CV "no gaps" -vs- On the bench.

[norrahe]

I generally have 6 months off every 3 years or so. When I am interviewed and this comes up, I have told the interviewer I put my feet up. They all said they wished they could do that and I got the gig each time.

So I sell it as one of the reasons I contract and that turns it into a positive rather than a negative...

WHS, most of my pimps know I like to travel and take large chunks of time off, so they never question gaps.

[NickFitz]

I took June 2008 to January 2009 off. I was asked about it (more by agents than potential clients) and explained that I'd had a month's break, then spent time improving my skills in a number of new technology areas and working on several projects of my own. It wasn't a problem for anybody I interviewed with.

YMMV, as usual

[ratewhore]

I generally have 6 months off every 3 years or so. When I am interviewed and this comes up, I have told the interviewer I put my feet up. They all said they wished they could do that and I got the gig each time.

So I sell it as one of the reasons I contract and that turns it into a positive rather than a negative...

[newblood]

I had an 8 month gap on mine, when I went for an interview, I didn't even get asked about it.

Well I do get asked often. And don't doubt it but anything more than 6 months is a killer.

[norrahe]

I had an 8 month gap on mine, when I went for an interview, I didn't even get asked about it.

[newblood]

Put YourLtdCo as your current employer with the period Sep - Dec 2009. Put under that ANYTHING you can think of that you have been doing.


Edit: Thank you SY01 for that idea. It was a damn good one.

I am doing that , however an agent will eventually ask you when did your last contract finish. And here you have to lie or not lie. I choose to ... well, you know.

[RichardCranium]

My CV is 100% true.

So is mine.

Sure there is a spin on things, but everything is verifiable.

Of course: remove the irrelevant and emphasize the skills relevant to roles you want.

If I'm competing with a load of others who are economical with the truth, maybe I need to get on level pegging?

Now there is a moral / ethical question that has come up on here before. There are those who say "my family comes first, I will tell any lie to maintain their standard of living" and then there's those of us who get scathing abuse for disagreeing with that.

Your answer must be your decision.

Or, state on my cv that it's all true?

Sadly, the mark of a liar is: "Trust me, I wouldn't lie to you".

[CalmEddie]

Hmm, maybe I'm asking the wrong question.

My CV is 100% true. Sure there is a spin on things, but everything is verifiable.

If I'm competing with a load of others who are economical with the truth, maybe I need to get on level pegging? Or, state on my cv that it's all true?

[Pondlife]

Just 'justify' the text.

HTH

[milanbenes]

you just have to recalibrate the cv don't you, shuffle things around a bit sorted

Milan.

[Pogle]

I have a 6 month gap on mine and it didn't affect my ability to get contracts last year. However, if you want your CV to be seamless, whatever you do, don't stretch out your last contract to fill in the gap.

I have seen this on two CV's of people I've worked with, I was asked to review them when ClientoCo was looking for more contractors, i was asked if their CV was correct and I answered honestly. So in the bin they went.

[VectraMan]

I've put my Plan B on my c.v. for the last 6 months. Which is true, because that's what I've been doing.

Of course I could make up anything I liked and say I'd been doing it.

[RichardCranium]

Put YourLtdCo as your current employer with the period Sep - Dec 2009. Put under that ANYTHING you can think of that you have been doing.


Edit: Thank you SY01 for that idea. It was a damn good one.

[CalmEddie]

Just interested in the consensus here. I've been on the bench since Aug, and at the moment my CV lists the last role as ending Aug.

I've been mulling over how to fill the gap. I could just say bench working to present day but that seems weak.

Any thoughts? What has worked for you?