Reply to: How many of you are Benched?

[curtis]

But why should your reason have to be some kind of work related reason for it to be seen as valid why can't I just take 2 months off because I 'wanted' to. Where is this unwritten rule that states I have to be working all the time or as much as possible otherwise there must be an issue it drives me mad.

One of my inlaws drives me nuts over this they live abroad and there is a self employed plumber that they know that goes out to the house they own there quite often, they can't understand how they can keep coming out 'surely they must have work' or its 'how can they not be working' I keep telling them not everyone needs to be earning money every day/week/month to manage/survive/live they just don't get it.

[rob s]

Unexplained time off work if you're a Ltd Co:

1. Set up wordpress blog in your field of expertise (or add to company website)
2. Write a blog post once a week about your field of expertise or write a whitepaper
3. Book a couple of meetings with friendly consultants who also have their own business
4. Explain the time off as doing work internally in your company / research / SEO/ attending trade events or networking meetings, which can be validated by demonstrating that you've met with other consultancies, your accountant, a co-working space, show, receipts for shows which go into your books.....

[BolshieBastard]

I would have thought that this would just vary from person to person. One person might look at a gap and ask the agent why it is there and be highly suspicious of it whereas another one might have been a contractor himself and not give it a second glance. The agent would, logically, try to get all of the answers to potential show stoppers before speaking to the client and risking losing the commision - I mean risk you not getting the gig.

Why would anyone consider a gap 'highly suspicious' when you're a serial contractor? I know contractors who are paranoid about not working and run around like permies trying to stay in work every single day. They then think nothing of taking time off in contracts like permies.

I became a contractor so I could decide what I work on and when. I dont take holidays during contracts. I explain this to agents and clients alike and say I take my breaks \ holidays between contracts, not when Im delivering their projects.

TBF, I've never had a client question this in an interview. It has only been an agency who couldnt comprehend what a lifestyle choice was.

If it means losing the role so what? Isnt this akin to saying you'll take any rate including undercutting other contractors so you get the role?

[MyUserName]

I would have thought that this would just vary from person to person. One person might look at a gap and ask the agent why it is there and be highly suspicious of it whereas another one might have been a contractor himself and not give it a second glance. The agent would, logically, try to get all of the answers to potential show stoppers before speaking to the client and risking losing the commision - I mean risk you not getting the gig.

[BlasterBates]

I think whether the gap thing is important is purely up to the client Project Manager, their experience with contractors and so on. I´ve never had the previous gap in my CV questioned at all, and would never expect it to become an issue. If you´re out for a year a so I can imagine that probably needs to be explained. My feeling is anything up to 3 or 4 months as a contractor would be perfectly normal and would not be a hindrance at all.

[BolshieBastard]

When I worked (directly) for the US bank I was asked to justify the gap, but not asked for a character witness, I expect Proj Partners are going overboard with their due diligence, but am saying what's the problem with providing one? After all they do all kind of background checks and credit check, proof of address etc etc.. so one more reference from your personal friends is not OOT or an issue, right?

The issue is I've never been asked for a 'character witness' to say I have not worked during a period and the reason why I did not work during that period. I dont go around telling people why Im not working, WTF should I?

Banks also ask for CRB checks so they can tell whether I've been 'inside' or not.

This was solely a demand from the agent to provide this intrusive reference.

Put it this way, you may want to roll over and have your tummy tickled. Im not.

[rob s]

I spoke face to face yesterday with a slave trader who came recommended from several colleagues - he owns the company rather than your average recruiter, but his spiel was about putting just one person forward who matched the requirement as closely as possible. He mentioned that when they did that, they'll walk the client through the contractors history and if there are gaps, they need to be able to qualify them as well.

So I guess this is a grey area. If it's a junior researcher/drone asking at first contact then I'll not bother. If I'm confident there's a valid reason then I'll do it.

[northernladuk]

When I worked (directly) for the US bank I was asked to justify the gap, but not asked for a character witness, I expect Proj Partners are going overboard with their due diligence, but am saying what's the problem with providing one? After all they do all kind of background checks and credit check, proof of address etc etc.. so one more reference from your personal friends is not OOT or an issue, right?

It's also not worth anything so could argue you are wasting everyones time putting it forward. Bear in mind if your friend gives a reference that the client finds is not accurate your friend can get in to a lot of trouble. I personally wouldn't ask my friends for a reference unless it I have absolutely no choice.

[curtis]

so one more reference from your personal friends is not OOT or an issue, right?

Well it is when you don't need it. Its frustrating when clinets and especially agents don't understand how a contractor works and to have to explain a 3 month gap from years ago is just mad!!

[kaiser78]

I'm not benched currently

[SandyD]

Er, I've been working in banking for the last 10 years. Proj Partners were the only agency to ask for a 'character witness' for the gap. I've worked for the largest US bank and others since then and not one has asked for such a thing as a character witness for a break so I dont agree with you.

When I worked (directly) for the US bank I was asked to justify the gap, but not asked for a character witness, I expect Proj Partners are going overboard with their due diligence, but am saying what's the problem with providing one? After all they do all kind of background checks and credit check, proof of address etc etc.. so one more reference from your personal friends is not OOT or an issue, right?

[BolshieBastard]

Actually yes some companies (especially banks) do expect you to explain all gaps in the last 10 years, some American banks even expect a proper explanation for gaps in the whole of your career even if it was 20 years ago, even if you explained it to the client, the company expects the agency to do all the background checks and provide them with a satisfactory reports.

Anyway a personal character witness is an easy thing, why didn't you get a friend of yours to write them a reference or whatever they wanted?

Er, I've been working in banking for the last 10 years. Proj Partners were the only agency to ask for a 'character witness' for the gap. I've worked for the largest US bank and others since then and not one has asked for such a thing as a character witness for a break so I dont agree with you.

[Scrag Meister]

My current contract ends Mid-March, will start putting out feelers re extensions Mid-February, and hit Jobserve a week later.

[SandyD]

Last year after a successful interview, I told Pro Partners to GTF when they demanded I provide a "character witness" to why I had a 3 month gap in my cv roughly 3 years previously. They said it was the client wanting to know but, the client already knew because I'd explained at the interview and they were the first client I worked for after that gap 3 years previous.

So the divvies still act up and wont take 'its a lifestyle choice' as an answer (or at least Proj Partners dont!).

Actually yes some companies (especially banks) do expect you to explain all gaps in the last 10 years, some American banks even expect a proper explanation for gaps in the whole of your career even if it was 20 years ago, even if you explained it to the client, the company expects the agency to do all the background checks and provide them with a satisfactory reports.

Anyway a personal character witness is an easy thing, why didn't you get a friend of yours to write them a reference or whatever they wanted?

[BolshieBastard]

Does anyone remember some threads years ago (around 2001) when many of us had to constantly justify why we chose to be contractors, seems now its the norm and no one bothers asking me this.
Anyway, one of the answers people usually replied is because they wanted to work when they feel like it and take time off between project, some said they wanted to work only 6 months of the year and the rest of the year go travelling etc ...hmmmmm the good old days when contractors could afford to take 6 months off every year...

Last year after a successful interview, I told Pro Partners to GTF when they demanded I provide a "character witness" to why I had a 3 month gap in my cv roughly 3 years previously. They said it was the client wanting to know but, the client already knew because I'd explained at the interview and they were the first client I worked for after that gap 3 years previous.

So the divvies still act up and wont take 'its a lifestyle choice' as an answer (or at least Proj Partners dont!).