Interviewing

[d000hg]

Send your sales manager to take the "interviews".

[kingcook]

How do you find time for interviews if lunch time is not enough to see the prospective client and obviously they won't stay late because of you?
Half day off vs coming up with stories?
You can easily guess the purpose of a half-day during the week, right?

As Old Greg said, no point in interviewing mid-contract. Towards the end just have extended lunch breaks, WFH, whatever. Make up the time, or have half days off (if you can't WFH).

[curtis]

Yeh. Thats the thing. Current contract coming to an end maybe and last thing you want is to waste a days billing possibly trekking across the country for what could turn out to be a non-runner or a dud.

At this point, I usually find that I want to maximise any billing days I might have left with current client. So I won't do a face-to-face unless its early or late and I can still show up at current client and bill for

I find I think this this when getting to the end of a contract but I know its part of the whole process and to increase my chances of finding another gig soon/straight away after my current gig I may have to take time to interview. I figure if I leave it till I finish then I could be off quite a while before I'm billing again whereas for the sake of maybe a few days lost billing in contract I might walk out straight/very soon into another and be earning again and if not then not, that's the constant gamble with some things working this way.

[TheFaQQer]

So I won't do a face-to-face unless its early or late and I can still show up at current client and then moan on CUK about how awful they are.

FTFY

[TheFaQQer]

Insist on a telephone interview. It is often the agents who push for face to face.

This. I've had two face-to-face interviews - both for big government projects. One, I was already working in the same building; the other I travelled to London for because I needed the work and I was fairly confident of getting it.

If I'm coming to the end of a contract, I say that I've got an interview. If I'm not coming to the end of a contract, I don't interview.

And this.

Why do you care that a current client knows your going to an interview? It might encourage them to do something about offering you a big juicy extension.

And this.

[SimonMac]

I don't start looking until the end of my current gig, I always like some time off between them

[psychocandy]

Yeh. Thats the thing. Current contract coming to an end maybe and last thing you want is to waste a days billing possibly trekking across the country for what could turn out to be a non-runner or a dud.

At this point, I usually find that I want to maximise any billing days I might have left with current client. So I won't do a face-to-face unless its early or late and I can still show up at current client and bill for the day.

[VectraMan]

Why do you care that a current client knows you're going to an interview? It might encourage them to do something about offering you a big juicy extension.

[bobspud]

If I'm coming to the end of a contract, I say that I've got an interview. If I'm not coming to the end of a contract, I don't interview.

This ^ as long as the interview is not a ridiculous journey where the client isn't even aware of the fact that you are spending 3 three hours to get there...

However for the agents that insist of face to face crap there is a much simpler way to handle it.

Tell the agent that you are on walkabout for a few weeks on behalf of the current client and will be nowhere near the new client for several weeks. If they moan about it then tell them that you are not interested and move on.

My last stint on the bench last year made me decide that unless I get a 30 minute conference call before I commit anything up to a day of my time and considerable expense then the only face to face interview that is going to happen is if the client wants to pay £200+ for a last minute ticket out to the west country.

It will show you just how committed the client actually is to acquiring your skills...

Never had an interviewer fancy 5 hours traveling for a thirty minute face to face but I am getting far more conference calls.

[Spacecadet]

If I'm coming to the end of a contract, I say that I've got an interview. If I'm not coming to the end of a contract, I don't interview.

WHS

You're a business and a vital part of being a business is having customers, If the contract is coming to an end then let your current lot know that you'll be unavailable some days due to interviews and to take this into consideration when planning how you'll be handing over.

[Old Greg]

If I'm coming to the end of a contract, I say that I've got an interview. If I'm not coming to the end of a contract, I don't interview.

[mudskipper]

Ok, and if it's got to be f2f?

Half day. Just say you've got an appointment.

[p3t3]

Ok, and if it's got to be f2f?

[Paddy]

Insist on a telephone interview. It is often the agents who push for face to face.

[p3t3]

How do you find time for interviews if lunch time is not enough to see the prospective client and obviously they won't stay late because of you?
Half day off vs coming up with stories?
You can easily guess the purpose of a half-day during the week, right?