I really need a laptop for a job interview, can't afford it and nobody can lend me one

[Terribleluck]

Would it be terrible of me to buy one to then return it,?

It would be too embarrassing for me. I think if wasn't tech, I would be more open to, but I've worked in tech for the past 10 years, so it's a no from me. I want to be able to go to the interview and ace it from a strong "mind place" not already feeling ashamed and embarrassed, that will oy make me fail. Besides there's no real need for office, there's WPS, G suite, and other open source types of software.

@Terribleluck you might have seen and dismissed this option but I'm repeating it just in case you missed it - can you sell your iPad and laptop and use the money for a better laptop?

Does your IT policy allow using work laptops for personal use?

Yes, absolutely, with the usual caveats of not doing anything that might bring the company into disrepute.

I agreed with @EarringsandLipstick to be upfront with your potential employer and ask for their help. No decent employer will 'look down upon' someone who doesn't happen to have a laptop available.

They will however be even if only subconsciously looking to see how you problem solve. I would much rather you were straight with me that you don't have something necessary to do the interview, especially something which it would be so easy for me to provide by bringing you in to any office for the interview.

Organisations that expect you to provide all the equipment are, I would say, more likely to be at the dodgy end of the employment market.

Asking for their help will give you a lot of insight into how they organisation supports its employees.

I'll keep a look out in my local FaceBook group for any similar requests. I'm sure I've seen something similar recently. Especially since the pandemic our village volunteer group has been able to help people in all sorts of new ways.

I get that it is difficult to ask for help. There is lots here if you do reach out. Some of the most involved volunteers first got involved by asking for help then went on to develop the help that can be offered to others

Hope you find what you need. Good Luck

@Terribleluck

Asking s local FB group? I think that's the only one I've been missing... The rest either a) have to talk to HR at some point (which I will, but they said they'll call), b) going to an office 6 hrs away? C) using two devices to me seems too messy and stressful, like I've said I'll test my iPad today with s PDF presentation rather than a full PPT because it has crashed sharing screens /images in the past (and that's zoom not teams). S) the rest involve businesses/orgs that are not open on weekends. I've emailed/messaged them. So apart from the using two devices or the FB group I don't see what I've said no to?

Most everything from what I can see.

@finallyhere unless they send me a laptop or hire me one, I don't think they can help much more. To go and present at their offices would cost me £140 in diesel (at least). My laptop is worthless, I could potentially get around £300 for the iPad but it has a minor crack which o guess would also affect its value. I would still have to fork out £200-300 for something i wouldn't use that much. My DH suggests I buy one from CEX and resell it there a few days later. Similar to hiring I guess.

Could you print out the PP at the library and drop in a copy to the interviewer and you could have a copy too?

How would printing presentations help? I'd have to present and demo software on a daily basis as part of the job. If anything I assuming the presentation has to be highly engaging and using similar resources I would normally use at work. I haven't had the brief yet for this interview, I know for the other company (if I move to that stage) I'd have do research on a company and analyse their online presence and present solutions to their flaws (or something like that).

£300 will get you a functioning second gas laptop or PC on Facebook marketplace

OP, please don’t give yourself further stress by feeling you have to explain yourself and answer every question raised here.

I have no new or helpful suggestions, but the tone of some posts is putting up my blood pressure …

Thanks @Edmontina I thought I was the only starting to feel that way.

@EdmontinaDancesWithOphelia

OP, please don’t give yourself further stress by feeling you have to explain yourself and answer every question raised here.

I have no new or helpful suggestions, but the tone of some posts is putting up my blood pressure …

Part of getting any job role is problem solving. OP just gives reasons why not for literally everything anyone suggests. What was the point even asking for suggestions if you're just going to dismiss everything.

In this situation as an employer I would much rather someone had thought around the problem and come up with a solution, rather than thinking every potential solution wouldn't work.

Not everyone has a laptop at home. I don't. I use my work one. I absolutely have to have one in order to do all parts of my job but when I interviewed I used my phone and talked through a presentation they and I had a copy of. I got the job.

There's no requirement in life to own a computer. But if you want a job you need to be able to problem solve and also be open and honest with a future employer. When interviewing I would much rather someone say they didn't have a laptop but they've thought about solutions and they have decided to do ... Any of the above suggestions, than just say no to everything.

You're way too defeatist and brushing all ideas aside OP, I've no idea why you even asked.

Buy a secondhand reconditioned one. Cheaper, and sustainable to boot.

But again apart from telling the employer, using the two devices (which is some sort of moot point that I think about it, because if I can share a presentation, then I can do the rest, and the FB group have I said no to? The iPad is the houses to an extent the children have their learning apps (as well as fun ones) so I'd also be taking away from them. You have your opinion about telling the employer, I have my own. Besides my first idea was to just buy one and return, I've asked if anybody had done anything similar. I've followed up on tons of the other suggestions, charities, DWP, local council, rent a laptop type of places... I've messaged those and waiting to hear back. I do think given the nature of the job, it would ideally have to be at home, as they will be assessing my working environment, I know if I was the interviewer I would care about that.

The iPad is the houses to an extent the children have their learning apps (as well as fun ones) so I'd also be taking away from them.

But they'll benefit much more from you having a job, surely?

@girlmom21

The iPad is the houses to an extent the children have their learning apps (as well as fun ones) so I'd also be taking away from them.

But they'll benefit much more from you having a job, surely?

That's on the assumption that OP gets this job. Presumably she's not the only one being interviewed. If she doesn't, the family are down a laptop for no benefit.

@saraclara it's her second interview that she needs a laptop for, out of two.
With the way things are currently, there's a high probability that she'll need it for other interviews, and she can sell it again once she's got a job.

Sorry if I’ve missed this suggestion but if hosting it is a problem and they would provide you with a work laptop could one of the interviewers host your presentation and you do the next slide please bit?

Yes, you missed it!

(Cancel the cheque …)

@girlmom you do have a point and why I've considered just biting the bullet. Which is why I'm considering buying a second hand one and then selling it on

@EdmontinaDancesWithOphelia

OP, please don’t give yourself further stress by feeling you have to explain yourself and answer every question raised here.

I have no new or helpful suggestions, but the tone of some posts is putting up my blood pressure …

This is mainly because the OP has a problem for every solution?

BonesInTheOcean Sat 13-Nov-21 14:36:15
There are lots of suggestions here

Hire one
Buy a refurbished
Ask jsa if they can help
Ask the library if they have private rooms
Borrow one from a friend
Borrow one at a friend's house
Borrow from school
Send presentation in and use your phone
(Feel free to add if I have missed anything)

There are plenty of good options being suggested, and while I dont have a laptop to lend someone, I do have a desktop they could come around and borrow.

Also - if they are 6 hours away, with no closer offices, how are you going to work for them?

@Changeisneeded

Sorry if I’ve missed this suggestion but if hosting it is a problem and they would provide you with a work laptop could one of the interviewers host your presentation and you do the next slide please bit?

that has been suggested about 9 times so far

I've already I'll look into hiring one, asking JSA, ask the library, (I've send the whole friends thing isn't an opti as I've already exhausted that one), and the sending the presentation it will depend on the nature of it as there might things I might need to do beyond "next please".

It's a fully remote job, they exist. I've worked remotely most of my career even pre-covid.

It won't let me quote your question you ask re: what difference would it make printing it. My suggestion to print was because if you were doing the Teams call on your iPad, and they were presenting it for you, it may not have been big enough for you to see, so a printed copy would have been helpful for you to read off if needed.

I bought a laptop from curry's last month. Used it for a couple of days and it was shit, so factory reset and returned. They refunded me.

If you are a social housing tenant you could ask your landlord. Part of their remit is to help people basically improve their prospects (although they word it better then that). The one I rent from offers help with finding employment and I suspect would shove you in a room with a laptop if you asked.