Reply to: Getting Feedback - Is it just me?......

[BigRed]

Blacklisting an agent for doing what agents do.. You are going to go far.

I wouldn't mind if they were consistent, but all the buttering up about you being the perfect candidate and they will discuss you with all of their clients as you are clearly top class etc. then dropping you like a hot potato as soon as it goes tits up gets on my nerves. If the initial approach was ' we're desperate to present some CVs otherwise we'll look like a bunch of incompetent clowns so can you turn up and pretend that 5 years experience of all database platforms with Big Data and Cloud plus BI, ITIL PRINCE2, team leadership etc. is perfectly normal and only worth £180/day for a 3 month contract with callout and weekend work included in the day rate' instead of up to £500/day 6 months with extension practically guaranteed.

[Contractoid]

Feedback, in an ideal world, would be great.
Problem is, when you don't get the gig the focus is on the negatives, the reasons why you DIDN'T get the gig.
And rather than accept it, and prepare better for the next role, the feedback becomes a starting point for heated exchanges.
All for nothing, as you haven't got the gig.

We get loads of feedback from interviews.
It's just that most can't accept it, and so get a watered-down version, or a polite, diplomatic response.

Agree with this and many other sensible comments made here. Like I said, i'm not seeking a dear john letter with list of genuine pro's and con's or as is more usual a load of contrived watered down BS made up to cause the minimum of fuss.

So here is my suggestion. When you are filling out their endless, ridiculous plethora of tedious forms asking you really important and relevant information acting as a gateway to your prestigious interview (that may, in all probability never take place), everything from your first day rate in 1985 and what colour underpants you typically wear on your first day, there can be a little tick box option on one of them called "Inform if no gig". If you tick that box then all the agency has to do is send you a very simple industry wide agreed template email thus which seems a small, but appreciative gesture in recompence for the hours of time and expense you have given to fill in the aforesaid ridiculous paperwork, travelling, turned up and done the stage show -

"Dear xxxxx
Sorry to say, but they didn't want / like you. We won't bother to make up reasons as to why, as we both know it will be a big pathetic pile of politically correct garbage to protect us from any legal issues and, at the same time, insults both of our intelligence. But thanks for bothering to turn up on time, represent us and hopefully giving us a continued chance of staying on their PSL, getting your arse in gear, put on your best interview outfit, best smile, roll out the usual dog and poney show etc. We will be in touch about other opportunities, of course of we feel like it"

Truthful, straight to the point and you know what's what with no offence taken or bad vibes.

[northernladuk]

I don't want feedback on my performance, I know I'm great and the interviewers are incompetent fools I just want to be told no, or 'you're not first choice'.

I've recently gone through a telephone interview for a contract covering the last permie job I held two years ago. I was made redundant and started contracting. I never quite got the ratings I'd come to expect in previous companies but I pitched into the inteview with the fact that I knew all the procedures (written most of them), the people, the culture. To be honest I didn't really like the company but they were offering top rates and on my doorstep. They really seemed to be going through the motions at the interview and sure enough didn't make it to the next stage.

Called the agency and left a message for the agent, never got a call back, dropped him an email 2 days later no reply. He's gone on my blacklist now, not on my ignore list, the one where I will mess him about and lead him by the nose then just blank him in return.

Blacklisting an agent for doing what agents do.. You are going to go far.

[BigRed]

I don't want feedback on my performance, I know I'm great and the interviewers are incompetent fools I just want to be told no, or 'you're not first choice'.

I've recently gone through a telephone interview for a contract covering the last permie job I held two years ago. I was made redundant and started contracting. I never quite got the ratings I'd come to expect in previous companies but I pitched into the inteview with the fact that I knew all the procedures (written most of them), the people, the culture. To be honest I didn't really like the company but they were offering top rates and on my doorstep. They really seemed to be going through the motions at the interview and sure enough didn't make it to the next stage.

Called the agency and left a message for the agent, never got a call back, dropped him an email 2 days later no reply. He's gone on my blacklist now, not on my ignore list, the one where I will mess him about and lead him by the nose then just blank him in return.

[evilagent]

Feedback, in an ideal world, would be great.
Problem is, when you don't get the gig the focus is on the negatives, the reasons why you DIDN'T get the gig.
And rather than accept it, and prepare better for the next role, the feedback becomes a starting point for heated exchanges.
All for nothing, as you haven't got the gig.

We get loads of feedback from interviews.
It's just that most can't accept it, and so get a watered-down version, or a polite, diplomatic response.

[EternalOptimist]

My Agent 'Bum boys R US' feedback from my last six:

Too tight.
Too loose.
Not enough jelly.
Split.
Screamed
Didn’t swallow.

nice

[woohoo]

It seemed to mean something to him. He'd wanted the role. We clicked during interview, and he'd clearly been a bit baffled to get a 'no' all those months ago; as I'd suspected he probably would be.

But of course I didn't tell him why he didn't get the role in front of anyone at clientco. I'm thick, but I'm not that thick!

At least he now knows how the land lies at the organisation he interviewed for.

Fair enough, as I said it's probably just me.

[Paddy]

Hello all. For those on contract at the moment well done, enjoy the bunts!. For those on the bench hope like me you are enjoying the weather and the golf course. .

In line with the title and getting to the point, has the entire contracting market taken the decision that it is no longer a requirement / necessary to ever give feedback unless you actually get the gig? Maybe i'm expecting too much or something but I used to remember a time when generally if you attended an interview you got to know what the client thought of you?

Juts wondering if others are experiencing the same....

Agent feedback from my last six:

Too tight.
Too loose.
Not enough jelly.
Split.
Screamed
Didn’t swallow.

[woohoo]

Maybe I should be more specific about "feedback". I don't really need (or care) about the nitty gritty about why I didn't get the gig. Just any form of contact telling me its a no, so I know whats what. And btw, most agencies will be calling you on your mobile witnin 10 minutes of the end of the interview asking for your "feedback" but obviously this is only a one way deal.

ahh right. Still wouldn't bother me, until I've got a firm offer I would continue to look for contracts and attend interviews.

[MaryPoppins]

I guess it's me then but this kind of feedback would have meant very little to me, not that relevant for improving my chances of getting a new contract. In fact I would have been unhappy if you had said this in front of client staff (I know you wouldn't have done that).

It seemed to mean something to him. He'd wanted the role. We clicked during interview, and he'd clearly been a bit baffled to get a 'no' all those months ago; as I'd suspected he probably would be.

But of course I didn't tell him why he didn't get the role in front of anyone at clientco. I'm thick, but I'm not that thick!

At least he now knows how the land lies at the organisation he interviewed for.

[MaryPoppins]

Why on earth would you trust some permie over your intuition? They're permie for a reason usually.

He was the FD*. I'm only a lowly contractor.




*and yes, a total twat.

[jmo21]

And btw, most agencies will be calling you on your mobile witnin 10 minutes of the end of the interview asking for your "feedback" but obviously this is only a one way deal.

fishing to find out what the interview was like, what was asked/format etc so they can tell their other candidates, thus possibly putting u at a disadvantage

[woohoo]

As a hirer [of contractors], I've always given feedback - to the agency.

I doubt it ever makes it's way back to the contractor, and it's probably because as mentioned above, providing feedback to a contractor who didn't make the cut isn't going to generate any income for the agent.

I did recently coincidentally meet someone at my current clientco, that we'd interviewed at my last clientco - he didn't get the role and must have been baffled as to why. I asked whether he got the feedback I'd given; he hadn't - of course. I told him the real reason he hadn't been offered the role [a permie had worked with him in a previous life and blocked me hiring him]. He was just relieved his intuition that I'd liked him hadn't been wrong.

I guess it's me then but this kind of feedback would have meant very little to me, not that relevant for improving my chances of getting a new contract. In fact I would have been unhappy if you had said this in front of client staff (I know you wouldn't have done that).

[Contractoid]

I've interviewed a few people recently for perm roles (helping a client out) and I didn't give feedback. I didn't even think about it which partly reflects my attitude about contracting, the only feedback worthwhile is when your asked back to do more work for the client. Repeat business means I'm doing it right.

But these where perm roles so perhaps I should have given feedback and was being impolite. It's just never meant much to me, either I got the job or I didn't.

Maybe I should be more specific about "feedback". I don't really need (or care) about the nitty gritty about why I didn't get the gig. Just any form of contact telling me its a no, so I know whats what. And btw, most agencies will be calling you on your mobile witnin 10 minutes of the end of the interview asking for your "feedback" but obviously this is only a one way deal.

[sasguru]

I told him the real reason he hadn't been offered the role [a permie had worked with him in a previous life and blocked me hiring him]. He was just relieved his intuition that I'd liked him hadn't been wrong.

Why on earth would you trust some permie over your intuition? They're permie for a reason usually.