travelling to interviews bike or no bike?

[Itchy]

Is it a good idea to travel to and from interviews on bike its the only transport I have at the mo since my mate has taken his van back, I can get rides off my dad but this means I have to travel back on (shudder) public transport.

(yesterday on the 2h bus ride which cost more than £6 I had the displeasure of watching school girls abuse and swear like sailors and beat the crap out of each other)

I have a cavernous top box and can fit interview clothes in it without creasing but putting in me biking gear like jacket and pants I can't fit in my helmet.


Does it give a bad impression in the eyes of others? carrying a helmet in , and the fact that helmet hair / smell of bikey stuff put people off(I use fantastic amounts of Febreeze).Oh and the tendancy to be somewhat wet esp after a motorway trip when it rains.

Tuesday next week I have 2 interviews far apart from each other and can't steal me dad for the day or afford a taxi or want to face public transport cost or delays.

Any suggestions

Thanks.
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[m99dws]

It may just set you apart from the others.
I've never interviewed anyone who's turned up with bike gear, but I certainly wouldn't score you down for it.

[craigie b]

I think your testing people prejudices. If I was interviewing you and you arrived in bike gear I would think cool, however the next man might not think that. Entirely your call.

If you can pack you clothes away nicely then how abut getting a push bike security chain and chaining your helmet to the bike wheel? I used to do that when I was getting the train...I'd leave my bike n helmet at the station for up to a week at a time with no worries!

[KLR600]

Every interview I've ever been too was on the bike. Got a job for the government aswell so it can't be that bad. Just get there 15 minutes early and go to the toilets and try and freshen yourself up as best you can and ask if you can leave your gear behind reception or something.

I can't see any reason at all why you'd get marked down for turning up in bike gear.
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[lozzypop1]

And... If you've put riding down in your Interests/Past-times you won't look like a blagger! (even if you have fibbed about your GCSE results)

Fingers crossed for you... Hope it works out!
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[instigator]

I never mention riding bikes in interviews. Restoring (bullcrap) yes to show you have interests other than "staying fit, socialising (the usual crap people put on )

If I wasn't into bikes then I'd probably be horribly against the things. I sure wouldn't want to employ someone who could come off their bike the next day and be on sick pay for the next 6 months)

Yes I know cars are equally as dangerous but remember, non-bikers don't tend to think this way.

[veeeffarr]

When I was interviewed with Hein Gericke I didn't get the impression that they were very impressed with me turning up on a bike.

Bear in mind this is for a bike shop too.

[ginguar]

I have been to a number of interviews recently where I have turned up on my bike. I tend to wear a suit then my bike stuff over the top. When you take your bike stuff off make sure you do it descretely. I then put as much as I can in my top box and chain my helmet to the bike. I don't think it is a good idea to turn up in bike gear as it doesn't make the right impression (this does depend on what job you are going for of course).

[Cazza]

As Ginuguar said - I think it depends on the kind of job you're going for.
If it's a professional job with suit and tie requirements then you're probably best off not biking (or going for the discreet change if you can). Unfortunately you have to think the kind of people interviewing for this kind of job may be a bit "pompus".
I know the top guys at our place wouldn't be too impressed with it.

However, if someone comes for a job on the shop floor, etc. so long as they're pretty tidy then the people interviewing are pretty down to earth and it doesn't matter.
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[G]

I would only go on a bike if I didn't have to give any impressions of that I was on a bike when I was being interviewed.

It's not just specifically the bike, but you want to neat and organised. Having to find somewhere to put your helmet, etc isn't.
Also, if it's a job that may involve some mobility, then they will often expect you to have a car and may look down on a bike as their insurance etc doesn't cover you.

If it's for a half decent job, then it's got to be worth the 'horror' of public transport?

[Itchy]

Half decent job G? , maybe , thing is I'm right at the bottom of the food chain and these jobs are quite litterally shit entry level jobs which pay less and 10K , I'm willing to do them to increase my experience only and will more than probably leave within a year.
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[akaDAVE]

[Steve H]

It's not just interviews either.

Recently I've been seriously considering selling my car and investing in a Sports Tourer (in addition to the TT) to use for my job (better storage facilities, comfort, etc) and to give the wife a more comfortable ride when she goes pillion.

Traffic is a bloody nightmare and the ease in which I can get to and from work on the bike by filtering saves me nearly 15 - 20 minutes on my 3 mile (yeah, that's right 3 measly miles!) commute. Also on the days when I am out of the office the fun (and stress relief) that I could have riding to my various appointments as opposed to driving couldn't be measured using current fun equating equipment!

My job is part office based and part out 'n about visiting people. At present I'm able to bang a pair of jeans on and get to work on the TT on the days I've planned to stay in the office however if I were to use the bike to visit people I'd be worried that the impression that I'd give might be tainted and frowned upon thus making the job I do in some cases slightly more difficult - I like to be professional and in my particular case that means smart, shirt, tie, suit, etc.

The confidence factor plays a major part too - if you were to roll up to an interview or appointment in a pair of boots, textiles and maybe a shirt 'n tie then you might not feel as comfortable and at ease with yourself in the same way as if you turned up in an uncreased suit.

Like it or not riding a bike does put some constraints on you when it comes to certain parts of your life and how you go about overcoming them should you choose to fully encompass the lifestyle can be a real connundrum.

Apologies for going slightly OT in your thread Itchy.
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[Itchy]

Its all useful information , but I feel less confident in suit + tie than riding leathers / textiles maybe because it feels so unatural to me or something since all of my other jobs have been crap jobs where you wear boiler suits or crap clothes because you get seriously messy.

I'm just wondering what I should take next week as I can usually sense if I have a chance or not within 10 seconds of going into a company , going home on the bus/train just depresses me more , while riding like a devil fast filtering which would make London couriers proud allows me burn out any negativity I feel from a failed interview , having not gone on bike all week due to some minor repairs , I feel crap.
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[G]

Steve - consider something like the gimoto turismo suit; this is a one piece textile suit that can be taken on and off very quickly.

I had one for a trial and was pretty impressed, would get one if I had the money.

Get a decent top box and you should be able to squeeze it and the lid in.

Ok, maybe your suit won't be quite perfect, but as it zips up the legs, it shouldn't be too bad.

[Cazza]

We had an Occ. health nurse come to our site to do some tests and he was on a bike. Whilst I was interested in the bike I couldn't help thinking how unproffessional it appeared that he had to stash his lid and jacket behind reception and walked around doing his health tests in leather trousers all day!

Itchy, what job are you going for and what kind of company is it? it's not about you feeling unconfortable in a suit - its about the impression you give off, you may be able to work in jeand and t-shirt and come on your bike thereafter but it is all about first impressions.
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[colin1]

id ride carefully and skimp on the bike clobber.
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[Robby]

[Steve H]

[msgander]

If they are a decent fair employer they wont care HOW you get there, just that you get there and are on time and smart (if so required) so get on that bike and be there in good time!!
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[Lawnie]

[it really is that quick]

i think that so long as your smart and well prepared for the interview it want matter one bit how you arrived.

went to the interveiw for my current job on the bike and i got it so dont think anyone is likely to look down a biker showing up.

good luck with the interview

rob
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