Finding work's been difficult

[Commodus]

...I say 'sadly' a lot in this thread.

That's sad.

[kookaburra1701]

The worst thing is that a lot of the jobs that require a car are entry level positions or low paying jobs in the service sector. A lot of people applying for these jobs can't afford a car even if they want one. Many of them are young people living in inner city areas that are far away from where the jobs are. Requiring a car for employment is one more strike against people who are already having a hard time making it our increasingly unfair society.

A lot of these jobs also require a credit check. So if you've been out of work for awhile and gotten behind on some payments, your credit takes a dive and then you can't get hired because of that...also if you're applying for lots of jobs as they request your credit score it drives it down.

Or you're like me - you don't live on credit. My credit looks like crap because I don't have a car payment, CC, mortgage, etc. I'm not opposed to credit ratings in general, since they're a good tool to see how much of a CREDIT risk someone is, but lately they've been co-opted to become a measure of the person in general, which is just ridiculous.

[Roody]

A lot of these jobs also require a credit check. So if you've been out of work for awhile and gotten behind on some payments, your credit takes a dive and then you can't get hired because of that...also if you're applying for lots of jobs as they request your credit score it drives it down.

Or you're like me - you don't live on credit. My credit looks like crap because I don't have a car payment, CC, mortgage, etc. I'm not opposed to credit ratings in general, since they're a good tool to see how much of a CREDIT risk someone is, but lately they've been co-opted to become a measure of the person in general, which is just ridiculous.

I couldn't agree more. The harder you got it the harder they make it.

[bamboopiper]

I never had credit to begin with. I had no reason to have it when I was 18 and people told me I should to build "good credit", but I'm the type that would make bad decisions, so I responsibly didn't get a credit card because I knew I would blow it. I bought any car I needed 3rd party out of hte paper with cash and the same goes for any major purchase I ever made. I paid with cash. Been applying for jobs lately and no credit is the same as the bottom-of-the-barrel bad credit. I had one employer think that I stolen my own identity and that he had "caught" me and wanted to know who I really was because I had no credit and I was going to tarnish someone else's good name. -___-

[wahoonc]

I never had credit to begin with. I had no reason to have it when I was 18 and people told me I should to build "good credit", but I'm the type that would make bad decisions, so I responsibly didn't get a credit card because I knew I would blow it. I bought any car I needed 3rd party out of hte paper with cash and the same goes for any major purchase I ever made. I paid with cash. Been applying for jobs lately and no credit is the same as the bottom-of-the-barrel bad credit. I had one employer think that I stolen my own identity and that he had "caught" me and wanted to know who I really was because I had no credit and I was going to tarnish someone else's good name. -___-

Interestingly enough my FIL who is 78 years old doesn't have much of a credit history. This is a many who ran multiple businesses, sold them, owns a house and property and several cars. He paid cash, what few loans he did take out were short term business loans. I don't recall why he wanted one, but he was refused for a Sears charge card due to lack of credit history. It is really sad that our society has come to this. We have people apply for low level management jobs at our company, background checks, credit checks and driving history are all part of the hiring process. Roughly half of the people that apply cannot pass all three.

Aaron

[bamboopiper]

We have people apply for low level management jobs at our company, background checks, credit checks and driving history are all part of the hiring process. Roughly half of the people that apply cannot pass all three.

I would not pass 2/3. I have no driving history. Though I suppose if I wanted to get a printout, the latest it would be is 2002. Wow, I've been car free for 10 years. No credit, as mentioned, ever. Not even a personal loan. Whenever I see an application like that, i want to write something like, "I HAVE NEVER HAD A DUI/DWI THE REASON I HAVE NO LICENSE IS FOR REASONS UNRELATED TO ALCOHOL." Most people tend to think I "lost" my license due to drunk driving, which makes me so sad that that's someone's first assumption. There are plenty of other reasons why one would not have a driver's license. Poverty, being my case. Renewing my license (when I didn't have a car at the time and no roommate with a car) it was $75 I couldn't afford.

[wahoonc]

I would not pass 2/3. I have no driving history. Though I suppose if I wanted to get a printout, the latest it would be is 2002. Wow, I've been car free for 10 years. No credit, as mentioned, ever. Not even a personal loan. Whenever I see an application like that, i want to write something like, "I HAVE NEVER HAD A DUI/DWI THE REASON I HAVE NO LICENSE IS FOR REASONS UNRELATED TO ALCOHOL." Most people tend to think I "lost" my license due to drunk driving, which makes me so sad that that's someone's first assumption. There are plenty of other reasons why one would not have a driver's license. Poverty, being my case. Renewing my license (when I didn't have a car at the time and no roommate with a car) it was $75 I couldn't afford.

Our company requires driving as part of the job description so it isn't like the company is trying to spring surprises on someone. We also have company cars that get issued to certain people. We have one guy that works for us that doesn't own a car, he rides a moped to work, but has a license that is restricted to commercial use only, apparently he doesn't maintain any sort of driver's insurance, which is required to have a license in NC, screwy set of laws.

Aaron

[Smallwheels]

My job ends on June 7 and I'm looking for work. I'll be applying to a few places for driving jobs. Two are for delivering car parts and the other is for a hotel shuttle driver. I have a CDL Class B with air brakes, passenger, and school bus endorsements. I haven't used officially recorded credit in six years. I had a chiropractor that let me make payments and a veterinarian too. I think credit history goes back just seven years for most things. If so I must have the lowest rating they give.

I looked up an article about credit scores. Here it is: http://www.ehow.com/facts_4968086_wh...utm_source=ask

I found this interesting too because it relates to the amount of time since my last use of a credit card: http://www.experian.com/ask-experian...it-report.html

[bamboopiper]

It's one thing to have a company caroffered because your work involves driving. It's quite another todemand a car, drivers license and clean DMV printout when I'm workingat a housekeeper at a mom and pop hotel. I will never be using thecar for that work, and my driving record and what it contains areirrelevant to the job. Or the other job I recently applid for,bartending. I work at a bar, I mix drinks, I cut drunk patrons off, Iclean up, I deal with noise and hopefuly get some tips. I do not needto drive anywhere for the jobs I'm applying for lately. So why isthat relevant? I am asked for a credit check, a background check, asif those things were relevant to what sort of person I am, (Hey, ifyou ask me, I'll tell you honestly why I don't have those things andthen you can learn what sort of person I am) and how good I am at myjob. I do have a useless engineering degree from 2004. Yep. Bachelorof Science from the University of Hawaii. I've never had anengineering job and now... I don't know if I could even do it. Icould never get a job as an engineer and TBH, I didn't want to get anengineering degree anyway. I didn't want to study science. I wantedto study photography/painting and go for my BFA. That was what Iwanted to do, and was going to minor in creative writing andJapanese.


But no, I stupidly listened to friendsand relatives, “What are you going to do with a BFA? What sort ofjob will you be able to have? What sort of future?” How about onewhere I am happy and my creative talents aren't being wasted? Where Ispent time honing my art and photography skills and was maybe the artdirector of a television show? Just because I majored in paintingdoesn't mean i'm only a painter. Or perhaps I became a tattoo artistinstead? Another careerer where you don't think being a good artistapplies. Plus, being a tattoo artist would allow me to combine artand health & safety, two of my favourite things. But now, it'stoo late for me to go back to school, state schools have slashedbudgets and denied admissions, and as a second bachelor's student, Iwouldn't get any financial aid. So now I'm stuck, homeless, riding mybike everywhere, finding clothes in dumpsters, living with friendsand wondering where the hell the american dream went and if I wasasleep enough to believe it. Now I've woken up, so what now?

[wahoonc]

Not sure...I have a BS in Biology and work as a Construction Risk Specialist aka Safety Guy for a national industrial roofing and siding contractor....go figure.

Aaron

[Artkansas]

Well, decide what it is that you want to do and go in that direction. There are a lot of ways to get there besides school. It's not easy, but it's far more satisfying than just rotting and whining.

Photographer, Art Director, Painter, Tatoo Artist, Writer, all areas you mentioned. First, find some forums where people with these skills hang out. Listen to what they are saying. As appropriate questions.

Get some experience. At first your rates will be free, but get the experience. Pick your favorite non-profit and offer your services.

You don't mention if you have any actual skills in these areas. If you don't, find a way to get them. Now days you can do amazing things with free software. One fellow I know of, spent his free time in Iraq teaching himself to use the Blender 3D animation program. Now he works in Hollywood. You can run Blender off a data stick, so as long as you can afford one of those, you can go to the library to do your work. Writing is another thing that you can teach yourself.

I'm doing that to broaden my 'platform' of skills. I write a column on bicycling for a local alternative paper. It doesn't pay anything, but doing that just got me a free press pass to the International Space Developerment Conference. I'm riding the Greyhound to get there, and sleeping in a 10 bed hostel room, but I'll be there. Then I can start writing some space-related articles, getting closer to my goals.

I got one job after doing a VRML model of the San Quentin Gas Chamber for free for friends who ran the Museum of Death. I submitted it to a contest at a national computer graphics conference and was asked to demonstrate my little world at the conference. That went in my resume and led to a job modeling virtual worlds for a company that did virtual business conferencing.

Like Tattoos? Why not hang out at a shop and find out what they do? Find out how they got started. I don't recall tattooing in the last college catalog I read. Find out how to do them, draw up a 'catalog' of your tattoo designs to show what you would do.

As one of your interests is Art Director, you might also think about Copywriting. You'd work in the same places, and copywriting is a more direct route to being the Creative Director. Working with others in advertising will help you develop your Art Director skills if you want to go in that direction. Call around to the small advertising agencies and find one that does work that you like. Offer your skills for free in exchange for learning.

Or you can use your engineering background as an artist. Be a concept artist like Syd Mead or Chesley Bonestell. Do CAD, be a technical illustrator or medical illustrator. Or become a designer like Raymond Loewy who created the Studebaker Avanti and designed the interiors of the Concorde. Loewy started out arranging display windows at Sak's and Macy's.

Your degree is not useless. It shows that you can finish what you start, that you understand how things work, that you can work logically. You can do it. But you have to pick ONE target and go after it with all you've got.

[AutumnSylver]

What if they ask you if you have a car? I've never been asked "do you have reliable transportation?" I've always been asked "do you have a car?"

[wahoonc]

What if they ask you if you have a car? I've never been asked "do you have reliable transportation?" I've always been asked "do you have a car?"

The last job I was asked that at, the answer was yes...I just didn't bother to tell them that it was completely torn down and wouldn't be running anytime in the near future. I rode my bike to work at that plant for 3+ years had perfect on time attendance too. Funny thing was it was a Purolator filter plant, we made oil filters and air filters for cars.

I question whether asking if you have a car is a legal question, I think you can ask if you have transportation but not the specific type. Need to check with my HR. However in your case I would ask why? If the job doesn't require a car, I would just say that I have transportation, or leave the question blank.

Aaron

[Artkansas]

What if they ask you if you have a car? I've never been asked "do you have reliable transportation?" I've always been asked "do you have a car?"

I would say "I'm always on time or early, and I make it to work in all kinds of weather." And I have the track record to prove it, so a former employer can vouch for that. On snow days, I am often of the few who shows up because I have several ways to get to work, cycling, bus, walking.

Of course what they may be asking really, is "are you up to your eyeballs in debt so we know that you will do anything we ask to keep this job?" I can't help you there.

That question gets easier to answer if you have been commuting to work for several years. Then you have the track record. And truth is, with experience, you get better jobs and with better jobs, you don't get asked that question as much.

And sometimes, not getting the job because of stupid reasons like that can be a blessing. Last job I didn't get because I didn't have a car was making 'genuine' native American jewelry. I'd be one of the ones making it, and I'm definitely not a native American. No telling what lies they'd tell people.

[AutumnSylver]

The last job I was asked that at, the answer was yes...I just didn't bother to tell them that it was completely torn down and wouldn't be running anytime in the near future.

I don't own a car and never have, so I can't really say that.

I question whether asking if you have a car is a legal question, I think you can ask if you have transportation but not the specific type. Need to check with my HR.

I live in Canada. I'm sure the laws are different here. I know they can't ask if you're married, what your ethnicity is, what your age is, etc. but I don't think there's a law against asking if you have a car.

However in your case I would ask why? If the job doesn't require a car

I was actually denied a job once because I didn't have a car, and the job didn't involve driving from place to place. It pissed me off.

I would just say that I have transportation, or leave the question blank.

This was in an interview, not on an application. The thing is, if they ask "do you have a car?" and I say "yes, I have reliable transportation", wouldn't that look a bit suspicious? They'd probably just ask the question again until they get the answer they want, or not give me the job.

[Artkansas]

You just never know about the hiring process.

I got one job without ever having an interview. After a while they just made me an offer. I didn't ever talk to my boss till I arrived for work.

[Mobile 155]

From the number of responses we have seen here there is a question that has to be asked. How many responding have ever hired anyone or interviewed anyone for a job? The perspective of the person doing the interview is different from the one being interviewed. For the last few years getting a job has been harder that it used to be and far more people are looking for and applying for every job opening. The questions asked do not have to make any sense to the one being interviewed they only need to give the interviewer a indication that they can use to compare applicants.

I agree with the poster that said the interview should also give the applicant an opportunity to see if the company or job fits their temperament. At least in my state we never tell the applicant why they weren't hired so how can they tell if it was because of not having a car?

I am not saying it isn't hard out there but one other consideration in relation to what the OP said is with this competitive market for jobs finding out the applicant had quit a job to tour the US or whatever would give them a reason to look past them. Does that make the applicant a bad risk? Nope but it is a reason someone might have second thoughts and hire someone else.

[hank0604]

I wrote up a post about this exact issue on my blog:

http://hanklegan.blogspot.com/2011/0...portation.html

As others have said, I simply answered "yes." Most at the company were supportive once I was hired. Turns out there were several other cyclists there (roadies of course, who would never dream of commuting). Since then, it's been curious to most new people I meet at the company, and I end up answering the same questions over and over "no, I don't have a DUI" "no, I don't want a ride" "oh your friend has a used car he's selling, that's nice. no, I don't want to make an offer"

[Artkansas]

From the number of responses we have seen here there is a question that has to be asked. How many responding have ever hired anyone or interviewed anyone for a job?

I've hired 3 people. How they would get to work never came up. The questions were just did they have the skills I needed and were they able to demonstrate it.

[wahoonc]

From the number of responses we have seen here there is a question that has to be asked. How many responding have ever hired anyone or interviewed anyone for a job? The perspective of the person doing the interview is different from the one being interviewed. For the last few years getting a job has been harder that it used to be and far more people are looking for and applying for every job opening. The questions asked do not have to make any sense to the one being interviewed they only need to give the interviewer a indication that they can use to compare applicants.

I agree with the poster that said the interview should also give the applicant an opportunity to see if the company or job fits their temperament. At least in my state we never tell the applicant why they weren't hired so how can they tell if it was because of not having a car?

I am not saying it isn't hard out there but one other consideration in relation to what the OP said is with this competitive market for jobs finding out the applicant had quit a job to tour the US or whatever would give them a reason to look past them. Does that make the applicant a bad risk? Nope but it is a reason someone might have second thoughts and hire someone else.

I have hired quite a few people in the past. We do ask if they have a driver's license but it is not a prerequisite to work for us. We do pay an hourly premium if they do have a valid driver's license. I have one guy that worked directly for me when I was a field supervisor that did not have a license, he got to our remote job sites via Amtrak, Greyhound, riding with other guys or even flying. Once he got there he could ride with the foreman or on a crew van if one was being used. He now has a license and has been promoted to team leader along with the corresponding pay. When we were working at a college campus in Iowa he and I were the only two using bicycles to get to work. I brought mine with me, he picked up one at the local thrift store.

Aaron