Contract Extension - CV wording advice plz

[ladymuck]

I've only been asked about one contract that lastest two months and the EB was happy with me basically saying I was brought in to do a job, I did it and then left as there was no more work to do!

In answer to the OP's question, I tend to put something like "Jan 07 to Sept 07 (three month rolling contract)" shows the length of the original contract and gives an indication of the number of renewals. No-one's complained yet.

Never give the reason for leaving - it would always be the same anyway!

[NotAllThere]

Well you live in a pretty close knit world then.

Not really. IT yes, but across a wide range of industries, and have dealt with most of the large agencies and quite a few small ones.

...perhaps more so out of IT than in...

That seems most likely.

I wouldn't put "reason for leaving" mainly because I think it is totally irrelevant. If it's necessary in your sector, then fair enough. I was simply rather baffled by your "as most do" statement. In my fairly wide experience, the opposite is true. "Most don't."

[Denny]

I've never encountered an agency* that required "reason of leaving" for contract or permanent roles. And I've been dealing with agencies on a regular basis for 15 years. For permanent, it's generally asked why you're leaving your current job, but none before then.

As a hiring manager of contractors, I also couldn't give a stuff. I do look for renewals. A series of 3 month contracts would look dodgy, but a series of "reasons for leaving" would also, to me, smack of "The lady doth protest too much, methinks."°

* If it floats your boat, feel free to 'subsitute' EB for 'agency'.
° Hamlet Act 3, scene 2, line 230.

Well you live in a pretty close knit world then. A lot of EB sourced contractors, perhaps more so out of IT than in perhaps, get asked why an assignment only lasted a particular length of time, so I see no reason why not put it on if you think it would help and you've been asked it before.

It's not mandatory, after all. All I'm suggesting is that it is better to be pro-active than reactive. It just answers a potential question before it is asked. Some EBs may not even ask, so a contractor may miss out on an opportunity unnecessarily.

Surely you can see that!

[NotAllThere]

I..not very realistic with some EBs who insist on having a CV with incremental projects listed like 'full time jobs listing and gaps fully visible' as most do,...

I've never encountered an agency* that required "reason of leaving" for contract or permanent roles. And I've been dealing with agencies on a regular basis for 15 years. For permanent, it's generally asked why you're leaving your current job, but none before then.

As a hiring manager of contractors, I also couldn't give a stuff. I do look for renewals. A series of 3 month contracts would look dodgy, but a series of "reasons for leaving" would also, to me, smack of "The lady doth protest too much, methinks."°

* If it floats your boat, feel free to 'subsitute' EB for 'agency'.
° Hamlet Act 3, scene 2, line 230.

[Denny]

This sounds very employee-like to me.

I'd omit this and leave readers of my CV to assume that the project requirements were met unless I told them otherwise.

I agree with you, up to a point, but it's not very realistic with some EBs who insist on having a CV with incremental projects listed like 'full time jobs listing and gaps fully visible' as most do, with start and leave dates clearly stated against each gig. If you are going to cooperate with this format, does it really look so out of place to state why your contract was finally terminated? Some EBs want to know this, and if you've been on a series of shorter term assignments, without any reason for no or limited extensions, they might conclude, whether correctly or not, that the contractor was not very reliable or jumped ship or was pushed if there is nothing on there at all and possibly consigning the CV to the reject pile. So giving the reason - that the project deliverables were met or a new internal resource was found - seems perfectly fine to me as a safety precaution against unnecessary rejection.

[Mehmeh]

how do you guys write when you have the same client with different ones inbetween?

I currently have

Company A (6 months)

Company X (3 months)

Company A (3 months)

Company A keeps wanting me back, and it seems a bit silly to keep drilling through the details over and over. ideas?

[Addanc]

Linky

[Sockpuppet]

IMHO the best thing you can have on your CV is proof that you have worked for the same client multiple times with contracts in between. If you are continually being called back by clients it is obvious that your work is of a high standard and you are well respected. If not why would they keep calling you back?

Exactly the reason I took this role. Rate is poo (got offered another £30/day for closer to home, boring work but....)

My contracts read.

Major UK Supermaket

Major UK 3PL

Back To the Major UK Supermarket - same team, different project.
Also this has been extended to boot.

Sweet.

[51st State]

Thanks all, some really useful suggestions

[Ardesco]

Nov 2007 - Current
Role: Project Manager for XYZ Bank Plc
Reason for Leaving: New resource found, project ended (or whatever)
Contract: Extended twice
References: Available if required

Brief description of what you did, and main achievements.

I don't bother with the highlighted ones. Most contracts run for 3 months initially so if it is longer most agents will assume you have been extended. I never give a reason for leaving, it is invariably because there is no more work because the project I have been working on has finished.

IMHO the best thing you can have on your CV is proof that you have worked for the same client multiple times with contracts in between. If you are continually being called back by clients it is obvious that your work is of a high standard and you are well respected. If not why would they keep calling you back?

[chicane]

Reason for Leaving

This sounds very employee-like to me.

I'd omit this and leave readers of my CV to assume that the project requirements were met unless I told them otherwise.

[Denny]

Hi,

Being somewhat of a newbie (currently 5 months into my first contract) I was after some advice on how to best word the gaining an extension to the contract?

I've currently got headings similar to:

Project Manager - XYZ Bank plc (Nov 2007 - current)

But want to highlight the fact that I've been given an extension.

Any thoughts/suggestions/best practice .....

Nov 2007 - Current
Role: Project Manager for XYZ Bank Plc
Reason for Leaving: New resource found, project ended (or whatever)
Contract: Extended twice
References: Available if required

Brief description of what you did, and main achievements.

[MrRobin]

I simply put the number of extensions in my contract history like

Forum Poster. XYZ plc
Jan 07 - Oct 07 (2 extensions)

[51st State]

Hi,

Being somewhat of a newbie (currently 5 months into my first contract) I was after some advice on how to best word the gaining an extension to the contract?

I've currently got headings similar to:

Project Manager - XYZ Bank plc (Nov 2007 - current)

But want to highlight the fact that I've been given an extension.

Any thoughts/suggestions/best practice .....