Does a Drivers’ Licence Make Graduates More Employable?

The job market for graduates is as tough as it’s ever been.

15:13 03 March 2016

There are jobs out there, but competition is high and it is no longer enough to have a First Class honours degree in your chosen field. Increasingly, employers are looking for graduates with non-academic achievements on their Curriculum Vitae, so any extra life skills you can brag about can make the difference between an interview and a rejection letter. 

The Daily Commute

Not everyone can drive. Indeed, not everyone wants to drive! For those living and working in the city, particularly London, having a car is a hindrance rather than an advantage. In larger cities, public transport links are strong and most people can get to work without a car, so being able to drive probably won’t be as important to an employer.  

If you are applying for a job in a rural area, the situation is very different. Without a drivers’ licence you will find it hard to get to work on time. For this reason, having a drivers’ licence will be essential.

Some jobs involve a lot of travel. Typically these are sales jobs, but if you work for a large company with more than one branch office, you could be called upon to travel to different locations from time to time. You could catch the train, but train travel is not always very convenient, particularly if your destination is nowhere near a station. Without a drivers’ licence, it will be impossible to fulfil the requirements of the job and a candidate with a license and identical skills is likely to come out on top.

Planning Ahead

Entry level jobs or internships are not as demanding as higher tier jobs, so it may not be essential to have a drivers’ licence when you first start looking for work. However, if you are an ambitious type with one eye on the next rung of the career ladder, it makes sense to increase your skillset sooner rather than later. 

Employers look for candidates who are flexible and open to new opportunities. Relying on public transport might not be an issue when you are a lowly intern or trainee manager, but if you have plans to work your way up, being able to drive will surely help your future promotion prospects.

Learning to Drive

Graduates leave university with a lot of debt. Learning to drive isn't cheap, between lessons and testing fees. Practice for the written theory test on Top Tests so you pass on your first try.

It’s not all bad news though. Learning to drive at this stage in your life means it is one less thing to tick off your ‘to-do’ list a few years down the line. Like many graduates, you probably don’t think much beyond the weekend, but being able to a drive is a useful skill in later life. 

Learning to drive is a useful skill and it will make you more employable, so bite the bullet now before it becomes a necessity. You won’t regret it.