Traveling Expenses

[Doug86]

Hi guys,

I am applying for a role that requires a 600 mile round trip and a stay in a hotel for an exam relating to the interview process. This is only because I am located 'Oop North' and the job is 'Darn Sarf'. Is it reasonable to expect travelling costs to be reimbursed? I have sent an e-mail asking about the situation but I will not get a reply till tomorrow at the earliest.

If it makes any difference the role is in the public sector.

Thanks

Doug

[CLK-GTR]

I've never heard of a job that doesnt reimburse reasonable travel expenses. Then again ive never applied to the public sector

[greygoose]

If you don't already work in the public sector then I think it'd be unlikely that they would reimburse travel expenses. Are you just staying in a hotel as it is so far away or is the selection test spread over two days?

If you were unemployed then the DSS used to pay for travel costs to interviews but this scheme may have been scrapped as it was fifteen years ago when I got my free train ticket for an interview.

[H_Kan]

CLK-GTR said:

I've never heard of a job that doesnt reimburse reasonable travel expenses. Then again ive never applied to the public sector

If I worked for somebody then I would expect to be compensated however applying to work for them is a bit different.

I applied to a few grad schemes etc, granted they were in London and so am I, but none of them have except one offered to cover any travel fees. To be fair, I never asked either as at most I spent a tenner on travel.

[Shaolin]

I once applied for a job near Reading when I lived in St.Andrews. They said in advance that they would pay travel / accom expenses. I flew down as it was cheaper than train + hotel and I could be back the same day - they paid up, though I was prepared for them to only reimburse the train fare. That was for a governemnt organization but was about 20 years ago. Don't ask - don't get.

[Doug86]

I would go down and back the same day but the exam is at 9:30am so I am not about to leave mine at 5am and drive down there for the 4 hour exam and then drive back

I know from a previous job interview they covered all my travel expenses but that was a private company and not public sector.

[mouk786]

Where I work they recently paid someones travel expenses and even got someoen to run one of them back to the station - I dunno if they would pay huge amounts for something like a 600 mile roudn trip

[CLK-GTR]

H_Kan said:

CLK-GTR said:

I've never heard of a job that doesnt reimburse reasonable travel expenses. Then again ive never applied to the public sector

If I worked for somebody then I would expect to be compensated however applying to work for them is a bit different.

I applied to a few grad schemes etc, granted they were in London and so am I, but none of them have except one offered to cover any travel fees. To be fair, I never asked either as at most I spent a tenner on travel.

hmmm im in london and all the interviews i went to offered to pay expenses. some of the bigger places even flew people from other countries.

[Doug86]

Just got the reply and they will not be covering my expenses.

Thats £150 that I haven't got as I am a fresh graduate

Time to check the back of the couch methinks!

[rude-boy]

Doug86 said:

Just got the reply and they will not be covering my expenses.

Thats £150 that I haven't got as I am a fresh graduate

Time to check the back of the couch methinks!

Unusual, g/f was with Local Government employers for many years and was always paid travel expenses for IVs

[Puggit]

Strange - the trains I catch are always full of public sector bods in first class... I would have thought they'd double over backwards to waste more money...

[Mr POD]

Puggit said:

Strange - the trains I catch are always full of public sector bods in first class... I would have thought they'd double over backwards to waste more money...

It stems from when the railways were state owned, when sending people fist class cost nothing, but was used as a way of funding the railways through the back door.

For the OP, it's a real bugger they won't pay your travel expences, but if you are claiming job seekers allowance you may be able to get help. If asked about commitment in the interview, you might point out you were committed enough to spend £X to come for interview.