- Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
- Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!
Collapse
You are not logged in or you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:
- You are not logged in. If you are already registered, fill in the form below to log in, or follow the "Sign Up" link to register a new account.
- You may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
- If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.
Logging in...
Previously on "Never as complicated or sophisticated as client makes out"
Collapse
-
When I got my first ever job and qualifications were discussed I mentioned I had a couple of English O'levels which prompted the reply: "the best ones, at least you'll be able to RTFM and understand it!"
-
Originally posted by TheFaQQer View PostWhen I was looking for my first contract role, I was interviewed for something that I had the skills for, but not the in-depth experience of one niche part of the module. But I knew people who I could call on for advice, and the manuals etc.
The interviewer picked me up on that particular point, and the conversation was something like:
Me: if you want someone who knows the manual inside out, then that's not me; if you want someone who has a good track record of delivering across a range of modules including this one, then that's me
Interviewer: Yeah, we want someone who knows the manual inside out
Me: Well, that's not me, so I guess we should end the interview, really
Strangely enough, I didn't get that role
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by Sysman View PostThat reminds me of a nightmare contract that was up for grabs in the early-nineties when work was scarce.
The client had apparently got through a few folks already because as soon as he caught them looking something up in a book they got their marching orders. This was in the days before internet or even decent built in help.
I didn't bother applying for that gig.
The interviewer picked me up on that particular point, and the conversation was something like:
Me: if you want someone who knows the manual inside out, then that's not me; if you want someone who has a good track record of delivering across a range of modules including this one, then that's me
Interviewer: Yeah, we want someone who knows the manual inside out
Me: Well, that's not me, so I guess we should end the interview, really
Strangely enough, I didn't get that role
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by darmstadt View PostThis, but maybe thats why its all so disorganised. Companies get contractors, consultants, external firms, internal staff who have been on training courses and thisnk they know better and slowly, over time, the procedures become a mish-mash of everyone's input. The best places I have seen are those that still use the same procedures that they implemented from day one and are maintained by one person only or those who have junked the old procedures and started afresh.
Originally posted by darmstadtPersonally I don't really have procedures and try to work around the ones in place which is why my work gets done and finished on time (or earlier.)
This usually means assessing the technical risks for myself and tackling the biggest ones upfront when most people's instinct seems to be to kick them down the road cos they are "hard". This often means I will go off at tangents based on my intuition, usually to the chagrin of some people who think I'm wasting time and should be getting on with something else, but 8 or 9 times out of 10 those tangents pay dividends later on.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by darmstadt View PostThis, but maybe thats why its all so disorganised. Companies get contractors, consultants, external firms, internal staff who have been on training courses and thisnk they know better and slowly, over time, the procedures become a mish-mash of everyone's input. The best places I have seen are those that still use the same procedures that they implemented from day one and are maintained by one person only or those who have junked the old procedures and started afresh. Personally I don't really have procedures and try to work around the ones in place which is why my work gets done and finished on time (or earlier.)
I suppose being a non permie, you are outside it all and can be objective.Last edited by norrahe; 30 April 2014, 08:37.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by Sysman View PostThat reminds me of a nightmare contract that was up for grabs in the early-nineties when work was scarce.
The client had apparently got through a few folks already because as soon as he caught them looking something up in a book they got their marching orders. This was in the days before internet or even decent built in help.
I didn't bother applying for that gig.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by darmstadt View PostPersonally I don't really have procedures and try to work around the ones in place which is why my work gets done and finished on time (or earlier.)
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by norrahe View PostSame here, I often wonder what all the fuss is about especially at current clientco as they run around like headless chickens and are completely disorganised.
I'd love to give them a few pointers on improving procedure but don't think they'd get it.
Am getting fed up with requests for a&b, only to deliver it and it should have been x,y&z and apparently I should have worked that out ( I'm not a fecking mind reader). I also got asked to make their reporting more clear and concise, but then manager panicked as they said it looked liked there wasn't much going on in the programme ( its a summary!!!), so I had to add lots of nonsense back into the report.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by eek View PostI don't think I've ever worked anywhere where there isn't one or two things which prompt the question "why on earth, do you do that, that way?"
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by Sysman View PostThat reminds me of a nightmare contract that was up for grabs in the early-nineties when work was scarce.
The client had apparently got through a few folks already because as soon as he caught them looking something up in a book they got their marching orders. This was in the days before internet or even decent built in help.
I didn't bother applying for that gig.
What did they want? Someone who could do the job or someone who knew the manual off by heart?
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by d000hg View PostMaybe you only get offered easy contracts.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by norrahe View PostSame here, I often wonder what all the fuss is about especially at current clientco as they run around like headless chickens and are completely disorganised.
I'd love to give them a few pointers on improving procedure but don't think they'd get it.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by eek View PostI don't think I've ever worked anywhere where there isn't one or two things which prompt the question "why on earth, do you do that, that way?"
I'd love to give them a few pointers on improving procedure but don't think they'd get it.
Am getting fed up with requests for a&b, only to deliver it and it should have been x,y&z and apparently I should have worked that out ( I'm not a fecking mind reader). I also got asked to make their reporting more clear and concise, but then manager panicked as they said it looked liked there wasn't much going on in the programme ( its a summary!!!), so I had to add lots of nonsense back into the report.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by Mich the Tester View PostWHS, leading to the possible answers;
- 'that's how we've always done it'
or
- 'it's best practice'
Both of which can irritate me somewhat.
It's got to run with full privileges because it's special
Leave a comment:
- Home
- News & Features
- First Timers
- IR35 / S660 / BN66
- Employee Benefit Trusts
- Agency Workers Regulations
- MSC Legislation
- Limited Companies
- Dividends
- Umbrella Company
- VAT / Flat Rate VAT
- Job News & Guides
- Money News & Guides
- Guide to Contracts
- Successful Contracting
- Contracting Overseas
- Contractor Calculators
- MVL
- Contractor Expenses
Advertisers
Contractor Services
CUK News
- Streamline Your Retirement with iSIPP: A Solution for Contractor Pensions Sep 1 09:13
- Making the most of pension lump sums: overview for contractors Sep 1 08:36
- Umbrella company tribunal cases are opening up; are your wages subject to unlawful deductions, too? Aug 31 08:38
- Contractors, relabelling 'labour' as 'services' to appear 'fully contracted out' won't dupe IR35 inspectors Aug 31 08:30
- How often does HMRC check tax returns? Aug 30 08:27
- Work-life balance as an IT contractor: 5 top tips from a tech recruiter Aug 30 08:20
- Autumn Statement 2023 tipped to prioritise mental health, in a boost for UK workplaces Aug 29 08:33
- Final reminder for contractors to respond to the umbrella consultation (closing today) Aug 29 08:09
- Top 5 most in demand cyber security contract roles Aug 25 08:38
- Changes to the right to request flexible working are incoming, but how will contractors be affected? Aug 24 08:25
Leave a comment: