What do you make of this after an interview?

[stingman123]

Well, I went for an interview last week for a really nice 9 to 12 month job that is offering way over my current rate. Interview went OK, client was a bit nervous that the job is darn sarf and I'd have to commute from north west weekly, but technically I think it went generally OK.

Agent (who I don't really know) gave me some feedback yesterday along the lines of- "Client will probably want another interview, probably over the phone though. They want more information about you as a team player. Have you got a couple of decent references that I can pass on?".


Now then, I think detected a bit of nervousness in the pimps voice, and I wasn't convinced that he was telling the whole truth. I thought it best, on balance, to send over a couple of references. They'll do the bloke no use as warm leads because one referees now lives in Oz and the other in the USA. But I can't help having a feeling that I've been done over here? What does the experts panel think?

Offer to pass on the referees in the phone interview

[Olly]

Just a little note about my experience recently through ********** (removed the name just in case).

Went to the interview very badly prepared due agency not providing detailed job spec even though they promised to 3 times and even saying they'd mailed it and was a computer glitch (ahem! bull**it)

Interview was pretty awful and obviously not for me.

Agency called to say client had called that morning and was positive and wanted me to fill in maaasive form (intended for Indians I believe) to do a CRB check. Of course in the form were all sorts of questions about past employers.

Suspicious, I called client direct, they'd told the agency the day before they weren't interested in me!

[Fred Bloggs]

The agency didn't get him an interview, he got it on the strength of his CV. And you should blacklist agencies if they have a certain 'corporate culture'.

He may have screwed up a little bit, so a second phone interview is fair enough but asking for references would set loads of alarm bells going for me (and I wouldn't have supplied the refs).
I hope it pans out ...

That's kind of the way my mind was thinking. Benefit of the doubt for now though.

[Fred Bloggs]

It sounds like you've flunked the interview, the client has come back umming and ahhing and if any better candidates fail to apply you;re still in with a chance.

The bit about teamwork is interesting though. Were you all +ve, I enjoy working with a team, the team and I, we did this, we did that.. or did you give it the johnny big bananas, 'I had to pull them out of this', 'I had to do this', 'I was the best', ' I delivered project a on my jack jones when everyone else posted on the internet'. Me me me!

At which point, it's a valid response.

Fair point. The meeting was very technical focussed though and I did give some information to this client that really was beyond their current level of understanding on that issue. (That's why they interviewed me though?). It makes me wonder whether the guys on the client side thought "this a smart ar5e here".

Edited to add- Reflecting on this, my strong suit and what got me the interview was my technical development skills that were 100% aligned with what the client is doing. This skill set is very rare outside the US. Thinking about it, I think I may have over played this angle. Hmmm.........

[MarillionFan]

The agency didn't get him an interview, he got it on the strength of his CV. And you should blacklist agencies if they have a certain 'corporate culture'.

He may have screwed up a little bit, so a second phone interview is fair enough but asking for references would set loads of alarm bells going for me (and I wouldn't have supplied the refs).
I hope it pans out ...

Frankly I dont see the point of blacklisting agencies. I see the point of putting a note about them in your own application process, but cutting off your own nose Zippy is frankly idiotic.

[Zippy]

I suggest you don't bother blacklisting agencies just because of the behaviour of one agent. Especially when they have managed to get you an interview.

The agency didn't get him an interview, he got it on the strength of his CV. And you should blacklist agencies if they have a certain 'corporate culture'.

He may have screwed up a little bit, so a second phone interview is fair enough but asking for references would set loads of alarm bells going for me (and I wouldn't have supplied the refs).
I hope it pans out ...

[MarillionFan]

It sounds like you've flunked the interview, the client has come back umming and ahhing and if any better candidates fail to apply you;re still in with a chance.

The bit about teamwork is interesting though. Were you all +ve, I enjoy working with a team, the team and I, we did this, we did that.. or did you give it the johnny big bananas, 'I had to pull them out of this', 'I had to do this', 'I was the best', ' I delivered project a on my jack jones when everyone else posted on the internet'. Me me me!

At which point, it's a valid response.

[Fred Bloggs]

WHS

I think you're right. If so, it's an agency to cross off my list. I don't like liars, but for now they have the benefit of the doubt on their side.

[Fred Bloggs]

We'll see if the phone interview happens, but I have my doubts in that direction.

[norrahe]

I think you know the answer.

Keep looking and applying.

WHS

[TheFaQQer]

You never know - if you get the phone interview, ask them whether the agent passed on the references.

I have two referees that I use because I have worked for them before, they don't mind being contacted by agents, and they have no use to agents because their employers do not deal with contractors.

[Fred Bloggs]

Yep, thought so! At least the pimp will get nothing out of those references, they're useless for fishing trips.

[Clippy]

Well, I went for an interview last week for a really nice 9 to 12 month job that is offering way over my current rate. Interview went OK, client was a bit nervous that the job is darn sarf and I'd have to commute from north west weekly, but technically I think it went generally OK.

Agent (who I don't really know) gave me some feedback yesterday along the lines of- "Client will probably want another interview, probably over the phone though. They want more information about you as a team player. Have you got a couple of decent references that I can pass on?".


Now then, I think detected a bit of nervousness in the pimps voice, and I wasn't convinced that he was telling the whole truth. I thought it best, on balance, to send over a couple of references. They'll do the bloke no use as warm leads because one referees now lives in Oz and the other in the USA. But I can't help having a feeling that I've been done over here? What does the experts panel think?

Sounds like it.

[Fred Bloggs]

Well, I went for an interview last week for a really nice 9 to 12 month job that is offering way over my current rate. Interview went OK, client was a bit nervous that the job is darn sarf and I'd have to commute from north west weekly, but technically I think it went generally OK.

Agent (who I don't really know) gave me some feedback yesterday along the lines of- "Client will probably want another interview, probably over the phone though. They want more information about you as a team player. Have you got a couple of decent references that I can pass on?".


Now then, I think detected a bit of nervousness in the pimps voice, and I wasn't convinced that he was telling the whole truth. I thought it best, on balance, to send over a couple of references. They'll do the bloke no use as warm leads because one referees now lives in Oz and the other in the USA. But I can't help having a feeling that I've been done over here? What does the experts panel think?