Interview questions

[psychocandy]

Suit yourself. I for one plan on getting offered a role before I start asking this marlarky and then I start to negotiate my working conditions before I start where possible and after proving I can deliver.

I think I agree with NLUK. If you start questions like this at interview, surely it makes you look like someone whos going to moan about everything?

[SueEllen]

I think I agree with NLUK. If you start questions like this at interview, surely it makes you look like someone whos going to moan about everything?

It's called "having a chat".

You will then find out odd things like what sports the inteviewer likes and what phone they have.

Oh and most companies with a lot of contractors are happy to tell you these things, sometimes even before you ask them.

[MarillionFan]

When's the go-live date?

WTFS

1) When is the go-live date?
2) What are you looking to achieve?
3) What are the business requirements?
4) What is the scope?

Blah blah.

I'm a consultant. I'm there to help them deliver. Why the feck do they want me to know about

1) When is the canteen open
2) Can I park on site
3) Is this IR35 compliant
4) What is the day rate/hours

First is for the client/2nd is for the agent.

[nomadd]

If you start questions like this at interview, surely it makes you look like someone whos going to moan about everything?

If I interview someone and they don't ask questions like these, I reject them for being an imbecile.

[SueEllen]

WTFS

1) When is the go-live date?
2) What are you looking to achieve?
3) What are the business requirements?
4) What is the scope?

Blah blah.

I'm a consultant. I'm there to help them deliver. Why the feck do they want me to know about

1) When is the canteen open
2) Can I park on site
3) Is this IR35 compliant
4) What is the day rate/hours

First is for the client/2nd is for the agent.

Agents know SFA about anything.

You are best finding out about the first load of questions from the client and if they don't ring any alarm bells, asking the right questions/making the right small talk about the second lot.

Though to be fair sometimes you have to mention something about travel arrangments before you get down to the nitty gritty. As many clients are used to employing permies or have had contractors who don't take contract extensions/walk out due to having to stay away from home during the week.

Also IR35 related questions are related to the first set of questions.

[robin]

It's called "having a chat".

I agree with this i don't want to start a job and be told we need you to cover to 7 when I'm there and I can't work those hours.

I don't do project work so don't just set my own hours I fit in with their hours when they need me.

I want to know as much as possible about a job not only so I can make a confidant decision about taking the job but to save possible awkwardness later.

[jmo21]

I agree with this i don't want to start a job and be told we need you to cover to 7 when I'm there and I can't work those hours.

I don't do project work so don't just set my own hours I fit in with their hours when they need me.

I want to know as much as possible about a job not only so I can make a confidant decision about taking the job but to save possible awkwardness later.

I would expect this kind of thing to be told to me either up front by the agent (sometimes they will, sometimes they won't), during the interview (I'd absolutely expect this), or at worst, finally mentioned in the contract.

I wouldn't expect to find out on the first day or have to ask myself if there were any hours required outside normal working hours.

There are a number of questions being suggested in this thread that I think would just irritate an interviewer.

Most interviewers see interviewing as an annoyance in the first place, and then you have a candidate asking about parking and the like when they haven't even been offered the job yet, seems a little presumptious.

By all means ask about the in's and out's of the role, tech, project, team etc, but going past that, to me, is presumptious.

Secure the role first, then deal with that stuff afterwards.

[curtis]

Secure the role first, then deal with that stuff afterwards.

So if you get a few offers and it may end up coming down to down to something like the hours, travel situation to the job or situation when at job are you going to accept both and then see what the T&C's say?? Are you really going to believe what the agency tell you when you ask them as they will tell you what they think you want to hear.

If I want to clarify something I want to hear it from the horses mouth.

[RaLaCon]

should people really be asking about trivial matters before offered the role.....once you know you have the role, then you can ask for amenities......

does using the same facilities as permies cross the IR35 line?.....it is a bit tricky

you really need to know what you are doing?
why you are doing it
and what is expected of you
everything else can come after the handshake