Getting your foot on the first rung of the career ladder is tougher than it’s ever been. Your CV is sparkling, your interview technique is practiced and perfected, and your best suit is pressed and hanging on the bedroom door, but there’s still something holding you back. If you’re a jobseeker wracking your brains to try and work out where you’re going wrong, we may have the answer. Here, Izzy from PassSmart looks at how non-drivers could be putting themselves at a disadvantage when it comes to securing a job. Is it time you took to the driving seat?

Best foot forward

Whether you’re a graduate, looking for a career change, or someone returning to work, the job market is tough. You need to make sure you tick every box, especially if the employer is spoilt for choice. Imagine you have all the relevant qualifications, the right experience and have really sold yourself in your CV. There’s not much separating you and the next applicant, except the fact that they have a driving licence.

There’s a limit to what you can express on paper, so it’s crucial that you’ve got everything you can into that CV. A driving licence could be all that’s missing.

Reliability

There’s no doubting the merits of public transport, but for all its positives there’s no avoiding the fact that trains and buses don’t always run on time. Having access to your own car, on the other hand, tells a prospective employer that you’ll be both punctual and reliable.

Depending on the job you’re applying for, you may be required to travel. Although this doesn’t necessarily mean you will be driving, it tells the employer that you can be called upon if absolutely necessary.

Location

Having a driving licence is more beneficial to jobseekers in rural areas. If you live somewhere where transport links are few and far between, it’s very difficult to avoid learning to drive. To get the most out of your job search, you might need to search for vacancies further afield, and you’ll have more opportunities if you’re able to travel further.

If you live in a big city like London, on the other hand, trying to tackle a daily commute by car is verging on insanity. Where transport links are strong, it makes much more sense to use it. You might, however, want to relocate in the future, so having a driving licence ready and waiting for if and when you do, will make things a lot easier.

Planning for the future

It’s important to think in the long-term. Even if the job you’re applying for right now doesn’t require you to have a driving licence, there might come a time when you want to move on. Not having access to your own car could put a barrier between you and your dream job.

Having a driving licence will also make your work, life balance a lot easier to juggle if you have a family now or plan to start one in the future. The school run will be a lot easier if you can drive it, especially when it’s pouring with rain!

This guest post was written by Izzy Guarella on behalf of PassSmart.com; the company helping learner drivers get on the road.