Reply to: First Contract Interview!

[kimera]

Not ones about holiday or sickness.

LOL I think I got that one!

*dont ask about holidays*
*dont ask about holidays*
*dont ask about holidays*
*dont ask about holidays*
*smashes head on desk*

[mcquiggd]

Ask if theyll pay cash in hand and offer a 10% discount....

[Xenophon]

what "type" of questions should I be asking.

Not ones about holiday or sickness.

[Mordac]

Well, if you will eat the permies...

[kimera]

Oh jeez....

"Hi, I'm the best man for the job. Now, about time off...."

If that's the mindset, stay permie.

i dont have even bloody take holidays as a permie or sick so Im not starting now, it was an "hypothetical" question. ie what "type" of questions should I be asking.

Needless to say the mentioning holidays not happen

[~Craig~]

(hopes malvolio is in a decent mood )

I guess not

[malvolio]

Oh jeez....

"Hi, I'm the best man for the job. Now, about time off...."

If that's the mindset, stay permie.

[expat]

thanks, agent it is

I wasnt asking about pay! just hol notice/booking procedures etc

Well, it depends on the client. But it's not really like employment, with (I seem to recall... ) holiday rosters and dates for putting your name down etc. Personally if I know what I have planned, I mention it after getting the offer and before signing and turning up for work. That way they won't make the initial decision based on convenience (or "attitude", "professionalism" etc), but they do have a chance to say no, we can't work with that. If they then take me anyway, I take it that we're all happy.

Contrariwise, like many contractors I also try to take holidays between contracts. So then I finish one at the end of April, and give my availability as 8th May.

If I don't know when I might take a holiday but I don't know that I'll want one, I say just that.

I'd like to say that I just announce at some suitable time that the consultant will not be available on the following days, but I do tend to feel it would be taking the piss, if I know that the client has certain expectations of my presence.

OTOH I see no need to "ask" the agent for time off. I'm fulfilling the contract, not them. The client is getting fulfilled, not them.

[VectraMan]

just hol notice/booking procedures etc

You're providing a service, so common courtesy and good business practice means you should give them pleanty of warning if you're going to be unavailable. You can probably just not turn up half the time, but then they're not going to be happy with you, not going to renew, and not going to give a good reference. Keep the customer satisfied.

You definitely don't want to get involved in the company holiday booking system or procedures as that makes you look like an employee.

[VectraMan]

I'd be inclined not to say anything in the interview and see what the contract says about notice for you not being available. Get the job, then negotiate the terms.

[expat]

I take it it would be okay to ask about the process of calling in sick etc...

What about taking hols - eg on a 6 month contract, 2 months in you find you need a week off or something - is this the kind of thing you'd need to discuss upfront ?

Good way to get your head round it:

YOU are the employer, as well as the employee. Your business sells a service to the client (through the agency).

SO: sick pay? You get what YOU pay yourself . But don't expect anybody else, like the client or the agency, to chip in their money.
Hols? You get whatever holiday pay that YOU pay yourself. Same comment.
Time off for hols? Your business will have to arange that with its clients.
Expenses? Again, YOU (the business) pay you (the worker). There may be a provision in the contract for the client to re-imburse expenses. More often there isn't.

[kimera]

Assuming there's an agent involved, that's all between you and the agent rather than the client. Don't go to an interview for a contract role and ask about sick/holiday pay or you'll look like a total idiot.

thanks, agent it is

I wasnt asking about pay! just hol notice/booking procedures etc

[kimera]

Just tell them you are unavailable on dates X, Y, Z due to other contractual obligations. That works if you are trading as a company.

Basic thing: plan like mad.

Plan what ????

[madhippy]

...ask about sick/holiday pay or you'll look like a total idiot.

I take it it would be okay to ask about the process of calling in sick etc...

What about taking hols - eg on a 6 month contract, 2 months in you find you need a week off or something - is this the kind of thing you'd need to discuss upfront ?

[VectraMan]

Assuming there's an agent involved, that's all between you and the agent rather than the client. Don't go to an interview for a contract role and ask about sick/holiday pay or you'll look like a total idiot.