Reply to: HR Interview (contractor role)

[Slumdog]

HR - Human Remains
(wannabes having to recruit for someone else and pretend like it's their company)

[dinker]

You speak to HR people in management speak.

[swamp]

a) You were so good in your last role they renewed your contract X times.

b) You were in your last role for a some time before your contract was not renewed.

Both statements are completely true. Saying one will get you the gig, but saying the other won't. Hmmm, which one to say...?!

[Liability]

Hi,

Went for an interview at a bank yesterday, excellent interview, really hit it off with the Global Head of XYZ. Very informal interview which lasted 2 hours!

The chap was very honest and said that he liked me and wanted to proceed to an HR interview. Note that this is a contract role.

At the end of the interview with Global Head, he warned me to be careful how I approach the fact that I have not been renewed and why I had an issue with the guy in my old team.

Been in my current contract at another bank for a number of years, however I have not been renewed and to be honest I did not wish to renew.

I did have a bit of an issue with a team member about 6 months ago and moved team. Still work with this individual indirectly. I want to note that I did try and sort out issues on a number of occassions. However my feeling was he felt treatened by me. Being honest he was out of his dept in his role.

Question, should I be totally honest about all that has gone on ?

Cheers in advance.

Tips

- NEVER mention you werent going to get renewed. Say you had been there a while and wanted something new now as your learning curve was somewhat limited or the work was simply BAU aligned

- NEVER EVER EVER EVVVVVVEEER say you didnt get on with people. You are very lucky the Head of XYZ wants to progress - you must have come across as a decent guy. But in future never mention conflicts with people; HR will have a field day with this and see it as a show stopper

All I am saying is what BB said - just with less aggression

[citychap26]

I second that. I`m very much a "honest is the best policy" person, but when dealing with HR teams, be careful. Been there and done that, and learned the hard way when HR turned my honesty into something it wasn`t - focused on the negatives rather than the positives. Everyone else thought "yes", HR said "no". Try to give them what you think they want to hear, otherwise they`ll stick their sticks in to big themselves up.

This happened to me 10 years ago with Enron. Was interviewed by Head of division and a couple of traders. They said yes, 2nd interview was with quants guys, Head of dive even popped by to wish me luck, 3rd interview was with HR woman (girl). She asked me the same question I'd been asked previously and I snapped saying "Look, this is the third time I've had to answer this question. Why didn't you just have everyone interview me at the same time!?".

Of course I didn't get the job.

[citychap26]

Hi All,

I was think that I should be economical with the truth in this case.

HR people are pretty rubbish, will just lay on the charm.

Thanks again.

[Menelaus]

Was she an agent?

No, scarily enough.

[George Parr]

Listened to expressions such as "I love you anyway, no matter what" when this was, in fact, a complete lie told to me to keep me:

(a) happy
(b) deluded
(c) paying for - well, everything really

I became like a Pavlovian dog whereas instead of generating amylase I was generating GBP, EUR and USD.

My bad.

Was she an agent?

[Menelaus]

Why, what did you say to her? Something like "I wish you all the best in your pregnancy", only to find out she was just fat?

Nomadd

Listened to expressions such as "I love you anyway, no matter what" when this was, in fact, a complete lie told to me to keep me:

(a) happy
(b) deluded
(c) paying for - well, everything really

I became like a Pavlovian dog whereas instead of generating amylase I was generating GBP, EUR and USD.

My bad.

[nomadd]

My bold.

Having been screwed over by this in the past, I'd strongly recommend against this course of action.

Why, what did you say to her? Something like "I wish you all the best in your pregnancy", only to find out she was just fat?

Nomadd

[Menelaus]

Honesty is rarely the best policy in any walk of life, but it is especially true when it comes to sex and money. In both cases, tell them what they want to hear. In the case of sex, play up the risky side as this is excitement. However, when it comes to money e.g. getting a gig, eliminate risk.

My bold.

Having been screwed over by this in the past, I'd strongly recommend against this course of action.

[HairyArsedBloke]

Honesty is rarely the best policy in any walk of life, but it is especially true when it comes to sex and money. In both cases, tell them what they want to hear. In the case of sex, play up the risky side as this is excitement. However, when it comes to money e.g. getting a gig, eliminate risk.

[Menelaus]

Personally I wouldn't mention this, especially to an HR bod.

WHS.

HR people are, in my humble opinion, ***** who tend to create trouble where none exists in the interests of "avoiding risk".

The measure of a business is not that it avoids risk, it is that it regards, mitigates and controls risk.

*****, the lot of 'em.

[RedTag]

****'s sake, how thick are some people? You told them you had 'issues' with someone at your last client and left them thinking potentially you could have issues again with someone in their organisation?

Dear oh dear.

+1

Seriously.

[BolshieBastard]

Hi,

Went for an interview at a bank yesterday, excellent interview, really hit it off with the Global Head of XYZ. Very informal interview which lasted 2 hours!

The chap was very honest and said that he liked me and wanted to proceed to an HR interview. Note that this is a contract role.

At the end of the interview with Global Head, he warned me to be careful how I approach the fact that I have not been renewed and why I had an issue with the guy in my old team.

Been in my current contract at another bank for a number of years, however I have not been renewed and to be honest I did not wish to renew.

I did have a bit of an issue with a team member about 6 months ago and moved team. Still work with this individual indirectly. I want to note that I did try and sort out issues on a number of occassions. However my feeling was he felt treatened by me. Being honest he was out of his dept in his role.

Question, should I be totally honest about all that has gone on ?

Cheers in advance.

****'s sake, how thick are some people? You told them you had 'issues' with someone at your last client and left them thinking potentially you could have issues again with someone in their organisation?

Dear oh dear.