(10-21-2016, 05:51 AM)EmptySea_imp Wrote:

(10-21-2016, 04:36 AM)rotor_imp Wrote:

(10-21-2016, 02:01 AM)Ulvetanna_imp Wrote:

(10-20-2016, 11:11 PM)Capo_imp Wrote: If you get the job you'll be able to ride there regularly. I'd focus on the interview.


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Wise words.

Don't try to fit a motorcycle ride into every one of life's little events (or big events in this case). It's distracting and counterproductive, especially after you reach 30 years of age. And most people perceive motorcyclists as being outside the usual group of good choices for employees, anti-social and obsessive.

Leave the bike at home, dress for success, get there early in comfort. When you get the job, show 'em what a great guy you are, and one day, ride your CB1100 to work. They will think you are really cool at that point.

This opens the discussion to one more comment, which Capo underscores; the narrative at the local watering hole (or at least the very strong subtext) is "Look at me, I am able to work motorcycling into every aspect of my life. Not everyone can do that."

I sure tried it and made it work to some extent but found out it really doesn't.

Like anything else in life, the smart play is to focus on work, family, health, hobbies, passions individually and effectively. The old saying, "Don't mix busines with pleasure" very much holds true here.

(10-21-2016, 01:08 AM)hb9400_imp Wrote: Interesting question. What happens if you don't ride and get the job then you start riding to work and they have a problem (post hiring) ? Would you mention in your interview that you ride? Would they be providing health coverage as part of the job?

Good point...get the job and assess the situation afterward.

Motorcycles symbolize freedom, free thinking, a risk-taker, and an independent mind to a great extent and most employers are NOT looking for that kind of person.

Fact is, I found this out the hard way, and after I had already been promoted and had a string of excellent performance evaluations. The Human Resources director hated motorcycles and when I started riding to work regularly (and probably coming across as a bit proud of it) she made the comment at one meeting regarding car-pooling that "the DOT wishes that motorcycles would disappear off the face of the earth." It was clear she shared that notion.

Later on I had some very serious problems with her. I got them sorted with the help of an excellent attorney, thankfully.

Keep the hobbies and special interests to yourself; mainstream is what you want to be in a job interview.

And good luck!

I simply don't understand. For me (and millions around the world) a motorcycle is primarily a transportation device. As such, it fits perfectly well into all of my life's events that require me to be at some particular point at some particular time. Surely the logistics of appearing at the interview location dressed for the occasion can be solved with a backpack with some sharp-looking rags? Why would the prospective employer care (or even know) how you got there, as long as you're on time? Simply none of his business, just like your religion (or lack of it)!

I simply don't understand. For me (and millions around the world) a motorcycle is primarily a transportation device. As such, it fits perfectly well into all of my life's events that require me to be at some particular point at some particular time. Surely the logistics of appearing at the interview location dressed for the occasion can be solved with a backpack with some sharp-looking rags? Why would the prospective employer care (or even know) how you got there, as long as you're on time? Simply none of his business, just like your religion (or lack of it)!
You sort of presuppose that this would be easy to carry a change of cloths and that there would be a convenient place in which to transform from biker to accountant (or whatever). IF your supposition is true, then our interviewee should, by all means, ride to the interview. However, speaking as someone whose desire to ride to work is sometimes thwarted by the need to be dressed professionally during that day, I can tell you that the logistics of the transformation can be a little dicey.

I don't think most employers would care if he rides or even if he rode there, as long as he walked in the door looking professional. I don't think a guy walking in to my office, asking for a place to change into his button-down and khakis meets that standard, though.

(10-21-2016, 10:37 AM)JMA_imp Wrote: OP HERE: Thanks for the input. TBH, not the response I was expecting from this crew. Maybe you all are dancing the old folks boogie even more than I was ready to admit (didn't want to admit I bought an old folks bike, but I'm over that because it's a darn fine machine).

The job is a professional one, and I will have to wear a suit for the interview. My plan is to wear my overpants and jacket over my suit, than drop the riding gear into my saddle bags and helmet into my top case. I would get there early enough to drop into a restroom to straiten my tie and pat down any helmet hair.

I'm not worried about them knowing I ride, because "motorcycling" is listed under the "skills and interests" heading on the resume. I'm just worried about the optics of it on first impression. I'm not wanting to do this to show off in any way, I really just want to spend the afternoon riding up in that area and I think that I can pull this off without it being a big deal.