Walter S

My point was only that in the end it's up to your employer, what your employer will provide you with or expect of you. So "my employer will..." can only be your hope - not an absolute.

But I would at least hope to maintain a similar stance. That being that if I were to be expected to drive my own car as part of my employment, my hope would be to find other opportunities that fit better with my intended lifestyle.

Machka 

The thing is, if you will be required to drive your own car, that will be stated in the job ad. Or at least, that has been my experience. So then it's up to me to apply for that job or not.

But there is often room for negotiation prior to signing all the paperwork.

Dahon.Steve

How do I get a job without a car?

STEP 1. - After high school was over for the day, I walked 7 blocks to a local supermarket

STEP 2. - I asked the manager if he had an application for employment.

STEP 3. - Filled out application and was hired two days later.

That's how I got my first job during high school I used my own two feet to get the job and no car, bicycle or bus was used. (I did use the bus to get to school) I call this from of locomotion, pedestrian transport. LOL!

When I think about it, I only used a car once to secure a job once in 47 years. After securing that job, I either rode my bicycle or took the bus and walked 2 miles to the trucking company. I've only driven a car about two dozen times to work in my entire life.

With the internet, transit schedules and maps all online for free, it's much easier to determine bus and rail times than ever before. I remember how difficult it was to get this information back in the 70's, 80's and 90's. Not anymore. In the morning, I simply go to the transit APP and see how many minutes my bus is from my location and I walk to the stop 10 minutes before arrival.

In fact, it wasn't until 5 years ago that I finally discovered where every bus route in the state goes.

heywood

I only had one job that required i use a car (part time security guarding while in college), to get to a site that had no public transportation access.. it really wasn't worth it after factoring in costs so i quit.... Never been interested in jobs that require use of your personal car, i have no idea how automobile delivery people make a living, after factoring in car costs they must be making slave wages..Then again don't many north americans have a job so they can own a car, to get to the job..so they can pay for the car.. isn't that like a 'zero sum' thing?

Roody

That's the way I see it.

Machka 

They don't. Trust me ... I know.

Robert C

My sister went through that. She really enjoys driving and has spent years trying to make a living doing it. She went through years of near slave wages but finally (after close to 20 years of trying) got a job with a package delivery service and makes a decent living (after all expenses, about 25-30k/year, which in Rural US is a mid level wage).


Back to the topic of how to get a job without a car, I have seen that it really depends on the nature of the job. The job duties are not an important determinant; the determinant is what the job pays.

A job that pays more than 2x minimum wage seldom seems to require a car. Further, if one is needed, it will generally be provided.

At the same time, a job that pays 1-1.5x minimum wage almost always requires a car; this is true even if the car is not needed for the actual job. As an example, my daughter once applied at a McDonald's that was literally across the street from our apartment, at the time.

She was told that they needed someone with a car so that they could get to work on time.

Of course we know it had nothing to do with getting to work on time; she was able to point out the window and show where she lived. It is simply a gauge of commitment. People applying for higher pay jobs have generally already demonstrated their commitment through whatever is on their resume. They have established themselves.

When applying for, what are, interchangeable jobs, the people are treated as interchangeable gears. For whatever reason (and yes, this needs to change) the car serves as a visible level of commitment, it helps to establish the person. Frankly, it is visible evidence that if the job were abandoned, the worker would suffer.

Roody

Thoughtful post; it very well explains some attitudes about American workers and the automobile. Of course it's silly to equate cars with stability or some form of "success", but this attitude seems well entrenched. It places millions of poor and/or young Americans on the path to debt servitude. Maybe low-wage employers also see car ownership as a need (almost an addiction) that will motivate workers to stay employed, so as not to miss a payment.

In reality, ownership of an old car is probably the least reliable form of transportation available to many low wage people. "Car wouldn't start" is certainly a leading cause of tardiness and absence at starter level jobs. Transit, walking, and bike riding are all more reliable than an old car.

Also, IMO, refusal to buy a car equates with a good understanding of economics and a willingness to think for oneself--both excellent qualities in a new hire at any wage level.

Walter S

Given the limited reliable background information a potential employer has about a new employee, I'm not surprised at the emphasis on car ownership for low paying jobs. It really is an indication at least that this person has the discipline to stick around and get a paycheck. Unfortunately the world is full of flakes.

kickstart

Is it?

An employers only concern is if a new hire will be reliable. Why would it be a consideration if a correlation hasn't been demonstrated? With entry level, unskilled labor there's few parameters to judge an applicant by.

They say don't judge a book by its cover, but how does one judge an unwritten book that's nothing more than a cover?

kickstart

The company I work for will only confirm the period of employment of an employee, and prohibits giving references in any form due to liability and privacy concerns.
If management is contacted, they must redirect the inquiry to corporate HR without making any comments or statements.

Artkansas 

When I worked at Hughes Aircraft, I rode my bike to the interview. It had no affect on the interview.

But once I got started they discovered that my bike was better than a car. My job was taking parts between point A and point B. Sometimes that meant to facilities on the other side of LAX airport. Riding my bike was faster than driving because I could go door to door, whereas if I had driven, I would have to walk from the door to where ever the car was in the parking lot, drive to the other building and park in that parking lot and walk to the door. My bosses loved it.

gerv 

Where I work, not having a car isn't a problem. It might be more of a problem to admit not having a cell phone.

Machka 

This is kind of what I was saying earlier when I said, "If it happens that I need to drive as part of my job, my employer will provide me with a vehicle. I wouldn't be expected to use my own unless I really wanted to."

wphamilton

I remember my dad, a restaurant owner when I was a kid in rural Texas, would convince the best workers to buy a car. He'd even help them out, finding a decent car, advice and help financing it and so on. It was because, having a car payment meant they needed the job more. I was surprised that anyone fell for it but, depressingly it always worked.

kickstart

My wife must have a car to do her job as a in home health care provider, it consumes around 20% of her income. Her prior job that didn't require a car paid significantly less than the 80% net of her current job.

I think your theory only applies to those at the bottom of the income scale, and/or who choose vehicles not suitable for their income.

Roody

You never knew any flakes who own cars? Really?

NOT owning a car is often a sign of maturity, an ability to defer immediate gratification in service of long-range goals. It can also show a sensitivity to larger social, economic, and environmental concerns that employers should value in their employees..

Roody

I think that once again you are a little overly sensitive. The posting of pro-carfree statements on this forum should not be seen as a criticism of the lifestyle adopted by yourself and your wife--and indeed the vast majority of people in developed countries.

You really don't have to point out the great features of cars every time somebody mentions the great features of being carfree. I'm well aware of jobs that require the use of cars, and so is everybody else. However, the topic here is getting a job WITHOUT a car. I doubt if carfree/carlight people would even apply for a job like your wife's, but they can probably find other great jobs in health care that do not require them.

Roody

I often suspected that this is a major reason why they want low wage employees to have a car, or rather a car note. For a young worker, it's an early introduction to the wonderful world of debt servitude.

Walter S

You spin a good line. But I'm not hiring anyway. You've got a lot of other people to convince.

Roody

I'm not trying to convince employers. I wouldn't want to work for anybody who couldn't understand basic facts about human nature, such as that car ownership status is a piss poor indicator of suitability for a job.

Walter S

For those looking for a job you're better off recognizing this prejudice as common, and doing what you can to demonstrate discipline and stability. Believing that other people, particularly car drivers (most of the world) think you're smart for not having a car might not be the best position to adopt.

kickstart

Don't be silly,

The conclusion Heywood made that you agree with isn't a "pro-Carfree" statement. While certainly true in some instances, its an observation on the consequences of poor money management that can afflict motorist and carfree alike.

There's enough legitimate reasons for some people to be carfree that intellectual dishonesty is unnecessary.

Artkansas 

Using a cell phone/smart phone is strictly forbidden according to the training materials where I work. But the owner insists that you must be available via mobile whenever you are at work, and preferrably when you are not, as well.

heywood

Never limited my job prospects or advancement.. unless driving was part of your job why would you want to drive? If I lived in an area that required me to have a car i'd just move..I actually did that once and happier for it.