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Feel like I lied in a job application (driving licence related)

25 replies

notadriver · 11/04/2022 17:30

Help! I applied for an amazing job and have been invited to an interview. My skills and previous experience are a great match for everything they asked for - except for one thing... The advert mentioned they wanted someone with a driving licence and the skills to drive in a big city.

I do have a driving licence, but not the actual ability to drive - I was always pretty bad at it, finally passed my test on the 3rd attempt aged 19, had a minor accident early on and just gave up as I never enjoyed it. Then I moved to a big city, and then another big city, and didn't need to drive anyway. Fast forward 20+ years and I have never driving since.

The application form simply asked yes/no to having a driving licence so I said yes because technically it's true, and because I didn't want to be immediately ruled out for this reason if all my other skills are a great fit. I've spent years studying and working to get the experience and skills I have.

The thing is, the role is not in any way related to driving or deliveries or anything like that, and I'm not even sure why they have asked for this. It is really mainly an office job with occasional travel/visits to other locations. Any of the possible scenarios I can imagine that would involve driving I could do just as easily using public transport or even an occasional taxi at my own expense if really needed (for example if I had to transport something large/heavy from A to B, although I'm not sure why/how I would need to do that). It is based in London so there is no shortage of options really and I imagine it's often quicker to hop on the tube anyway!

I'm not sure if I should bring it up in the interview if the interviewers don't mention it? I was hoping to explain truthfully that I do have a licence but have never enjoyed driving, and propose public transport and taxis as an alternative - I could even say that if it was really necessary, I could take some driving lessons and brush up on my skills? Basically to show I really want this job, have lots of the skills they want, and so would somehow deal with the driving part. I was also going to be honest and say I feel the lack of driving skills is something I could work around relatively easily if they felt I was otherwise the right fit for the role. I don't want to give away too much as it's quite an unique role, but I have a feeling they won't have received dozens of applications just because the specific mix of skills, including something quite rare in the context... Does it look really bad that I almost lied on the application though? I would never lie about anything that isn't easily worked around - I wouldn't say I speak Spanish when I don't, for example, but this feels different.

OP posts:
Howmanydaysuntilfriday · 11/04/2022 17:32

Don't worry. If it's not a driving job and if you do need to go anywhere you can use public transport or a taxi don't mention it. I doubt they will bring it up

VanCleefArpels · 11/04/2022 17:33

Do you even have a car? Could you aofford one? Or do they provide one? You haven’t lied if all they have asked is “do you have a licence”. I’d keep quiet about it till the point of job offer but do some research about intensive driving courses near you and invest some time in brushing up your skills.

Linguini · 11/04/2022 17:34

What are you on about?
You have a driver's licence. You have the ability to drive. Chill.

You may not have the confidence, but you passed your test so you therefore have the ability.

If you're extremely anxious about this aspect of the job, just ask them during the interview. Explain you're not a confident driver, but you didn't lie on your application.

Mamabananananana · 11/04/2022 17:35

I literally couldnt drive at all ( not a driving job)
They didnt bring it up in the interview and i didnt mention it.
Been there over 5 years now and no one bothered haha

HerNameIsIncontinentiaButtocks · 11/04/2022 17:37

You haven't lied.

Be ecstatic that this is the only thing in the interview you're worrying unnecessarily about :)

Luckingfovely · 11/04/2022 17:38

Yup, you're overthinking it. If it's in London you won't be expected to drive regularly.

It's a perfectly standard HR question added to most applications - they will be more concerned about drivers who are banned, rather than one who just hasn't driven for a long time.

And as a pp said - you do have the ability to drive. You can work on practice & more lessons if you actually get the job.

Forget about it - it's a non-issue for now.

BendingSpoons · 11/04/2022 17:41

I wouldn't stress. Where I work it asks about a driving license. We have pool cars you can borrow to get to appointments if needed, but there is never an obligation to. No-one cares if you can drive and you aren't marked down if you can't. By contrast a friend doing the same role more rural really struggled until she had a car.

notadriver · 11/04/2022 17:54

Thank you everyone for the reassurance, that's so good to hear! I was so close to answering "no" when the application form asked about it but thought I really, really want to find out if I get shortlisted on merit and not just filed into the reject pile for this one thing that isn't in any way a central skill in the job.

Fortunately I also have a previous example I can use to demonstrate I have had a job that involved regular visits to different locations across London (carrying stuff, too!) and I always managed just fine on public transport.

OP posts:
User843976 · 11/04/2022 18:05

You told the truth, you have a license, DS passed his test 11 years ago and has never had a car, he would still answer truthfully that he had a license though. If it did become necessary to drive he would have some refresher lessons.

Fulmine · 11/04/2022 18:09

I wouldn't mention it. It sounds like something added in to the initial form without any real thought as to whether it was necessary - they may even have a standard application form that they don't amend and that that question was in fact only relevant to other roles within the business. After all, they can't assume anyway that people will always be able to drive when called on - you might become unable to do so due to injuries, sight problems etc.

If you absolutely had to, I assume you could take some refresher lessons?

Mol1628 · 11/04/2022 18:09

This is fine you haven’t lied.

I wouldn’t mention it at all in interview unless it comes up as part of the job role.

HaveringWavering · 11/04/2022 18:28

There is no way that they would have bothered staying in the ad that they wanted someone with the skills to drive in a city if the job did not involve driving in a city. Companies do actually think about what they put in job ads you know! Every word costs money. You must have misunderstood.
However you haven’t lied and they are not going to give you a practical test at the interview. Just play it by ear and make sure you don’t lie if they ask you outright about your driving experience.

canthecardsbewrong2022 · 11/04/2022 18:41

I'm someone who coped 4 years out of 5 in a job after saying I drove! I really wanted the job because I knew it was a step up - the hotel very likely wouldn't have given me the job but the job actually didn't pay me anywhere near enough to drive a car and also live independently paying rent.....In the end they just accepted it.

There was a bus stop right outside the hotel and I worked 2 office straight shifts as conference co ordinator but they didn't like people using the bus in rural Essex back in 2007!

The only times I came a cropper when doing the early morning breakfast hosting (fortunately only had to do once a month for a couple of years as the very early breakfast meetings got cancelled couple of years later due the credit crunch!) and when expected to drive colleagues to training.....and do the odd Saturday night wedding banqueting shift. (So if you do get to interview I would kind of try and find out why they have asked)

In fact when I did pass, they had words about how I'd just get in on time, for 4 years they had the luxury of me arriving early and staying behind because of the bus timetable and I got to work somewhere consistently for a good few years! : ) Hope it works out for you.

HardbackWriter · 11/04/2022 18:41

You haven't lied so no concern there. I think it's fine to just see how it goes if you get the job - the bit about driving skills for a big city does seem a bit more specific and so relevant than a 'do you have a licence?' question so perhaps it will come up, but it's unlikely to be a catastrophe if so.

notadriver · 11/04/2022 20:27

@HaveringWavering

There is no way that they would have bothered staying in the ad that they wanted someone with the skills to drive in a city if the job did not involve driving in a city. Companies do actually think about what they put in job ads you know! Every word costs money. You must have misunderstood. However you haven’t lied and they are not going to give you a practical test at the interview. Just play it by ear and make sure you don’t lie if they ask you outright about your driving experience.
Yes, I'm not saying they put it in by mistake or anything. There just isn't anything obvious about the role itself that I could imagine absolutely requires driving if that makes sense, and it isn't mentioned on the job ad in connection to anything else, it's just a standalone thing on a list - it's not like I've applied to work as a delivery driver or for the ambulance service or anything.

I can potentially imagine some situations where it might be convenient to drive if you have to get from A to B and then C and back again, and I know people who drive tend to think it's very difficult to get around without a car but because I'm used to it, I don't see it as a problem to occasionally carry something heavy around on the bus or rely on taxis. If it was very rural I would also understand but London isn't really lacking in options, 24/7. Smile

OP posts:
Luckingfovely · 11/04/2022 21:33

@HaveringWavering your post did make me laugh! Companies really think about it? No, of course they don't on an everyday basis. A standard set of questions has been put together at some point and carries on being used until it is reviewed again.

And - every word costs money? No, it doesn't, not in any sense. Maybe 50 years ago, but I suspect this job advert is more recent than that.

HaveringWavering · 11/04/2022 22:11

[quote Luckingfovely]@HaveringWavering your post did make me laugh! Companies really think about it? No, of course they don't on an everyday basis. A standard set of questions has been put together at some point and carries on being used until it is reviewed again.

And - every word costs money? No, it doesn't, not in any sense. Maybe 50 years ago, but I suspect this job advert is more recent than that. [/quote]
You’re quite patronising aren’t you? I wrote a job description for an ad for a professional position two weeks ago. You may work with some sloppy companies but we most certainly make sure that every job spec we put out there is properly thought through.

TokyoSushi · 11/04/2022 22:16

It sounds like it's going to be fine OP, I wouldn't mention it unless they do, worst case you can have a couple of refresher lessons. Good luck!

LegMeChicken · 12/04/2022 11:14

@HaveringWavering erm having worked with lots of companies from startups to big corporates… no, job ads are not always well thought out. It’s the exception rather than the norm.

HaveringWavering · 13/04/2022 14:24

Have you had the interview yet OP? I’m curious to know if they say anything about the city driving requirement.

notadriver · 13/04/2022 14:44

Not until later this month, I will update here with the outcome. Smile

OP posts:
HaveringWavering · 13/04/2022 14:47

Good luck!

Travellor · 13/04/2022 14:55

The question could simply be there to establish that you have one of the main forms of photo ID, should it be required.

Blueskythinking123 · 13/04/2022 14:58

Good luck with the interview. I wouldn't share you've not drove for years. If it came up in interview I would just say I didn't have a car at the moment, no need living in a big city etc.

HaveringWavering · 13/04/2022 15:38

@Travellor

The question could simply be there to establish that you have one of the main forms of photo ID, should it be required.
Why would they specify the need for experience of city driving if that were the case?
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