Many graduate roles list a driving license as ‘desirable’, and some employers even judge job applicants on the type of vehicle they drive. But does the car really make the employee?
It turns out that we are being judged on what we drive as much as what we wear. Although it may seem like an advertising ploy by car manufacturers, a 2009 study did find that women are more attracted to men who drive nicer cars.
It’s not just potential partners that could judge you on what you drive, potential bosses might too. In his Linkedin article, venture capitalist Richard A. Moran recounts a somewhat alarming story of how a friend of his would recruit new staff: “Early in the pitch he would ask startled entrepreneurs what kind of car he or she drove. What they didn’t know was that the VC was making a judgment. His interpretation was that if the entrepreneur drove a fast car, there was more likely to be action and speed in getting the company up and running.”
Could it be true that those that drive faster cars will be more productive at work? It seems unlikely. However, cars have been seen as a way for us to project an image of ourselves for decades, and if our car is an uncared for broken down piece of junk, perhaps employers will think this is the cavalier attitude we will take with our work as well.
Although judging people on what type of car they drive might seem scandalous, giving someone a job because they drive may be justified. Sometimes it’s not what you drive that matters to employers, it’s the skills you learn by driving.
Click4Reg, claim that driving can improve your graduate job prospects. One of the biggest skills acquired from driving is patience, they say. “This can be translated into the working environment, where patience is fundamentally required when working in different teams and under constant pressure.”
Steve Benson, a Graduate Roles Consultant from a London Recruitment Agency, commented on the rise of graduate positions listing a driving license as a required or desirable skill, even in positions where driving has little or nothing to do with the day to day role. Benson states that “the ability to drive can be hugely advantageous towards candidates credentials for a job role.”
Even if your employees don’t judge you on the car you drive, your insurer certainly judges you based on your job title.
A careful choice of the words you use to describe your job could shave up to 25% off your car insurance premiums. It may seem bizarre, but research from Your Money has found that many insurers place a heavy emphasis on drivers’ professions – as well their experience behind the wheel – when it comes to quotes. Professions which are hit hard by insurers include car valeters, window cleaners and professional football apprentices. However, cost doesn’t just vary on job title, but the exact wording of the job title. For example, research by the Telegraph found that One Call Insurance gave a quote of £487 for a “fashion photographer”, whereas a “photographer” was quoted £360.
