Reply to: A special anniversary: 12 months on the bench :)

[HeadOfTesting]

If you can't find anything in that time then I suggest that you are too honest in interviews. Well, you have to sell yourself don't you?

But if you are of the only-work-if-the-rate-is-right mindset, good on yer. I would do that, but I can't afford it (it is my ultimate goal though).

I don't think interview honesty is a problem (not least because I'm not getting any interviews) - I'm extremely confident in my CV though as it's always done extremely well in the past and generates interest that is at least in line with anecdotes on here and elsewhere about general market acitivity.

As I've said before I'm not inflexible on rate - but yes I can afford to be.

[HeadOfTesting]

It can be tough to come back from a long period out of work, but it's not impossible. I never write anyone off, especially after my own experience and what I've observed generally in life.

Good luck mate.

Cheers,

Thanks and i agree - I was out for 15 months over 2001/2 and came back to reach much greater heights.

As an aside, some of the best people I've ever recruited were those I took after a 12-18 month break (some from unemployment, some from travelling etc). Anyone who is highly prejudiced against those with CV gaps really is potentially missing out.

[HeadOfTesting]

Well i read it and you said you were not prepared to tune your cv to meet jobs sort of implying you did not want to lie

That is naive

I said I didn't want to "de-tune" it i.e. say I've been a test team lead when I was really head of testing etc. I don't want to tune it "up" either but then again I honestly think it wouldn't help because I've had such a good run (2001/2 aside) that if I tuned my CV up it wouldn't be believable.

Believe me I am anything but naive. I guess I just don't want to go back to contracting more than I want to avoid the hassle of buggering about with variations on my CV.

[norrahe]

Dunno, was out of a full time contract longer than that but I had various short term bits at home.

Now I am retired (at 32) and haven't worked since March 2007. No need to. SNEER!

so what were you doing?

[Shimano105]

I once had 2 months out then went permie. I had a dry spell this year that lasted 5 weeks, after which I took a low-paid contract away from home.

If you can't find anything in that time then I suggest that you are too honest in interviews. Well, you have to sell yourself don't you?

But if you are of the only-work-if-the-rate-is-right mindset, good on yer. I would do that, but I can't afford it (it is my ultimate goal though).

[Bwana]

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[HairyArsedBloke]

Couldnt help but feel smug seeing pictures of commuters waiting on snowy platforms today
Most days I'm out of bed at 6 am and at my desk at 6:05.

Sound a lot like me. Except I have a rule - I don't get up in the dark. ESPECIALLY in winter!

[joey122]

I've done all those things. I don't expect anyone to read the post that I linked to above but it explains why I don't need to care anymore. Either way I'm still getting very positive engagement from headhunters etc., I really don't think long gaps are a problem in the current climate - the vast majority of people know the score and are sympathetic.

Well i read it and you said you were not prepared to tune your cv to meet jobs sort of implying you did not want to lie

That is naive

[SantaClaus]

Was once out of work for a year. Explained the gap on my CV with "sabbatical travelling the world". Just recalled all my previous holidays and wove it into one long tale

Since embarking on Plan B, my last computer contract was 20 months ago. I have no wish to go back.

Couldnt help but feel smug seeing pictures of commuters waiting on snowy platforms today
Most days I'm out of bed at 6 am and at my desk at 6:05.

[Gonzo]

The last day on my most recent contract was Friday 19th Dec 08 so it has now been a whole year.

As I've explained in this post:

http://forums.contractoruk.com/1028938-post45.html

I'm not that bothered.

Can anyone match or beat my 1 year 'achievement'?

As I said on another thread I'm thinking of buying a cake with a candle on it to mark the occasion.

You should mark the occasion contractor style with champagne.

My last day on contract was Friday 12th December 2008 although I did exit the UK contracting market completely on that date, and in fact the UK full stop three days later.

I should probably hand in my CUK user id but this site is still more entertaining than the TV here.

[SuperZ]

Dunno, was out of a full time contract longer than that but I had various short term bits at home.

Now I am retired (at 32) and haven't worked since March 2007. No need to. SNEER!

Cor, you must of been on a good rate
Seriioulsy how come? Lottery, rich wife, inheritance, illness, lots of Bobs working for you on contracts? Pwease tell

[xoggoth]

Dunno, was out of a full time contract longer than that but I had various short term bits at home.

Now I am retired (at 32) and haven't worked since March 2007. No need to. SNEER!

[HeadOfTesting]

North West Development Agency.

That said, you should review your job search strategy at 3 monthly intervals imo. You must either widen the location you are prepared to work, reduce your rate, obtain recognised industry qualification ie ISEB etc or change specialism.

It is foolhardy to remain unemployed for 12 months since agencies will be even less likely to take you on imo.

I was once unemployed in IT for 12 months so eventually left. I came back after another 12 months when plan B failed! However the market had picked up and I had to go in at a rate I first had 7 or 8 years previously so it can be done.

I've done all those things. I don't expect anyone to read the post that I linked to above but it explains why I don't need to care anymore. Either way I'm still getting very positive engagement from headhunters etc., I really don't think long gaps are a problem in the current climate - the vast majority of people know the score and are sympathetic.

[BolshieBastard]

Forgive my ignorance but what's the NWDA?

North West Development Agency.

That said, you should review your job search strategy at 3 monthly intervals imo. You must either widen the location you are prepared to work, reduce your rate, obtain recognised industry qualification ie ISEB etc or change specialism.

It is foolhardy to remain unemployed for 12 months since agencies will be even less likely to take you on imo.

I was once unemployed in IT for 12 months so eventually left. I came back after another 12 months when plan B failed! However the market had picked up and I had to go in at a rate I first had 7 or 8 years previously so it can be done.

[HeadOfTesting]

...thanks to the mentoring I'm getting from NWDA.

Forgive my ignorance but what's the NWDA?