Returning to work after long break - cv?

[northernladuk]

What problems are you experiencing? I did very similar in 2014, I left a full time job in June 2014 to take a break, started looking seriously in December\January and started a contract in February. I took a lower role than my experience\skill would normally command as I was returning to contracting, other than that the gap didn't pose any other problems.

You know sitting on reception answering the phones with your clients name will put you inside IR35 right? You need to say 'Hello, <Your co> representing <client co>. Can I help you?'

HTH

[Bee]

Hi,

I stopped working in 2014 to spend some time looking after the family while the wife built up her small business. Had been working for over a decade at that point.

Now looking to get back into hopefully a contract - any thoughts/advice/experience on how to refer to this time on the cv? At the moment the sabbatical is not on there - ends at my last gig in '14.

Field is banking. Net development if important...

Cheers!

I had my first contract after a longer break than yours.
Can be dificult and sometimes can be depressing, you should insist, don't give up... enjoy life between.

[jamesd]

Thanks for advice

What problems are you experiencing? I did very similar in 2014, I left a full time job in June 2014 to take a break, started looking seriously in December\January and started a contract in February. I took a lower role than my experience\skill would normally command as I was returning to contracting, other than that the gap didn't pose any other problems.

Hi,

yeah I've just recently started up a limited company. I'm in the process of putting together an email to send to all agencies.

I'm reading through it a few times before I send it out.

I'm also trying to decide how I should modify my CV to take this into account.

[jamesd]

So true

The first person who shifts your CV tends to be under 25 and thinks CV should come in one format, so you need to get pass them.

That's very true, most agents I speak to are doing it as a stop gap / placement/ year out.

Most move on after a few years to something else

[MrMarkyMark]

Hi,

yeah I've just recently started up a limited company. I'm in the process of putting together an email to send to all agencies.

I'm reading through it a few times before I send it out.

I'm also trying to decide how I should modify my CV to take this into account.

So, you last job was perm and you are new to contracting, or....?

[jamesd]

contract

So, you last job was perm and you are new to contracting, or....?

Contract - I've dipped my toe a couple of times into Perm, but I'd rather stay as a contractor

[northernladuk]

Contract - I've dipped my toe a couple of times into Perm, but I'd rather stay as a contractor

Really? Where did you learn your trade then? Sounds more like a temp than a contractor to me but I'm probably being too old school.

[jamesd]

Really? Where did you learn your trade then? Sounds more like a temp than a contractor to me but I'm probably being too old school.

I have worked in IT for the last 15 years, I did start off as perm. Network, PC, Server support. I've also done some web development, a lot of SQL work.

[Ellla]

How did you get on?

Curious how those struggling got on.

My hubby left permie work, took a year out for fun after working his whole life with never more than 2 weeks off (learnt to fly among other things). He then got a contract role for just over a year but it was soul destroying for a number of reasons, so when offered a renewal he declined it (we both agreed it best). He spent 6 mths applying for other contract roles (IT PM) and never even got a call back from an agent.

This surprised us both (doing my best to be unbiased here) as he's a VERY good, orthodox and highly qualified PM with public sector and finance sector experience.

So he decided to try his hand at stock trading as we started a family. Fast Forward another 3.5 yrs. He's maintained an eye on the market and applied for contract roles here and there but again never got a single bite.

Stock trading was enjoyable but he wants back into IT again and we fear it's just too late. If no one was interested without a break, why would they be after effectively an almost 4 year break?

Yet his knowledge and experience is second to none. I'm a programme manager myself and frequently seek his guidance.

He's tried stating career break, sabbatical, trading, app development etc. All the things he's done in various forms but nothing seems to get a bite.

I'm assuming it's the significant gap NOW, but that doesn't justify nil returns in the past. Is it possible to be blacklisted across agencies somehow (no idea what reason for)?

Any suggestions or examples where people got back into the industry after a lengthy break would be much appreciated as we're almost st a "Whats the point?" Crossroads which then leads to panic around what else he can do now.

Apols for the long post.

[northernladuk]

Not too sure how he's going to go contracting. He doesn't appear to have done any demonstrable PM experience in over 4 years. Not a chance an agent is going to look at a that, particularly when the market is awash with PS contractors and was quiet before. Permie land for a bit I'd say.