Reply to: How to deal with questions on 9 month Bench time..?

[Clippy]

If you want to outsource the emptying bins work to me... let me know.

You benched too?

[pmeswani]

I've been stuck on the bench now for almost a year. I've become that desperate, I've given up on dba positions and now applying for 1st support. The rates for these are just over minimun wage. I'm not even been put forward because I've not done any support work for a while.

I'd be better off working for the council emptying the bins

If you want to outsource the emptying bins work to me... let me know.

[crimdon]

I've been stuck on the bench now for almost a year. I've become that desperate, I've given up on dba positions and now applying for 1st support. The rates for these are just over minimun wage. I'm not even been put forward because I've not done any support work for a while.

I'd be better off working for the council emptying the bins

[Troll]

so you'd say everything for 50 bucks ?

We 'd agree the approach in principle - and then negotiate the terms

[newblood]

© Troll Enterprises 2010
Franchises however are available

so you'd say everything for 50 bucks ?

[Troll]

Mmmmmmm. You've given me an idea.

© Troll Enterprises 2010
Franchises however are available

[HairyArsedBloke]

For a small nominal fee I will allow you to claim you were working on my project for the missing period in a testing capacity - this service includes being contactable as a reference

Mmmmmmm. You've given me an idea.

[Troll]

I am fed up with questions on bench period, not 1-2 months but 9 months bench time..!!

Not sure how to deal with it as both pimps and interviewers are asking same question again & again. I think some pimps are just ignoring my CV because of this bench period, they think I am incompetent..!!

Any one with long bench recently got success in getting an interview..?? Or even got job..? If so how thy handled these questions on bench period...?

Thanks..

For a small nominal fee I will allow you to claim you were working on my project for the missing period in a testing capacity - this service includes being contactable as a reference

[EddieNambulous]

I am fed up with questions on bench period, not 1-2 months but 9 months bench time..!!

Not sure how to deal with it as both pimps and interviewers are asking same question again & again. I think some pimps are just ignoring my CV because of this bench period, they think I am incompetent..!!

Any one with long bench recently got success in getting an interview..?? Or even got job..? If so how thy handled these questions on bench period...?

Thanks..

A few years back I picked up a long-term, good-paying gig with an intentional 12-month gap on my CV. Didn't try to hide it and it didn't seem to bother most people.

Perhaps they only looked at the date and not the year? Dunno.

Market conditions were different then though.

[nomadd]

I was out of contract for 11 months. December 2008 to November 2010
I was honest.

No, that's a lie. Nov. 2010?

[worzelGummidge]

I was out of contract for 11 months. December 2008 to November 2009
I was honest.
There is a recession on. First couple of months I looked for contracts, next five months I arranged and did some major work on the house and the next couple of months I waited for the right contract.
The stupid or greedy agents were not interested but they were the ones with either the poor contract roles or taking the highest percentage cuts.
The professional agents were interested.
I am now enjoying a very interesting contract on the best daily rate that I have been on and very close to home.

Stick to your guns, be busy and enjoy.
It might be your first recession but it will not be your last. If money is tight then do anything to earn your rent/mortgage and go on a few technical courses.

[northernrampage]

Any one with long bench recently got success in getting an interview..?? Or even got job..? If so how thy handled these questions on bench period...?

Thanks..

I've had 19 mths

7 mths unemployed, 12 before caring for someone. I have a paragraph at the top explaining that I finished off my degree, and cared for a relative.

Before Christmas, I had 7 interviews in about 8 weeks. About 4 for contract jobs, 3 for permanent. Unfortunately, I get anxious about interviews, and also made some dumb mistakes, so didn't get anything. The time-off made me feel worse.

Last 2 weeks, had 2 phone interviews, and 2 other interviews. One of these, I'm now onto my second interview. Only reason I was able to finally relax was because I started exploring back-up options, and a friend has offered me a temp job in another field, so I didn't "care" as much.

So... what I'm saying is yes, you can get interviews even with a gap. Some agents feedback that it's an issue..... but I'm not so sure it's that big a deal. I get interviews despite the gap on my CV.

I do get agents trying to lower my rate (which is fair enough) however for the 2nd interview next week that's not the case.

As long as you have an explanation I don't think the gap is a problem. For me, it was my mindset. At interviews, the employees generally don't seem to care about gaps.

[JimBobTwoTeeth]

What a load of tulip. I hope the comes back and bites you big style and I know it does! A colleague applied a bank (that is taking a lot of contractors on at the mo) and lied about just this topic. He had to go throught the basic credit check and employment check and failed cause he lied. Walked off site, in the middle off the office, didn't get paid as he hadn't submitted time sheet blah blah

Ok sit there happy in your job you got it from lying.. good on you... you got lucky!!!

You can be creative, I don't have a problem with that but an outright lie? Thats for idiots. It is illegal to lie on a CV. There is no need if you use a bit of thought and be honest.

My advice would be to mention career break/training/family but do NOT put anything that just isn't true on your CV..

thats my honest opinion.

So was this an outright lie such as making up a role or was it a small lie like adding a month to a role?

[DieScum]

If you look through CVs on linkedin it's very common to see some obvious gap fills

- CEO/Director/Freelancer MyCoolBiz.com - obviously just their own company and usually for short time periods.

Thing is who can say that you aren't genuinely trying to run your own business?

[thunderlizard]

Just talk about it with enthusiasm, and if possible relate it to what you might have to do for him. More likely they'll be asking because it sounds interesting, rather than to try and trip you up.