Germany: contract without interview?

[darrenb]

I'm having to choose between opportunities right now. I'd like to get some views about one of them.

A recruiter is making an offer to me with a company in the south of the country, but they don't want to interview me. Is this accepted practice in Germany?

The money is good and the technologies sound interesting, but I'm a bit leery of being rushed into something. I've accepted two contracts before without a proper interview and in both cases it turned out the companies were hiding chaotic work environments and hostile attitudes towards contractors. But that was England. Not sure about the German culture?

Another concern is that they talk of English skills being important and a team that might need some mentoring. From the sound of it I'm afraid this could be one of those doomed Indian adventures, which I have so far managed to avoid. But the German context? Anybody?

I'm inclined to think I should request an interview and meanwhile progress my other opportunities (apologies for using progress as a verb).

[norrahe]

As they say "once bitten, twice shy", if you have other irons in the fire then there is no reason why you shouldn't request an interview to test the water.

If they refuse then it may allay your doubts as to the fact they might be hiding something.

[darrenb]

As they say "once bitten, twice shy", if you have other irons in the fire then there is no reason why you shouldn't request an interview to test the water.

If they refuse then it may allay your doubts as to the fact they might be hiding something.

Or it might confirm my doubts.

[pmeswani]

I'm having to choose between opportunities right now. I'd like to get some views about one of them.

A recruiter is making an offer to me with a company in the south of the country, but they don't want to interview me. Is this accepted practice in Germany?

The money is good and the technologies sound interesting, but I'm a bit leery of being rushed into something. I've accepted two contracts before without a proper interview and in both cases it turned out the companies were hiding chaotic work environments and hostile attitudes towards contractors. But that was England. Not sure about the German culture?

Another concern is that they talk of English skills being important and a team that might need some mentoring. From the sound of it I'm afraid this could be one of those doomed Indian adventures, which I have so far managed to avoid. But the German context? Anybody?

I'm inclined to think I should request an interview and meanwhile progress my other opportunities (apologies for using progress as a verb).

The way I see it, clients could hide the true environmental issues regardless of whether an interview exists or not.

[darrenb]

The way I see it, clients could hide the true environmental issues regardless of whether an interview exists or not.

Sure, they can hide a lot. I never seem to figure out what is really going on a place until I've worked there a couple of weeks.

But the difference is, if somebody interviews me I know that there is at least one real technical person within the organization. Furthermore, if that person accepts me then I have a "sponsor". The business has some foreknowledge that I am good, and won't be inclined to kick me out so easily if they don't understand what is going on.

Also in an interview, sometimes the candidate gets a chance to ask a few questions. If they don't want to take questions, that in itself is more information.

Anyway, I just did some research on this company and the offshoring is actually not Asian but Eastern European. Which seemed ok until I realized it is Romanian. Romania has a reputation as the most corrupt country in Europe. Has anybody worked with this kind of team?

[darrenb]

I'm still waiting for some German experts to give me some context here...