Since I am going to try and land a job in the automotive field, I thought it would help show my interest level. What do you guys think, is it appropriate to mention this?

 

Put it under "Hobbies and Interests" or some such heading. Road Racing is on mine - has made a useful conversation piece during interviews.

 

Good for a conversation starter....

 

I put it under hobbies and interests as well. Being into things automotive including racing got me a job that I wasn't the "best" candidate for. My boss loved cars. Muhahahaha

 

Yup I did under "Other Interests". Since it's an easy thing to talk about makes for great conversation which makes a lasting impression on your future employer.

Just don't BS about autocrossing though - cause you never know if your future employer is also an autocrosser

You - "Yeah I got the triple crown trophy for 1999"
Employer - "Oh really? I got that same trophy for 1999"

DOH!

 

I put in under my hobbies section. It does help strike up a conversation.

Warren

 

I don't believe it's on mine... But then again, I'm a girl who does it, not a guy, and I don't want them to know how weird I am before I can even get the interview!

 

indeed i would. Mine used to have drag racign on it and still does. When i was in for an intereview if the guy doing it liked cars we would sit and talk forever and have no toehr time to ask anything else. I talked to a guy one time about a stroked B16A on boost that currently did 9.95 this spring in a 5th gen hatch. He wa a muscel guy an couldnt believe what a ciivc was doing. I was hired on the spot and to this day we still talk abotu cars everyday.

 

I put it on mine too and it started some interesting conversations towards the end of interviews... Very positive, IMO... You'd be surprised how interesting most people find the topic...

I'm in the IT field BTW. I'm sure it would be even more helpful in the automotive field...

 

You should just put automobile racing. They aren't gonna know what autocross is. Sounds like cross country skiing to me.

I always refer to it as car racing. Because no one has a clue what autox is.

 

I call it parking lot racing to those who don't know. I don't think that would look too good on a resume.

 

definitely put it on. all the reasons mentioned are valid.

dan

 

Ditto on the Interests and hobbies. If you are a member of the SCCA put that as well. Autocross also shows your competitive.

 

i have it on my resume as well, but have only been racing a year and have had this job a little longer. but from my prior interviews, often it is the totally unrelated to the job talk that can really make you stand out from the field of candidates. also, when applying for many "office" jobs, the job-related fields of the resume can get dry really fast. it's important to have something of "color" on your resume, if for no other reason than to make you appear like a person with interests, not a robot who just does work.

the competitive nature of racing is also a plus in many lines of work. and that it isn't a "mainstream" sport in this country (like football, baseball, basketball, etc.) you can be seen as more original, a risk taker, etc...

jmo

 

I'm a little wary to put it on my resume here in Vancouver with all the street racing going on. I think a lot of people think anything having to do with a car racing is a crime. If I do put it down I say "CACC sanctioned autocross car racing" or something official sounding.

As a sidebar on street racing I think they have a law here now that if you're pulled over with any power enhancing modifications you have to remove them and get inspected afterwards. The governments just got to get its dirty little fingers in everything.

 

Hello Robin,

You wrote "As a sidebar on street racing I think they have a law here now that if you're pulled over with any power enhancing modifications you have to remove them and get inspected afterwards."

You know this is not true, if you are not doing anything illegal to begin with the chances of getting pulled over are very small. And as long as the modifications are street legal and do not contravene the BC Motor Vehicle Act, they will pass inspection and do not need to be removed, power enhancing modifications included.

 

Well, I don't know the details of it, just something I heard on the local news. It's a richmond bylaw I think. Not that it affects me at all since my car is bone stock basically. But you're right, I guess I shouldn't believe everything I hear on TV.

 

I also put it on my resume in a "Clubs and Organizations" section. Being involved as a Board of Director and the Autocross Chair, I feel that not only does it add interest to the resume, but it also shows that I'm a leader. If you do more than just show up and participate in an event, put down those extra things too.


[Modified by Shmeek, 8:57 AM 9/12/2002]

 

Check the last line of http://www.evaluand.com/portal/kkresume.pdf

(gratuitously posts resume to troll for job - anyone here dean of an ed school?)



K

 

I'd put
SCCA SoloII Participant

 

it is a very good conversation starter with the interviewer, i know it prolly helped me land my current co-op job. People like to hear the future employee talking about what they like to do most, it shows dedication and intelligence

 

dont put SCCA. Put Sports Car Club of America. Not everyone knows what certain acronyms are, its best to spell them all out