Traveling for an Interview: (1 Viewer)

[Gator Shawn]

I've been in the hiring process for a new position. I've interviewed on the phone with the recruiter. It went great. A few days later he set up an interview with what would be my direct manager. That went well. Two days later we arranged a third phone interview with the VP of Services. It went great as well and they want to bring me up to their home office for a final interview where I would meet a few people in person and give a series of brief presentations covering some projects I've worked on and a case study, where I walk them through a sizing on a potential customer.

This is a fairly small private company, well-funded, so it seems, with a second round of VC money.

They kept me informed of the process and what each step would be along the way and have otherwise been very professional.

Today, I talked to the recruiter to work out the details for my travel up there and he told me it's their policy that I book my own travel and they reimburse me after the fact. I was a bit taken aback by this, but outwardly took it in stride with an "okay sounds good."

Is this unusual? Should I ask for something in writing before I book a fairly short-notice flight on my own dime? 

 

[shadyridr]

The company I WORK for does the same thing to its own EEs and I work for a HUGE global company.

 

[chet]

Doesn't sound completely unreasonable.  Book coach and don't take the flight that would get you there right before the interview.  Take the next earlier one to allow for cancellations/delays etc.

 

[Phil Elliott]

I would focus your energy on the presentations.

 

[gianmarco]

Don't go. It's not worth it.

 

[NutterButter]

Sounds like a trap.  This company is probably in bed with the airlines.

 

[Gator Shawn]

Okay. I get it.

For the record, I didn't think this was an elaborate hoax to get me to spend $300 on a flight. 

I'm just used to a company that has a stranglehold on our travel arrangements and it's been a long time since I've been out in the job market. Perhaps, as it seems to be the case, reimbursement for travel is far more common than I thought.

At any rate, I booked the flight.

 

[Buckychudd]

Make a week of it.  Bring your family, fly first class, stay at the Ritz, expense it all to them.  It'll be fun!

 

[TheAristocrat]

Who are you cornholing with?

 

[eoMMan]

Any other opportunities in that area? Maybe arrange another interview or possibly check out housing/rental possibilities? 

 

[jon_mx]

Make a week of it.  Bring your family, fly first class, stay at the Ritz, expense it all to them.  It'll be fun!

Yeah.  This shows you are both a good family man plus you have a lot of class.  Shark move. 

 

[17seconds]

Okay. I get it.

For the record, I didn't think this was an elaborate hoax to get me to spend $300 on a flight. 

I'm just used to a company that has a stranglehold on our travel arrangements and it's been a long time since I've been out in the job market. Perhaps, as it seems to be the case, reimbursement for travel is far more common than I thought.

At any rate, I booked the flight.

Sucker born every minute

 

[TakiToki]

Mr. Shawn,

We had great times on Talks and can't wait to meet on persons. We also have great news about Travels! Our Department will book all airfare and hotels. Please just reply with Credit Card # and Salary requirements so that we may alert our payrolls the new employee!

Yours Truly,

Bob Smith - Department Manager

 

[cstu]

Should I ask for something in writing before I book a fairly short-notice flight on my own dime? 

Someone is potentially giving you a way out of Orlando and you're worried about reimbursements?

 

[RC94]

I have been in management consulting for most of my career (traveled a lot for work) and I have almost always had to use my own credit card, file an expense report, and get reimbursed.  Only recently has that changed where I now have a corporate card and all expenses go directly to the company.  I still have to file an expense report but no reimbursement.

I have also interviewed in Chicago and in Washington DC for jobs in NYC (I live in the NYC area), both with huge companies, and they both required me to make my own arrangements and then they reimbursed me.  It's much more common in my experience than them paying directly.

Good luck on your interview.

 

[Fishboy]

I own the staffing process for a larg publicly traded company and we fly candidates all over the country for interviews every week

We direct bill the flight but everything else is out of pocket for the candidate and reimbursed.  We reserve the hotel and rental car on behalf of the candidate with our corporate rates. But it's a PITA to be direct billed by either and easier to just have the candidate expense and be reimbursed. The reimbursement process takes about 2-3 weeks for us. Most are reimbursed before they start their first day assuming they submitted promptly. 

Good luck!

 

[matuski]

Okay. I get it.

At any rate, I booked the flight.

I don't think you do get it.

You were supposed to negotiate.  You failed this part of the interview.

 

[Steve Tasker]

The one time I interviewed out of town (many years ago with a NYC accounting firm), they did the reimbursement thing.