Reply to: Accuracy of work record on CV

[IanIan]

But no evidence of application... Not useful

Yes evidence of application. I used such skills when working for the company that I did work for.

And this means what?? Something compared to nothing is substantial.

I meant a substantial project compared to the projects I'd done over the several years before this period. i.e not just odd jobs. I suppose you could read my CV if you wanted to get this in proper perspective.

You need to be looking a the timings of it which seems to be the issue here, not the actual work done

Indeed. I was economical with the truth as I've admitted.

I got so excited at this I nearly let out a bit of wee

I love this forum.

[northernladuk]

I'm not trying to excuse myself but this might not be as bad as it sounds

Looking forward to this.

... I did spend a fair amount of time during those years studying the latest technologies and upgrading my skills;

But no evidence of application... Not useful

I even attended a conference.

I got so excited at this I nearly let out a bit of wee

And the work I did for this company was fairly substantial in comparison with stuff I'd done before.

And this means what?? Something compared to nothing is substantial. You need to be looking a the timings of it which seems to be the issue here, not the actual work done.

[IanIan]

I'm not trying to excuse myself but this might not be as bad as it sounds... I did spend a fair amount of time during those years studying the latest technologies and upgrading my skills; I even attended a conference. And the work I did for this company was fairly substantial in comparison with stuff I'd done before.

[jmo21]

on a taxi out of here!

As quickly as possible...

[MyUserName]

I'd say... get that guy's bum on a seat!

on a taxi out of here!

[IanIan]

how you would view such a CV landing on your desk?

I'd say... get that guy's bum on a seat!

[northernladuk]

Rather than me adding anything to the excellent replies you've already had, I decided to reprint what you actually said (...eventually.)

Now read your own words and make a call on how you would view such a CV landing on your desk?

LOL. Superb post...

[nomadd]

...the main work for them has been for a month or so each year.

OK I will be more precise.

...and not doing much else for about three years.

Seemed like a good idea at the time...

...as a way of avoiding having to explain a sketchy work history

I guess it does amount to not being honest on one's CV.

Rather than me adding anything to the excellent replies you've already had, I decided to reprint what you actually said (...eventually.)

Now read your own words and make a call on how you would view such a CV landing on your desk?

[northernladuk]

Whether you want to take the risk of the (b) route popping up in conversations/interviews is up to you. But in my opinion simply stating XYD Ltd, January 2000 - January 2007 is not lying. You're simply stating the facts on your CV in the accepted Company Name - Start Date - End Date format.

I don't quite agree with this. The accepted system is because most jobs fit that format. I don't believe you can plead 'fitting format' for lying on your CV if you got caught. Because it is the accepted format the person reading will also assume it is full time which isn't correct. The right format in the wrong application makes it the wrong format.

For short term stuff I don't see a problem doing this I guess but not a 3 year gap with only sparodic work.

[BlasterBates]

Make sure your CV is accurate. Many companies are now checking up and it´s an automatic dismissal if you´re caught lying.

[theroyale]

The point of the first question was to determine whether some fraudulent behavior had possibly taken place. If the way I'd presented the working relationship on my CV had been normal then I'd have simply received the added bonus of hiding a gap on my CV.

I think that was my intention at the time - to get to hide a gap on my CV without needing to tell a lie. (I did work for this company over the period stated on my CV and they would corroborate this.) However it appears that I was wearing rose tinted glasses.

I've asked a similar question on these forums once.

You could take the risk of stating on your CV the company's name, then your start date of working with them, followed by the last date you worked with them. And let others (agents, potential recruiters) make what they will of it.

But if they ask you about it - even innocently, as in, "Ah so you worked for XYZ Ltd for x years" - then you might find yourself having to clarify your exact working situation there (otherwise you'd be lying). The reaction to your answer could be either (a) they're not ruffled by it, i.e. they understand contractors to have just this sort of on-and-off work relationship with clients, and they move on. Or (b) they expected you to say it was full-time work over this period, in which case you might then come across as attempting to cover up. At this point they either (b1) leave it at that, or (b2) say something like "So what this really means is you only have x months of experience when my initial impression was that it was x years!

Whether you want to take the risk of the (b) route popping up in conversations/interviews is up to you. But in my opinion simply stating XYD Ltd, January 2000 - January 2007 is not lying. You're simply stating the facts on your CV in the accepted Company Name - Start Date - End Date format.

[IanIan]

Your question has kinda gone from how do you demonstrate a fairly common working practice to how to falsify long gaps on your CV.

The point of the first question was to determine whether some fraudulent behavior had possibly taken place. If the way I'd presented the working relationship on my CV had been normal then I'd have simply received the added bonus of hiding a gap on my CV.

I think that was my intention at the time - to get to hide a gap on my CV without needing to tell a lie. (I did work for this company over the period stated on my CV and they would corroborate this.) However it appears that I was wearing rose tinted glasses.

[northernladuk]

OK I will be more precise. You see I did exactly what I described after not doing much else for about three years. Seemed like a good idea at the time as a way of avoiding having to explain a sketchy work history but I guess it does amount to not being honest on one's CV.

Your question has kinda gone from how do you demonstrate a fairly common working practice to how to falsify long gaps on your CV.

One is acceptable, the other is fraud.

Hope you are little more clear on your CV than you are asking questions about your situation

and.. WCS..

[cojak]

OK I will be more precise. You see I did exactly what I described after not doing much else for about three years. Seemed like a good idea at the time as a way of avoiding having to explain a sketchy work history but I guess it does amount to not being honest on one's CV.

Ah. That's different.

I'd pull that CV ASAP and post another that more accurately reflects what you've been doing.

Else you'll fall flat on your arse the moment anyone asks for references (which is common these days, no matter what the 'I've never been asked' brigade say).

[cojak]

I do this. But I make it clear that is a ad-hoc role over multiple projects in the wording.

I've got a few clients I've worked with say 1 day a week and a few 3 month full timers over the past few years and the date all run concurrently. Most agents get it, some don't.

WSPS

I used to work for HP like that.