Reply to: Apply/Interview to gather contacts?

[BolshieBastard]

I've had my eye on a large client fairly close to home for a number of years but I'm always in a gig when the apply or they have nothing when I'm on the bench so am quite eager to try getting some contacts there. I've scoured linkedin but can't identify who would be the person in charge and even if I did it's a bit of a 'cold' way to introduce myself. Looking at most of the people in the areas I think none seem have any contractors on their linkedin. I know some client managers don't have contractors on let alone cold invites so... question...

A gig has come up but I'm in contract until December and have no intention of bailing. Would you apply for the gig to try and get some contacts and then either decline interview or even go to interview to get yourself known?

I'm undecided if getting to interview and turning it down before offer is a good thing or not. It's a way to prove yourself face to face but turning them down might not be the best basis to engage personally with them for future contact.

What do my esteemed peers think?

LOL you need mumsnet!?

If you got offered the job then turned them down, some companies dont like it as you've 'wasted their time.'

Myself I dont see the point in applying if you're not going to accept, T&C's etc being agreeable. If the client was such a big deal, you'd bail from the current contract, end of. Otherwise bide yer time.

EDIT; I remember waiting ages to get in at bacrap and yorkshire electricity, when I did, I found they were two tulip clients to work with so think on.

[WordIsBond]

...but anyway they will always use an agent so going direct is not an option.

In that case, seems like you are better identifying the agents they use and building relationships there. Which can be done anytime you are looking for a contract, even if the end client isn't looking at the same time.

If you have a choice between two contracts and one of them is through one of their preferred agents, you take that one even if you don't like the contract itself as much -- just to build a relationship with the agent. If you build credibility with the agent, he's more likely to put you forward on the contracts you want, and down the road you can tell him you'd like a gig with this particular client sometime.

If you've done well for him and his clients, he'll want to keep you on his books, so he'll be looking for opportunities to submit your name.

If you want to get into a castle, it's usually easier and more effective to get to know the gatekeeper than the guy who owns the place. Identify their preferred agents.

[FatLazyContractor]

1. Install one of your friends as a permie manager
2. Use him to get a contract when you are free.

Oh wait, this isn't general

You are definitely cut out to be a contractor, as you are thinking like one

[northernladuk]

Yeah, 5hit idea I must say...but your strategic shift is clear; not using agents anymore and trying to offset against anticipated changes to T&S and going direct....hmm that's a new one

Not sure if your rolling eyes are at billybiros comment or my original one but anyway they will always use an agent so going direct is not an option. A perfect situation would be this client give me some advance notice something is coming up and I'm a preferred candidate saving everyone a ton of work. I'd spend a bit of time on the bench if need be if I knew anything was coming soon. An option I don't have if I'm just reactive to the role being advertised.

[SteelyDan]

Brilliant idea. Apply, get an interview then ditch them at the last minute when they offer you the gig. Yes. This will not annoy the client at all.

Emphasis above mine, says it all really. Wait until you're not in contract and a gig is available, then do the usual. Either that, or assuming this client is someone you really want to work for, MTFU and bail on your current gig when you get this one. Are you sure YCOTBAC?

Yeah, 5hit idea I must say...but your strategic shift is clear; not using agents anymore and trying to offset against anticipated changes to T&S and going direct....hmm that's a new one

[billybiro]

I've had my eye on a large client fairly close to home for a number of years but I'm always in a gig when the apply or they have nothing when I'm on the bench so am quite eager to try getting some contacts there. I've scoured linkedin but can't identify who would be the person in charge and even if I did it's a bit of a 'cold' way to introduce myself. Looking at most of the people in the areas I think none seem have any contractors on their linkedin. I know some client managers don't have contractors on let alone cold invites so... question...

A gig has come up but I'm in contract until December and have no intention of bailing. Would you apply for the gig to try and get some contacts and then either decline interview or even go to interview to get yourself known?

I'm undecided if getting to interview and turning it down before offer is a good thing or not. It's a way to prove yourself face to face but turning them down might not be the best basis to engage personally with them for future contact.

What do my esteemed peers think?

Brilliant idea. Apply, get an interview then ditch them at the last minute when they offer you the gig. Yes. This will not annoy the client at all.

Emphasis above mine, says it all really. Wait until you're not in contract and a gig is available, then do the usual. Either that, or assuming this client is someone you really want to work for, MTFU and bail on your current gig when you get this one. Are you sure YCOTBAC?

[eek]

Depends why you turned them down or pulled out of the interview.

You are trying to show you maintain relationships and deliver to the end of a project.

That is one reason for pulling out as soon as you've got the name and the interview confirmed...

Assuming the turn around is not immediate you can use an excuse that current clientco has another project they need fixed and you don't want to turn them down. So I'm very sorry but as I don't want to annoy either the current client and potential new one I want to give the new one plenty of notice to allow them to pick the interview candidate on the list...

[SueEllen]

You've got the wrong end of the stick. It's about building a relationship with the other client. Turning down the offer may not be the best way to start a relationship.

Depends why you turned them down or pulled out of the interview.

You are trying to show you maintain relationships and deliver to the end of a project.

[kyber]

You've got the wrong end of the stick. It's about building a relationship with the other client. Turning down the offer may not be the best way to start a relationship.

It's not exactly niche I don't think but image you are a ServiceNow consultant with experience delivering to a Pharma on a global scale and another Pharma is wanting to roll out to their global market. The neuances in Pharma and global markets would make you thebl ideal candidate. It's not that but you get my meaning.

Not sure I have the wrong end of the stick, but appreciate the approach is risky with regard to building a relationship with client you turn down but want to work with in the future.

That said, I get your meaning. As an aside, I am watching a ServiceNow implementation going wrong at the moment.

[northernladuk]

If your morality will stand it ...

• See if you can get through interview stages to offer
• Decline then as your existing client has asked you to stay on longer than you had originally planned because they have just lost someone critical and you feel obligated to help them out - actually makes you look like a good guy if you handle it right.

You've got the wrong end of the stick. It's about building a relationship with the other client. Turning down the offer may not be the best way to start a relationship.

It's not exactly niche I don't think but image you are a ServiceNow consultant with experience delivering to a Pharma on a global scale and another Pharma is wanting to roll out to their global market. The neuances in Pharma and global markets would make you thebl ideal candidate. It's not that but you get my meaning.

[kyber]

I assume you have explored the usual networking route, of just trying to engage (RL or VL) with anyone roughly in the right area through a mutual interest (maybe a group on LinkedIn), building a relationship, and then asking them for an introduction?

[kyber]

If your morality will stand it ...

• See if you can get through interview stages to offer
• Decline then as your existing client has asked you to stay on longer than you had originally planned because they have just lost someone critical and you feel obligated to help them out - actually makes you look like a good guy if you handle it right.

[NibblyPig]

Probably depends on a lot of factors - does the job need specialist skills that are hard to find, or will 50 contractors apply in a week? Is the company huge or small? Do they understand what contractors do?

I figure if there's high demand for the job they'll not really care and be in a position to throw CVs and less than perfect interviews into the bin until they find the star candidate, and literally forget about everyone else. Fairly sure I lost out on one gig despite having perfectly matching skills because I didn't dress casually enough when they said no need to wear a suit we're all in casual clothing, and the PM thought I wouldn't fit with the permie team (in that clueless I'm hiring an expensive permie right? way... sigh).

So if you then phoned them 6 months later they'd probably not know who you are and would probably not be impressed they found out you applied and backed out. Ironically there's the possibly they'd think you were exhibiting mercenary behaviour and would up and leave half way through a gig.

But if it's more of a niche market you have more chance of making an impression on them. And if it's a big company with loads of money but with small departments etc. I guess the same. Plus it depends on the content of the interview, if they're gonna grill you technically and you ace their questions they'll be super happy. If they just mumble about your CV a bit then you won't have any way to stand out.

A lot of places that are forced to hire a contractor against their will because they need a project finishing ASAP and are having to begrudgingly spend what they see as far too much money on contractors for it tend to only value those who prove themselves by actually working for the company, and are wary and quick to pick up on any signs of YMNBCOTBAC such as a fickle candidate.

However on another side, if you're going via a pimp you could interview with them and back out, and just add them to a list of candidates to get back to in a year, when any recruiter exclusivity deal has ran out, possibly giving you more leverage just in time for finishing your current engagements...

Food for thought...

[SlipTheJab]

Have you asked your accountant

[shingz]

Typical NLUK response

Use the search function?

Act like a contractor maybe?