contractor interview vs permie interview

**DaveB** · 27 February 2006, 14:15

Yep, that pretty much sums it up. Went for a permie role that I didnt get before jumping ship and going contracting. Interview process was almost exactly as described. Contract role took 30 mins and mostly consisted of me telling the client what they needed to get the job done.

**Commscnut** · 27 February 2006, 14:17

Interview for a permie job lasted 3 hrs. Interview for a Contractor role took 15 mins.

**BlasterBates** · 27 February 2006, 14:32

...fraid not, most contractor jobs I go for have battery of tests. Starts off with an email, either to do an on-line test or write a "little" program, "oh should take an experienced programmer about an hour". Having got through that which normally takes about 3 hours !!! then comes the first interview...usually involving written tests, then various experts are reeled in to do "vivas". Finally if you get through all that your invited to meet the "business", sort mafiosis shifty types that don't really want to employ anyone...and then finally the whole department piles in to finish you off with a few snide comments and sniggers.

...finally log-in to the internet to see it re-advertised on Jobserve.

**foritisme** · 27 February 2006, 14:55

I had a telephone interview last week - about 15 minutes including the job offer. Managers attitude - if your crap we will get rid of you, doesn't bother me 'cos I know I can do the job.

Current contract - the lady interviewing treated it like a permie interview, where did you see yourself in 5 years. Seeing that the contract was only 3 months, there were a few obvious answers, but the job was local and it took me over the xmas period - so I had to play the game !

**Not So Wise** · 27 February 2006, 15:23

Originally posted by BlasterBates

...fraid not, most contractor jobs I go for have battery of tests. Starts off with an email, either to do an on-line test or write a "little" program, "oh should take an experienced programmer about an hour". Having got through that which normally takes about 3 hours !!! then comes the first interview...usually involving written tests, then various experts are reeled in to do "vivas". Finally if you get through all that your invited to meet the "business", sort mafiosis shifty types that don't really want to employ anyone...and then finally the whole department piles in to finish you off with a few snide comments and sniggers.

...finally log-in to the internet to see it re-advertised on Jobserve.

For contractor position *would get to online test and tell them to bugger off unless they wanted to pay me for my time*
For permie (if was crazy enough to want one again) would expect it

**threaded** · 27 February 2006, 15:30

the lady interviewing treated it like a permie interview, where did you see yourself in 5 years.

With my reputation? What do they take me for?

**madhippy** · 27 February 2006, 16:31

Originally posted by BlasterBates

...fraid not, most contractor jobs I go for have battery of tests.

do you do some sort of specialist work or something ?

**expat** · 27 February 2006, 16:39

Originally posted by foritisme

I had a telephone interview last week - about 15 minutes including the job offer. Managers attitude - if your crap we will get rid of you, doesn't bother me 'cos I know I can do the job.

Current contract - the lady interviewing treated it like a permie interview, where did you see yourself in 5 years. Seeing that the contract was only 3 months, there were a few obvious answers, but the job was local and it took me over the xmas period - so I had to play the game !

I wonder. I once had to fill in a questionnaire for a contract, as if it were a permie job application. I filled it in honestly: e.g. what do you want from your career - continue finding good contracts that I am competent to do.

The lady interviewer smiled thinly at that one, but she knew as well as I did that we were only talking about a 3-month contract; it was HR that didn't know its permie posterior from its contracting elbow.

**Churchill** · 27 February 2006, 16:44

Originally posted by madhippy

do you do some sort of specialist work or something ?

Yes, Blaster is the only one of us trained to pull Threadeds head out of his arse!

contractor interview vs permie interview