Interview Tips : Permie v Contract

[SimonMac]

Thanks for the advice so far, I kinda gathered they don't really care "where I see my self in 5 years" and more focused on making sure I can hit the ground running and do achieve the results they want.

I don't know if this is the norm but the agent has given me a self made dossier on the company, their IT department and a ton of background into what they are working and also they have given me a copy of the brief the Client gave to them so am re reading up on that as well as gathering my own intel on the Client.

Was Kandr right when he said most of contract interviews are relatively short? I am used to long grueling interviews for permie roles and was quite taken aback when I was done so quickly for the first interview (so much to say I thought I'd cocked up and writ off any chance of them getting back to me)

[SimonMac]

Ive never had a second interview, they always hire me after a quick chat. Sound like permiedom to me.

The contract is while they find a permie to do the job as the last one quit, during the 1st interview they asked "Whats the market like" "Would you consider a permanent role" etc

[alreadypacked]

Maybe it's just me but when I'm with a client, it's more like a pitch. I have a set of slides and I have used the white board to get my point across.

I am applying for roles where I am setting up a framework and methodology, so I am showing I know my stuff and can explain it to others.

I always do a phone interview first. Sometimes I get it on the phone, as I’m quite often in another country.

For me it’s a change of mind set on my part, I am a consultant offering a service. Some people don’t like it (or my rates) but then I don’t want to work for them either.

Agents don’t like me either.

[craig1]

In good times with too few contractors for too many roles, contractor interviews are mainly to make sure you're at least partly socialised and capable of basic hygiene. In bad times with too many contractors for too few roles, contractor interviews can be very close to permanent employee interviews. I had one last year where it was HR drone followed by manager at the first stage and invite back for the IT director the next week for the second interview. I had an agency last week telling me that one company would require a medical before starting the 12 month contract, getting very dangerously close to disguised employee territory there.

I got a good bit of advice years ago, if you can competently answer these two unasked interviewer questions then you'll get most contract roles: "what's in it for me/us if we choose you?" and "how good is he really?"

[Clippy]

Maybe it's just me but when I'm with a client, it's more like a pitch. I have a set of slides and I have used the white board to get my point across.

I am applying for roles where I am setting up a framework and methodology, so I am showing I know my stuff and can explain it to others.

I always do a phone interview first. Sometimes I get it on the phone, as I’m quite often in another country.

For me it’s a change of mind set on my part, I am a consultant offering a service. Some people don’t like it (or my rates) but then I don’t want to work for them either.

Agents don’t like me either.

AP, what is your skillset - Project Management?

[RichardCranium]

Usually contract interviews are merely a technicality, well done you got it.

That has not been my experience this past 15 years. Every interview has been an interview. Granted some of them I took control, and some have only been 20-25 minutes, but none has been as noddy as a technicality.

Let me expand on my answer for the mentally challenged (northernlad), contractor interviews are usually short just to check out that you match up to your CV. If they start asking about where you see yourself in 5 years then you are in trouble.

I assume you are in a 1st line call-logging role or some such that requires no skill or experience. That would explain your boredom and availability to post childish rubbish.

For an interim Operations Manager role (running an IT operations department) I had a 3½ hour interview done in 4 parts.

For a contract PM role I have had a 3 hour interview.

I have done a 2 hour interview for a PM role which included a presentation.

I have had a couple where the interviewer & I just hit it off and wasted half a day talking shop.

But typically, they have been 50 minutes.

The interviewer has wanted to know whether I have done similar work before, what I can bring what will raise the chance of success, what experience & skills I have that they don't, whether I am confident in the desired outcome being possible, whether I am professional and competent, whether I can back up some of the remarkable statements in my CV with evidence.

Occasionally I've had some numpty who has interviewed me as if it were a permanent role; I am now old enough and wise enough to take control of those interviews and turn them round. I also know such stupid people make crap managers and not working for them is no loss.

Essentially, know your stuff. If you say you are a Widget Wangler, be able to look them right in the eye when they ask you a question and convince them your the best damn Widget Wangler they're likely to see and they're lucky you're available. But without intimidating them, and be able to back up any statements you make or that are on your CV.

But most of all: don't worry. Treat every interview as practice for the next one.

[northernladuk]

Was Kandr right when he said most of contract interviews are relatively short? I am used to long grueling interviews for permie roles and was quite taken aback when I was done so quickly for the first interview (so much to say I thought I'd cocked up and writ off any chance of them getting back to me)

No he was sprouting the normal 1 line covers all moronic rubbish he normally posts. Don't take my word from it, look at the other comments posts with good rep have posted.

One thing important to remember here.. The guy interviewing you is highly likely to be permie and a good chance if he is in a senior position has undergone some training in invterview techniques. This does not mean he knows the difference between interviewing a contractor or a permie. It is quite feasible he will approach it from a permie perspective and ask for all this not realising the differences he is after himself.

Over time you will come up against all types of interviews from 20 min straight to the point to 2 hour chats about the industry life and local beers etc. Long ones aren't unreasonable. If you are going to give someone 80K for 6 months work an hour chatting isn't a lot to expect.

I believe if the interviewer knows his stuff the interview will go one of the ways I mentioned depending on which type of role you go for but regarding length and questions you will get them all. I went for a Service Implementation role for a project and got asked to do a slide show on long term service strategy. Any kind of rules about what a contractor and permie interview are was out of the window as soon as I got the request but went ahead anyway but just made sure I talked alot about what I CAN do and what I HAVE done to demonstrate my capability not my potential.

[alreadypacked]

AP, what is your skillset - Project Management?

I'm in a niche area, where the rates are holding, don't want too say.

ok .net

[kandr]

That has not been my experience this past 15 years. Every interview has been an interview. Granted some of them I took control, and some have only been 20-25 minutes, but none has been as noddy as a technicality.

I assume you are in a 1st line call-logging role or some such that requires no skill or experience. That would explain your boredom and availability to post childish rubbish.

For an interim Operations Manager role (running an IT operations department) I had a 3½ hour interview done in 4 parts.

For a contract PM role I have had a 3 hour interview.

I have done a 2 hour interview for a PM role which included a presentation.

I have had a couple where the interviewer & I just hit it off and wasted half a day talking shop.

But typically, they have been 50 minutes.

The interviewer has wanted to know whether I have done similar work before, what I can bring what will raise the chance of success, what experience & skills I have that they don't, whether I am confident in the desired outcome being possible, whether I am professional and competent, whether I can back up some of the remarkable statements in my CV with evidence.

Occasionally I've had some numpty who has interviewed me as if it were a permanent role; I am now old enough and wise enough to take control of those interviews and turn them round. I also know such stupid people make crap managers and not working for them is no loss.

Essentially, know your stuff. If you say you are a Widget Wangler, be able to look them right in the eye when they ask you a question and convince them your the best damn Widget Wangler they're likely to see and they're lucky you're available. But without intimidating them, and be able to back up any statements you make or that are on your CV.

But most of all: don't worry. Treat every interview as practice for the next one.

Im a .NET developer. all my interviews have been 10-30 min chats with a few techie questions thrown in, I saw them as a formality, because I am confident, and never failed to get the job. I suppose if you have low self esteem (nothernlad), or are incompetent (nothernlad), and trying to cover up then you may see interviews as a major challenge.(nothernlad)

[kandr]

If I could give any contractor one piece of advice, whatever nothernlad says, do the opposite and you will be OK.

Ask yourself what kind of moron would add UK to their username on a UK based forum, thats right a complete moron.