How do international contracts work?

[SimonMac]

Not resting on my laurels even though I have secured a contract, I am thinking about what happens next. I shy'd away from contracts abroad whilst I was on the bench, but thinking it could be a good experience and was wondering how the process would work. I assume it would mainly be telephone interviews rather than having to fly out for a face to face, would they help sort out accommodation etc for the initial period you are out there?

[xchaotic]

I had to fly out of my own pocket. Strangely enough the agent promised to pay if I didn't like it. I liked it and after 6 months I like it even more (and I still have time to post on CUK, yeah)

[TykeMerc]

Not resting on my laurels even though I have secured a contract, I am thinking about what happens next. I shy'd away from contracts abroad whilst I was on the bench, but thinking it could be a good experience and was wondering how the process would work. I assume it would mainly be telephone interviews rather than having to fly out for a face to face, would they help sort out accommodation etc for the initial period you are out there?

That all depends on the client, the country they're located in and a bunch of hard to generalise factors. Essentially how long is a piece of string?

In the past it wasn't unknown for a client to pay interview expenses, but that's a lot less common these days and some clients will only hire after 1 or more face to face meetings where as others will be happy with telephone or even Skype type video calls.

[stek]

It's true, generally contract means you pay, permie means they pay - though I had a permie interview in Hamburg last year they said they'd pay, still no sign so don't take if for granted.

I had an interview for a role in BE, rate was shi-ite but hoped there'd be some help with second interview - got invited, no pay, so I didn't go, turned it down, and that was with a Big company...

Personally I feel it's a gamble, if you feel you are good enough and the rate is enough and long term enough, go for it, combine it with a nice night out or a weekend, but at the end of the day it's your judgement.

[Wanderer]

I assume it would mainly be telephone interviews rather than having to fly out for a face to face, would they help sort out accommodation etc for the initial period you are out there?

You can fly to many destinations for less than a UK domestic train fare these days. It's not like the olden days when a day return to Geneva was £500. As for getting digs, I'd politely ask the client if they could use their local knowledge to recommend a good place to stay (reasonable area, easy access to work, perhaps other contractors staying there etc) for the first week or so while I found my bearings. I wouldn't be expecting them to pay for it though.

[SueEllen]

I assume it would mainly be telephone interviews rather than having to fly out for a face to face, would they help sort out accommodation etc for the initial period you are out there?

Depends on the country and the client.

If the client is in mainland Europe then they can expect you to travel over there for the interview. It's not exactly hard getting from the UK to Germany, Netherlands or Belgium particularly if you live in London where there are 5 airports you can use plus the Eurostar.

In regards to accommodation either the client or agent will give you leads of where to stay for at least a week or two before you find your feet. As you are a contractor it should only be you moving out there anyway for the initial period anyway.

One thing I would advise you to do a web search (i.e. google for expats forums in the particular country) to see that you can actually get short-term accommodation, as in some parts of some countries it's hard due to how their rental markets work. In some places you are expected to rent somewhere for a minimum of 12 months. This would obviously cause difficulties if your contract is only for 3 months..............