5 Ways to Land a Great Job Without Having a Car
Read on to learn how you can land a job without a car!
How to Get a Job Without a Car
If you are currently looking for a job and don't have a car, don't worry. Today, it's easier than ever to land a great job and make it to work each day without a vehicle. Listed below are five methods you can use to make it to work when you lack transportation of your own.
1. Apply At Local Temp Agencies
Temporary agencies and staffing agencies are a great resource when it comes to finding employment. Many job seekers tend to shy away from them because they have a bad reputation, but I've only had positive results when I've used temp agencies in the past.
Whenever I'm looking for a job and don't have a vehicle, I'm always upfront about it during my interviews with temp agencies. I tell them that I can only accept assignments that are within walking (or biking) distance or if they are accessible via public transportation.
And this never seemed to be a problem. In fact, the agencies usually knew exactly what jobs to send me that fit my criteria. After all, the beauty of temp agencies is that they are usually pretty familiar with the companies they are sending you to work for. Likewise, they can save you a lot of time and effort by picking out an assignment that will work for you.
In the past, I've landed some decent jobs with minimal effort because I applied at a local temporary agency and was patient until they called me. And quite a few of these jobs turned into full-time positions a few months down the road. Best of all, I didn't need a vehicle for any of them!
Temporary or temp agencies are a great resource for finding jobs that are on the local bus line.
2. Use Local Public Transportation to Get Around
When searching for a job without a car, public transportation is your best friend. The local bus lines, subways, and trains are a great way to get wherever you need to go for an affordable price.
When looking for employment, be on the lookout for listings that mention being 'on the bus line' or 'public transportation accessible.' Many employers include terms like these in their job listings because it makes their jobs even more attractive to applicants.
One of the best aspects of public transportation is the frequency with which it runs. In some larger cities, the buses and trains run every half hour or so. This makes it very easy for you to get to job interviews (and a potential new job) without having to wait around.
If you know you are going to be riding the local public transportation a lot, you can typically buy a monthly pass at a very affordable price. This pass will provide unlimited rides for a 30-day period (for a set fee) and save you tons of money during your job search.
3. Don't Be Afraid to Walk
These days, walking seems to have become an activity that we do only when absolutely necessary. Even then, we only like to do it for extremely short periods of time. But if you are looking for a job without a car, drastic times call for drastic measures.
You may have to swallow your pride a bit. Yeah, you will be that guy walking on the side of the road during rush hour that everyone is looking at, but that's okay. Just strap on a pair of comfortable sneakers and hoof it.
You can get almost anywhere you need to go walking, and the only real drawback is the amount of time it takes. But since you are unemployed, you have plenty of time on your hands anyway!
I once walked over an hour to get to a job interview, during which time it started raining, and I had to seek shelter for 10 minutes or so. But I made it to my interview on time. The subject of my walking came up during the interview, and my potential employer was very impressed.
In fact, he was so impressed that he expedited my paperwork and background check through the system and called me with a job offer before I had even completed the walk back home.
Walking may not be the most glamorous way to land a job, but it is definitely an option. And when it comes to getting a job, you want to use every option at your disposal. Be the man/woman who is willing to do what other job seekers are unwilling to do. Go the extra mile (in this case, on foot), and you will see that it gets results.
Walking is a great way to get to potential jobs that doesn't cost any money, and it's great exercise!
4. Uber and Lyft
Modern Job seekers without a vehicle of their own can be thankful that they live in an era where ride-sharing services are on the rise. Companies like Uber and Lyft have made it easier than ever to get where you need to go without a car. And at pretty affordable rates.
Of course, if you are in the market for a job, then you probably aren't too keen on dishing out money regularly for rides to job interviews. But just view the cost as a necessary investment in your future.
Paying $15 to get you to an interview is a small price for landing a job that could earn you $30,000+ a year.
If your interview goes well and you get the job, you can also use Uber or Lyft to get back and forth to work every day until you can afford a vehicle.
Just factor the rides into your weekly budget and view it as a necessary expense. If you think about it, you will probably be spending about the same amount of money each week on rides as you will be spending on gas once you do buy a vehicle.
Ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft are a great low cost way to get back and forth to work with little hassle.
5. Scooters and Mopeds Are Definitely a Thing
Here's another tip I have used to land a job (and get back and forth to work every day). Instead of using up all your savings to buy a car, use a small portion of it to buy a used scooter or moped.
Most people shy away from scooters because they aren't the most glamorous form of transportation out there. But we aren't looking for glamour. We are looking for a job!
And if you need an inexpensive ride back and forth to work, then a scooter or a moped is definitely a great option. Not only can you buy a used scooter for pretty cheap ($400–$600), but you also don't need insurance to legally drive them on the road (in most states). Plus, you'll spend next to nothing keeping the tank filled with gas ($7–$10 a week).
You might find that you're having so much fun driving your scooter back and forth to work every day that you decide never to buy a car!
Scooters are a great low-cost way to get back and forth to work each day!
Comments
Pam Morris from Atlanta Georgia on July 14, 2019:
This is an informative and inspiring article for a person in need of motivation to find a job. Especially a person who does not have transportation and feel it a downfall for them. Thank you for sharing
