Reply to: Gaps on CV

[doodab]

If I have a particularly long period without a contract I put:

Sabbatical

[BolshieBastard]

For the last couple of roles that I've had (all in the Financial sector), the screening forms have been very explicit to state that if you were contracting via a Ltd company, they want the details of the relevant agency so they can verify the dates associated with that assignment.

Stupid and annoying? Definitely, but then so is having to sit through yet another variation on the internal training for Money Laundering etc. It's scary how crap some of these are.

Correct. You wont get away with just putting your co as your employer in the financial sector. Not only that, a number of outsourcing companies such as crapita are the same ie cant just put your co and, want explanations for breaks longer than 28 days.

Needless to say, I dont apply for any role via crapita and one or two others.

[BHicks]

On "screening forms" from Checking agencies, I simply state that I've been "self-employed" (they don't understand the concept of Contracting) for the same company for 25 years. I use my Accountant as a reference for them. Never had a problem using this approach.

For the last couple of roles that I've had (all in the Financial sector), the screening forms have been very explicit to state that if you were contracting via a Ltd company, they want the details of the relevant agency so they can verify the dates associated with that assignment.

Stupid and annoying? Definitely, but then so is having to sit through yet another variation on the internal training for Money Laundering etc. It's scary how crap some of these are.

[MyUserName]

What part of "permie" are you missing, MyUserName ?

Boo

Which part did he miss when he went for 3 interviews over the course of 3 days?!

[Boo]

Why?

What part of "permie" are you missing, MyUserName ?

Boo

[SueEllen]

I've had one agent pretty much hang up when I expIlained I work for myself, but good riddance.

The agent was probably fishing.

I've noticed that when I don't put the proper name of my direct clients on CV don't get so many calls.

Clients don't seem to mind or see it as positive. They tend to take it at face value while agents are massively more cynical/observant.

Clients have staff who take sabbticals so they can go travelling, do charity work etc.

Agents presume that everyone is covering up a prison sentence, or in the case of women the birth of their latest child.

When asked about it I just talk about the technical projects enthusiastically but explain I'm sick of doing the sales side.

.

Part of being a contractor - you have to sell yourself with the majority of organisations.

[MyUserName]

Had a 75k permie offer last week after 3 interviews in 3 days with them. Decided to turn it down but I have no way of knowing how many look at the CV and bin it without contacting me.

Why?

[rurffy]

I'm dealing with this for the first time at the moment. It's been a year since my last proper gig. In that time I've taken some time off and done casual work. I put down on my CV that I'm working for my LTD and include details of the casual work (web design, delivering training).

It's kind of a weird one because I'm just doing odds and ends while I wait for something I want to do to come along but it is something I'm actually doing.

I've had one agent pretty much hang up when I explained I work for myself, but good riddance. Clients don't seem to mind or see it as positive. They tend to take it at face value while agents are massively more cynical/observant.

When asked about it I just talk about the technical projects enthusiastically but explain I'm sick of doing the sales side.

Had a 75k permie offer last week after 3 interviews in 3 days with them. Decided to turn it down but I have no way of knowing how many look at the CV and bin it without contacting me.

hmmmm 75k down? hmmmm

[nomadd]

I don't list contract dates on my CV and nobody ever mentions it.

This^

(Well, I actually round dates to the nearest year; I don't put month dates on my c.v. A tip I got from this very forum. Works a treat.)

But then I don't go after banking or SC roles either.

I do go for Banking roles.

The gaps I never mention until someone asks, which they never do as they aren't on my c.v.

On "screening forms" from Checking agencies, I simply state that I've been "self-employed" (they don't understand the concept of Contracting) for the same company for 25 years. I use my Accountant as a reference for them. Never had a problem using this approach.

[Contreras]

I have a 7 month gap 2 years ago and nobody ever mentions it.

I don't list contract dates on my CV and nobody ever mentions it.

But then I don't go after banking or SC roles either.

[Old Greg]

I have a 7 month gap 2 years ago and nobody ever mentions it.

[evilagent]

If the gap is just a few weeks, you just put the start date of projects on your CV, and not the end date.

Generally, gaps, if they are far enough in the past nobody bothers about. As an ex-contractor, I tended to take the last 2 weeks of Dec and first 2 weeks of Jan off as holidays!!

If the gaps are more recent, within the past 6-12 months, my experience is that clients are interested as to why in case its a trend they should be aware of. Here again, they need to be several weeks long before a client becomes interested.
Any agent who gives you grief over it clearly fails to understand the nature of being freelance.

A few weeks off here or there should be seen as the perks of contracting.
I wouldnt bother to mention gaps unless asked.
Personally speaking, I would ask, just to get a sense of the character of the contractor, but not necessarily pass this onto the client.

[DieScum]

I'm dealing with this for the first time at the moment. It's been a year since my last proper gig. In that time I've taken some time off and done casual work. I put down on my CV that I'm working for my LTD and include details of the casual work (web design, delivering training).

It's kind of a weird one because I'm just doing odds and ends while I wait for something I want to do to come along but it is something I'm actually doing.

I've had one agent pretty much hang up when I explained I work for myself, but good riddance. Clients don't seem to mind or see it as positive. They tend to take it at face value while agents are massively more cynical/observant.

When asked about it I just talk about the technical projects enthusiastically but explain I'm sick of doing the sales side.

Had a 75k permie offer last week after 3 interviews in 3 days with them. Decided to turn it down but I have no way of knowing how many look at the CV and bin it without contacting me.

[nomadd]

Now I know gaps on CV's have been mentioned before but over the weekend I was thinking a lot about how I work and plans for the future and what I would like to do longer term.

Sorry to sound like NLUK, but this is old ground we've covered a gazillion times before and can be researched (eyes, top-right. )

For the record, 25 years contracting here, and I've always taken breaks of 6 months every couple of years or so. Never been a problem, as long as you are straight with clients and forceful with agents.

I'm on a break as we speak. Loving every moment of it too.

[BolshieBastard]

technically, you are in continuous employment for your Ltd...

Yes, we know that. Agents and clients dont see it the same way though.