Why a candidate’s commute matters
September 3, 2009 by Sam NarisiPosted in: In This Week's E-Newsletter, Interviewing, Latest News & Views
Asking about a candidate’s drive into your office is a good way to make small talk before an interview. But that information can be of use in other ways, too.
One key is finding out how the commute to your company would compare with a candidate’s current and previous commutes.
If yours would be quicker/easier, than that’s a selling point to use if the candidate hasn’t fully decided to change jobs.
On the other hand, if the candidate would have to spend a lot of time on the road, you’ll want to make sure that won’t become a problem if that person gets hired. You can find out if candidates have ever had to make a similar trek and ask how they handled it. If it turns out they left a job because of it, that might be a warning sign of a potential retention problem.
However, as long as it’s not a deal breaker, a long commute can help you tailor your selling points so that an offer’s more likely to be accepted. For example, if the company gives (or can give) benefits like flex-time, compressed work weeks or telecommuting, make sure the candidate understands that. Even if those are things not everyone cares about, in some situations they can make a big difference.
Tags: commutes, compressed week, flex-time, telecommuting
September 8th, 2009 at 7:51 am
As a former resident of Metro Atlanta, I know this to be true. A lot of employees would take a job based on time of commute of traffic on route. Some folks tried to move further out to beat traffic and then the long drive got old really quick, especially when they really didn’t beat traffic. Employers were almost forced to go with Flex time because of this and a lot of employees quit their jobs and looked for others with an easier commute (less traffic). In Atlanta, there really is no such thing unless you can walk to work or take MARTA (the train)! A drive that would normally take 20 minutes can be 1 1/2 hour or more depending on the area. You are exhausted by the time you get to work and by the time you get home from all the windsheild time. Sadly, I could see my office complex off of GA 400 but it took at least 1/2 hour to get to it once I got off the exit with all the volume! Leave your house 60 seconds late and you are doomed to be late even with Flex hours!
September 11th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Living near the ATL, I can empathize with you Stacy!
The longer commutes should not always be assumed to be a negative point, I have driven approximately one hour to work for a number of years, but my drive is not through a high traffic area so the drive provides some needed downtime for mental planning and for unwinding.
It’s also easier to text while driving on a more secluded road …. just kidding.
September 12th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
After I’ve been hit in 3 accidents while commuting, that became an important consideration for me.
I’m also a Board member of a Federal Cdedit Union and I advised the CEO when an outstanding candidate for our senior marketing position was not interested at first. He lives in our area and had a long commute to his previous employer. After we did some additional negotiating, pointing out the savings in not only dollars and but also time he accepted our offer. He has been an exceptional addition to our management team over the last several years.
September 17th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Conversations about commuting time or method could be miscontrued as discrimination in hiring decisions. I recommend reviewing Title VII and using extreme caution in this area.
September 17th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
I wouldn’t ask a candidate about their commute because knowing your commute, it’s up to you whether you take the job or not. However, if you live more than an hour away, from where you may potentially be working and plan to commute in every day, I think the question should be posed as to whether this will become a problem or not or whether you plan to relocate closer or not. This shouldn’t be a primary factor of your decision but it should have some weight. We have people at my job that live in rural areas and are as much as 1 1/2 hour away from work but there is no traffic in their way and most have been doing it for the better part of 15 years because they can get more value in housing and land. The only time it becomes a problem is IF we have adverse weather because their roads don’t get plowed, only the main roads. The wait and come in later unless it’s ice.
October 9th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Maybe the person seeking the job may be looking for anything right now with a way to change later on closer to home when the economy is right.
They could just be someone who has a bad reputation where their from and just wants to get out of the area so they have a new place to create havoc. I watched court TV the other day and they noted that a couple of serial killers prefer to work outside of their community so the bodies will not pile up close to home.