Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface; Time Pressure; Workload; Distraction; Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification
Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
Briefed low level level off at gate.  On taxi out; ship phone rang in cubby hole and I couldn't reach it.  Dispatch informed us that we needed to hold on the ground for a maintenance carry over item that would expire before the completion of the mission.  We waited ready for takeoff for almost an hour with several updates from Dispatch that sounded like we were going back to the gate.  Then suddenly told to go.  Briefed again the low level level off while waiting.  Took off and did not execute the maneuver as we briefed.  Got ATC call to switch to departure control right before ALT CAP.  Noticed the FMA was not matching the calls.  I switched my eyesight to the FO's hand on MCP.  Once correct; I returned to ADI and discovered altitude was approaching 2;500 feet.  Corrected pitch to return to 2;000 feet.   ATC then assigned us 5;000 feet.  No comment was made about the altitude deviation.  Cleaned up aircraft; engaged autopilot; no further incidents.Cause - Pilot flying distracted to monitoring.  Pilot monitor error in MCP.  Pilot proficiency played a role.  This was my first flight in 2 months and second in 5 months as pilot flying.Pitched down to correct altitude.  FO contacted departure and we got an immediate climb to 5;000 feet.The main thing that sticks out is pilot proficiency.
Briefed low altitude level off thoroughly. While taxiing; received phone call to hold for Maintenance waiver issue that affected later flights. Held for nearly 45 minutes at end of runway. Got the go ahead and proceeded to takeoff. Normal Takeoff until 'Alt Cap' called. VNAV was pushed initially then immediately corrected to Speed Mode and set 200 knots. Scanned back to instruments and noticed and called out altitude deviation. Pilot flying corrected immediately. Called departure with no further comments from ATC and rest of flight was uneventful. After MCP operation; noticed altitude deviation. Made deviation call out and pilot flying corrected immediately. Pilot flying became distracted with MCP operation. Pilot monitoring procedural error in MCP operation. Pilot proficiency. Time compression. Aggressively corrected and contacted departure. No comment from them and received immediate climb to 5;000 feet.Pilot proficiency should be maintained/bettered through flight/simulator scheduling efficiency.
Air carrier flight crew reported an altitude deviation during departure and cited lack of flying as a contributing factor.