Fixed Term Contracts and the CV

silentotter

I do a lot of fixed term contracts for 6 months or more each time. How can I show these positions and experience in them on my CV without appearing as job hoping.

I had an an interview for a different department in the company that I'm currently contracting for and they mentioned that I'd done a lot of contracting and whether it was intentional or if it just worked out that way. It made me feel as if it was off putting for them.

In the current employment environment does a lot of fixed term contracts on your CV appear as job hoping to employers and put them off? Or is this type of working not considered as job hoping? Do employers see this type of working as flexibility and skill building?

Any advice I would be grateful for.

Thanks

isplumm

Hi,

As someone who contracted for over 12 years, I had numerous examples of 6-12 months contracts - I played on it - you know, flexible, able to work in different industries etc.

What field are you in?

Mark

silentotter

Hi thanks for your reply. I have done administration, accounts payable, PBA decion maker and now currently doing estimates for damage repair for a leading vehicle hire company. The past 3 contracts I have had I have been head hunted for and didn't apply for the contracts. I am very flexible and have learned new IT systems and skills in all the contracts quickly.

ssparks2003

State on your CV that they are fixed term contracts, do be shy and you are bringing a broad knowledge base to a company it is a selling point

ThemeOne

I take it that although you've done a lot of contracts recently, you're actually looking for a permanent job?

Contracts are very common these days, so I doubt most employers would be surprised to see them on a CV. Just make it very clear on the CV they were fixed term contracts, and if you've been contracting for years, be prepared to say why you're now looking for a permanent job instead of another contract.

PossiblyOverworked

e.g.

Customer Service Analyst (6 month fixed term contract) Jan-June 2016
- Details
- Details

Project Administrator (maternity cover) August 2016 - June 2017
- Details
- Details

I would explain in a section on your cv or covering letter that you are now looking for a permanent position because... (what's changed) or your goal is a permanent position but your experience with contract work at A, B and C has given you diverse experience of ...


If there are *a lot* of contracts in a relatively short time you could group them under a heading on the CV.

asajj

Just put as fixed term contract as suggested already. Having too many different roles (i.e. admin to AP) can be a bit of a problem though. It might look like you don't really know what you want to do in long term.

getmore4less

echo the above,
Make it clear they are fixed term,
be prepared for why they were not extended, (project end, cover etc).
if they have been a sector where contract pays lots more have a story for lower income

Their main concern will be you treat it like a contract and move on
Have a story why you now want the move to something long term.

if the job is with a company you currently contract at then you probably should add some stuff about how great the place is and this is a rare opportunity etc.


Why do you want a perm job after contracting for so long?
(Convince people here and you are of to a good start)

often there are two stories to this the one you run with that is as close to the truth as possible and then the real one.

some things need to be worded carefully I want to settle down and start a family just says I want to qualify for maternity/paternity leave.
ok it is discriminatory to select on that basis but you don't throw it in their face.

negatives about contracting can support a case, eg. if they were in various places and lots of travel even staying somewhere else, then the I am fed up of moving around travel(if the job involves travel then you use that as a positive).

trailingspouse

As a contractor do you work as a limited company or as a sole trader? If you use a business name, you can put something like

Otter's Consultancy Ltd 2010 - 2017
- position: experience
- position: experience.

You don't need to say who the contracts were with.

And finally - and this is said in the interests of dotting all the i's and crossing all the t's - you may be hoping for a job, but you want to avoid looking like you are job hopping.

silentotter

My contract work has always been paye through an emoloyer.

Thanks for all your great advice folks, the company that I'm currently contracting for are giving me a permanent contract now. :-)