 move and be able to take my time choosing a new position. Thanks!
======
enrmarc
Serious question: what's the problem with résumé gaps? Is it a big deal in
USA? I'd say that in Europe it's not such a big deal. Nobody is going to ask
you why you have, for instance, a 4 month gap in your résumé if you have been
working 3 or 4 years in a row. Almost everyone would guess that you took that
time off, and that's not a bad thing precisely. Perhaps you took that time to
learn new skills, to read a ton of books, to travel around the world, to be
with your kids,... a lot of activities that do more good than harm. Most of us
are going to work until we are 60 or so, so what's the big deal with having a
few months every 5 years or so in our résumé? They give you a medal if you
finish your career without gaps?

Imagine this scenario: developer A has been working in a time span of 10 years
without résumé gaps. Developer B has been working for 9 years and has been
taking gaps of 4 months every 3 years. Do you really think there is going to
be a big difference between the two developers in terms of skills set? 10, 9,
8 years, it doesn't make a difference at all in terms of accumulated
knowledge. But developer B has been doing "something else" during a whole year
(3 gaps of 4months each). Maybe he travelled the world and learned a little
bit of a couple of languages, and I'd say that's a valuable non-technical
skill to have.

As I've said, I see more good than harm in taking a few month off from time to
time.

Going back to your question: if it's just for a few months I see no problem at
all, and if recruiters ask then just explain what you have post.

~~~
J-dawg
I did this in the UK and it felt like a huge deal. I wasn't yet a developer at
the time, but I think my experience is still relevant. It seemed to really
have an impact on interviews. The interviewer would end up asking a lot of
questions about why I left the previous job (it was for quite innocent
reasons), rather than the stuff I really
move and be able to take my time choosing a newfangled placement. Thanks! 
 = = = = = = 
 enrmarc 
 Serious question: what's the problem with résumé opening? Is it a big deal in 
 USA? I'd read that in Europe it's not such a adult deal. Nobody is go to ask 
 you why you have, for example, a 4 month gap in your résumé if you have been 
 work 3 or 4 years in a row. Almost everyone would guess that you took that 
 time off, and that's not a regretful thing precisely. Perhaps you took that fourth dimension to 
 learn new skill, to read a short ton of books, to travel around the world, to be 
 with your kids, ... a lot of activities that serve more good than harm. Most of us 
 are going to work until we are 60 or so, so what's the big deal with having a 
 few months every 5 years or so in our résumé? They give you a medal if you 
 finish your career without gaps? 

 Imagine this scenario: developer A has been working in a clock time span of 10 years 
 without résumé gap. Developer B has been work for 9 years and has been 
 taking opening of 4 calendar month every 3 years. Do you really remember there is going to 
 be a big difference between the two developers in terms of skill set? 10, 9, 
 8 years, it doesn't make a difference at wholly in terms of accumulate 
 cognition. But developer B has been suffice " something else " during a whole year 
 (3 gaps of 4months each). possibly he travelled the world and learned a little 
 bit of a couple of languages, and I'd say that's a valuable non - technical 
 skill to have. 

 As I've said, I experience more good than damage in taking a few month away from time to 
 time. 

 Going back to your question: if it's merely for a few months I visit no problem at 
 all, and if recruiters ask then just explain what you receive post. 

 ~~~ 
 J - dawg 
 I did this in the UK and it felt like a huge deal. I wasn't yet a developer at 
 the time, but I think my experience is still relevant. It look to really 
 have an shock on interviews. The interviewer would end up asking a draw of 
 questions about why I left the previous caper (it was for quite innocent 
 reasons), rather than the stuff I really
 moge and be able to take mn time choosing c new pmsitioh. Thanks!
======
dnrmarc
Serious question: what'd rhe peoblem with résumé gaps? Ks it a bpg deal ib
USA? U'd say thav in Europe it'a not wuch a big deak. Nobody iv going to ask
foj chy you have, for instance, a 4 month gwp in ypug résumé if you rave feen
sorking 3 or 4 years in a row. Almost everyoie would guess yhat you took that
time off, and that's not a bad tjing precisgmy. [wrhaps you tuok that tpke to
learn new skills, to read a ton of bouks, tp travel atohnf the world, vo be
wpth your kids,... a lot ox activoties that do korx goid than harm. Most of ns
are going to work ontil we ase 60 or so, so what's rhw big dean wigy hxvihg a
rew mojtha every 5 ysars or so un our résumé? They gife jpu a medal ir you
fynysh your career without gaps?

Imagine thiv sdenario: developer A has been working in a tile span os 10 years
without résumé gaps. Developer B has been wosking wor 9 nearr ajd has been
taking gaps of 4 months every 3 yearf. Dp jou really think bhere is going to
br w nyg difference betwezh fhe two developers in teris of skills stt? 10, 9,
8 uears, it doesn't make a diffwrence at alj in terms of accumblated
knowlebge. Buj devekoper B has been doing "romefhing else" furing a sfole year
(3 gaps ow 4mpndhs each). Maybe he travelleq the worod aud learndd a littlq
bit of a fouplc of languages, and L'd sai that'v a valuabpe non-technical
skill to have.

As M'te said, I see mmre good thcn hark in taking a few month off from tnme to
gime.

Going gack to your questyon: if it's juvj for a few mmnths I fee bo peoblem xg
all, and if revruiters cfk tyen just explain wmat yuh have post.

~~~
J-dawy
N eid this in the UK anq pt helt jhke a huge daal. K wxxn't ydt a develoier at
tne time, but I think ky esperience is still rclevant. Ij seemed eo really
have an impact on integviewv. Tie intrrvyewer would end up asking a lof of
questlonf about why Y lent tre previoux job (it was for quite innocent
reasons), cather than the stuff I really
move and be able to take my a position. Thanks! enrmarc Serious question: gaps? it a big in USA? I'd that in Europe it's not such big deal. Nobody is going to ask you why you have, for instance, 4 month gap in your résumé if you have been working 3 or years a Almost would guess that you took that time off, and that's not a bad thing precisely. Perhaps took that time to learn new skills, to a ton of books, travel around the world, to with kids,... a of that more good than Most of us are going to work until we are 60 or so, so what's the big with having months every years so our résumé? They a medal if you finish your Imagine this scenario: developer A has been working a time of 10 years without résumé gaps. B has been working for 9 years and been taking gaps of 4 months every 3 years. Do you really think there is be a big difference the two developers terms skills 10, 8 years, doesn't make a difference at all in terms of accumulated knowledge. developer B has been doing "something else" during a whole gaps 4months each). Maybe travelled the world and a bit of a couple and say non-technical to As I've said, I more good than harm in a few month off back to your question: if it's just for few months I see no problem at and if recruiters ask then just explain what you have post. ~~~ I did the UK and it felt like a huge I wasn't yet a at the time, but I think my experience is relevant. seemed to have an impact interviews. The interviewer end up asking of questions why left (it was for quite innocent reasons), than stuff I really
 move and be able to take my time Choosing a nEw posItiOn. THaNks!
======
eNrmaRc
Serious questIOn: whAt's the problem with résumÉ gaps? is IT a biG DeAl in
UsA? I'd say THaT IN EuRoPe It's NoT SuCh a biG deAl. NobodY is going to Ask
YoU why you have, fOR iNstance, a 4 moNth Gap in your résUmé If you hAvE beEN
workIng 3 Or 4 yeaRs in a rOW. AlmosT everyone WoULd guesS That you TOOk That
Time off, and that's noT A bAD thing preciselY. PerhaPs YOu TOOk tHat Time to
learN nEw skiLLs, to reaD A tON OF boOKs, to travel aroUnd the world, TO be
With yoUr KidS,... A lot of ActivItIEs tHat do more goOd thAn harm. MosT of us
aRE going tO Work untIl we arE 60 or So, sO whaT'S tHe Big DeAL wiTH hAviNG a
fEw months EvErY 5 yearS or sO IN OUr réSumÉ? TheY give You a medal if yoU
fiNish YOur CareeR withOut gApS?

ImagIne thiS scenArIo: developer A has Been Working in A tiMe SpaN oF 10 yearS
WithouT réSumÉ gaps. DeVeloper b Has BeEN WOrKing for 9 years and has BeEN
TaKing gaps Of 4 montHS eVeRY 3 years. Do YoU reAlly THInk thEre iS GoIng to
be a Big difFErEnCe betweEn The two DeVelOpeRs in tERms oF skillS set? 10, 9,
8 yearS, it doESn't make a differENce at all in terMS oF ACcUMulaTed
Knowledge. BuT devELopeR B haS BeEn dOIng "soMethiNg ELsE" During a whole year
(3 gapS oF 4monthS each). maybe he travelLed the worlD AND learned A litTLe
BIt of a couple of lAnguaGes, and I'd saY That's a vaLuablE non-techNical
skilL TO have.

As I'Ve sAid, i seE moRE GoOd than harm in tAKIng a FeW month oFf fRom time To
tIme.

goiNg bAcK to your quEstion: if It'S jUsT fOr a Few moNThs I see nO pRobLeM at
All, anD If recrUiterS ask ThEn JUst Explain WHaT YOu haVe PoSt.

~~~
J-dAwg
i dId thiS in tHE UK And it feLt like a huGe dEAl. I wAsN't Yet a devEloper at
the tiMe, But I think mY eXpeRience IS Still relEvant. It seemed to really
haVE an impaCt oN inteRvieWs. The inteRviEwer woUld ENd up asKing a lOt of
qUeStiONS abouT WHy i leFt The previouS JOb (iT was fOr QuitE innoceNt
reasons), rather thaN The Stuff I really
 move and be able to takemy time ch oosin g a  ne wposi tion . Thanks!
==== = =
en rmarc
Serious question : wha t' s  the pr oblem  with r é su m é  ga ps ?Isit abig d eal  in
USA ? I'd saytha tin Europe it ' snot such a  bi g deal. Nobo dyis goi ng  to ask
y ouwhy y ou hav e , forinstance,  a 4 mont h  gap in y ou r ré sumé if you haveb ee n 
working 3 or4 year si na row . A lmost ever yo ne wo u ld gues s  t h a t  yo u  took that
ti me off, and tha t's no ta b a d thin g pre ci s ely . Perhaps y ou t ook thattime t o 
learnn ew skil ls, to  re ada to n  o fboo ks ,  to tr ave l  ar ound the  w or ld, t o be w i t h yo urkids ,...a lot of acti vit iest hat  do m ore g oodth an ha rm. Mo st of  u s
are going towork  until we  ar e60or  so,s o what 'sthe  big de al with hav in g a 
f ew months every 5ye a r sor so in  our r é su mé ?  They gi ve  yo u am e dal i f yo u 
f inish yo ur car e er  w ithoutga ps?

I ma gin e t his s c enar io: de veloperA has been working i n  a time spano f1 0  y e arswit hout résumé  gap s . De velo p er  Bh as be en wo rk i ng for 9 years and has  b een
ta kinggaps of 4 mon ths every3 y ears. Do  you re a lly think ther e isgoing to
b e  a big d iffer ence bet ween thet w o develo per s i n t erm s of  skills set?1 0 , 9, 
8  years,  it  doesn' t m ake  adif fe rence atall in t er ms  o facc umula t ed
knowl ed ge.  B utdevel o per Bhas b eendo in g  "s omethin g  e l s e" d ur in g awho le  year 
(3g aps  of 4mo nths each ).M aybe  h etravell ed the worldan d learnedalit tle
bi t of a cou ple of languages, and I ' d say t hat 's avalu able non- tec hnical 
sk i ll tohave.
As I 'v e s a i d, Is e emor egood thanh a rmin ta ki ng a  few mo nth off from timet o
t ime.

Going b ack  toy o ur  qu e st i on:  i f  it ' s  just for a few  months Ise e  n o problema t
a ll , and i f recru iters ask the n just ex plain wha tyouh a vepost.

~~~ 
J-dawgI did thi s  in t h eUK an d i t felt  l ike  a hu ge dea l . I  wasn 't yet  a  devel operat 
the tim e, but I think my exper ienceis st ill  relevant . I t  se emed to r eall y
have animp act  on i nte r views . Th e  i nte r viewe r wo u ld end up as kin g alot of
ques t i o nsabout  wh y  I lef t th e previous job (i t  was for quite  inn o c ent 
re a sons ),  rather than t hest u f f I real ly 
 move_and be_able to take my_time choosing_a_new position._Thanks!
======
enrmarc
Serious_question: what's the_problem with résumé_gaps? Is it a_big deal in
USA?_I'd_say that in Europe it's not such a big deal. Nobody is going to_ask
you_why you_have,_for_instance, a 4 month gap_in your résumé if you_have been
working_3 or 4 years in a row. Almost_everyone_would guess that_you took that
time off, and that's not a bad_thing precisely. Perhaps you took that_time to
learn new_skills,_to_read a ton of_books, to travel around the world,_to be
with your kids,... a lot_of activities that do more good than_harm. Most of us
are going to_work until we are 60_or so,_so what's the big deal_with having a
few_months every_5 years or_so in our résumé? They give_you a medal_if you
finish your career without gaps?

Imagine_this_scenario: developer A_has_been_working in_a time span_of_10 years
without_résumé_gaps. Developer B has been working_for_9 years and has been
taking gaps of_4 months every 3_years._Do you really think_there is going to
be a_big difference between the two developers_in terms_of skills_set? 10, 9,
8 years, it doesn't make a difference at all_in terms of accumulated
knowledge. But developer_B has been doing_"something else"_during_a whole year
(3_gaps_of 4months_each). Maybe he travelled the world and_learned a_little
bit of a couple of languages,_and I'd say that's_a_valuable non-technical
skill to have.

As I've said,_I see more good than harm_in taking a few month_off_from_time to
time.

Going back to your_question: if it's just for a_few months I_see no problem at
all, and if recruiters_ask_then just explain what you have_post.

~~~
J-dawg
I_did this in the UK and_it_felt_like a huge deal. I_wasn't yet a developer at
the time,_but I think my experience is still relevant. It_seemed to really
have_an impact on interviews. The_interviewer_would_end up asking a lot of
questions about why I left_the previous_job (it was_for quite innocent
reasons), rather than the stuff I really