Cycling to interviews & meetings (job).

[ColinJ]

As long as you're appropriately dressed for the interview and (preferably) not purple-faced and gasping for breath, I can't see any problem.

Halfway through one of my final year exams, an invigilator tapped me on the shoulder to tell me that I was invited to attend an important job interview about 90 minutes hours after my exam finished! It totally stressed me out and probably cost me my First (I missed it by a fraction of 1%).

I had to sprint from the examination hall as soon as we were allowed to leave, hurry back to my flat over a mile away, iron my shirt, get changed, sprint to Manchester Piccadilly, jump on a train to Huddersfield, jump off the train, then run to attend the interview. I got there with minutes to spare.

It was a hot summer day. I was purple-faced and gasping for breath, and my hurriedly-ironed shirt was sodden with sweat and stuck to me!

To make matters worse, it was immediately obvious to me that I had been sent for at short notice to make the interview numbers up because someone else had dropped out!

 

[Bromptonaut]

Is a suit definitely required or would smart slacks + collar and tie do?

Perhaps I'm lucky but short of meeting a Minster (of the Crown) jacket less is almost the norm. Could probably stow the jacket of a light weight suit in the Brompton's pannier if it was required. Otherwise I'd arrive wrung out and sweaty from being on the tube!!

 

[jay clock]

I work in HR (sort of). Take a day off the bike. You MIGHT get someone like me interviewing (or another keen cyclist), but 99% of the population will consider you a bit nutty. Being seen as a bit nutty might just clinch you being rejected.The day you go for an interview is the best dressed you will ever be in front of your employers.

I say all this because you are expecting, or think they expect you, to wear a suit. So conventional type of place.

 

[Arrowfoot]

I work in HR (sort of). Take a day off the bike. You MIGHT get someone like me interviewing (or another keen cyclist), but 99% of the population will consider you a bit nutty. Being seen as a bit nutty might just clinch you being rejected.The day you go for an interview is the best dressed you will ever be in front of your employers.

I say all this because you are expecting, or think they expect you, to wear a suit. So conventional type of place.

+1 and why chance it with what you are likely to meet along the way. No different to laying off your spaghetti for lunch for a post lunch interview or an important meeting.

 

[screenman]

Blimey, I am glad someone is agreeing with me for a change. See earlier posts.

 

[BluesDave]

Well this was the email I got from the company I was interviewed by. I haven't looked for work in over twelve years having been self employed for all that time and back then you went for an interview and were told there and then or at most a couple of days later if you'd got the job. In fact when I left school it was only the top flight executives that had CV's. When my brother left three years later things had changed to the point where they wanted to read your life story before you got an invite. I still miss the days when you got your wages in cash with your payslip in a little envelope every Friday. Things were so much easier then as you didn't have to wait a whole month to get paid or at least they were for me. A weeks work should still get a weeks pay imo.

Anyway back to the subject in hand, is the response below normal these days? I told them I'd be cycling to work every day and that I didn't drive. They seemed impressed by the fact I'd sometimes leave much earlier when I work uptown an apparently driving is not important. I will learn this year though if only to stop the nagging from friends, & family about it though. By the way I did attend in a suit in the end and not by bike. I went by bus.
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Dear David,

It was very nice to meet you yesterday. You made a very good impression on all of us and are a strong candidate. Unfortunately we’re not in a position to make a decision just yet as there is another candidate we’re seeing next week. Can you please bear with us until then? I’m sorry it is taking longer than anticipated.

Kind regards,

 

[wheres_my_beard]

... By the way I did attend in a suit in the end and not by bike. I went by bus.

OMG, You caved!

It does sound like it's between you and the other candidate though, so good luck!

 

[BluesDave]

OMG, You caved!

It does sound like it's between you and the other candidate though, so good luck!

Had to cave. My cycling clothes are made of polyester. I sweat buckets in them. It would have been armpits almighty round that table otherwise. Also as it's the only whistle I've got I thought it more sensible to travel by bus in case something happened to damage it.

 

[screenman]

Best of luck, I remember the days you talk about. I had 32 jobs in 3 and a half years, walk in bit of chat and you have it or not. Been self employed now for 37 years and have employed a lot of people in that time as well.

 

[wheres_my_beard]

I'm in the same (sweaty) boat to be honest. I'm as sweaty as the sweaty person in one of those funny sweat related similies. And that's without the additional sweat/ stress of having an interview at the other end.

I'm still wearing shorts, and no jacket, to commute, in an attempt to reduce my sweating from cycling.

It's a tough call, and you probably made the right decision.

(I'm not sure why you take a whistle with you though; is that a Surrey thing?)

 

[Dayvo]

(I'm not sure why you take a whistle with you though; is that a Surrey thing?)

Cockney rhyming slang: whistle and flute = suit.

 

[BluesDave]

Well you wanted to know the outcome and this is it. There is no end to the nonsense that people seem to expect me to believe.
Dear David,

I’m sorry to say that we can’t offer you the job. We really liked you but we then had another applicant who we saw today. He is an ironmonger and has a lot of very relevant experience. I am very sorry to be letting you down and I do hope you will find something very soon.

Kind regards,

Krisztina

 

[mattobrien]

Meh, better luck next time.

 

[jay clock]

Sorry to hear you didn't get it

There is no end to the nonsense that people seem to expect me to believe.

Their answer sounds a lot more specific than most rejection letters and they sound like they have been very straight.

 

[screenman]

David, what is there not to believe, unless of course you may feel the signature upsetting.

Better luck next time, but as a skilled decorator why not have a go doing small jobs for yourself, I know of 3 guys up here that stay very busy doing just that and you are certainly in a better area.