Willingness to travel - job interview question

sara53

Hi guys

I have a bit of a dilemma and need some advice. Last week I had a job interview for a management consulting role. I was asked during the interview if I would be willing to travel outside of the city and potentially even the country. Now, I have been working as a consultant for a few years now and I know this is a standard question for such roles. So i answered yes.
However, realistically I am unable to travel due to my family circumstances - previous employees have been understanding and I have not been asked to take projects outside of the city.

I received an offer with a higher than expected pay package. What do I do now??? Accept the offer and then when asked to travel explain the situation? Or arrange a follow up meeting with the partner and clarify before accepting the offer?

I dont want to lose my credibility because I am seen to be dishonest...just the interview was going so well and I couldnt risk not getting an offer because I screwed up one question..

Appreciate any words of wisdom!

browneyedbazzi

What are the circumstances that prevent you from being able to travel? Are they of a temporary/intermittent nature that would allow you to travel sometimes but restrict you others, or is it a long term/permanent thing?

Hang_Tight_Harry

You need to be honest with your potential employer. If you can't travel as required, then you need to tell them that.

Phil_68

During your interview, did you not ask how often - how far?

You could then have given them an honest answer. No matter how you approach this, you will have damaged your reputation, so go for damage limitation. Ask the question and work out a plan to work around it or give up your new role.

It may turn out that you won't need to travel as often as you think - not asking = not knowing

Phil.

ILW

I would immediatly retract any offer due to being lied to at interview. Sorry but there is no excuse.

pawsies

In this day and age I think you did the right thing. As soon as you say 'no' to an interviewer you seem to get struck off so in order to even be considered sometimes you have to bend the truth a bit.

My partner went for a transfer within the same company to a closer store. Asked if he would be happy to work weekends. His words 'I'd prefer not to but I'd have no objection'

They said because he was resilient to working weekends they wouldn't take him on.

Now, I would be honest and maybe compromise. 'I could work x y z but I'm afraid I have committments on 'a b c' etc

bluenoseam

The right thing would have been to say "due to circumstances I can't commit to that" - sorry, but you answered in the positive to the question when you knew the answer should have been negative. If I were you I'd explain to the potential employer but I'd also be ready for the fact they could potentially retract the offer based on inability to fulfill the full job description.

bap98189

The interview is for a Management Consultant. Travelling to client's sites is going to be a requirement. If you are not able to do this, you need to tell them now, otherwise you are only going to be working there for a short time before they show you the door.

Carcluster

I think as long as you can do some travelling? The fact that you have the offer, or an even better offer, means they should be open to trying to make it work - clearly you must have been what they were looking for on all counts. I should go ahead and make the situation clear before you accept, they should appreciate your honesty (have your best situation ready in case that's what they ultimate want you to commit to). Well done on landing the offer, it's tough nowadays.

p00hsticks

sara53 wrote: »

I received an offer with a higher than expected pay package. What do I do now??? Accept the offer and then when asked to travel explain the situation? Or arrange a follow up meeting with the partner and clarify before accepting the offer?

Definitely the latter -clarify how much travel they will be expecting from you and in turn let them know clearly what you can and can't manage, and then - if the offer is not withdrawn - consider whether to accept it or not.

Definitely don't just accept the offer and then refuse to travel - it's messing everyone about and chances are you'll just end up with your employement terminated, which is not going to look good on a CV.

Fluff15

p00hsticks wrote: »

Definitely the latter -clarify how much travel they will be expecting from you and in turn let them know clearly what you can and can't manage, and then - if the offer is not withdrawn - consider whether to accept it or not.

Definitely don't just accept the offer and then refuse to travel - it's messing everyone about and chances are you'll just end up with your employement terminated, which is not going to look good on a CV.

I agree with this, although I do think you should have asked more about it at the interview. However, it's all well and good looking back in hindsight so that doesn't matter! Just ask for a follow up and good luck :T