wheel

You ever find jobs you could apply for and don't because it states you must have a car.

Two jobs lately which really piss me off I am going to apply to one just so they have to look at it and wonder why they can't hire this person. I am thinking about putting down I have a DL and choose to use my bicycle as my vehicle. I have a spotless record and can provide a 39 month upon request.

R2. Applicant must have a valid drivers license and vehicle.
R3. Applicant may be asked on occasion to go out on a service call to perform local network troubleshooting using company provided transportation and tools.

Why must I have a vehicle and it states nothing about insurance.

What makes me mad is only a few companies do this in the Security and Help Desk positions. I could see if it was a delivery job, or something like that which wanted to solely use your car for their own gains. But just to have as a feel good measure or save a few dollars on their own insurance should be against the law.

Anyone face the same problem?

Scheherezade 

If they don't state "motor vehicle", I'd definitely apply and don't mention yours is a bike unless they ask. It's a vehicle afterall, just not the one they were implying.

no1mad 

Lemme take a shot at this.

1. The DL and vehicle thing: Most employers have a mindset that any potential employees should have a car of their own. A car=dependable transportation=punctual employees.
2. If the company is providing a vehicle w/tools to make service calls, then: the employee must have a DL (and pass a background check to be added) to the insurance that the company pays for on their vehicle.

politicalgeek

We had a cyclist here apply to a doughnut/coffee shop in the middle of downtown. I think nearly our entire bus service makes a stop right in front of the shop and he lived about 6-12 blocks down the street. They turned him down over the vehicle issue.

Artkansas 

Well, not for the past 30 years, but yes, early in my career I found stupid employers who saw car ownership as a test of employability.

It may be that I'm an animator/creative artist, so my job description has not required a car lately. But even so, while communting to work by bicycle, I've had a job that had me driving delivery all over L.A., Orange and San Bernadino counties. I've had a job that required me to drive to remote TV and radio transmitters to photograph them. I've had a job carrying parts between two locations of a company on opposite sides of LA airport and did that by bicycle because it was faster than a car.

When questioned I merely indicate that I have a vehicle that will get me reliably to work and back. I save asking them where to park my bike till after I am hired. If they are incredulous, I just smile. I have a 30 year track record of getting to work on time.


On one job there were 4 of us animators. Two rode bicycles and lived far away, over 9 miles. Two drove cars and lived nearby, under a mile from work. Our boss, who rode a bike on weekends was dubious about us bicycle commuters. That is till one day.

He came into my office and asked where my office mate was. My office mate hadn't driven in yet. Then he went into the other office and discovered that only the bicycle commuter had made it in. When he came back to announce that my office mate wouldn't make it in. I quipped that if he wanted his employees to show up, maybe he should only hire bicyclists who live far away. He never brought up the issue again.

Dahon.Steve

I can understand if you have to carry heavy tools or machines in a service call, otherwise it's silly to require someone to have a car. Also, ask if they are going to cover your costs for driving. I don't remember what the IRS rates are per mile but if they are not going to pay you extra for using your car, don't even think about taking that job.

crocodilefundy

the original employer might also be implying that you don't get to use the company vehicle to and from work.

on a side note wouldn't this be blatant discrimination based upon your political views? if they had any question about my reliability they could just call my previous employers... or if i'm just some kid refer them to my prefect attendance in hs and college.

Mauriceloridans

wouldn't this be blatant discrimination based upon your political views?

Political views don't put you into a class protected by law from discrimination.

Foofy

The vehicle thing is one of those don't tell unless asked issues. If they ask if you have a car, say no (if you don't). If they ask if you have a vehicle or reliable transportation, say yes.

Pizza delivery is a job I'll never take, because employees are required to have their own car. You can make really good money at it, but cars need repairs, maintanence, insurance, registration, etc.

I think I would only take a job that required me to have my own car if the job paid really, really well.

Tabor

This is completely illegal in some states. If you are ever turned down for this reason please consult an attorney. I used to hire for a retail establishment in OR and if you even asked about an employee's mode of transportation in an interview you were opening up the company for a lawsuit.

cerewa

Wow! For a distance of 6-12 blocks, no car is more reliable than walking.

And I'm surprised that any coffee shop manager has illusions about hiring only among people with cars! So many of the folks who do low wage work like in coffee shops are unwilling or unable to pay for a car.

Roody

In most states, employers can refuse to hire you for any reason or for no reason. The exception is that they can't discriminate against "protected classes" including race, gender, marital status and religion.

TuckertonRR

Is it just me, or does it seem like its' more blue-collar, or service oriented, or low-wage occupations it seems that *how* you get to work is an issue. I know it's an issue @ my current occupation, but in my previous life, a suit-n-tie wearing downtown office worker, it was almost a non-issue, mostly because 90 % of the people took the bus or train into work.

kbabin

Just like Tabor. When I managed at one company I was instructed to ask this question of apps.

"We require you to be at work on time. Can you do that?" It was explained to me that it was a type of profiling to ask if they had a car and it was easier to just request they be on time and not ask how they would do it.

Kev

Tabor

So tell them your religion prevents you from driving. PS - you forgot age.

Roody

Yup....It all depends on whether you take your shower before you go to work or after you get home.

politicalgeek

On the positive end here, our local transit org is moving to a new HQ downtown. The president has stated his intention not to provide parking and encourage all employees to use transit.

StanSeven

Not having a car can send all kinds of messages to a potential employer - the applicant is financially irresponsible and can't get credit/car is repossed, the applicant may not make it to work on time or lacks the flexibility to work varying schedules, the applicant can't operate a vehicle because of multiple DUI's, the applicant lacks the necessary skills to operate a car becuase of phsical or metional issues, etc. I'm not saying it's fair but that's the reality. Jobs are getting more scarce and employers have lots of people to pick from.

uke

+1. Until we become a less car-centric society, these will remain the predominant attitudes people hold toward people who who don't drive.

JusticeZero

If you are ever asked if you have a car, always always always shoehorn in an explanation, preferably a noble one. "No car, trying to pay off my student loans ahead of schedule/save up the down payment on a house/gave it up for Lent/trying to support the troops/moral reasons/family member was killed by a car and it just didn't seem right/whatever..

wahoonc

One job I interviewed for they asked it I had a car...the answer was yes, I didn't elaborate that it was an MG and was in a pile of parts in my parents' garage They hired me and I cycled to work for the next 4 years.

Aaron

mackerel

It's not just you.
This topic is a non-issue.

mijome07

Ever ride your bike to a job interview?

I_bRAD

If you don't have a car, then you don't have payments... and if they treat you like crap you have a lot fewer reasons to stick around!

TuckertonRR

Say; "yes, I have a reliable vehicle"