CV problems

[Robwg]

I find that EBs do pressurise me about what I've been doing when I've been on the bench for a while. It's as if they are expecting a continuous work history like a permie. It really annoys me, because I did well this year and don't feel the need to constantly slave away contracting. Apparently, the clients want to see a continuous work history (or justification for gaps). I thought contracting was about flexibility and choice?

Surely though this is just the client being concerned that they are not going to get someone who is rusty for the undoubtably high daily rate (relative to a permie salary) that we are all charging.

[Denny]

Surely though this is just the client being concerned that they are not going to get someone who is rusty for the undoubtably high daily rate (relative to a permie salary) that we are all charging.

Rusty at what though. Not all of us need to keep up with software upgrades and latest programming developments.

I mainly write and think for a living. I also spend my time keeping up with the latest project management advances. So unless I forget how to speak or write English or develop Alzheimers, it's unlikely I wouldn't be able to do my job.

[twice_nightly]

going back to the mrs, "twice nightly" perhaps thrice nightly will leave her with less complaints

Now that would be stretching it...

Interesting this though how the agencies view you only as good as your last contract. As Denny rightly says you should be able to use different skills as and when required, and sometimes personal circumstances might mean taking a job nearer home that maybe involves un-boxing PCs, so what if it's what you are willing to do.

A friend of mine recently took some exams and is now a Corgi registered gas fitter, but people still ask him to fix leaky taps, if he's low on work he'll gladly do so, but that doesn't mean he'll never get a gas fitting job again.

I have to agree I think it's the agencies that are at fault, after all if you were to get an interview it would be easier to explain how you came to do 'job x' and then to show them what else you can do.

[Bluebird]

Interesting this though how the agencies view you only as good as your last contract. As Denny rightly says you should be able to use different skills as and when required, and sometimes personal circumstances might mean taking a job nearer home that maybe involves un-boxing PCs, so what if it's what you are willing to do.

Did you see my post earlier on about how to address this ?

[lukemg]

Seen this before - chap next to me hates the service delivery job he is doing, objectives, dealing with moaners, documentation blah blah. He was happy as, doing 2nd line support, get a problem, fix a problem.
If you like doing that - sod the money, stay doing it if you can find work.
BUT - do you want to be humping kit around at 40/will you be able to get a job ?
There should not be job titles set in stone to the contract roles. These can easily be turned into Project + Support Analyst when it hits your CV. When questioned you were responsible for the introduction of new equipment/upgrades etc etc using your project knowledge and then initial support through to handover of the system. Easy to defend etc
I wouldn't advise you to leave an unexplained gap longer than a couple of months. If there is a big gap, you could have gone travelling after working constantly for years and are now recharged and ready to get stuck in.
Have to tell the truth because you have to be able to back it up but no harm in a bit of 'spin' - when you get a sales brochure, do you believe every thing they claim ?

[twice_nightly]

Did you see my post earlier on about how to address this ?

Sorry, yes I did thanks. Interesting and something I hadn't thought of, I'm going to amend my CV along similar lines.

Thanks for the tip...

[Euro-commuter]

Interesting this though how the agencies view you only as good as your last contract. As Denny rightly says you should be able to use different skills as and when required, and sometimes personal circumstances might mean taking a job nearer home that maybe involves un-boxing PCs, so what if it's what you are willing to do.

Indeed and a grade 1 pain, especially for someone whose value lies in the skills he can bring together.

Happy as I usually am to condemn agencies, I'm not sure this one is their fault. I suspect a lot of "recent xxxxx experience" is slipped in by the client, who thinks that last year nobody had the problems they're having now. Another case of "the ideal candidate is someone who has just finished doing exactly the same thing for the competition".

And the contrast with tradesmen rings true too: I would really like to do some work nearer home for a contract or two, but I'd be scared to drop to a more generic title for fear of never climbing back up to Specialist again.

Will muse on the Bluebird strategy.