Asking about cycle parking facilities.

[Matthames]

I am wondering if anybody has asked about secure cycle parking facilities at job interviews?

I had a job interview today and it was one of the questions I had asked the interviewers, basically as a practical question about how I would commute to the job if I was successful, although I am not going to get my hopes up at getting it.

The people interviewing me didn't know, but they did say to ask the person on reception who would know, and I found out on the way out after. They were interested to know themselves, so I would probably mention it to them when they give me a call later on in the week to let me know if I got the job or not. If I do get offered the job I know that there is a secure underground cycle parking facility, so I would be able to commute in by bike

 

[biking_fox]

Good to know they have the facility - I'd probably not ask at an interview, unless cycling comes up as a topic.

 

[Eddie]

I'd ask and say that I sometimes rode to work as training for triathlons, even if you don't it will sound good.

 

[ChrisKH]

I would stick to the important job points. This sort of think like salary is best left to when it is raised or as part of later 'negotiations'.

 

[Domeo]

When I have progressed to a 2nd interview stage and when you get to the end and they ask if you've got any questions I have asked about cycling facilities. Didn't do me any harm when I got this job a year ago.

 

[clarion]

There's almost always a way to make cycle commuting work, so I wouldn't ask at interview.

As a regular interviewer, I certainly wouldn't think negatively of someone who did ask it, but there are a lot of less experienced/capable interviewers who might. Not really worth the risk.

I did have a job for a while that should have been rideable, but, for stupid reasons, wasn't. I do wish I'd found out earlier.

 

[DrSquirrel]

I am wondering if anybody has asked about secure cycle parking facilities at job interviews?

I had a job interview today and it was one of the questions I had asked the interviewers, basically as a practical question about how I would commute to the job if I was successful, although I am not going to get my hopes up at getting it.

The people interviewing me didn't know, but they did say to ask the person on reception who would know, and I found out on the way out after. They were interested to know themselves, so I would probably mention it to them when they give me a call later on in the week to let me know if I got the job or not. If I do get offered the job I know that there is a secure underground cycle parking facility, so I would be able to commute in by bike

I wouldn't ask - they might be some cyclist hating nut that won't give you the job.

Unless you reckon they cycle often... then its a plus.

But I would bank more on the former.



In my downtime I asked this of someone that was just moving premisis just inside the Welsh border, and he started harping on about the Welsh building facilities into all new offices etc and how the shower they had was just a waste of space etc etc... Not that it matters I didn't get the job, he was a idiot anyway and I went back to my normal job some time later (it was only going to be temporary for me - not that I was going to tell them that).

 

[upsidedown]

If there was a copy of the Mail on his desk i wouldn't bother.

 

[annedonnelly]

I did - it was a job based in a wildlife/country park so I felt that they should have environmental concerns about commuting. I said that I'd noticed their cycle parking and did they have any other facilities. They did and they seemed interested that I'd asked the question.

I didn't get the job but don't think that was why

 

[LazyCat]

As a regular interviewer I would welcome a question like that. A company that penalise you for asking is not worth working for in my book.

 

[Maizie]

It's the sort of question I would ask (having not attended a job interview in 12+ years, I may be out of touch...but likely to be re-entering that world as of next June )

So, my question to those who think it's not a good question to ask, can you explain why it would go against an interviewee to ask that sort of thing?

 

[marinyork]

I've asked. The answer is often that they really don't know and hadn't considered such a thing. I think you'd get more neutral types than angry types than one would expect. It's a case of slotting it in so they see it as a benefit e.g. you want me to work emergency overtime when no public transport is on or if you cycle in on average you're less likely to be held up by late running buses.

 

[taxing]

If the interviewer is a cyclist, it might work in your favour.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

I've asked. The answer is often that they really don't know and hadn't considered such a thing. I think you'd get more neutral types than angry types than one would expect. It's a case of slotting it in so they see it as a benefit e.g. you want me to work emergency overtime when no public transport is on or if you cycle in on average you're less likely to be held up by late running buses.

In an ideal world....


One interview ended up pretty much in an argument years ago, I went for a job as a rail conductor and though I passed the preliminary stages I got a complete arse as an interviewer who just latched onto the fact that I cycled to work and that made me, in his view, an unsuitable candidate

"You don't drive?"
"I do drive, I don't have a car"


"How would you get to work then (at Sheffield Train Station)?"
"I cycle to work, it's only a couple of miles"


"But you have to be on time"
"I'm always on time for work and my current journey is a lot longer"

"But how would you get in for early morning shifts"
"I'd still cycle, that wouldn't be a problem for me"

"What about when it's snowing? And there are no buses because of the snow? How would you get to work then?"
"Last winter in the snow I was always the first to arrive at work, in fact I was always waiting outside for a keyholder to turn up"

"What if it was really really deep?"
"In that case if it were too deep to cycle I would have to walk, it's not too far"

"But you have to be on time"
"If it were that deep it would probably cause me more delays in a car than on a bike or on foot"

"Punctuality is very important, trains run to a timetable"
...thinks....this nitwit is just not listening to a word

 

[Maizie]

Thing is, if someone is like that at you in an interview (because you are a 'weirdy cyclist'), then it's not going to get any better when you work for/with them as a 'weirdy cyclist'. If mentioning that I might like to cycle commute at the interview is enough to put them off giving me the job, I can only think that I wouldn't have enjoyed the job anyway!