Reply to: Growing Reluctance to Attend Face to Face Interviews

[Zigenare]

Lost revenue is not an expense.

Apologies, I misunderstood the question.

Of course "Lost Revenue" with regards to the company is not an expense - however lost revenue regarding the individual is an expense.

[Old Greg]

It's a cost of doing business, why shouldn't you?

Lost revenue is not an expense.

[Zigenare]

If one has to take a day off for the sole purpose of attending an interview, can one claim the lost revenue as a legitimate expense, in addition to any travel and subsistence expenses? I don't see why not

It's a cost of doing business, why shouldn't you?

[vetran]

I like starting with a phone interview just to get the basics out the way. Are they intelligible on the phone, do they make sense etc.

It takes 10 - 30 minutes each side and if doing the interviewing you can get rid of the duds quickly and vice versa. You can do it after hours or in their lunch hour so there is no real inconvenience.

If that goes well then a face to face can be arrange which as you say can waste 2 hours to half a day for both sides.

Seems stupid to insist on a face to face if on the phone you don't like them.

[GreenMirror]

According to NP 10% of communication is the words you use. 35% your tone of voice. 55% is body language. And 10% in mathematical ability.

So it's no surprise people want to meet you in person.

The stats above might explain why so many posters come across as cretins.

Actually, hang on. Most CUK posters are cretins.

[Hobosapien]

Use the right of substitution to send along a benched contractor based in brum. If they do well enough that you get the gig they get a cut of your first invoice. If they do well enough they steal the gig you get a cut of all their invoices.

Just make sure they are not on the squirrel botherers register or unable to attend due to waiting in for a sofa delivery.

[LondonManc]

If one has to take a day off for the sole purpose of attending an interview, can one claim the lost revenue as a legitimate expense, in addition to any travel and subsistence expenses? I don't see why not

I've always claimed expenses for marketing/business opportunities that prevent me from working for a client.

[TwoWolves]

If the gig is not too close to home I would always try and get a preliminary phone interview, agents are rubbish and this can prevent poor requirements matching thus saving client and contractor time and money.

I think it's reasonable to expect the client to meet you in person and press palms - it's the only way to get the feel of someone. Mind you, the current gig was phone only and it's one of my best gigs now.

Written tests are what I object to, I've conducted a lot of interviews with contractors myself. Verbal technical questions are sufficient to ascertain the validity of assertions on the CV. If I've just driven a long way it's the last thing I need.

I think you need to appreciate what it's like for the client. A bad contractor leaves a nasty smell on the project and makes the other contractors look bad.

[OwlHoot]

If one has to take a day off for the sole purpose of attending an interview, can one claim the lost revenue as a legitimate expense, in addition to any travel and subsistence expenses? I don't see why not

[Old Greg]

It is a bit odd not to put some time aside to meet potential clients and win new business.

[sal]

Just pray that the day when "Growing Reluctance to Attend Face to Face Interviews" results in "Growing inability to find work" never comes.

A lot of folks out there can't even get an interview.

[LondonManc]

I've also been asked to attend a "working interview" in which I spend the day at one of the agent's clients and bill them my normal day rate at the end of it.

Yep, cheap consultancy/see how good you are at hitting the ground running. If you can get paid for the day in Brum, it could be worth attending.

[Man Utd]

You do have to be wary of being used as free technical consultancy - for that sort of thing, I've negotiated a day's rate as part of the interview a couple of times.

I've also been asked to attend a "working interview" in which I spend the day at one of the agent's clients and bill them my normal day rate at the end of it.

[LondonManc]

Some of them require you to put together a full blown solution. Just not prepared to invest that amount of effort I guess.

You do have to be wary of being used as free technical consultancy - for that sort of thing, I've negotiated a day's rate as part of the interview a couple of times.

[Man Utd]

Why, are you crap at technical tests?

Some of them require you to put together a full blown solution. Just not prepared to invest that amount of effort I guess.