To ride, or not to ride (to a job interview)?

[kmoney_imp]

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.

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.

I used to do this when I worked in a consulting firm. I kept a few suits at in my office and would ride in in riding pants, leather jacket and SIDI's and change at work. No one really cared (though mostly because I was usually first in last out so clients never really saw me in MC gear). I would have never done it in an interview though, as I definitely marks you as different and a bit of a maverick.

[Elipten_imp]

Back in November 1984 as a fresh 2Lt out of MinuteMan missile school from Vandenberg I reported in to my permanent base assignment. I signed into the squadron and worked my way up the chain of command of introductions to finally the base commander. After a nice discussion and etc reviewing my records he says "so Lt I see you ride motorcycles", (I had many), "Yes sir", thinking maybe he rides. "NOT ON MY WATCH, park the bikes, or sell them, until you are no longer in my command"

So you never know what those new employers feel or think about riding motorcycles, unless it is a motorcycle related job.


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[CIP57_imp]

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.

The response you received was from an educated group of people.

Motorcyclist are the minority not the majority. If I had to guess we are in the single digit percentile and therefore judged.

Most people don't remember the motorcyclist they passed on the highway that there son or daughter in the back seat gave the thumbs up too ( kids get it) they only remember the 3 hooligans down the road that past them doing 100MPH switching lanes. So, yes we are judged.

It doesn't matter if your riding a CB1100 or a SS we are though of the same.

No, I would never ride my motorcycle to an interview for the above reasons. You don't want to stand out as the minority.

[kennyw]

I would ride to an interview any day. I am also the person that will never wear a suit and tie but rather black jeans and a flannel shirt.

Don't forget that interviews are a two way street. You are checking to see if the company is where you want to work as much as them checking if they want to hire you. I would not want to work for a company that is more concerned about my appearance than my skills and work ethic.

[silverbub_imp]

Why not take a few more days to hike & camp up to there?... Should be beautiful this time of year!... Be sure they know you did so to get to the interview!... Oh, wait!... this would be a great impression if you were interviewing for a National Park Service position!!... Eliminate distractions that indicate that you are using the interview appointment to also incorporate something of "recreational" for your pleasure...(as has been stated before)... If you have relation that resides in some of those wealthy estates/mansions...let the interviewer know your "connections" with that region of the Hudson River!!...Best of outcomes in your interview... for you & your potential employer!

[uscgmac_imp]

The gentlemen giving you advice here are not dancing the old folks boogie, they are merely giving you some advice based on real life experience. There are a lot of well educated folks with some high level jobs on this forum and I'm sure they have plenty of previous experience. I would listen and learn. Judging your response I would assume that your one of the younger ones on the forum, I myself am middle aged. I never had to worry about this situation. I never had to interview for a job before, just lots of test taking but still had to wear a suit once in a while. I would listen to the wise ones and learn something young grass hopper. Good luck with the interview unless it already passed.

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[Django]

Get your priorities straight.

If it's really important to you to get that job, get focused on doing your best to get it.

Not doing it right is a waste of effort. Then it would be better, to enjoy a holiday on the bike without an interview at all.

[Roper_imp]

Like writing, I think it's critical to know your audience. I'm a public school teacher. I moved to a new school this year to do a principal internship with a highly respected principal. It's a position I went through three interviews to get.

Although I normally commute by motorcycle almost every day, I drove my newest car to the interviews and wore a suit, a white shirt, and a tie. I got the position I wanted. After a couple of weeks, I began riding to work on "casual Fridays." Then I started riding more often. Now, I'm back to commuting almost every day on my bike.

There are a lot of pre-conceived notions about people who ride motorcycles. I wanted my mentor and my colleagues to understand that I am first and foremost a professional educator. Now they also know that I like to ride. (And the elementary kids think it's the coolest thing ever.) I'm happy it started that way, and that I didn't have to fight a stereotype in order to be taken seriously.

[the Ferret]

Good job Roper.

The old boiling frogs routine.

[feralchimp_imp]

Proper interview attire:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F-54aXy-GA0/UE...ona116.jpg