Interviews: Company not paying for travel expenses

PasturesNew

In over 35 years of working, in several parts of the country, for permanent jobs, temporary jobs, contract jobs .... loads .... I have never ever been paid a penny of interview expenses. So, in my experience, it's the norm. Even back in the days when you didn't get paid annual leave, so attending meant losing a day's pay from a current job.... then it was a double whammy if you dared apply for another job.

Oldernotwiser

dseventy wrote: »

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

Hardly new, you always used to get them, More a new thing that you don't, because of the recession.

donquine

In response to some of the above posts, it is normal for graduate employers to pay travel expenses - standard class/normal mileage only, with their choice of hotel if you're coming from afar.

I would expect travel expenses to be reimbursed by the interviewing company if it was a graduate role, or an experienced professional role.

At the less skilled end of the market, I would hope the Job Centre would reimburse such expenses, but I have no idea whether or not they do. It certainly would be a shame for people to be put off attending interviews just because of cost.

I wonder if someone could clarify the Job Centre policy on travel? Would be interesting to know.

dmg24

donquine wrote: »

In response to some of the above posts, it is normal for graduate employers to pay travel expenses - standard class/normal mileage only, with their choice of hotel if you're coming from afar.

I would expect travel expenses to be reimbursed by the interviewing company if it was a graduate role, or an experienced professional role.

At the less skilled end of the market, I would hope the Job Centre would reimburse such expenses, but I have no idea whether or not they do. It certainly would be a shame for people to be put off attending interviews just because of cost.

I wonder if someone could clarify the Job Centre policy on travel? Would be interesting to know.

The JCP have a discretionary fund for travel expenses. Up until a few years ago this was very generous, and anyone who was travelling outside their normal jobseeking area would be granted funds. Now it is far more limited, and the JCP will want to see proof that you cannot afford to go otherwise. Also, the individual will need to be in receipt of a qualifying benefit, such as JSA.

Oldernotwiser

PasturesNew wrote: »

In over 35 years of working, in several parts of the country, for permanent jobs, temporary jobs, contract jobs .... loads .... I have never ever been paid a penny of interview expenses. So, in my experience, it's the norm. Even back in the days when you didn't get paid annual leave, so attending meant losing a day's pay from a current job.... then it was a double whammy if you dared apply for another job.

Oh dear, your experience is the opposite of mine!

(Paid holidays were introduced in 1939; you can't be that old!)

dmg24

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Oh dear, your experience is the opposite of mine!

(Paid holidays were introduced in 1939; you can't be that old!)

I've been paid for public sector (including a nice little trip to Belfast, where I got offered a job despite being unable to understand anyone!), but I can't recall ever being offered expenses in the private sector.

That 'The British at Work' prog last night said about the introduction of paid holidays - they used to get one week!

(Sorry, rambling ... jelly beans!)

dseventy

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 .

Can you point me to the nasty comments? I must have missed them.

D70

ManiaMuse

Job centre will pay travel expenses on travel to interview scheme if you clear it with them before you attend the interview (they phone up the company to check it is a real interview). I managed to get them to pay travel expenses for one interview after I attended it because I hadn't been to the back to work session yet which explains how to claim.

However the job centre is really stingy and won't pay travel expenses to an interview for unpaid internships or work experience, which is ridiculous because you wouldn't be able to claim JSA or be classed as unemployed if you were offered an internship over 16 hours a week.

The impression I got when they contacted me to say I couldn't claim for expenses to an unpaid internship (and promptly wasted half an hour of their time going round in circles) is that they are looking to scrap the travel to interview scheme.

Blackpool_Saver

I was referring to the comment "life is tough get used to it"

dmg24

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

I was referring to the comment "life is tough get used to it"

That is not nasty, it is reality. Have you noticed the state of the job market?