recruiter advertised job as contract, company offered me a perm

[manubbo]

So you don't actually have a contractor CV.

And you're not yet a contractor.

That explains everything.

In terms of me not being precise enough at the interview or of the recruiter trying to place me as a perm although I told him I was only interested in contract?

I have to say that due to my job history (my last four positions were 4 months, 15 months, 6 months and 5 months the current) I had more than one recruiter truly believe that I'm contacting at the moment. I followed also tips from this site but if anybody's happy to have a look at my CV for suggestions I'd be grateful.

[cojak]

So you don't actually have a contractor CV.

And you're not yet a contractor.

That explains everything.

[manubbo]

Thing is I'm still a permanent looking to move into contracting and maybe the recruiter tried to get advantage of it.

Anyway, thinking about it, even if I told the recruiter I could have had maybe considered it with a good salary, I will let it go, just telling the recruiter that I thought about it and I stick to my original idea - only contract. That's a recruiter fault and I've lost my time, I already said no to lots of recruiters when they were talking about permanent positions, and if I want to get another permie role I'm lucky enough that my skillset is quite in high demand. I know the interview went very well - I will inform the recruiter that if they want me as a contractor I'm very happy to accept the offer but otherwise I'm afraid it's a no.

The idea of stating explicitly in the CV that you're looking for contracts it's good - although I'm pretty sure the recruiter could scrap it down if he wants I'm gonna do that however.

[sunflower]

Some recruiters try it on. They tell you a role is contract, give you a rate indication, length, etc. You take the interview and find out that the client wants perm... A new ruse. Maybe they think a contractor might go for the role if it was their dream job?

This sort of thing can waste time and resources. It's happening a lot recently. I'm hearing this from contractor friends. Should be quite legitimate to bill the agent your travel expenses, etc when it was quite clear the role was perm.

You can put it on your cv that you are a "freelance project manager", "freelance tester" or whatever your area is to make it clear and this avoids unnecessary phone calls from agents looking for perm.

[cojak]

I knew the day rate, the agent told me on the phone. It was only after the interview - when I got in touch with the recruiter that he asked me whether "the client asked if the role was contract or permanent".

The interview was exactly for the advertised job position - my skills were checked against those. My mistake was not being clear at the beginning that I was there for an interview for a contract position.

Thanks for your feedback all.

Well that's just low and I don't think that it was a newbie mistake.

I think I might have been caught out by that and will just check in future (I haven't needed to in the past.)

[manubbo]

I'm confused by this thread. I don't bother with the initial telephone call with the agent unless I know the day rate.

And if you were looking for permiedom the same applies with salary.

So I just can't imagine going to an interview without knowing if it was a contract or permie role.

I knew the day rate, the agent told me on the phone. It was only after the interview - when I got in touch with the recruiter that he asked me whether "the client asked if the role was contract or permanent".

The interview was exactly for the advertised job position - my skills were checked against those. My mistake was not being clear at the beginning that I was there for an interview for a contract position.

Thanks for your feedback all.

[cojak]

I'm confused by this thread. I don't bother with the initial telephone call with the agent unless I know the day rate.

And if you were looking for permiedom the same applies with salary.

So I just can't imagine going to an interview without knowing if it was a contract or permie role.

[twocontract]

You should always be 100% certain whether the role is contract or permanent before attending an interview! If when you arrive for the interview it quickly becomes obvious the role is 'not as advertised' (e.g. the skillset and expectations are different to what has been described to you by the agent), then explain this to the person/s interviewing you and terminate the meeting there and then. Otherwise you are wasting their time and yours and will end up looking a bit silly when you can't handle the questions well. I've had several over the years like this. A couple of years ago I ended up in an interview for a SharePoint architect role and it quickly became clear the client wanted a workflow specialist. I explained to them I wasn't what they needed and told them why, and we were then able to end the interview on good terms without wasting any more time.

[SeekingIT]

Lesson learnt for next time

As per subject, spoke to a recruiter about a role a while ago, first time interview was scheduled 2 weeks a go in a day which I couldn't make (I asked the recruiter to do another day) - rescheduled to last Friday but rescheduled again due to company to today.

Did the interview this morning - no mention about permanent or contractor (I actually told them that I had a permanent background, but I didn't ask them directly whether the position was perm or contract). Recruiter called me this afternoon - they really liked me and they want to make me an offer but for a permanent role?? Seriously? The recruiter also said that he asked whether this could be a contract role but they said they have no contract position

I told the recruiter I could consider permanent but not for the amount of money they wanted me- but I'm actually not impressed with this recruiter behaviour.

I'm also guilty because I didn't ask the company today, and the job description there's no mention about contract (no permanent either).

I was thinking of getting in touch with the guy that interviewed me and/or HR and explain him that I've been told by the recruiter that was a contract position. I think they want me on board, but I'm not sure I can do anything about it (getting a contract offer). I think in the end I won't accept the offer even if they raise it as I'm quite keen of going contracting, but since I had a good impression about the company I'd like it to give them a try.

I know it's a newbie question - what would you do in my shoes, if you were only to accept a contract? Just say no and carry on? Or do you think there's some possibilities trying to ask them?

Thanks all.

Let us know what you decide to do and outcome please.........

[Zippy]

What they all said. And next time (don't be shy) confirm with the client whether it's contract or perm.

[nomadd]

To let them know how much of a smart guy the recruiter is? Anyway yes, that'd look a bit silly.

Do you think this has been recruiter fault or company fault? I'm inclined to think that this is quite frequent, and I don't know why I think that the job has always been perm and the recruiter tried to sell it as a contract. Next time I should always ask even at the interview...

Let. It. Go.

Move. On.

No. Really.

[manubbo]

What do you expect the outcome of that to be besides making yourself look a bit silly?

Let it go.

To let them know how much of a smart guy the recruiter is? Anyway yes, that'd look a bit silly.

Do you think this has been recruiter fault or company fault? I'm inclined to think that this is quite frequent, and I don't know why I think that the job has always been perm and the recruiter tried to sell it as a contract. Next time I should always ask even at the interview...

[northernladuk]

I was thinking of getting in touch with the guy that interviewed me and/or HR and explain him that I've been told by the recruiter that was a contract position.

What do you expect the outcome of that to be besides making yourself look a bit silly?

Let it go.

[stek]

Let it go.

[manubbo]

As per subject, spoke to a recruiter about a role a while ago, first time interview was scheduled 2 weeks a go in a day which I couldn't make (I asked the recruiter to do another day) - rescheduled to last Friday but rescheduled again due to company to today.

Did the interview this morning - no mention about permanent or contractor (I actually told them that I had a permanent background, but I didn't ask them directly whether the position was perm or contract). Recruiter called me this afternoon - they really liked me and they want to make me an offer but for a permanent role?? Seriously? The recruiter also said that he asked whether this could be a contract role but they said they have no contract position

I told the recruiter I could consider permanent but not for the amount of money they wanted me- but I'm actually not impressed with this recruiter behaviour.

I'm also guilty because I didn't ask the company today, and the job description there's no mention about contract (no permanent either).

I was thinking of getting in touch with the guy that interviewed me and/or HR and explain him that I've been told by the recruiter that was a contract position. I think they want me on board, but I'm not sure I can do anything about it (getting a contract offer). I think in the end I won't accept the offer even if they raise it as I'm quite keen of going contracting, but since I had a good impression about the company I'd like it to give them a try.

I know it's a newbie question - what would you do in my shoes, if you were only to accept a contract? Just say no and carry on? Or do you think there's some possibilities trying to ask them?

Thanks all.