Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a list of the most frequently asked questions related to AIC.
1. When was AIC Created?
AIC got a legal existence in June 1999.
2. Where is AIC located and why?
AIC is essentially based on an international network, a network of experts and a network of companies. Companies as well as experts are from all over the world. AIC can be (in fact is) managed from any place in the world. Legally speaking, AIC is based in France.
3. Is AIC really an independent organization?
AIC is an independent association. No other organization or company is involved directly or indirectly in AIC strategy or management. This builds confidence and allows us to receive a substantial amount of information. AIC sources are never communicated to anyone: expert, company or institution. This is one of AIC Basic Working Rules. Respecting the strictest confidentiality, AIC cannot be pressured by anyone, expert, company or institution. Several companies have already tried to put pressure on AIC; we have received warnings (including lawsuit warnings) from isolated companies because of the AIC watch- and blacklists of companies. AIC however has not and never will be influenced by any friendly (or unfriendly) pressure.
4. Why an association and not a company?
The major reasons were as follows: 1) AIC's aim is not to make a profit, but to provide services for its members; 2) A fully neutral, not competing association seems to be more appropriate to build an efficient network
5. Why a membership fee for the experts?
A full AIC service for free cannot exist, because the service is costly and needs to be financed. Therefore the question: who should be involved in financing the AIC services? One of the basic working rules of the Association is that experts can benefit from AIC services only when sharing the costs of the system. The annual membership fee for experts did not change over the last 5 years and it only represents the equivalent of 1/2 or even 1/3 of a working day fee for an international expert, i.e. the equivalent of 3 to 4 working hours!
6. Is there a success fee?
Neither success fee nor any other hidden fee applies.
7. AIC fee policy toward companies?
There is no Fee for companies placing a search for experts. However, there is a fee for companies interested in accessing directly online the database of AIC experts.
8. AIC fee policy toward International Institutions?
There is no Fee for International Institutions.
9. What about the efficiency of AIC in terms of results?
a) Concerning the Job Opportunities Service, AIC efficiency is expressed through two main criteria:
1) its ability to get requests for experts from companies and International Organizations and;
2) its ability to identify in time the appropriate experts fitting as perfectly as possible to these requests.
Success by the first criterion is directly measured by the number of job opportunities for Experts regularly forwarded by AIC to members, see Current Job Opportunities and Former Job Opportunities.
Success by the second criterion depends on the quality and experience of the experts sending their candidacy and their relevance in corresponding to the companies' requests.
The number of experts getting an assignment through AIC, is the result of:
1) the quality of the Technical Proposals of the companies requesting experts and proposing them in their tender dossier and;
2) the quality and appropriateness of the CVs, including their complementarity with other already selected CVs.
AIC is only acting as an intermediary between experts and companies. By providing you with all the opportunities, which are submitted to AIC, you will receive far more company requests, i.e. more opportunities fitting your experience, and this, consequently, will significantly increase the probability of your getting very interesting assignments in a timelier manner.
b) Concerning the CV Broadcast Service, efficiency and value for money are extremely high. Read directly the Users Testimonials.
10. Can I get the co-ordinates of a company?
After expressing your candidature for an open position, and if the requesting company asks for your coordinates, you will immediately and simultaneously (in fact within the same message sent to both company and expert) get the coordinates of the company.
11. How does AIC manage when receiving requests for experts from several companies for the same project?
Very simple: first come, first served. But the final choice always remains the one of the experts. If 3 companies are requesting the co-ordinates of 1 expert, they will get it, and the expert is of course entirely free to decide with which company he wants to work. Choice always remains yours.
12. Companies and Experts blacklisted by the World Bank?
Click on the hyperlink to access to this World Bank Listing of Ineligible Firms and Experts, the so-called World Bank Blacklist.
13. Companies "Watchlisted" and "Blacklisted" by AIC?
Recent experiences have forced AIC to gathers and keeps on file information about problems related to company recruitment practices, management of projects, company relations with experts, payments problems, etc. The first step for companies in this situation is to put them on the Watch List, the next and last step is to transfer them to the Blacklist.
Do not hesitate to bring such matters to AIC attention. Confidentiality will always be preserved.
14. Why do I have to write a 10 line text when sending my candidature for a specific position?
This 10 liner is the first thing which will be read by the requesting company. If the 10 liner does not immediately prove that your profile really fits, the requesting company will not even open your CV. This is why, to maximize the probability of having your CV eventually selected by the requesting company, we need a serious 10 liner ENTIRELY and ONLY focused on the specific job requirements.
15. How to renew my AIC job opportunity membership?
It will be done automatically: we bill at the beginning of every renewal period to the credit card indicated during the registration process (or changed after initial registration). Billing takes place unless cancellation occurs before the renewal period begins.
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