Other work between contracts

[hortsy]

Hi all,

If I wanted to do something different between contracts, i.e, drive a delivery van or work at Tesco (random examples), I'm assuming I'd need to add these to my CV, is this detrimental to getting the next contract?

[cojak]

You assume wrong. You can leave those gaps blank on your CV or put something down that you’ve done in your spare time (like learning new things).

[eek]

You assume wrong. You can leave those gaps blank on your CV or put something down that you’ve done in your spare time (like learning new things).

+1 - as a friend of my wife recently found out, keep lower paying work off your CV as it will be used against you the next time round.

[northernladuk]

Why would you put it on? It's not relevant to your career or skills that you will be offering the client so no need to be there. Personally I'd not put learning on either as it raises more questions than helps I think. We are contractors, we have gaps, it's part of the job. If the client or agent don't get that then maybe you'll be dodging a bullet by not working with them.

[Smartie]

Unless it's a cool job like teaching scuba diving which pays minimum wage in the UK usually :-)

[hobnob]

As others said, best not to mention it on the CV. However, if the gap between listed contracts is longer than 3 months then you might need to provide some evidence of what you were doing (e.g. to prove that you weren't in prison or in a terrorist training camp overseas).

[ladymuck]

Ditto the above, I wouldn't bother either. All pimps and clients care is that any gaps were not spent at Her Majesty's leisure, and that's where they might ask for a personal reference or some other check if they're concerned. Gaps, as NLUK says, are to be expected on a contractor CV.

That reminds me of the time RBS insisted I redid all their checks because they had a policy of revetting anyone who had any time off over three weeks during the contract. Never mind that two of those three weeks was their mandatory Christmas furlough.

[Dark Black]

I've long since stopped putting contract dates on my CV - that's a permie thing. No need to worry about gaps.

Mine reads like:

2007 - current MyCo Ltd

Clients:

Client Z <random spiel about project, tech etc>

Client Y <random spiel about project, tech etc>

Client X <random spiel about project, tech etc>

etc.....

[d000hg]

A CV isn't a legal document. Things that aren't professionally relevant don't need to be added.

[hortsy]

Phew!

Thanks so much for the responses everyone.