Struggling to find contract after mat leave

[eek]

WHS
NO! Lying about having a child is hardly a good move. You ARE going to need a client who understands your need for flexibility (regardless of lack of control clauses in your shiny IR35 contract) and this is not the way to get them on side.

You need a client who is understanding you won't however get past an agent with that statement as they will find someone else more qualified. so you have to lie to get past the gatekeeper.

Personally I would use a plan b, friend or house refurbishment to cover some of the last year.

[SueEllen]

I would be pretty digusted if you having a baby is a reason you don't get a gig to be honest. I haven't heard of that being a reason before and heard some pretty un-PC reasons in the past.

They aren't allowed to mention that reason because it's very easy to sue them if they dare suggest it. Agents as well as clients can be taken to task for discrimination.

[Pogle]

I would not lie, but I would not venture the info either.
When I have been asked about childcare issues in interviews in the past - I have always said that my child has a father to look after her also, and we have good childcare provision in place and it is not an issue.

I reckon in 80% of all interviews I've had in my life have asked if I have children and how It will affect the role.
I wonder if the blokes out there have had the same experience?

Good luck and welcome

[northernladuk]

They aren't allowed to mention that reason because it's very easy to sue them if they dare suggest it. Agents as well as clients can be taken to task for discrimination.

Of course they could, which is why I would be horrified if this was genuinely (admitted or secretly) the reason they wouldn't take you on.

[TheFaQQer]

You don't have a gap on your CV.

For the past six months, you've been working for a small independent consultancy. Unfortunately, you are under a non-disclosure agreement, so can't go into any detail about who they are or what they do.

Problem solved.

[BolshieBastard]

I would be pretty digusted if you having a baby is a reason you don't get a gig to be honest. I haven't heard of that being a reason before and heard some pretty un-PC reasons in the past.

I would guess more it being the fact you have had a year off and there are a whole host of people with exactly the same skills that are still fresh.

I would also take a guess having a new baby you are looking in a very narrow area to get home in time? This lack of flexibility will certainly hurt your chances as well.

Just got to keep pumping away. I have certainly found a slump in calls since the beginning of December which is always a quiet period anyway.

What this man says!

I'd suggest its the time 'on the bench' as it were that is making it difficult. My mate (a man!) has been on the bench since Jult last year and is finding it hard to secure a new role.

However, while a man can move around, its not that easy for women with children.

I'd keep plugging away though.

[quackhandle]

For the past six months, you've been working for a small independent consultancy. Unfortunately, you are under a non-disclosure agreement, so can't go into any detail about who they are or what they do.

But you have been privvy to a number of celebrity/royalty tittle tattle from their phone messages.

Unfortunately the work has dried up in the last few months and no one is returning your calls.



qh

[NonnyMouse]

But you have been privvy to a number of celebrity/royalty tittle tattle from their phone messages.

Unfortunately the work has dried up in the last few months and no one is returning your calls.



qh

LOL

Thanks all, I really wasn't expecting to get so many replies - particularly encouraging ones.

Location wise I'm looking in London - ideally city/central but not that narrow an area.

The years gap does seem to be the first thing agents ask about e.g. so what have you been up to since
you left xyz place? I guess I need to think carefully about how i answer that.

Will keep plugging away - have to.

[centurian]

Surprised that so many are suggesting being so evasive.

I certainly wouldn't volunteer the information, but if asked about it, I don't see how you can avoid it. If you plan on working in finance/insrance etc., you will have to clearly explain any gaps over month or two.

You either have to lie through your teeth, in which case they can fire you for providing false information

Or you have to give a vague, yet technically still truthful answer - and any half decent interviewer will immediately pick up on the vagueness - and will then suspect that you spent the past year being locked up (rather than knocked up )

[wim121]

I would be pretty digusted if you having a baby is a reason you don't get a gig to be honest. I haven't heard of that being a reason before and heard some pretty un-PC reasons in the past.

Well get ready to be disgusted then. IMHO, The OP made a CHOICE to have a child. It wasnt like a family illness. This should be expected even though it may not feel fair. One could day if she wasnt prepared to be supported indefinitely by someone else, why reproduce in the first place?



Employers dont like to see breaks in employment history. Ive had them, from reasons such as to accelerate studying/qualifications or to take care of ill family members. The employer doesnt see me supporting a family member or during a quieter (recession) work period, taking time off to get more qualifications to make myself more employable. The just see a person with breaks in their work history, which is never a good thing.

Employers don't care though and dont see the sentiment or reason behind decisions. To explain to you, here are two theoretical candidates applying for jobs in Dec 10:

Potential employee A:
CV -
June 10 > Nov 10 "job title"
Jan09 > Dec 09 "job title"

Potential employee B:
CV -
June 07 > Nov 10 "job title"

To all employers, B looks a far better stable option and 99.999999999% of the time will get the interview or job, even if less qualified. Most people, even if they bother reading CV's, skim over them and anything too long or rambling is ignored. Dont expect them to care whatsoever about your life history or begging in your covering letter.

Now in this situation, person A has always dedicated themselves to their workplace, always working hard while at work, but may have needed to take some time off or maybe an employer went bust. Person B spends all their work time whining about their current job, standing by the water cooler and then applying for other jobs on companies time.

A frequent head scratcher is employers like to employ people already in work elsewhere. That is a completely retarded concept, but a convention and inevitability in the business world. That means idiots like person B gets the job, while once again, person A is rejected.

The only way Person A gets an interview is being considerably more qualified than B, then displaying a better aptitude in the interview.