contractor.

Kandr, the only times, in my experience where interviews have been anything like just a 'formality' have been where I was vastly underselling my skills to suit the local market. i.e. the role was one a cable monkey could do ... oh wait the role was for a cable monkey.
There aren't even interviews for many of those contract trades roles (like plumbers you mention frequently), the agency just keep using the contractor and put a bod on site based on whether they have particular tickets which demonstrate competence. An electrician with 17th edition cert is more or less the same as any other electrician with 17th edition cert. If you are in ICT you should know that demonstrating competence for a particular role in ICT, where there is so much more variance in skill levels is a whole different ball game from trades.

[Muttley08]

Seems like the children have been banned

NorthernLad is spot on - it is different - they generally want the finished article who has done it before. It does of course depend on the role - for a niche role you'll get more leeway than a more general role / skillset.

That doesn't mean you won't get the odd recruiter who doesn't understand the difference between a contractor / permy - but as people have said...it's a warning sign. Had an interview a few weeks ago where I was asked why I wanted to join them - was thrown to be honest, as I'd never been asked this for a contract role. I thought about the honest approach...saying the money - but went for some contrived answer but probably struggled as they weren't a very interesting company / projects were boring...and it was only the money (and was only at the interview incase I didn't get another role) that interested me in the role!

Only other advice is they'll check you're not lieing on your CV - but thereafter make sure you concentrate on fitting in - being a team player etc., throw a few jokes in to prove you're not a geeky IT moron.

[monobrow]

I have a final interview for a contract where I am down to the last two, can anyone give me some tips that can give me the edge?!

Ummmm...

1. Be yourself
2. If you are confident, watch for overconfidence/arrogance or being over friendly unless the interviewer is first
3. Stay on topic
4. if you don't know, say so. then follow it up with your best guess, stating its your best guess. even if it's complete BS it shows some kind of problem solving ability
5. Maintain eye contact without freaking the interviewer out
6. Wear your best suit & clean underwear (in case you get run over on the way)

things like that.

I have a pretty good sucess rate in interviews and have interviewed many people, of all levels in big name companies. I can honestly say, my mind is made up in the first couple of minutes, based on your appearance, your personality and whether or not you would annoy me or the rest of the team. your skills are relatively secondary once you are through the door to be honest.

good luck!

[ravedave]

[QUOTE=northernladuk;1223470You can easily train and skill someone up, it is much harder to make someone a team player or be company focussed.[/QUOTE]

The whole point of a contract role is you come on board with the right skills and can hit the ground running. The reason the role therefore exists as a contract in the first place is because of a high skill set. You can train someone up if you have 5 years and money for loads of courses and lots of time to allow them to practice. Sounds like you may as well just go grab someone in off the street!

If you want the job and it's down to you and one other bod, at this stage it will be entirely down to who they like the most as a person. So be yourself and come over as non confrontational, laid back while still keen and professional, not stiff or too corporate. Forget about buzzword bloat like 'team player' and 'company focused' and don't use the word 'stakeholder' please!

I've interviewed loads of people and if you can technically do it then being more likeable than the other guy is the final hurdle, but do not try and fake it, just be the best version of yourself, hence no need to worry as you cannot practice being you. If you don't get it then alas you came up against someone cooler and better looking! nothing you can do about that. Hence the only real advice is relax and pray oh and line up other interviews/plan b's so you're not too desperate, interviews are fun a chance to show people how great you are!

[nomadd]

So be yourself and come over as non confrontational...

In a contractor, that's an oxymoron.

[SimonMac]

Thanks for all the tips, the interview is later today!

If I don't get the gig I'm blaming all your advice!

[monobrow]

Thanks for all the tips, the interview is later today!

If I don't get the gig I'm blaming all your advice!

Good Luck,

oh and if it starts going real bad, look the guy or gal straight in the eyes and say...

"I know where you work, be seeing you REAL soon"

and pat them on the bum when you walk out the room - or something like that.