- Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
- Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!
Reply to: "Pre-Interview Chat"
Collapse
You are not logged in or you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:
- You are not logged in. If you are already registered, fill in the form below to log in, or follow the "Sign Up" link to register a new account.
- You may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
- If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.
Logging in...
Previously on ""Pre-Interview Chat""
Collapse
-
Guest repliedSometimes they are just fishing too as the role sometimes isn't real or they are comparing outside people to internal candidates.....if you really want the role ask them to frame the context of the chat and take some questions into it for yourself that show you are keen on the role...the more enthusiasm you show the more they'll want to talk to you again !
-
Originally posted by AnthonyQuinn View Postsimply accept this chat. why bother to find out what its for?
Anyway, as many have already suggested, it turned out that they'd had a few interviews already which were a waste of time all round, so with the next batch, decided to undertake prior screening. They'd forgotten to mention it to the programme office, though, hence the *rse about t*t scheduling.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by dave68 View PostThe odd thing is the order in which it was done, i.e. first set up a face to face meeting with no mention of a prior phone interview, then a few days later arrange a hitherto unmentioned phone 'chat' prior to the face to face. Seemed a bit strange.
Leave a comment:
-
do you lose anything???
simply accept this chat. why bother to find out what its for?
Leave a comment:
-
Could also be that Client has seen a "decent fit" already.... and now wants to get a feel of the other candidates before going through with the "proper" interviews.
Could explain the *rse about face scheduling.
If its this then you really need to come across well on the phone.... but thats your target every time anyway so - Don't sweat it! Its just one of those things.......
FWIW I always assume the Client has "someone in mind" before they see me so I really have to stand out.... I find it helps me relax (If they already have someone in mind then there is "no pressure" on me)...
I find I am much "better" when relaxed.. rather than coming across as desperate/needy etc.
YMMV - Obviously
Good luck anyway !
Leave a comment:
-
One of my friends recently had exactly this situation - she was told that the client wanted to interview her then afterwards was informed that she'd have a phone interview with the agency first to see if she'd 'suit the role'.
I've been in the same situation with the same agency a few years ago, I think its just the way some of them do things.
I wish the agency we used at my (previous) permi company had bothered to do it instead of submitting a load of CVs for people that didn't last 5 minutes in the interviews we held!
Leave a comment:
-
This is sometimes a reaction to a few wasted interviews i.e. they decide early in the interview that the person is not going to be right and they have wasted a lot of time - we could have sussed that early if we had a phone chat, let's do that for the next lot.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by Olly View Post.......er what's odd about it?
Originally posted by thunderlizard View PostProbably this has happened:
PM: "Gosh there are lots of contractors out there that look worth interviewing. I've got 10 booked for next week!"
PM's mate: "Why don't you phone-interview them first then?"
PM: "Good idea."
Leave a comment:
-
Nothing odd. There is no Official British Standard Method of Hiring Contractors, nor should there be, and clients often just aren't that organised. Probably this has happened:
PM: "Gosh there are lots of contractors out there that look worth interviewing. I've got 10 booked for next week!"
PM's mate: "Why don't you phone-interview them first then?"
PM: "Good idea."
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by dave68 View PostI have an interview arranged next week for a PM role.
The Agent called again today and said the client now wants a "pre-interview chat" over the phone a couple of days in advance of the face to face interview.
I could understand it if they had booked phone interviews first for screening puroses, then only progressed to booking face-to-face interviews if you seemed a good fit after that.
But to pre-arrange the face to face interviews, and then spring a "pre interview chat" seems a bit odd.
Should I be suspicious? I've never encountered this before. Any ideas what's going on? As I say, it just seems a bit odd for some reason.
Ta!
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by SizeZero View PostYou can use these meetings to your advantage to dig out information an agent might know about this project, past projects, or people placed with that company. Even if it will cost you a day's billing to attend, you already have the client interview set up so I'd recommend you go with a list of useful information you'd like - anything that might tip the scales in your favour when you meet the client is worth pursuing. Think of it as an investment.
Leave a comment:
-
You can use these meetings to your advantage to dig out information an agent might know about this project, past projects, or people placed with that company. Even if it will cost you a day's billing to attend, you already have the client interview set up so I'd recommend you go with a list of useful information you'd like - anything that might tip the scales in your favour when you meet the client is worth pursuing. Think of it as an investment.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by Olly View Post.......er what's odd about it?
I actually ask agents to set them up if they can, helps find out about the role and get a feel if it's worth going to interview.
Leave a comment:
-
.......er what's odd about it?
I actually ask agents to set them up if they can, helps find out about the role and get a feel if it's worth going to interview.
Leave a comment:
- Home
- News & Features
- First Timers
- IR35 / S660 / BN66
- Employee Benefit Trusts
- Agency Workers Regulations
- MSC Legislation
- Limited Companies
- Dividends
- Umbrella Company
- VAT / Flat Rate VAT
- Job News & Guides
- Money News & Guides
- Guide to Contracts
- Successful Contracting
- Contracting Overseas
- Contractor Calculators
- MVL
- Contractor Expenses
Advertisers
Contractor Services
CUK News
- Streamline Your Retirement with iSIPP: A Solution for Contractor Pensions Sep 1 09:13
- Making the most of pension lump sums: overview for contractors Sep 1 08:36
- Umbrella company tribunal cases are opening up; are your wages subject to unlawful deductions, too? Aug 31 08:38
- Contractors, relabelling 'labour' as 'services' to appear 'fully contracted out' won't dupe IR35 inspectors Aug 31 08:30
- How often does HMRC check tax returns? Aug 30 08:27
- Work-life balance as an IT contractor: 5 top tips from a tech recruiter Aug 30 08:20
- Autumn Statement 2023 tipped to prioritise mental health, in a boost for UK workplaces Aug 29 08:33
- Final reminder for contractors to respond to the umbrella consultation (closing today) Aug 29 08:09
- Top 5 most in demand cyber security contract roles Aug 25 08:38
- Changes to the right to request flexible working are incoming, but how will contractors be affected? Aug 24 08:25
Leave a comment: