A dad-of-two cycled 50 kilometres for an interview after being unable to afford a taxi – and landed the job.
Parachute Regiment veteran Rob Vigar, 31, found himself at a loose end after quitting his job as a plastic welder in March this year.
After dozens of job applications, Rob, from Colchester, was offered an interview for a warehouse operative job over 31 miles away in Stowmarket.
But the single dad of twin girls had been left strapped for cash after leaving his last role, meaning he could not afford a £60 Uber to the interview.
And after an offer of a lift fell through, he decided to jump on his bike for the journey – setting off at 2.30am to make a 5.45am appointment.
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It took Rob two hours and 25 minutes to get to the interview, which saw him start a 13-week trial period a week later.
Rob, now a warehouse worker, said: ‘I’ve done many arduous things like this in my life. I’ve always ridden bikes and done any outdoor activity.
‘That’s why it doesn’t really faze me. The cycle was nothing. I physically had no other option because I’m a single father of twin girls, and I needed the job.
‘Of course it’s going to be tiring, but my mindset is ‘I have to get there, and I have to achieve this goal’.’
Rob, who shared the trip on social media, made it to the warehouse at 4.55am – 50 minutes before the interview.
This left him with plenty of time to freshen up and get changed before the interview started.
He added: ‘When I left my job, I discovered quickly that I needed to find something because of my daughters. This job came up and offered me structure, routine and time to spend with my children.
‘I had a plan to get there through a lift with other people, and that fell through. I checked all Ubers, and they were all 60-odd pounds, and I wasn’t in the financial situation to pay that, so I just said ‘this is clearly the start of my journey and I have to do this’.’
The interview went well, and Rob was offered a 13-week trial period with the company, leaving him over the moon.
‘I’m feeling on top of the world about it, he said. ‘I’m ready to move forward with my life.’
He got the train back to Colchester so he could arrive home in time for his daughters’ school day ending.
But he plans to repeat the journey by bike every day until his first pay comes through.
‘At the moment, I’m not in a financial situation to afford a vehicle or any form of public transport,’ he said.
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