Reply to: Unsuccessful interviews - never used to!

[sal]

....Also seems to be a lot of tech type interviews recently... More than normal I'd say but hey ho....

We are currently looking for a replacement for someone leaving. In 1 month i interviewed about 6 applicants with semi-decent CVs (binned 30 or so CVs sent by the agents) and 10+ years of contracting experience in the technology. All of them fail to answer half of the basic questions and none of them understands how the technology works.

I don't understand how some hired them for their previous gigs, the only explanation that comes to mind that there was no technical interview or the person doing it was at the same level.

So my guess is more people started realizing how many contractors are out there only relying on CV and lacking actual skills to do the job and started including technical interviews as part of the recruitment process.

[TheFaQQer]

+1

Preperation is key. My memory is tulip at the best of times so I also write keywords onto my CV that I might want to drop into the conversation.

I've been successful in all but one of my phone interviews and I've had a few over the years.

For my second contract, I was warned that the guy interviewing me was an expert in this area and they needed someone at the same kind of level. I knew I wasn't at that level in that particular part of the Oracle schema, so boned up on it and when the call came sat with diagrams and slides printed out all around me.

He never mentioned the technology at all during the interview, though.

[Batcher]

I used to feel that way about them, but I've gotten quite a few gigs straight off the phone interview, now I look forward to them. I'm guessing you may have a slight lack of confidence? Think about doing a bit more preperation before the call. It sounds strange, but I try to have my CV and job description in front of me. So you are in effect seeing the same info as the interviewer. Also a good google on the company will help as you can sometimes be quizzed on that area. Maybe a google on industry trends for you skill. Just be ready to go when you get on the call. The other thing I try to do is just be myself and treat it like a project call where I'm being introduced to new people.

+1

Preperation is key. My memory is tulip at the best of times so I also write keywords onto my CV that I might want to drop into the conversation.

I've been successful in all but one of my phone interviews and I've had a few over the years.

[Scrag Meister]

Wait till agents want you to sit a prove-it test before they will even submit you!

https://www.proveit.com/default.htm

Brainbench is also a popular pre-interview screen.

[CloudWalker]

Wait till agents want you to sit a prove-it test before they will even submit you!

https://www.proveit.com/default.htm

[northernladuk]

[northernladuk]

ftfy hth bikidi

You need one of these?

[eek]

oh, that's harsh coming from a guy with 10k posts correcting their/there/they're and other minor grammatical errors

ftfy hth bikidi

[northernladuk]

As opposed to 5000 professional posts saying "have you done a search?" coupled with 5000 posts saying "have you asked your accountant?"

Oh, that's harsh coming from a guy with 10k posts correcting their/there/they're and other minor grammar points

[TheFaQQer]

And the other 5055 posts?

As opposed to 5000 professional posts saying "have you done a search?" coupled with 5000 posts saying "have you asked your accountant?"

[northernladuk]

Can this be moved into general? This content has no place in a professional forum.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

And the other 5055 posts?

[DigitalUser]

Perhaps word has got around? Or NLUKs influence is spreading? :-)

Always used to nail interviews but have had a few unsuccessful ones recently to be honest.

I guess good news is that my CV is getting me interviews at least.

Must admit even though its less hassle not a big fan of phone interviews. Doesn't work for me that well.

Also seems to be a lot of tech type interviews recently... More than normal I'd say but hey ho.

Oh well, got extension offer with current gig but I was hoping to move on. Money is money.

Can this be moved into general? This content has no place in a professional forum.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[psychocandy]

How recent is recently? Must be the client or the agents fault surely?

Nah reckon its your fault...

[SpontaneousOrder]

Yeah, it's a worrying new trend.

[northernladuk]

How recent is recently? Must be the client or the agents fault surely?