What's the longest you've been (involuntarily) benched?

[d000hg]

What's the longest period you've been benched or unemployed while actively seeking work?

I'll throw up a poll, but more interested in the stories.

[Spacecadet]

I'll throw up a pole, but more interested in the stories.

I'm more interesting in seeing you throwing up a pole

[EternalOptimist]

three months. I dont really have any stories, but I was beset by terrors that my niche had withered and died, that the Indians would take all my work and that previous 'errors' would make me unemployable.
but it was all false worries

[TheFaQQer]

Currently almost three months - end of August / start of September.

Have optimistically said "up to three months"

[VectraMan]

9 months after university in 1992.

[worzelGummidge]

12 months

[shoes]

I've never been involuntarily benched, I've been involuntarily on a contract plenty of times.

[Coalman]

9 months after university in 1992.

4 months after uni again in 1992.

[Clippy]

Currently almost 7 months - since start of June.

[Lockhouse]

I was benched for 9 months in 1989/90 when the mainframe market died overnight. I spent the 9 months answering phones at a mate's computer company for nowt whilst retraining myself in Clipper and Paradox which he provided. I bs'd my way into a small brokerage and I've been working in The City pretty much ever since.