Face To Face Interview successes ?

[EternalOptimist]

Discrimination, dont talk to me about discrimination.
My skills are ace, my body language is perfect and my firm handshake and steely eye contact has them drooling for me.

Then as soon as I say 'good mornin like' , they all stand , thunderstruck.

'watch out, check yer hubcaps, see if he got yer watch. Cover the wastebasket its a bin dipper'

Then they phone the team upstairs and they all troop down to gawk at me, like Im a specimin in the zoo. Then security escort me to the car park, hold me down and people come from miles around just to kick sand in my face.

about 75% actually

[OrangeHopper]

There is some skill required to sell yourself well in interviews and I don't seem to have it.

Exactly my problem. I am not a salesman and I seem to be incapable of telling a lie of any colour without sirens flashing. Nearly all of my contracts have been through people I know and then they have always been long term.

I once had a client's customer tell me that I am too honest. Not good for business!

[minestrone]

Failed 2 over 12 years in IT. Probably about 50 interviews in total.

I find 50% of interviews do not even go into technical details, how you look is often more important.

[worzelGummidge]

On face to face interviews I have a pass rate of about 50%
25% rejected by them and 25% rejected by me.

This does not include the interviews where I decline turning up.

Don't forget that you are also interviewing them and some clients seem to forget this fact and do not like it if you turn a role down.

I like face to face interviews because then I can have a look at the site and them. I'm a bit fussy which contracts I accept which has not always been the best policy, especially in this climate.

My impression is that if offered a role then it is a mix of:
How do I look & come across
Type of technical questions asked and my response
Previous experience

If I accept the role then it is a mix of:
Money - Is the role cost effective (some are not especially now)
Money - Is the role paid more or less than any others offered. Not the most important, depending on other factors.
Location
The role
What is the site like
Do they have a site canteen for lunch
What are the long term prospects like (if I care)
New skills
The people

I am also honest. If I do not have a certain skill then I tell them. I do think that this has cost me at least one contract in the pasts that I would have accepted.

[Pogle]

Failed 2 over 12 years in IT. Probably about 50 interviews in total.

I find 50% of interviews do not even go into technical details, how you look is often more important.

Crumbs, I'm amazed I've passed as many interviews as I have then.
Perhaps all the interviewers had bad eyesight

My percentage has gone down over the last 12 months - up til then it was 100%, its around 70% now. It seems the further the job is away from home the more likely I am to get it

[conned tractor]

100% failure rate here.

All successful positions have been gained by telephone interview or by knowing the hiring manager. Must be a right minger.

The first face to face was an absolute match to my skills and I went in at a low, no I mean really low rate, to be asked by interviewer "did I think the rate was a little high". Being wet behind the ears I didnt't think it appropriate to discuss the rate (prompted by slimeball) - however if I was in that situation again I would have no problem letting them know that the agent was a greedy bugger. Agent must have been creaming at least 100% on top - 100% margin bringing it in line with normal industry rates.

Second face to face was failed due to technical ability - seemed a good skills match on paper, but when I attended it seemed they needed a mathematician rather than an engineer - too complex for me.

[Lockhouse]

On face to face interviews I have a pass rate of about 50%
25% rejected by them and 25% rejected by me.

Same here

[singhr]

Never had a telephone interview - all face to face and never not been offered the gig. My advice would be to reassure yourself by videoing yourself in a mock up interview, perhaps with a member of your family running through a script and then go over it with someone impartial to see if any manerisms are coming through that might make people think you are bullsh*ting, tense etc. Talk to your agent too, if they have got you to face to face stage, he might be able to give you some coaching. IMHO its all about practice, practice, practice. Apply for a few low-grade jobs you dont want just to get interview practice if needs. good luck.

[ctdctd]

100% on phone interviews
About 50% face to face.
0% where there has been more than one interview.

I get the impression the phone interviews were with outfits that know about contractors and the face to facers were with outfits that usually got permies.
As a contractor, I don't think I can talk the permie talk very well!

[juststarting]

On the dressing subject , people seem to be horrified when I wear a suit. I am 6.4" , bad look ( although I try hard to project friendship ) , rough face lines. On my way to my last interview I asked a teenager on the street for the right building. The fella could barely keep eye contact with me and seemed to be expecting me pulling a gun and shooting him in the head , after he was done telling me the address ( you know like in gangster movies )

Then on the interview itself three interviewers. One of them had horrible face control and couldn't hide his complete mistrust in me by constant eye shifting and awkward face impressions. The other two interviewers had no such issues , but with some people I do have to put extra effort to convince them I am not there to shoot everybody.