asking for travel expenses to interview..?

asking for travel expenses to interview..?

Author
Discussion

2seas

Original Poster:

3,678 posts

183 months

Sunday 20th September 2009
quotequote all
is it cheeky to ask to be reimbursed for your travel to an interview? the worry is that asking may be used against you by the interviewer even if they wouldn't mention so out loud...

CommanderJameson

22,096 posts

226 months

Sunday 20th September 2009
quotequote all
2seas said:
is it cheeky to ask to be reimbursed for your travel to an interview?
Yes.

Iain328

12,071 posts

206 months

Sunday 20th September 2009
quotequote all
2seas said:
is it cheeky to ask to be reimbursed for your travel to an interview? the worry is that asking may be used against you by the interviewer even if they wouldn't mention so out loud...
It depends on how far you have to go & whether they asked you/head hunted you.

If its just a regular job that dozens of other people are competing for then its your problem. If its a case of someone in New York approaching you & asking you to come & see them then different story - maybe.

mrmr96

13,736 posts

204 months

Sunday 20th September 2009
quotequote all
IMO it depends on the position applied for, your financial position, type of company and the costs incurred.
When I was a poor undergraduate going for my first post uni job the expenses were generally paid as I was travelling to national training centres for very big companies. Now I'm reasonably well off I wouldn't ask.

Scraggles

7,619 posts

224 months

Sunday 20th September 2009
quotequote all
asked for one job, mind you it was travelling from slough to bristol on the train, got it when I got the job, guy had spotted one word on my cv and that was the only reason why I got the job, supposed to be a junior member of an asbestos team, on getting to the site found they were into groundwater and only knowledge of asbestos was the roof on the other side of the site....

was project manager for an asbestos survey and due dilligence audit, one of the contractors said that there was no way he would have taken it on, but needed a job smile

Kermit power

28,641 posts

213 months

Sunday 20th September 2009
quotequote all
If it's in another country, I'd expect them to pay. If it's not, I wouldn't.

The exception to that would be graduate recruitment straight out of Uni, but you're not in that position.

okgo

37,999 posts

198 months

Sunday 20th September 2009
quotequote all
Its just awkward. I wouldn't, and don't.

Sods Law

3,280 posts

225 months

Sunday 20th September 2009
quotequote all
Im off to Euro land next week expenses paid, however in the UK Its cheeky, see it as your first journey to your new office

Kermit power

28,641 posts

213 months

Sunday 20th September 2009
quotequote all
haworthlloyd1 said:
I would. If they don't pay then it would, to me, show them up as being a poor company to work for.

If they won't pay the expenses then what will they treat you like as an employee?
Would you expect them to pay the cost of your daily commute to the office? Why would an interview be any different?

shouldbworking

4,769 posts

212 months

Sunday 20th September 2009
quotequote all
if youd have to relocate if you took the job I would.

Engineer1

10,486 posts

209 months

Sunday 20th September 2009
quotequote all
If the company are offering relocation assistance then asking for travel expenses is possibly acceptable, also if you are unemployed you used to be able to claim travel to and from interviews.

Nolar Dog

8,786 posts

195 months

Sunday 20th September 2009
quotequote all
haworthlloyd1 said:
If they won't pay the expenses then what will they treat you like as an employee?
If you won't make a small initial investment in your career what sort of employee will you be?

T89 Callan

8,422 posts

193 months

Sunday 20th September 2009
quotequote all
If you're on Jobseekers allowance then they will give you travel expenses to interviews. I got expenses to drive from Bristol to Derby for an interview and it was a big help.

If you already have a job then yes it is bloody cheeky.

Davel

8,982 posts

258 months

Sunday 20th September 2009
quotequote all
So if you're interviewing say 20 or so people, would you expect the potential employer to pay everyone's expenses for attending an interview?

If you've applied for the job and been selected for an interview, then no you shouldn't ask.

If the employer has approached you and you are faced with a very long trip, or maybe overnight accomodation, tell them that it will be expensive for you to attend even though you are interested and see if they offer.

I wouldn't push it personally.

Jasandjules

69,866 posts

229 months

Sunday 20th September 2009
quotequote all
2seas said:
is it cheeky to ask to be reimbursed for your travel to an interview? the worry is that asking may be used against you by the interviewer even if they wouldn't mention so out loud...
Totally depends on the circumstances of the interview IMHO.

spikeyhead

17,297 posts

197 months

Sunday 20th September 2009
quotequote all
Got paid expenses many times when I was early in my career. These days I wouldn't dream of it unless someone wanted em to travel abroad for an interview.

I was offered travel expenses to the last permanent job interview I had, about eight years ago. I told them that it had only cost me £5, and that it would cost far more for them to process the paperwork so it just wasn't worth it. I got the job.

bunyarra

310 posts

212 months

Monday 21st September 2009
quotequote all
We will offer to pay if they have come a long way; especially if it is a relatively low paid job and thus the costs are significant to their personal budget. It is a judgement call on a case by case basis.

If an interviewee asked for expenses, we will generally pay them. However, it might well affect our decision, even if unconsciously, depending no how they put the request.

Deva Link

26,934 posts

245 months

Monday 21st September 2009
quotequote all
For my last but one job I had to drive a 400 mile round trip which I did in my company car.

They were somewhat taken aback when I asked for expenses but I explained that I had to pay for anything more than a few private miles per week and I couldn't lose 400 miles. They paid up and I got the job.

JonRB

74,506 posts

272 months

Monday 21st September 2009
quotequote all
As a graduate back in 1993 it was considered fairly normal to ask for your travelling expenses when being interviewed for a job.

However, I very much doubt it is the norm now. Certainly were I to go back to being a permanent employee (I've been freelance for 10 years now) then I wouldn't expect travelling expenses.

Medic-one

3,105 posts

203 months

Monday 21st September 2009
quotequote all
Kermit power said:
If it's in another country, I'd expect them to pay. If it's not, I wouldn't.
I came over from Holland for a job interview and assessments when i applied to this job and didn't got offered anything, but also didn't dare asking for it, i just wanted the job and was affraid if i started moaning about money they'd soon find somebody else.

There's enough people over here who want to join the ambulance service so if they would have to pay for foreigners to come over i'm sure they'd sooner pick a UK person.