Reply to: Agent lied to client about my skills and now I have an interview

[thunderlizard]

Apart from my weakness with that one skill (from a pretty lengthy job spec), I'm a good match for the job.

OK, that was on Friday morning. It's Sunday evening, so if you're a proper contractor you should be good enough at it to pass a phone interview by now.

Best of luck!

[EternalOptimist]

Hi,

I've been put forward for a contract and now I have a telephone interview. For some reason, the agency have forwarded me an email containing details of their markup etc. and a doctored copy of my CV which went to the client.

I don't know whether this was a mistake or in the interests of full-disclosure but, having looked at the CV, I've noticed that they've shoe horned in all the stuff from the job spec, including one skill which I specifically told them I was a bit patchy on.

This could easily lead to awkwardness and embarrassment in the phone interview so I'm looking for advice.

Apart from my weakness with that one skill (from a pretty lengthy job spec), I'm a good match for the job. Has anyone else ever found themself in this position and what did/would you do?

Thanks

forget all the bolux

you are there to maximise the profits, end of.

YOU are in charge. So what do YOU have to do to maximise your profts ? work it it out and stop getting others to do it for you

[BlasterBates]

Not usually a problem, they do it all the time.
Happened to me and it came up in the interview, I just said I didn´t have that experience (that was in the CV). No problem the interviewer made a small note, assumed it was a misunderstanding and carried on. Didn´t affect anything. The interview clarifies to the interviewer what you´ve done. So don´t worry about it. Don´t say the Agent lied, that´s bad, you´ve got to give the impression you´re happy and get on with your agent.

[vetran]

Honesty after sales

During the interview put your best skills forward impress them, avoid the patchy skill subtly and when they ask for your weak one try and identify how important it is. I'm told the trick is to get them talking about their problems and inject your success stories in similar situations.

If its a major part of the job then say, 'sorry I think the Agent has over emphasised that slightly, it may have got lost in translation (ok you know he's cooked and so does the client but you give everyone a subtle out), my CV is a bit clearer can I send you a copy?'

Hopefully by the time you get to this point you will have a feel if its a deal breaker and you will have impressed them with your other skills. Make sure you have done your homework on the weak skill convince them you are pretty good already and are being modest.

[milanbenes]

question is, are you a consultant do you have consultant mentality and instinct and will you make it as a contractor ?

Milan.

[oracleslave]

Take a copy of your CV with you.
Answer any questions as truthfully as you normally would.
If they query why your CV indicates different give them a copy of your original CV.

I've had many a CV mangled by being showhorned into the agencies format and a few that seemed to have expanded in the process.

K

shoehorned ?

[TheFaQQer]

Take a copy of your CV with you.
Answer any questions as truthfully as you normally would.
If they query why your CV indicates different give them a copy of your original CV.

I've had many a CV mangled by being showhorned into the agencies format and a few that seemed to have expanded in the process.

K

It's a phone interview.

[Keldin]

Take a copy of your CV with you.
Answer any questions as truthfully as you normally would.
If they query why your CV indicates different give them a copy of your original CV.

I've had many a CV mangled by being showhorned into the agencies format and a few that seemed to have expanded in the process.

K

[TheFaQQer]

Do the interview.

If the client mentions the skill you are sketchy about convince them you are a quick learner and will be up to speed it in no time. Then when you get the gig learn the skill.

WSS.

If they bring it up at interview, make it clear that you can pick it up, and have some basic knowledge of it. If they say anything about it not being that way on your CV, then make it clear that it was on the CV that you sent to the agent.

[Spacecadet]

If you always get the job, you're not stretching your skills or your rate enough.

definitely agree with that

but.... i've been interviewed 3 times, got 2 contracts from those 3 interviews, and had a further 2 contracts without any sort of interview

[BrilloPad]

Do the interview.

If the client mentions the skill you are sketchy about convince them you are a quick learner and will be up to speed it in no time. Then when you get the gig learn the skill.

I agree

[oraclesmith]

My advice is don't worry about it. Don't be subservient to the agent either. If they got it wrong and the end-client finds out in the interview, make it clear that it's the agency admin that got it wrong.

This happened to me in a telephone interview and it was soon very clear to both of us that the agency simply hadn't read the brief.

[SueEllen]

Do the interview.

If the client mentions the skill you are sketchy about convince them you are a quick learner and will be up to speed it in no time. Then when you get the gig learn the skill.

[RSoles]

I always begin an interview with "Right, lets see what lies the agent's told you".
Useful ice-breaker.

Don't you all go using it yourselves now, find your own jokes.....

RS

[expat]

had a similar situation where the agent "forgot" to mention something about a prospective job. I actually almost got it, but had the agent just told me the full job scope before hand then I could have kept my 100% contracting interview record

If you always get the job, you're not stretching your skills or your rate enough.