Phantom interview - advice needed !

**original PM** · 10 May 2008, 08:01

go find agent

punch agent in face until he chokes on his teeth

try different agency and chalk it down to experience

problem is agents will do anything to try to get you in work including lying to you.

other problem is (and this may not be you) some contractors are really push and can be quite abusive about agents inability to find you interview/work and so say anything to get you off their back

oh and also clients are sometimes middle management who like to be the big I am and to try and look like they are more important than they really are and blag agents with phantom jobs/interviews

it is possible the interviewer was hiding under his desk as he did not have authority/budget to bring you in for interview

**Turion** · 10 May 2008, 09:54

Lose a days pay for some speculative chance. Never! Telephone interviews are the way. Not had a F2F since 2002. Insist on it, especially if you're already in work. For poor sods who have to have f2f you can always do a pre-interview tele interview to sus whether it's worth wasting a day. If client won't do that, you're on to a loser.

PS: Invoice agency for lost earnings

**DimPrawn** · 10 May 2008, 10:28

Originally posted by Turion View Post

Lose a days pay for some speculative chance. Never! Telephone interviews are the way. Not had a F2F since 2002. Insist on it, especially if you're already in work. For poor sods who have to have f2f you can always do a pre-interview tele interview to sus whether it's worth wasting a day. If client won't do that, you're on to a loser.

PS: Invoice agency for lost earnings

WHS.

Telephone interview or web cam setup. F2F is sooooo permie.

**BrilloPad** · 10 May 2008, 12:25

Originally posted by Smitfire View Post

When is an interview not an interview?

Answer: when the Agent confirms it with you but not the client. Yes, it happened to me yesterday and I'm fuming. I needed to book a day off to attend, therefore losing a days' pay, as well as drive 130 miles each way (Diesel ain't cheap these days, not to mention getting stuck on the M25 for an hour in the blazing sun.)

Once arrived I found out the the interviewer was on annual leave so no chance of a cheeky one - all in all a complete wate of time and money.

The question is, what recourse do I have with the Agency, if any? Has anyone else experienced similar, if so what was the outcome?

Perhaps an Agent would like to respond with an 'official' view.

If I'm fortunate enough for the client to rearrange the interview and eventually get an offer, I'll leave it at that.

Yours, on fire.

Is it the fault of the agent or did client lie to him? I have been left standing twice - in both cases it was the client's fault.

**DiscoStu** · 10 May 2008, 13:14

Originally posted by BrilloPad View Post

Is it the fault of the agent or did client lie to him? I have been left standing twice - in both cases it was the client's fault.

I get stood up all the time. Maybe I should shower more often.

**BrilloPad** · 10 May 2008, 15:31

Originally posted by BrilloPad View Post

Is it the fault of the agent or did client lie to him? I have been left standing twice - in both cases it was the client's fault.

In one case chap had been up all night on support - so did not turn up. Someone else took over 20 minutes later.

In the other case chap was running behind schedule. After 30 minutes I left. I guess I should have gone sooner?

**eliquant** · 10 May 2008, 17:48

Wait some time until the agent forgets about this folly of his then go to the agency that wasted your time dressed in cycling gear holding a packet addressed to the agent who stiffed you but insist that you require a signiture from the person it is addressed to and not anyone in reception etc. or a colleague ....

When the agent come for the packet smack him as hard as you can and then run off !

**xoggoth** · 10 May 2008, 17:57

Not exactly, but in permie days once arrived for an interview and found contrary to expectations fostered by agent that salary was about 25% less than I was already earning and job had about zero interest/potential. I was not too polite if I recall. But then I rarely am.

**BrilloPad** · 10 May 2008, 18:13

Originally posted by eliquant View Post

Wait some time until the agent forgets about this folly of his then go to the agency that wasted your time dressed in cycling gear holding a packet addressed to the agent who stiffed you but insist that you require a signiture from the person it is addressed to and not anyone in reception etc. or a colleague ....

When the agent come for the packet smack him as hard as you can and then run off !

I might try that on a family solicitor sometime...

Phantom interview - advice needed !