Contract offer - no interview

[Regent]

I've being offered a 3 month role without an interview and have received the contract paperwork.

Just seems a slightly unorthodox approach and this hasn't happened to me before. The client company are going on the recommendation of agency and not one I've used before.

The good thing about LinkedIn is that I've been able to verify the agent's credentials and has a number of very good recommendations, however it still seems rather odd the client company doesn't want to even have a quick 10 minute chat over the phone to discuss the assignment.

Was wondering how common this is and if this has happened to other contractors?

[BrilloPad]

Do you have any doubts about the client and what you will be doing?

Sounds like a very sensible client to me - its hard to guage how good someone is from interview. Exception to this is the GS 40 hour interview which worked well.

I did once get offered a gig without interview - I insisted on one. Turns out the client did not have a clue. I turned it down.

[SteelyDan]

Never.
Seems very odd to me, but I hope it all works out for you.

[chef]

Almost all my contracts are without interview. They seem to prefer the approach of "if you can do the work we keep you, if not on day 2 you're out"

[Spacecadet]

Got one of these last year - it was only a short contract and I think they simply didn't have the time or resource for the full interview cycle.

[Regent]

It's reassuring to know this does happen from time to time as was feeling a bit uneasy about it.

[quackhandle]

Almost all my contracts are without interview. They seem to prefer the approach of "if you can do the work we keep you, if not on day 2 you're out"

This.

Some pimps play the urgent contract start yesterday but then it soon becomes a hurry up and wait scenario. However a few pimps understand that contractors can start asap and have you in asap. My latest gig was a telephone interview however it was clear after a few mins that I'd got the gig and spent the next 10 discussing the project.

qh

[TheFaQQer]

At the very least, I'd like to have a chat with the client about what they are expecting, when the go-live is (or are they live already), etc.

I've only ever had two face-to-face interviews (both central government), the rest have all been phone interviews, but I like to at least get some kind of grasp on what I can expect to find when I turn up.

[Ignis Fatuus]

I did once get offered a gig without interview - I insisted on one. Turns out the client did not have a clue. I turned it down.

That is a good point. An interview is always a two-way street, and some clients do not pass it.

[TraceRacing]

Why not express your interest with the agent but also request a "quick call" with the person you will be working for?

Even if it's not an interview as such it gives you a chance to ask the pertinent questions (for example, if you are a tester, how many scripts / what do they use to record defects / what sort of application are you testing etc...) and gain an appreciation of what the person you may be working for is like.

5 mins may be enough to reassure you....