interview travelI have agreed to drive 3 1/2 hours for my 3rd interview, with the "big" guy. I will have to take a vacation day from current job, and gas is almost $3 a gallon. Should I ask for some type of compensation or reimbursement for my time and travel? If it were me, I' d ask, very tactfully, if the company has a policy regarding reimbursement for mileage or gas. If they don' t have a policy, you can explain, again very tactfully, that it is a 3 1/2 hour drive and that you understand that some companies will reimburse either gas expense or mileage. If they say their policy is not to reimburse any expense, then don' t push it. Years ago, many companies did pay these types of travel expenses, but as I understand it, this practice is going by the wayside. If this were your first interview, I wouldn' t bring this up at all, but since you are this far down the road (no pun intended!) with them, you both have enough invested that I think the question is appropriate. And of course, if you ask about them having a policy, rather than asking outright to be reimbursed, you cannot be perceived as being demanding and high maintenance! As I see it, no harm in asking politely! If it were me and I wanted the job (and I' d already agreed to make the drive), I wouldn' t in a million years ask for reimbursement. This is an investment in your future. If they don' t offer to reimburse you for the gas, I think it would be terrible form, considering where you are in the process to ask. If they do pay, they' ll probably have a form or excel sheet for it. Fill in everything, mileage, meals, tolls, etc, otherwise you just look like you can' t fill out a form. I' ve always been paid travel expenses, I' ve never been paid for my time. So, if they don' t offer, I shouldn' t ask for it? They are a Fortune 300 company with over 9 billion in revenue last year. Would it be wrong, or unprofessional for me to ask? Someone else said it is an investment for my future and would never ask. You are called the expert, so would most companies offer reimbursement for this? I' ve never been in this situation. If that is the case and this company does not, should I look at that as how they would treat me once employed? Yes, I think it' s unprofessional to ask, regardless of whether you' re offered the job or not. If they have a policy that covers the travel costs of candidates who they invite for interviews, I' m sure they' ll tell you about it. If they don' t mention it, they probably don' t. It won' t be a matter of being reimbursed you if only you had asked about it. They either do or they don' t. If you' re determined, however, to inquire about recovering the cost of going to the interview, I suppose you could quietly ask the secretary before you leave if they have a policy about reimbursing job candidates for travel expenses. But I certainly would not make a fuss about asking or a fuss about complaining if they don' t. You' ve got a common misconception going. They' re a big company with lots of money so they can give me what I want (travel money, relocation, bonus, bigger salary, whatever). It just doesn' t work like that. They have a process that they follow that either includes this or it doesn' t. For something entry-level or thereabouts, few (if any) companies do any reimbursing for travel (big or small). There' s lots of "you", so if you don' t want to make the trip, someone else does. In a high executive position or a specialized and unique skill set, things may be different. Asking about reimbursement for this trip, especially after you' ve agreed to do it just makes you look petty. That' s not a trait an employer wants. I realize it may not be a small amount to you, but that' s how it looks to the big company. If you want the job, it just isn' t worth putting doubts in their heads, especially since they' re at a point where they may well be trying to decide between two of you. In my experience, when I've been asked to travel to an interview that is quite a distance from my home (be it via air or auto), talk of reimbursement or complete payment by the company for airline tickets or hotel is brought up by the HR Rep. If they don't mention it, I would not mention it, unless it's a major expense like airline tickets. Remember too that if they don't pay, you could possibly claim it on your taxes. | |
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