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How much of a role does the chemistry with the project team during the interview phase play in your final contractor selection? From what we hear, a lot.

During the interview, you really hit it off with that one team. Their project manager and superintendent really understood you, and it seemed like the interview was a conversation rather than a presentation. You award that contractor the project and look forward to the kick-off meeting. The only problem is, the team you connected with so well during the interview is not the team that shows up to manage your project. You’re given a lame excuse about the change, but could it be those people you liked so well in the contractor selection interview were never going to be assigned to your project in the first place?

SMPS Boston, a marketing organization serving the A/E/C industry, recently held a seminar, “Ask the Experts: Presentations” where the experts recommended sending the project team that had the best shot of winning the job to an interview and not necessarily the team that is available to manage the job. Their reasoning: first impressions really matter. Our take: dishonest.

At C.E. Floyd Company, where we build relationships based on trust and integrity, we would never take this advice; it just doesn’t seem right. As a result, our clients describe us as honest, professional and conscientious. We analyze each potential project and assign the available superintendent and project manager who best match the specifics of that project.

Have you hired a contractor, architect or engineer only to learn the team you interviewed wouldn’t be the team building your project? If so, how did you react?