How to deal with questions on 9 month Bench time..?

[northernladuk]

What employment check with contractors ? References check ? I mean besides public clients and agents themselves ( and perhaps contracts with security clearances ) , companies themselves don't check how long you contracted previously ? ( with some exceptions , of course )

And yes you are right. But right is just one side of life.

The clients can do any check they want from references to full blown security checks, all requiring different levels of information. The banks will do a check on you to make sure that you have not been incarcerated for a period of time. I can't remember exactly what they were looking for but they want to see evidence you have been doing what you say. For periods of unempolyment they want your current account details to show you were actually in the public eye spending money etc, if you say you were employed they check with the agents to make sure you were.

If you start lying about what you are doing they will find out. If you say you were employed between X and Y date they will find out from the agent this is not true. A lie, whatever type, the is uncovered by a defense/financial institution will be like a red rag to a bull and you will be out of there.

They will check, the do check and you WILL get walked off site. No if's and but's about it. I have seen it happen.

If you want to gamble on the fact that the client you join won't do this then feel free try get your contracting career back on track after it goes wrong.

[Pete Marsh]

In my last gig I was v glad that I hadn't lied or embellished my CV, because it transpired that I would need to become SC cleared, and they do check the last 5 years in detail. Being benched isn't a problem as they're checking your integrity and reliability etc. (unless you put '6 months doing weapons training in sudan and somalia') but if they catch out a blatant lie then you're out on your ear.

[zemoxyl]

If you have humongous gaps - you are an exception. With normal people like me - mentioning 6 months and up of a gap - that is the end of the discussion , at least in this economic situation. But I don't see why it be different in the future..

It is different in a buoyant market. The laws of supply and demand come into the fore.

Remember, not everyone is of the petty narrow-minded 'no-gaps' mentality.

I thought the whole raison d'être of contracting was to ease off once you've made your required stash ?

[newblood]

Idiot. The clients can do any check they want from references to full blown security checks, all requiring different levels of information. The banks will do a check on you to make sure that you have not been incarcerated for a period of time. I can't remember exactly what they were looking for but they want to see evidence you have been doing what you say. For periods of unempolyment they want your current account details to show you were actually in the public eye spending money etc, if you say you were employed they check with the agents to make sure you were.

If you start lying about what you are doing they will find out. If you say you were employed between X and Y date they will find out from the agent this is not true. A lie, whatever type, the is uncovered by a defense/financial institution will be like a red rag to a bull and you will be out of there.

They will check, the do check and you WILL get walked off site. No if's and but's about it. I have seen it happen.

If you want to gamble on the fact that the client you join won't do this then feel free try get your contracting career back on track after it goes wrong.

Thanks for the insights , useful to know.

[newblood]

There is another thing I am pissed about. And I will never forgive this to agents. It is for the 5 - 6 months of my life spent in believing there is actually a market for me , when most of it was reference fishing. Including the most modern incarnation of fishing . First call , then email confirmation about having been "put forward" , and then 3 days later another call asking about references.
So when it comes to dealing with agents I completely don't care what I say to them , in fact the more bulltulip I give them , the better I feel.

[Jeebo72]

Do what i do - LIE . That is what you are going to realize at the end anyway.
I am 1.5 years out although looking for 7 months only.

Travelling? Pick somewhere you know well-ish (just in case they do too) and say you wen't to stay "with your brother in Sydney for 8 months" ...

[northernladuk]

Do what i do - LIE . That is what you are going to realize at the end anyway.

So when it comes to dealing with agents I completely don't care what I say to them , in fact the more bulltulip I give them , the better I feel.

You truely are an asset to our industry and a shining representative of our profession. I salute you!!!

[newblood]

You truely are an asset to our industry and a shining representative of our profession. I salute you!!!

, I am a decent bloke , you'd like me , don't look for someone to hate or criticize, you don't need that. , it is tougher for some of us these days , that is all.

[northernladuk]

, I am a decent bloke , you'd like me , don't look for someone to hate or criticize, you don't need that. , it is tougher for some of us these days , that is all.

I wonder if it is tougher for some of us because others are quite happy to lie and piss agents off for no reason so setting a false precedence for others??

Sorry, topic is a bit of a bug bear for me as you might have seen in other lying on your CV threads.

Don't really need to look for someone to hate or criticize. However hard I try not to I always end up doing it on here as someone will point out shorly I am sure ROFL.

[moorfield]

My ltdco has its own websh1te and I just put <whatever job title I'm pitching for> working for www.moorfieldtowers.com ... to cover the bench time. Works all the time.

I've also found that: "200X - Present: LastClientCo" at the top of my CV can usually be streteched out for 1-2 months while applying for gigs.