Impossible Job situation.

Yes. If it's that specialist, you might not get another such opportunity for a while. But at the moment, there's no point worrying about something that might never happen.

If you do get it, you need to do everything you can to pass your test as soon as possible. Can you fit in extra lessons and keep checking for a cancellation?

My friend had 2-3 public transport changes each morning and evening, but she stuck with it coz it was the best job around by a long shot, and she knew it was only for a few months.

Good luck ?

My journey is 1:45 each way door to door. It involves a bus journey, 2 train connections and another short bus journey. I have been doing it for a year. You get used to it. Sounds like you can't afford to pass up this opportunity-so don't. Give it a shot. If you're successful and you don't like it once in situ, register with some recruitment agencies.

I'd go for the interview aand see what happens. If you do get the job, then you really only have 4-6 weeks of working until you can sit your test. Is there anyway you could do a condensed learning course or cram in some extra lessons?

Surely a rubbish commute for less than two months for a great job is worth it?

I would at least go for the interview. If you get, its then decision time, but not now

I'd definitely go for it. If nothing else the interview experience for the job in your field will be valuable, even if you don't get the job you'll be able to ask for interview feedback which will be useful for future job searching. If you do get the job you could do one of those intensive driving courses, or cram in extra lessons, you could be a proud car owner pretty quickly. If you have to go down th public transport route look at it as an opportunity to spend quality time by yourself listening to music and catching up on a bit of reading

Good luck!

I went for a great job in London a few years ago, a grade up from my then post, in a massive teaching hospital. I did a big presentation and went all out for it. I was absolutely chuffed to bits when they offered it to me.

I turned it down. It didn't feel like somewhere I'd want to work.

Glad I went though. Buffed up the ego no end ? It's all good practice, and it doesn't ever hurt to know what you can have if you want it. Even if you don't, when it comes to the crunch.

Thanks for the replies.

I've just been to a driving lesson, and just got told I won't pass this year as I am basically just crap.

That means public transport for who knows how long. I like public transport, and spending the time with my ipod on, but as it involves work late into the night, and possibly overnight I just don't know how it would be feasible.

Like you say, I'll still go to the interview just to see what happens, but I was wondering seeing as it's quite a small area and everyone knows eachother would I get a bad reputation for going to an interview and turning it down? Would it mean they would be less likely to employ me should I apply for a different date at a later stage?

whoever said that needs a good kick in the bollocks. its also a load of rubbish so dont let some numbnut defeat you. go to the interview, and get on and learn to drive quickly. a quick course or whatever.

Blimey, a first for me, but WNS.

I'd change your driving instructor, sounds like they're the crap ones if they can't teach you to pass.

Go for the interview, be positive and decide what to do when they offer it. Who knows, they might up the money to make it tempting if you're good enough. Or there might be a local office, or some sort of working from home arrangement you could make.

And at the end of the day, 2 hrs isn't an unusual commute. It'd be different if you had newborn triplets at home to deal with, but while it's just you & your OH, you've got no restrictions on your time.

And it could just be sooooo great. good luck!

WNickS - sounds like you need a better driving instructor.

I needed to drive for my job and it was getting tricky when I hadn't passed - my job offer was conditional on my having a licence. I just threw money at the situation - 2 x 2h lessons a week, and 2 x 2h lessons a day in the week running up to my test. Cost a bloody fortune but it was so important that I passed that I had no choice.(and I did with only 2 minors; having failed abysmally a few years previously).

Having had a crap instructor who made me feel like a useless lump who'd never pass, and a lovely one who was gently encouraging and who had faith in me, I know which one I'd choose.

then you need to change your instructor - he/ she has a vested interest in it taking you as many lessons as possible...............

Until you do pass your test, would you consider staying over one or two nights a week? They might allow you to do compressed days - ie you work longer days, but less of them. Sounds like too good an opportunity to pass up

Thanks everyone.

I probably didn't put it right, we were aiming for December, but it's not clicking and I just can't reverse around a corner to save my life. He didn't say I am a crap driver, it;s just how I feel.

He's just saying I am not ready, and I shouldn't stake any plans on passing soon because I won't be booking a test.

If you were a boss, would you think worse of someone who turned down a job after they were being offered it for transport reasons?

Yours kind of obsessing about this.

1) you havet been to the interview and dont know if you ll get it or not

2) youre worrying what the employer may think if yiu turn it down, yet its not been offered

3) youre allowing the fact you have a driving issue cloud everything

there are aways around these things. it strikes me that the real issue here is your (lack of) confidence as opposed to the job itself, or the actual driving.

Agree with everyone else that you need to find a different driving instructor.

Also agree that you should apply for the job.

Could your H2B not drive you to work or pick you up until you pass your test, so at least you only need to do the public transport one way? Might they be flexible in terms of allowing you to fit your hours around this?

Your not a crap driver if you cant reverse round corners do you know how hard that is to do , i cant do it and i;ve been driving for years ?

go for the interview and add to your lessons if your offered it so that you can pass sooner have 3 a week instead of one , practise makes perfect

You're right, the whole driving issue due to a lack of confidence. But I can't flick a switch so who knows?

Right. Apply for the job, go to an interview, presumably you would have to give notice in the job you're in now so you wouldn't start until the beginning of December anyway. The point at which they offer you the job would be the point to negotiate - ask if they're willing to offer compressed hours, assistance with transport, anything that will help. Even if they're not, as others have said, throw money at the driving situation - think about trying another instructor, you don't have to get rid of your old one to try a new one. I regret sticking with my instructor who was a friend of a friend because we weren't a good fit and it took me over a year to pass my test - I think she held me back because her teaching style and my learning style didn't work together.

Even if you apply and decide not to take it, you don't have to give transport as your reason (you don't have to give any reason) but they will think better of you if you can explain why you don't feel it's right at the moment - often it takes an interview to help people decide that.