Interviewing

[TheFaQQer]

Insist on a telephone interview. It is often the agents who push for face to face.

This. I've had two face-to-face interviews - both for big government projects. One, I was already working in the same building; the other I travelled to London for because I needed the work and I was fairly confident of getting it.

If I'm coming to the end of a contract, I say that I've got an interview. If I'm not coming to the end of a contract, I don't interview.

And this.

Why do you care that a current client knows your going to an interview? It might encourage them to do something about offering you a big juicy extension.

And this.

[TheFaQQer]

So I won't do a face-to-face unless its early or late and I can still show up at current client and then moan on CUK about how awful they are.

FTFY

[curtis]

Yeh. Thats the thing. Current contract coming to an end maybe and last thing you want is to waste a days billing possibly trekking across the country for what could turn out to be a non-runner or a dud.

At this point, I usually find that I want to maximise any billing days I might have left with current client. So I won't do a face-to-face unless its early or late and I can still show up at current client and bill for

I find I think this this when getting to the end of a contract but I know its part of the whole process and to increase my chances of finding another gig soon/straight away after my current gig I may have to take time to interview. I figure if I leave it till I finish then I could be off quite a while before I'm billing again whereas for the sake of maybe a few days lost billing in contract I might walk out straight/very soon into another and be earning again and if not then not, that's the constant gamble with some things working this way.

[kingcook]

How do you find time for interviews if lunch time is not enough to see the prospective client and obviously they won't stay late because of you?
Half day off vs coming up with stories?
You can easily guess the purpose of a half-day during the week, right?

As Old Greg said, no point in interviewing mid-contract. Towards the end just have extended lunch breaks, WFH, whatever. Make up the time, or have half days off (if you can't WFH).

[d000hg]

Send your sales manager to take the "interviews".