Did you tell them you race before they hired you?

[OmniGLH]

Been interviewing for a job over the last few weeks (which I got an offer for yesterday - YAY!)  

Whenever I was asked (by whomever was interviewing me) if "there is anything we should know, that is important, that we should take into consideration over hiring you" - is that I always responded with my racing.  I'd tell them I race, and that during the summer months, my schedule can sometimes get a little hectic, etc, and that I need to know ahead of time that getting an occasional Thurs-Fri off to go race is okay.


When my soon-to-be-manager asked me that question, and he learned I race, he became completely enthralled in the fact that I race.  Couldn't get enough of it.

When the HR person got my response, she noted that it was a little odd that I bring up vacation time in an interview.  Which, I guess I can agree... you definitely don't want to sound like all you care about is getting time off.  But - it's pretty crucial to me I get my time off for this specific purpose, so I think it's important to bring it up.  I mean, it's not like I'm taking the day off to go sit on a beach.

Reason I do this?  Well, at my last job (Motorola) - they pretty much HATED that I raced, and did anything they could to get in the way of it.  Schedule me for weekend business trips, flat-out deny vacation time, etc.  So I want to make sure that A) they are cool with this, and B) that, one month into the job, if I request a day off, it doesn't come as this "big surprise".  After I explained this to HR (both for my current job, and my upcoming job) they seemed to actually appreciate that I brought it up.

Has anybody else done this?  Has it ever backfired on you?

[TZDeSioux]

Why do you think it's necessary for your employer to know that you need time off because you race a motorcycle. What's the difference between taking time off to race or taking time off to work on your house? Either way you're not present at the company. I'm assuming that you have a set number of vacation days and you can take them as long as you give enough notice. My company could care less what the reason is as long as they get the notice.

[bweber]

I received a letter at home from the CEO of my company, on company letterhead, basically asking me to quit racing.  Many companies these days are self insured, including mine.  This means that the company pays out of pocket for each medical claim on persons insurance.  The insurance company only kicks in with the claims reach a certain amount; in my case I think it is around $30,000 per person/year.  The company is just trying to reduce it health care costs and I don't think it is any different than wellness programs, and stop smoking campaigns.  The letter I received never mentioned health care, it was more like "your a valuable employee..., you're involved in a dangerous sport... and you should think about your family".  
My opinion is that when you interview for a job you should at most mention you are a motorcycle enthusiast and you should negotiate vacation time if you don't think they have offered you enough (like 3 weeks vs. two weeks per year).  DON'T ask for time off in an interview, DON'T mention dangerous activities you are involved in and DON'T TALK ABOUT RACING because if it is between you and another person with the same experience and aptitude, they will hire the person they feel will cost them the least in the long run and that usually is not a racer.  The probability that mentioning you are a racer will help you is very, very low.
Just my $.02

[bweber]

BTW, the only time I ever mentioned I was a racer was when I interviewed with HONDA R&D of America for a On-Road Test Engineer and they still asked me if I planned to continue road racing if I accepted their job offer. This job entailed testing sport bikes, cruisers and some off-road vehicles every day usually at one of three locations, either the Honda Proving Grounds, Willow Springs or their local test circut in Torrance.
They liked the fact that I was a racer, but they would have preferred that once I started working for them that I quit racing as to reduce my chances of getting injured.
Can you believe I did not accept their job offer ???
I compared my situation to being a gynocologist, what happens when you have to look at it every day!  Do you lose interest? ;D

[Super Dave]

LOL, don't ask don't tell.

Ok, since I've done this forever...

Employers knew.

Might work for Parts Unlimited now?  Don't know.  Have to work out some details.  Offers are being accepted...

I worked for a John Deere lawn and garden dealership for six years...I worked part time to add some cash to my pocket, and then they asked me to work full time.  They already knew.  

Worked for the trailer place for almost four years...I needed a bigger trailer for racing...and I was willing to work there to get it...so...

When I was full time AMA Pro racing in 1993, I was a contract courrier for a small place...when I needed to take off time, I hired one of the guys that unloads/loads from the longer distance ship trucks.  

As for dangerous...my good friend that street rides has spent way more time being worked on and rehabilitated than I ever have.  Does racing keep you out of more trouble?

The flip side is that my neighbor across the street, really great family, he's a forman of a shop...  There's a guy there that does trials and some MX.  He's breakin' his legs and generally being a bad worker...what's my neighbor to think?

[Jeff]

Interviewing for my current position, I was asked what I did to relax.  I told them I roadraced motorcycles.  They laughed.

I explained that when you're doing 150, dragging a knee, sliding the front and the rear tire at the same time, what else do you have to think about?  They stopped laughing...

I've never been hassled about racing or vacation for it.  But I've ALWAYS been there for the company (i.e., taking calls at the track, or skipping a weekend or practice day as necessary).

Golf, tennis, racquetball, basketball, softball - ALL have injuries associated with them.  I don't see racing as ANY different.  I would be willing to guess that statistically speaking, the dollar amount of injuries from the most common sports easily exceeds that of MC racing.

[Lowe119]

I have had to deal with this, since I'm actively job hunting. It usually comes up in the HR question about hobbies.

"motorcycle enthusiast"

I like that. I'll use that instead of motorcycle racer. Sounds more laid back and mature - but yet is still the truth.

[tigerblade]

I only started racing last year but did get a new job within the same company this February.  They know and are just glad to see me on Monday mornings after a race weekend.  If I were interviewing for a job elsewhere, I probably wouldn't mention it in an interview unless asked directly.  It's really not the company's business what I do on "my time".  I can do (and have done) my job with my dominant hand in a brace and without putting weight on my heel for 3 months.  But that was from street riding...  I actually go to the doctor much much less than a lot of coworkers.  One of the people here just got clobbered by a tree in his own yard this weekend; maybe they SHOULD ask Kwak if he's taking off to work around the house.   ;)

[Mark Bernard]

I have been with Chrysler for over 25 years. I dont think it matters at this point. But they know never the less. My coworkers think I am going through a mid life crises!  :o ;)

[dylanfan53]

What they probably really meant by that question was whether there were any employment terminations, untruths on your resume and/or criminal incidents in your past that you did not disclose.  They have the right to terminate you at will for any lack of disclosure of those things.

With regard to management's attitude to racing, the problem really is that most non-racers think we're nuts and assign a higher level of risk than might be justified (although there are those who tend to crash out frequently).

I think Brian W. has the bigger problem.  I understand the issue if your company is self insured but where do they draw the line?  Do they also identify and send similar letters to those who smoke or drink too much or are overweight?

Well, I could see it if someone were an overweight, smoking, alcoholic racer....  ;D

[Dawn]

Well, I could see it if someone were an overweight, smoking, alcoholic racer....  ;D

Are you referring to someone we know..... ;)

[Lowe119]

My company is self-insured and will not cover any accidents during a sanctioned race. So I guess I will drive myself to the hospital if I need to.  :)

I agree that everyone thinks we are nutz. I was just told in the breakroom the other day, "I think you need to see a psychiatrist" as they were talking about my racing. I said, "Why, so I can learn how to get faster?" The guy across the table just spent 2 months in the hospital from his street accident.. :-/

My mother said I was crazy and had a death wish, before. She recently admitted that she had been watching some racing on Speed and agreed with my brothers that I am probably safer on the track than on the street. (Of course, she lives in Houston and they drive like idiots.)