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

[JMA_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.

[sharkey_imp]

I recently had the same quandary. Only I was going to Dallas and not a lot of riding around there. I took the car so I could wear a suit. 3rd interview and I have one left so it is looking pretty good. I showed up initially in a suit and the two people interviewing me were not in a suit?

As for riding and letting your employer know, I think that is an indicator of what we have become as a nation. For me, it doesn't matter because my contact and another interviewer at the company both ride. It's probably good I didn't say HD since neither of them have one.

[PowerDubs_imp]

If you listed motorcycling on your resume- sack up and do it, don't post on some website!

And you didn't answer my (first response) question- what is the job for?

[Ulvetanna_imp]

I still recommend not doing it.

I'm retired, I've been to a few job interviews. Not too many, because I almost always got the job. I have interviewed quite a number of people for good-paying jobs as well.

I don't want to see anything about the person except those things that will tell me, in the brief interview period, what I need to know about the prospective employee.

If the person's clothes are slightly disheveled, if the hair seems quickly patted down, if they in any way seem distracted and not entirely earnest and focused on wanting to prove to me that they, and no one else, are the BEST person for that job - and that I would be a darn fool NOT to hire them - that person will not be at the top of my list.

You want to mix business with pleasure, do so, but keen interviewers will notice those things and may well take away a couple of notions.

First, that the interviewee seems distracted and in some way not quite as comfortable and prepared as they would like; second, that the person may be the type to "mix business with pleasure" when he or she is on the clock.

I am speaking from 30 years in the public and private sectors, from a very high level of employee interview experience.

If you are not sure, and wanted to get some feedback, then just go with your gut. Drive there, be relaxed, be confident. Riding a bike, you never know what kind of problem you might get into. An altercation, someone cuts you off, you get upset and it shows, and so on.

One thing I do see is that people have placed far too much credence and faith in what the Internet contains. Trust yourself.

[Elipten_imp]

Drive the cage to interview. Can always ride the area later on a different day.


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[EarsOnWheels_imp]

Does the bike interfere in some way?

Will it improve you chances of getting there on time regardless of traffic?

Will you have all the things you need to interview successfully?

Go forth and conquer. If the employer is checking the lot for your transportation, you don't want to work for them. I work in a city. Do you think they know if you came by bicycle, motorcycle, car, metro, or bus?

[Ulvetanna_imp]

How bad do you really want the job? Do you need more money? Do you have financial goals this job could help you reach? Are you willing to chance that just to make a statement about how you choose to get around?

[rotor]

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)! The realities of the world are that while it is in fact no one's business according to our laws and constitution, it is everyone's business according to their personal social convictions.

The fact the person asked the question suggests he understands the nature of the job does not necessarily attract managers who would understand the motorcycling lifestyle.

If someone's looking for a job as a roustabout or construction worker, it'd probably be a positive.

The OP shows a good deal of social intelligence by asking this question and I believe he does know the answer.

On the positive side of this, I was riding on one occasion and happened to meet a state senator in a local coffee house. I recognized her right away and immediately engaged her in conversation. She was fresh from pushing additional regulations for motorcycles, of which I was well aware, being on her email list. But she was very interested in my opinions and asked what kind of motorcycle I was riding.

Her conclusion was that motorcycling was a very important lifestyle choice for constituents and she seemed to respect that.

Not everyone does.

I lived in San Diego and rode 1200 miles to an interview in Denver, though I rented a car when I got there. I shipped my suit via UPS so it was waiting for me. I got the job.

You bet you did.

Important lifestyle choice. You hit the nail on the head.

Those that view motorcycling primarily as "lifestyle choice" must understand that it is wise to keep these outside of the time and place where they do paid work for someone who may not share their lifestyle choices - the basic survival instinct of the modern socioeconomic life.

Those that view motorcycling primarily as means of personal transportation must understand that there will be employers who think of motorcycling strictly as a "lifestyle" choice. Before you know if that is the case, behave as if it was. You must appear at the door, on time and in whatever attire fits the particular work environment, and you stand best chance of landing the job if you do not provoke any negative reaction from the interviewer, justified or not.

BTW, this is a patently North-American discussion. In both Europe or Australia, the chances of running into an employer who does not understand that for a large number of interviewees the motorcycle was simply the best way to reduce the chances of the old "...very sorry I'm late, was stuck in traffic..." to an absolute minimum, are quite low.

[curlyjoe_imp]

Taking a day off to ride in upstate NY sounds like a great idea. It sounds like you are not really interested in the job so cancel the interview and enjoy the ride.

[clearviewx]

I always ride in my suit!
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Jk. I agree that you should focus on the interview. Don't scatter you're energy by fumbling with biker gear and everything.

Love it Rebel73