Telling a potential future employer you ride a motorbike

[Fifteen15]

After finishing a temporary job not so long ago, I have started updating my CV. I was writing out a list of my hobbies and a short description, then I got to motorbikes. It made me wonder whether or not it was such a good idea. I later decided against it and deleted my whole hobbies section.

The fact that I'm 19 and ride a motorbike means I will be stereotyped right off the bat.

Is it a positive thing to have on your CV or could it be viewed as negative? If it's a job completely unrelated to bikes.

It made me think, when you meet someone, what do they think of you riding a bike?
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"Pain is weakness leaving the body, and blood makes the grass grow faster...but I'll wear my gear anyway"

[kawakid]

Some people have prejudices against various things, motorcycling could be one of them.

Most people on the other hand, won't really care.

To be honest I personally don't think motorcycling has the bad press like it had in the 70s. Most bikers I know are comfortably middle class.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[T0MMY]

Probably won't do any harm but then it's unlikely to do any good so no point in mentioning it. My boss is a little nervous about me doing trackdays on the bike as he's convinced I'm going to come a cropper at some point though That said, I play rugby too and that's just as likely to lead to time off work. I had to present part of my research to visiting academics last year with a massive black eye, split lip and fractured cheekbone ...facial injuries never give a good impression, people always assume you were either fighting or drunk and fell over without putting your hands out
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[...]

I put it on my CV as "can provide own transportation".

My interviewers asked me to specify, and it turned out they were both bikers too!

Spent the rest of the interview talking about bikes. Got the job too, so it can work in your favour.

[weasley]

Hobbies are rarely of interest on a CV. I simply have "clean car and motorcycle licence and provisional LGV licence", showing I am independently mobile, capable of passing tests and an upstanding, "law-abiding" citizen.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[Paivi]

[Benson_JV]

I put it down on my CV and in my current job interview we spoke about it for a bit. Didn't seem to phase them.
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Willson - "If you go out on that CBR600 in the winter, you're going to do more miles on your side than on your wheels."
Riding: CBR600FW Driving: Audi A6
Previous Bikes: '96 Bandit 600, '96 GPz305

[TheSmiler]

The only job I have managed get an interview for in the last year I got turned down because I mentioned that I would be getting there via motorbike. He literally said that they are too dangerous and it's too much of a risk.

Pfft I have been thinking whether to put it down on my year work of experience in an office.
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CB125>CG125>GN125>ER5>K100RS>R1100RS>K100RS
A2 completed 23/07/15 Ready for the Golden Crisp Packet

[neil.]

I put it on my CV as 'Full, clean UK driving license (Category A, Motorcycle), since I don't have car entitlement.

[Clanger]

If your CV needs filling out then interests/hobbies is acceptable to put towards the end...but most employers are only interested in things that is relevant to the job.

Stating you have a bike licence can go one of two ways, you might get someone who deems motorbikes dangerous, they may think filtering is illegal (many do) or they may have lost a close family member to a bike related accident.

Or, the employer thinks you are wonderful and it's a topic of conversation and could make you seem different from all the other applicants.

Basically it is down to you. It's down to personal choice.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[deleted111]

It's on my CV. My interests and hobbies part is kept really brief, though.

[Redoko]

My bike might of been a significant factor in getting into Uni.

Read my portfolio, got onto the second page, little bit about bikes, and heyho, spent the rest of the interview talking about bikes.
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"Let's face it, this is not the worst thing you've caught me doing."
Sudika Sportsman SK50QT > Gilera DNA50 > Honda CBR125 RW7 > Kawasaki Zephyr750 > Suzuki GSXR600 > Honda Hornet CB600F '51

[Im-a-Ridah]

[J.M.]

I've got my bike down on my CV to say that I've got my own transportation, though I also don't have a job; not through not trying..
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[Redoko]

[G]

[Recluso]

Like many others on here, I merely have it under an 'Other' section at the end of my CV in which I merely state that I have a full, clean car license and a provisional motorcycle license with access to my own transport.

Why should they care that you ride a bike? A lot of employers are more interested in how you're planning on getting there and unless you've put 'I liek 2 street race lol an do wheeliez cos the pigs cant stop me aight?' then I can't imagine they're going to be doing much stereotyping.

I think I dropped a few IQ points doing that...
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'Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken.'
Honda PS125i > Yamaha YBR125 > Yamaha XJ6 Diversion > Yamaha Tracer 900

[Pol Anorl]

Mine simply says

[Cheeseybeaner]

I wouldn't worry, employers are probably keen to know that you have a prompt means of commuting as much as a hobby.
If your employer or potential is such a cock that he takes exception to your enthusiasm for biking is he worth working for? I think not personally, but then that's just me...
That's not to say you ought to make a point over it but I wouldn't worry about it.

[Quornholio]

In my personal profile at the beginning, I state I have a full car and motorcycle licence.

In the interests, at the end of the CV, I put I ride motorcycles as a hobby.

[chrisw]

This has been covered in 'Dear Auntie' many times, but just for completeness I'll put my default reply here too:

A CV is no place to discuss hobbies. Leave that for the interview.

You have no way of knowing who will read your CV when you first send it to a company (if applying direct). Most hobbies have supporters and 'haters', why risk getting your CV rejected just because the HR drone doesn't like your hobby?

And if you are applying through agencies, most strip it all out so it'll never be seen by the company that's actually employing you, so why waste the effort? (And also the agency drone is an unknown person as well, see point above).

Contact details, work history and qualifications are all that's needed. Unless you are applying to be a motorcycle courier or similar, bikes don't fit any of those headers.

[G]

The reality is that a lot of people DO see motorcycling as dangerous. Despite the anecdotal evidence suggesting the football players having a lot more time off than me from work for injuries (until the big racing incident, my many accidents totaled a couple of hours off over six years... While plenty of other people often had Weeks off and more from traditional sports)... I still got a lot more hassle for riding bikes than others got.

A lot of people are illogically against bikes; it's sensible to take account of this.

[lynn]

I filled in an application form online for a well known supermarket I have lots of experience to be able to do the job , i mentioned my motorcycle was my main form of transport. the next morning i recieved an email thanking me for my application but they would not be taking it any further.

It made me wonder if i sent one in stating car as my transport would they be any different
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CBT Passed 06 -08-10 (again), Theory Passed 12-04-11, Mod 1 passed 03-05-11, Mod 2 Passed 25-08-11
1993 Kawasaki zr550 Zephyr

[Louise]

Went I went for my interveiw for where I work now, I told them I ride bikes and that is my only transport for me (unless bus if I really have too)
They were fine.
Id rather not work for a company if there against bikes to be honest.

[chrisw]