Reply to: Role play interview

[NotAllThere]

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So I liked the approach...more much competency based and would help weed out the bulltulipters.

Having worked with such large consultancies, I wonder why they bother .... or how they got the people I had to deal with.

[DirtyDog]

Well done on that but I hate these sort of clients. The ones who just seem to not understand why you dont want a permie job.

That's the danger of telling the agent you will consider an FTC. They assume that you will consider an FTC, and then consider permie roles.

[psychocandy]

Aced it!!!

On train with crap 3G so will post fuller later.

Enjoyed it, they said best they'd seen in weeks, introduced me to the director of FS recruitment.

Then they asked why did I want a perm job? I told them I didn't and showed them my emails with agent.

They want me but the Dir needs to approve it on contract. They didn't rule it out but exception needed as they are expanding there perm FS staff base.

Well done on that but I hate these sort of clients. The ones who just seem to not understand why you dont want a permie job.

Good luck but I fear they might be thinking perm only here.

[socialworker]

I hate flipping role play. Luckily have not ever been asked to do it in interviews, ever. Training however, not so lucky. I usually just refuse.

[Pogle]

Hmmm I'm interviewing next week, you're giving me ideas!

[Damon]

It was quiet interesting really...

They gave me a one case study which was a carbon copy of my last three roles so it was easy for me to prepare in the 30 mins they gave me.

They ask me to define:

• The programme structure I would recommend and explain why and pro's and con's
• High level phasing and the main activities and deliverables in each
• Key challenges and risks with the programme

So for me quiet simple to tackle and get through.

Once I presented they asked me questions that related more to their current thinking with the client they are initiating with.

Lastly just a few questions on CV and work history.

So I liked the approach...more much competency based and would help weed out the bulltulipters.

[suityou01]

If your desperate enough to bark and balance a ball on your nose and clap your flippers then fair play to you for doing it.

[MyUserName]

I would love this sort of interview! For the role play section I would turn up with my dice, rule books etc and insist I was a fourth level paladin!

[flipFlop]

This is me tomorrow....must try not to laugh

The Market for Lemons

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

This is me tomorrow....must try not to laugh

[Damon]

Aced it!!!

On train with crap 3G so will post fuller later.

Enjoyed it, they said best they'd seen in weeks, introduced me to the director of FS recruitment.

Then they asked why did I want a perm job? I told them I didn't and showed them my emails with agent.

They want me but the Dir needs to approve it on contract. They didn't rule it out but exception needed as they are expanding there perm FS staff base.

[SussexSeagull]

What an outside supplier constitutes evidence what not satisfy me, people aren't working on my project unless they meet my standards.

We did this when trialling a Bob-outsourcer. We said they needed to be strong in C++, MFC, COM and they sent us people who didn't know anything about COM. So we insisted on the right to test their supplied people and refuse any we didn't want.

I don't think there is anything wrong with what they are doing if it is a permanent role as the first task of any consultant upon entering the building is to try and up sell. However, if it is a contract role I don't see the point.

Testing people on a core ski is always valid.

[DirtyDog]

Maybe they demand basic maths knowledge?

But anyone who can program should be able to come up with a way to calculate a square root. It might be really, really terrible but that would be my "I give up answer" if I couldn't remember the efficient algorithm.

I doubt it:

I applied for a job to upgrade an antiquated legacy system to modern technology. This is in my remit and something I have done for the last twelve years as an infrastructure architect.

[d000hg]

Maybe they demand basic maths knowledge?

But anyone who can program should be able to come up with a way to calculate a square root. It might be really, really terrible but that would be my "I give up answer" if I couldn't remember the efficient algorithm.

[DirtyDog]

Just hope your interview isn't like this one:

Interviewer: How would you calculate a square root using java?
Me: Math.sqrt(double)

I: What if there was no square root function?
M: I would Google for John Carmack's formula to calculate it.

I: What if you could not use Google?
M: Assuming you mean no access to the internet, since I do not happen to know how to calculate a square root, I'd ask someone...

I: What if there were nobody to ask?
M: I am not a maths expert; I would go to the library and get a book on how to do it.

I: What if there were no libraries?
M: Ok, so you want me to come up with a formula I have told you I do not know, in the next 10 seconds, without access to any of the usual reference sources?