Interview expenses

[melock]

When traveling a reasonable amount of distance (at least four or five hours) should you be reimbursed for traveling expenses? Or better yet should they fly you in? Should the company put you up in a hotel? I've only had to stay over a night when traveling for an interview once and the paper put me up in a pretty nice hotel, but didn't pay for gas. I thought that was an even trade. Thoughts?

 

[OnTheRiver]

If someone drives to us from out of town, we pay mileage. If it's a long, long way out, we fly them in. And we pay for the hotel, too.

 

[Shawon Dunston Checks In]

Seems fair. If the place wants you to pony up to come in for the interview, I'm not sure you want to work there.

 

[Ace]

I understand that in other businesses, though, there is very little money for expenses related to interviewing. You're either local or on your own dime.

 

[awriter]

The paper should pay all your expenses. If not, then you might want to think twice about working there. You need to make a good impression, but so do they.

 

[sportschick]

I understand that in other businesses, though, there is very little money for expenses related to interviewing. You're either local or on your own dime.

Depends. My dad's an engineer, and he's never paid for his hotel or other expenses to get to an interview. My sister's an attorney, and again, has never paid a dime. Same thing with my brother, who does medical research.

My mom, who teaches, has never had interview expenses paid. Course she's also always been in the town of the school district she's interviewed at.

 

[awriter]

I understand that in other businesses, though, there is very little money for expenses related to interviewing. You're either local or on your own dime.

This isn't like other businesses, though. People in other industries usually don't have to move to other cities for their next job.

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

I'll tell this story because the newspaper is defunct. In 1983 or 1984 I was talking to the Houston Post about what would have been my first job on a major metro. SE seemed nice, sent me papers to critique. Then I found out that not only wouldn't they pay relocation, they didn't pay interview expenses. I think their circ was a bit more than 300K. Now I was making $375 per week on a mid-major at the time and I figured that airfare, hotel, cabs and meals would have run me more than two weeks' net pay. That's a pretty big gamble considering I had no racing page by which to handicap my chances against the field and did not even know if the track was going to be turf or dirt (how the SE was going to size us up). So I said no thanks, with regrets.

 

[Ace]

I'll tell this story because the newspaper is defunct. In 1983 or 1984 I was talking to the Houston Post about what would have been my first job on a major metro. SE seemed nice, sent me papers to critique. Then I found out that not only wouldn't they pay relocation, they didn't pay interview expenses. I think their circ was a bit more than 300K. Now I was making $375 per week on a mid-major at the time and I figured that airfare, hotel, cabs and meals would have run me more than two weeks' net pay. That's a pretty big gamble considering I had no racing page by which to handicap my chances against the field and did not even know if the track was going to be turf or dirt (how the SE was going to size us up). So I said no thanks, with regrets.

I would have liked your chances on Lasix, but you would have been put out to pasture pretty soon anyway.

 

[Blue_Water]

If they don't offer to pay expenses it's probably a pretty poorly run operation...or one with no cash. Not sure you want to be involved with either.

 

[melock]

So the general consensus is if they're not paying for anything you should really think hard if it's a good place to work or not?

 

[Ace]

So the general consensus is if they're not paying for anything you should really think hard if it's a good place to work or not?

Depends on the job, too. If you are applying to be a preps writer, they might be looking harder local than they would a pro beat writer.

 

[SCEditor]

One thing you've got to consider: Smaller newspapers don't have the budget to pay for people coming down to interview. If you're applying at a big paper or a paper within a big chain, then they should have the money to pay moving expenses or interview expenses. But if you're dealing with a small newspaper or a small chain, then they probably don't have the overall funding for that.

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

So the general consensus is if they're not paying for anything you should really think hard if it's a good place to work or not?

I've given some papers a free one if they happened to be on my vacation itinerary, and so far in one instance I went to work there (and another one years later). But the job market is so tight now that I would not bet serious money that they're going to hire me -- I have to assume that the other people they are serious about are as qualified as I am and only one of us gets the job.

 

[Captain_Kirk]

So the general consensus is if they're not paying for anything you should really think hard if it's a good place to work or not?

I would. I think it gives a real good indication how hard they squeeze a nickel. Most larger companies make it standard practice to pay interviewee expenses like airfare and hotel. Gas would be less clear and could go either way.

Might be worth taking the job for the assignment, but if they're ultra-cheapo on the interview, guess what likely to be on the compensation. And the pay raises (if they exist).

 

[melock]

So the general consensus is if they're not paying for anything you should really think hard if it's a good place to work or not?

I would. I think it gives a real good indication how hard they squeeze a nickel. Most larger companies make it standard practice to pay interviewee expenses like airfare and hotel. Gas would be less clear and could go either way.

Might be worth taking the job for the assignment, but if they're ultra-cheapo on the interview, guess what likely to be on the compensation. And the pay raises (if they exist).

That's the line of thinking. If they won't pay for travel expenses what would the salary be like?

 

[TyWebb]

Agree with SCEditor. Starting out, interviewing at small places, no one paid. When I finally interviewed at a paper over 50K, I was shocked that they were paying for not only the hotel and gas, but also lunch and dinner. I think it just depends on the shop. You can take it into consideration when deciding, but I would not make it a deal-breaker.

 

[melock]

Agree with SCEditor. Starting out, interviewing at small places, no one paid. When I finally interviewed at a paper over 50K, I was shocked that they were paying for not only the hotel and gas, but also lunch and dinner. I think it just depends on the shop. You can take it into consideration when deciding, but I would not make it a deal-breaker.

I agree with you. I was just wondering what everyone else thought. It's still early so there's time to maybe get something out of the deal or at least find out if it's worth the drive/flight.

 

[jambalaya]

If you have to stay overnight, yes, they should foot the bill for your hotel.

But if you're just driving in, I'm not sure they owe you gas money. In that situation, taking the candidate to a meal should suffice as "repayment" of your expenses. I had this happen once and they took me to lunch. That was fair.

Other jobs, that take overnight to get there, have paid flight, hotel, car, food, etc.

 

[melock]

If you have to stay overnight, yes, they should foot the bill for your hotel.

But if you're just driving in, I'm not sure they owe you gas money. In that situation, taking the candidate to a meal should suffice as "repayment" of your expenses. I had this happen once and they took me to lunch. That was fair.

Other jobs, that take overnight to get there, have paid flight, hotel, car, food, etc.

Agreed. Something that isn't a far drive, lunch is fine. If it's a hike paying for a hotel is the least they could do.