Last role ended Feb09, trying to get back in, no luck so far!

[theroyale]

You must be able to target a niche more specific than "SQL". Pick your favourite industry and dialect that you've worked with and put more effort into targeting those companies.

I'd say it's more about your specific skillset and industry experience. What exactly is it that you do?

Worked equally on SQL 2000 and 2005, in Healthcare (not finance or insurance unfortunately!). I'm not quite sure how to "target" specific jobs except keep looking out on jobserve.

Possibly apply for lower paying contracts to start with, where they'll just want someone to come in, get job done, then bugger off

This is exactly the sort of thing I've been looking for - I suppose the way to go is just keep pushing on then... but seriously, good to know there are others out there who've had similar periods out of work on their CV and have managed to get back in to work.

[jo99]

I had a year off and was looking in the last downturn and eventually got a role at a charity. I did put the gap on my cv with travelling to explain it - which may help if you have not already done so.

[FICO]

I had a year off and was looking in the last downturn and eventually got a role at a charity. I did put the gap on my cv with travelling to explain it - which may help if you have not already done so.

did any questions come up about the gap in your interviews?

[theroyale]

did any questions come up about the gap in your interviews?

Yes just the casual question and I said I'd been travelling - on the surface that didn't seem to be a problem ("Oh fantastic where'd you go then??!")...

[jo99]

Only where I had travelled to!

[FICO]

Yes just the casual question and I said I'd been travelling - on the surface that didn't seem to be a problem ("Oh fantastic where'd you go then??!")...

Only where I had travelled to!

thats ok it seems the employers are not that concerned its seems like its just the agents who seem to make a big issue out of the gap

[theroyale]

thats ok it seems the employers are not that concerned its seems like its just the agents who seem to make a big issue out of the gap

I would imagine that if the employers have actually vetted your CV - gap included - and called you in for an interview then they're ok with the gap...

[JoJoGabor]

& always be proud of your gaps. They are one of the coolest things about this business.

That is a very good point. I know I've been hired by companies purely cos of my snowboard seasons, and they were good companies to work for. The company I am at now, questioned by gaps disapprovingly, and they are awful to work for, asking for all hours of the day, 7 days a week, expect you to abandon holidays at last minute etc.

Its only jsut clicked, if the client has a problem with it, I dont think I would want to work there.

[rsingh]

If you feel your gap is such am issue, then do some voluntary work. A month of that is better than six months on cuk and observe. It will break up the gap as well as freshening your skills. Plus it helps dispel the 'bench blues'

Try it4communities.com. you may even get a nice fuzzy feeling out of it.

Home - iT4Communities

[Not So Wise]

In a up market you can take gaps and return with no issue, in a down market it’s a whole different kettle of fish

Look at it this way in a down market, agent has a role, he has 30 to 100 CV’s in front of him, he can only forward 5 to client, even after a first round of taking out those without enough/right experience, he is still going to have way to many (especially with a skill set of just “SQL”) so in next round of cuts, people that have not been in the workforce for a while are going to get cut as well

In an up market, where same role starts with maybe 5-10 applicants the odds are there will be no second round, so your chances are getting back in the market are a lot better

If I was you would take anything, permie or really crappy rate contract for a few months just to show yourself back in the workforce and move that gap further back