career break on the CV?

**TheFaQQer** · 13 October 2009, 15:41

Oh, the choices....

1 - be honest.

2 - put it down as "development manager" for your company

3 - put it down as something for a top secret government project that you can't talk about (you can make up the skills then

)

4 - tell them you were in prison

5 - tell them that you have been spending time as a doctor for the army, but you can get there quickly by flying in in your tornado (complete with pasta if they are hungry!)

**hgllgh** · 13 October 2009, 15:53

Are the choices listed in order of preference?
Seriously, in the current market and in my position, would you be honest?

**norrahe** · 13 October 2009, 16:22

Originally posted by hgllgh View Post

Are the choices listed in order of preference?
Seriously, in the current market and in my position, would you be honest?

i had 8 months hard bench time last year, I put career break as i travelled and did volunteer work.
If you put nothing down, the pimps aint interested, if you put career break, then you get somewhere.
At least that's what happened for me.

**Hicks** · 13 October 2009, 16:31

I posed a similar question last year and received some helpful advice.

You may find that thread helpful: http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...eer-break.html

**TheFaQQer** · 13 October 2009, 16:34

Originally posted by Hicks View Post

I posed a similar question last year and received some helpful advice.

You may find that thread helpful: http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...eer-break.html

So - what did you put down, and have you worked since January?

**HairyArsedBloke** · 13 October 2009, 16:39

One beak I had I described as

Nothing
XXX-199x – YYY 199x
Skills used: None whatsoever. Activities: Sitting in the sun, having a nice lunch, good long walks.
After spending the previous 18 month working continuously without a break of any kind, I decided to take some time off. Now I am fully refreshed and eager to rise to the next challenge.

It was the most accurate bit on the CV too. The agent left it in too. It worked like a charm.

**Hicks** · 13 October 2009, 16:42

Originally posted by TheFaQQer View Post

So - what did you put down, and have you worked since January?

I left it blank and never accounted for the break with a view to discussing it if raised by the agent and/or client.

From my experience, it is six of one/half a dozen of the other and depends on the individual who is reading your CV as to whether they are inclined to investigate further.

I was successful in securing a long term contract - see the last page of my original thread for details.

**northernladuk** · 13 October 2009, 16:46

Be honest!!!! Thats my advice because.....

I have two friends who followed the sun for a year and in BOTH cases they covered it up by extending both the job they did before and the job they did after and BOTH of them got caught out while doing checks. I believe in both cases it was a financial check (I think) which required them to submit information to prove they hadn't been in jail or something or something while not working, which obviously then differed to their CV. Lying on CV's baaaaaaaaad...

Obviously you only get caught if they check and am sure plenty of people will tell you they got away with it for decades etc...

A career break isn't a bad thing so can't see that it would overaly damage your case anyway.

**hgllgh** · 13 October 2009, 16:55

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

A career break isn't a bad thing so can't see that it would overaly damage your case anyway.

Agreed. I think I will go for something along the lines that HairyArsedBloke used.

career break on the CV?