Reply to: Leaving a contract very early

[PerfectStorm]

Agreed, if you get an offer of a role in financial services, you will be vetted/checked, they will contact all previous agencies and ask for start and end dates, any discrepancy will need to be explained.

Maybe in theory, doesn't happen all that often in practise

[Signo_cypher]

The former is the correct answer; the latter is fraud.

Agreed, if you get an offer of a role in financial services, you will be vetted/checked, they will contact all previous agencies and ask for start and end dates, any discrepancy will need to be explained.

[LondonManc]

Just put it down as a quick project on your CV, or lengthen the end of your previous one

The former is the correct answer; the latter is fraud.

[washed up contractor]

good for you. Tell them how to improve it. That's the value add they pay you for.

My, my. You really do come across as a dick.

[WordIsBond]

good for you. Tell them how to improve it. That's the value add they pay you for.

Oh, stop being a keyboard warrior.

[Lance]

Thanks for all the feedback, lots of food for thought.

To clarify, adjusting a previous role was never an option for me. It's between leaving it off my CV and keeping it on.

For now I'm going to stick it out and hope things approve.

good for you. Tell them how to improve it. That's the value add they pay you for.

[TomK]

Thanks for all the feedback, lots of food for thought.

To clarify, adjusting a previous role was never an option for me. It's between leaving it off my CV and keeping it on.

For now I'm going to stick it out and hope things approve.

[northernladuk]

Maybe not but I thought bypassing the swear filter was a bannable offence.

So, is it bannable to bypass it when you don't have to? That would be a gloriously stupid way to get banned.

pscont already has form for that

[WordIsBond]

If you aren't going to see it through, don't falsify your CV. Besides the moral issues, that can come back to bite you.

Put it on your CV, and if asked, just say, 'It became clear it wasn't a good fit, and I'm a professional. If you take me on for a project and then I'm not a good fit, I'm not going to waste your time and money, I'll tell you.'

[WordIsBond]

EDIT: You don't need to bypass the swear filter for 'dick'. HTH

Maybe not but I thought bypassing the swear filter was a bannable offence.

So, is it bannable to bypass it when you don't have to? That would be a gloriously stupid way to get banned.

[gables]

Agents worry about gaps. I don't have this issue anymore as I don't leave more than 2 months (don't really need to, right now) but agents comment occasionally that 'oh good, you don't have long gaps on your CV'.

You don't know how many really question it because those that do, won't contact you in the first place, most likely. ie you won't get the chance to come up with an explanation.

Yep that can happen I suppose, but depends on how you're applying for work. For roles I'm properly interested in I'll be contacting the agent prior to applying\sending in CV, and if not most certainly once I've applied. I then get a discussion with them and any gaps can be discussed, and so far nothing negative yet.

[gables]

This. IMO the best option is just to put it on. They might ask you why it ended in the interview but in my career I've never been asked why a gig ended and I've got a 6 weeker on mine. If they did ask then I'd tell them there was no work to do once I got there so we ended by mutual agreement. That's the truth for me and not so much of a lie that I'd still use it if I was in the OP's position.

I think a 5 week gig is less of a red flag than a break and the worst option for me would be lie about a previous gig. It only takes a reference check from the previous agent who will confirm start and end dates to get found out. It's just not worth it.

I'm not sure a gap is a red flag though, we're contractors, gaps are to be expected. I do agree in that I wouldn't outright lie about a previous contract length to cover up a gap, as I've already said I'd leave the gap in there.

[pscont]

Do you know how many agencies don't contact you because they don't like your CV, though?

I dont and dont care.

[northernladuk]

That won't fly with the sort of compliance I have to go through these days

This. IMO the best option is just to put it on. They might ask you why it ended in the interview but in my career I've never been asked why a gig ended and I've got a 6 weeker on mine. If they did ask then I'd tell them there was no work to do once I got there so we ended by mutual agreement. That's the truth for me and not so much of a lie that I'd still use it if I was in the OP's position.

I think a 5 week gig is less of a red flag than a break and the worst option for me would be lie about a previous gig. It only takes a reference check from the previous agent who will confirm start and end dates to get found out. It's just not worth it.

[Big Blue Plymouth]

Just put it down as a quick project on your CV, or lengthen the end of your previous one

That won't fly with the sort of compliance I have to go through these days