The other day I was interviewing this guy for a part time web content development consulting project. This guy is very sharp, young (about 25 years) and based in INDIA. Since I am based in USA, I usually chat online using yahoo messenger. I was interviewing him for my company’s BPO operations. I was interested in outsourcing some content development for this website. I wanted him to develop one page content for every BPO company in our directory.
The chat went like this:
Day one:
Me: I want one page profile for each CRM company. I need the description, service offerings and Contact information.
Candidate: No problem sir, I can do that.
Me: How much will you charge per page? you may need to spend around X minutes per page
Candidate: sir I have no idea
Me: well you know you can do X pages per day so divide your daily rate by X
Candidate: sir let me do the work first and you can pay based on how I did
Me: I don’t work like that. I need to know before so I can sign a contract for you
Candidate: hmm.. I don’t know
Me: how about Rupees XX per page?
Candidate: ok sir I can do that
Me: Great, I’ll send you the statement of work. Can you start working from tomorrow?
Candidate: Sure, sir I can do that.
Me: Great we will chat again tomorrow.
That night I sent him the statement of work, by email. Next day I was hoping to see few web pages developed.
Day two:
Me: So did you get a chance to go thru the document I sent you?
Candidate: yes sir, I did.
Me: I haven’t received any content from you
Candidate: sorry sir, I am bit busy
Me: Thats fine, when can I expect to see some pages?
Candidate: sir, I just moved into this new apartment. I have to do all work like cleaning, cooking
Me: You did not answer my question
Candidate: sir I did not understand
Me: I mean, when can I expect to see some work
Candidate: sir I’ll tell u tomorrow
Me: fair enough
Me: deliverables for tomorrow: 1. You will tell me when you will be able to start the work
Candidate: sure sir
Me: can we chat tomorrow morning? Say around 8 AM?
Candidate: sir the internet shop will not be open by then
Me: Ok lets chat again same time tomorrow night.
The moral of the story is, as a manager of outsourced resources, you need to: