Interview questions

**jmo21** · 8 December 2011, 14:42

Originally posted by robin View Post

I've not been contracting too long but having had quite a few jobs already I'm starting to learn what extra questions I need to be asking when going to interviews.

Now I always ask 'What are the hours expected for the role?' After turning up at a job 1st day and being told 'we work a shift system from 6am to 8pm which the agent never told me about when calling me about it. Luckily it was a very short contract but it was still difficult at that time.

As a contractor will I be able to park onsite? Started a contract had to do a HR thing on my first day (??) got told temporary/contractor staff are not allowed to park onsite they have to park offsite. All around was residential parking but luckily a pay & display near but an extra expense not accounted for.

Is the role only based at this site? One contract got told I would be expected to go to another one of their sites on a regular basis and yet again no mention at interview or by agent.

Just wondered what other things people had picked up on to ask over their time contracting as I don't want to get caught out on the above again.

I'm a developer, so I always make sure to ask lots of questions around the technology they use to get a good idea of what it *may* be like working there.

Obviously they'll be a close match to my skillset or I wouldn't be at an interview, but I like to use lots of OSS tools/components and some places have strict policies against using OSS. Major turnoff for me, though not a dealbreaker, just good to know.

Incidentally, for most of the stuff in your post, I'd expect all that to be in the contract.

**SimonMac** · 8 December 2011, 14:46

Location should be in the contract.

Hours if only not Mon - Fri 9-5 should have been discussed at the interview.

Parking is your problem not theirs.

Only question I always ask, and this went for permie interviews as well as contract, is how did the position arise, not that I ever bother listening to the answer, I was just told to always have at least one question ready

**robin** · 8 December 2011, 14:54

Parking is your problem not theirs

Your right and thats why I ask now as I never assume if they have a car park I'm going to be able to park in it as if I can't I need to work out how I will get there which may effect my decision to go there.

In regards to hours being in the contract all of mine have just stated total hours expected for the week not specific hours. Obviously if they just say 37.5 hours I want to know what typical hours they expect me to work inbetween in the day to make up 37.5 in the week.

**TheFaQQer** · 8 December 2011, 14:57

When's the go-live date?

**TheFaQQer** · 8 December 2011, 14:59

Originally posted by robin View Post

Your right and thats why I ask now as I never assume if they have a car park I'm going to be able to park in it as if I can't I need to work out how I will get there which may effect my decision to go there.

Think as a contractor - the day starts when you drive past the car park, and include time to get from the office to the car in an evening,

You're their most expensive resource - time they started showing some f***ing respect.

**kaiser78** · 8 December 2011, 15:39

Originally posted by TheFaQQer View Post

Think as a contractor - the day starts when you drive past the car park, and include time to get from the office to the car in an evening.

That's interesting, my clock starts ticking when I am at my desk not when I have parked up. I need to change that.

Do any other driver commuters base their day on this as well ?

**bless 'em all** · 8 December 2011, 15:49

If I have thoughts pertaining to the job whilst not in the office it's billable time. Double if I'm in the office traps.

**nomadd** · 8 December 2011, 16:10

Originally posted by kaiser78 View Post

That's interesting, my clock starts ticking when I am at my desk not when I have parked up. I need to change that.

Do any other driver commuters base their day on this as well ?

My clock starts when I walk through the front door of the client. Stops when I leave the same door. If the client is n-floors up in a building, it's their cost to get me from the front door to my desk and back again.

Don't charge from the carpark on the current gig., as it's only 15 yards away. But for clients where the parking has been more than a couple of minutes away, I do charge from the carpark to the front door time (both directions.)

**TheFaQQer** · 8 December 2011, 16:13

Originally posted by kaiser78 View Post

That's interesting, my clock starts ticking when I am at my desk not when I have parked up. I need to change that.

Do any other driver commuters base their day on this as well ?

I'd only consider it if the client is so obnoxious that they clearly think of contractors as scum who aren't fit to park in their car park.

Actually, if that's the attitude, then I'd be looking for somewhere else - it doesn't set the tone well.

Interview questions