Interviews: Company not paying for travel expenses

Simon11 · 11 March 2011 at 6:56PM

Hey

More sort of a rant but hey

Went along to an interview this week for a major company in the transport industry. Took around 4hrs to get there and another 4hrs back+ leaving spare time for delays ect. Total cost of travelling £70- cheapest possible tickets.

Found out today that I haven't got around to the next stage of the interviews, and appreciated the good feedback. However they don't pay expenses:(

As a large well known company, I would have thought it would have been happy to pay for travel expenses (As long as legit) after having given up a whole day plus time preparing for the interview.

What are your thoughts on the issue?

I personally believe that large companies should be thankful for people giving up their time to attend the interviews and should pay for travel expenses. I can understand that for smaller companies, they shouldn't be expected to pay this.

As a student, losing £70 is rather alot:eek:

Blackpool_Saver · 11 March 2011 at 6:58PM

do the job-centre cover travel?

I will ignore any nasty comments if I am wrong.

dseventy · 11 March 2011 at 6:59PM

I am unware of companies that pay for interview expenses. Is this a new thing? Or is the expectation a new thing?

Would it not just be open to massive abuse?

D70

Sambucus_Nigra · 11 March 2011 at 7:03PM

Some do, some don't but it should be covered with them before you attend the interview. However, if you feel like it, you can ask - you never know they might have just forgotten to tell you

Simon11 · 11 March 2011 at 7:04PM

I had an interview with another company a week ago and they were very professional, paying for all travel costs.

Its not open to abuse, as first they only informed you at the end they would pay for any costs and you have to prove them with reciepts.

If it had cost £10 to get there, I wouldn't have an issue with paying that costs, but when its higher I'm more concerned.

SnowyOwl_2 · 11 March 2011 at 7:04PM

It's unfortunately very rare for companies to pay interviewee's travel expenses.
It would be great if they did, but the fact is they don't have to if they don't want to.

If you're unemployed you can get some sort of interview expenses assistance. In your situation though, that's just tough. People who are supporting families on already low income have to pay the same as you and get as much back as you - neither can afford it. Life's tough, get used to it!!

Edited to add: I previously worked for a company in London which paid back interview expenses. Some idiot took this as a carte blanche to book first class air travel from somewhere in Europe, and then of course taxis all the way. What an idiot, of course the company didn't pay! He got back the value of an economy ticket and what the bus/tube would have cost him!!!!

Blackpool_Saver · 11 March 2011 at 7:09PM

hmmm ignore nasty comments, this is a money saving site and it is perfectly acceptable to post a request for information on ways to save money .

bristol_pilot · 11 March 2011 at 7:14PM

I don't think I have ever attended an interview for a professional-level or proper graduate job and NOT received travel/accommodation expenses. In both the public and private sectors. They normally either pay mileage (which they can check against distance to your home address) or tickets upon production of receipts.

If companies are looking for specialists, perhaps people who are likely to already be in jobs then they usually pay expenses. Also relocation expenses for the successful candidate. Otherwise, they are restricting the field of potential candidates to the desperate, unemployed and locals. Which might be fine, depending on the job role. It can easily cost £500+ to attend an interview and as I've already got a job I'm certainly not spending that unless expenses are paid. I wouldn't expect companies looking for local staff for basic jobs with no special skill requirements to pay expenses though.

dmg24 · 11 March 2011 at 7:17PM

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

hmmm ignore nasty comments, this is a money saving site and it is perfectly acceptable to post a request for information on ways to save money .

Unless some posts have been deleted in the past ten minutes, I can't see who your comment is aimed at?

Blackpool_Saver · 11 March 2011 at 7:18PM

can't you, it's still there

dmg24 · 11 March 2011 at 7:20PM

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

can't you, it's still there

No, I cannot. Please elaborate.

Interviews: Company not paying for travel expenses

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