Long breaks on CV

[Chutley]

Hit 50, now financially secure and don't want to contract all year round - summers off is the aim (holy grail). How best to play that on Linkedin profile and CV...? There will be a long gap of my own choosing, followed by some time then to find the next gig.

Do I put "Summer in South Africa", or does that rub the permie client's noses in it? However, I also don't want it to look like I've had a long break because I can't get a contract.

Appreciate advice from those who have trodden this path.

[WTFH]

Hit 50, now financially secure and don't want to contract all year round - summers off is the aim (holy grail). How best to play that on Linkedin profile and CV...? There will be a long gap of my own choosing, followed by some time then to find the next gig.

Do I put "Summer in South Africa", or does that rub the permie client's noses in it? However, I also don't want it to look like I've had a long break because I can't get a contract.

Appreciate advice from those who have trodden this path.

1. Don't put dates on LinkedIn
2. Don't put exact dates on your CV.


No, I'm not advocating lying, I'm saying that the information you give out should be relevant to what you are looking to do. If you are looking for 6 month contracts then that's what you'll be applying for, not 1 year ones.
But it may vary depending on what sector you work in.

[vetran]

have a plan b or a longstanding remote contract in the background.

I made it though a few months of low contract work helping a mate's startup company through their first few months and supporting a retailer.

[quackhandle]

Was concerned about this also. I have a few responses:

"Moved house, needed some work on it"
"I needed to recharge batteries"
"I've been pushing to go direct"
"I've been playing in chess tournaments"
"I've been writing a script" (plan b)

Not sure how the pimps will see those reasons which are all true and a gig I applied for wanted BPSS, been fine when did it in the past but not sure they'll like the 5 month gap now.

Ho hum!

qh

[WTFH]

"Summer in South Africa"

While you're waiting for that:
http://www.wildsafarilive.com/


Tune in at 7.30am/2.30pm (I think) for live game drives in Sabi, or just choose one of the watering hole cameras.

[Lumiere]

2 months is easy, finish 2 Apr, start next one 30 May = no breaks in CV.

For longer period "Plan B" is probably the best.

A former contractor colleague of mine went travelling for a year, then had problems finding a new contract.

- "I had a gap year"
- "Yeah, sure. So what has really happened at your last place ?"

[DimPrawn]

Gaps are the biggest problem.

Do a tulip job? No one cares.
Get escorted off site? No one cares.
Take three months off? Contracting career over.

[WTFH]

How about joining a charity related to Africa, then just putting that on your CV?

[DimPrawn]

I just put I was onboard the International Space Station or orbiting the Moon.

Space Adventures, Ltd. | Home

[quackhandle]

Gaps are the biggest problem.

Do a tulip job? No one cares.
Get escorted off site? No one cares.
Take three months off? Contracting career over.

Damn, looks like it's the darkside (permy) for me then.

qh