Going on an interview with travel involved

[erub]

I have an interview at the beginning of Feb. The company is in a small city where flying from Atlanta is quite expensive (and complicated). They asked me for a few dates, and I gave them two, and they chose one. They said that their travel agent will contact me, about arriving on Thursday night before the interview, and leaving on Friday after the interview.

However, I learned that my school is playing basketball a couple of hundred miles away on Saturday. I am willing to pay all costs associated with the rental car (for the days after Friday) and for my hotel cost for Friday and Saturday to go to the game. Furthermore, it would be cheaper for them to fly me out of the city near the game on Sunday (bigger city) than for them to fly me out of their city on Friday. Do you think that the travel agent will be allowed to do this?

 

[Qacer]

Normally, if it translates to cost savings, then they might take you up on your offer. Plus, tell them you'd like to look around the area for a few days.

 

[Descartes]

It depends, but often not. Many will only accept expenses from specific locations, and there's not much you can do about it. I've had to deal with this on numerous occasions, because I often take a detour when visiting clients on other locations.

 

[sjwaste]

They will, but you should offer to cover the cost difference if it turns out more expensive to fly on Sunday. When you talk to the travel agent, ask first if they would be willing to do it at all, letting them know you'll cover the cost difference. If they don't sound annoyed that they have to do extra work to accomodate you, let them check, but if they sound annoyed, tell them the original arrangements are fine. Remember, how you treat support staff is often looked at. Be nice to everyone you meet in the company. They are the gatekeepers.

 

[courtjester123]

My 2 cents...forget about the game unless it's more important than your job interview. I assume you're already going to have a rental car, which will be charged to your credit card, and they will reimburse you that cost plus other expenses. How will you handle submitting a receipt for the car rental and asking them to only reimburse you for a portion of it? A handwritten note subtracting your extra days? That won't play well with a corporate accounts payable department. It would seem a better choice to play it straight for this trip.

I guess I see one possibility. Leave out any talk about a rental car. Tell the travel agent you are considering a visit to a friend in another city, and inquire if you can get a return flight from the other city as an alternative. If they go for this, rent your own car only for the trip to the game and pay for your own hotel. If they ask how you're getting to your friend's, tell them he/she will handle all your other transportation. This way, you have a standard set of rental car receipts (and gas) plus hotel receipts, that this company can reimburse you for.

 

[Firebot]

Originally posted by: erub
I have an interview at the beginning of Feb. The company is in a small city where flying from Atlanta is quite expensive (and complicated). They asked me for a few dates, and I gave them two, and they chose one. They said that their travel agent will contact me, about arriving on Thursday night before the interview, and leaving on Friday after the interview.

However, I learned that my school is playing basketball a couple of hundred miles away on Saturday. I am willing to pay all costs associated with the rental car (for the days after Friday) and for my hotel cost for Friday and Saturday to go to the game. Furthermore, it would be cheaper for them to fly me out of the city near the game on Sunday (bigger city) than for them to fly me out of their city on Friday. Do you think that the travel agent will be allowed to do this?

Job over leisure.

While it might seem like a good idea to ask, and you may be able to get the agent's approval, this won't look all that great to your interviewer. Just go to the job interview and concentrate on getting that. You can get all the leisure you want after you have secured the job.

 

[bctbct]

You do not want to start off a business relationship like this.

 

[DainBramaged]

Originally posted by: Firebot

Originally posted by: erub
I have an interview at the beginning of Feb. The company is in a small city where flying from Atlanta is quite expensive (and complicated). They asked me for a few dates, and I gave them two, and they chose one. They said that their travel agent will contact me, about arriving on Thursday night before the interview, and leaving on Friday after the interview.

However, I learned that my school is playing basketball a couple of hundred miles away on Saturday. I am willing to pay all costs associated with the rental car (for the days after Friday) and for my hotel cost for Friday and Saturday to go to the game. Furthermore, it would be cheaper for them to fly me out of the city near the game on Sunday (bigger city) than for them to fly me out of their city on Friday. Do you think that the travel agent will be allowed to do this?

Job over leisure.

While it might seem like a good idea to ask, and you may be able to get the agent's approval, this won't look all that great to your interviewer. Just go to the job interview and concentrate on getting that. You can get all the leisure you want after you have secured the job.

I agree.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: bctbct
You do not want to start off a business relationship like this.

 

[Tobolo]

Originally posted by: DainBramaged

Originally posted by: Firebot

Originally posted by: erub
I have an interview at the beginning of Feb. The company is in a small city where flying from Atlanta is quite expensive (and complicated). They asked me for a few dates, and I gave them two, and they chose one. They said that their travel agent will contact me, about arriving on Thursday night before the interview, and leaving on Friday after the interview.

However, I learned that my school is playing basketball a couple of hundred miles away on Saturday. I am willing to pay all costs associated with the rental car (for the days after Friday) and for my hotel cost for Friday and Saturday to go to the game. Furthermore, it would be cheaper for them to fly me out of the city near the game on Sunday (bigger city) than for them to fly me out of their city on Friday. Do you think that the travel agent will be allowed to do this?

Job over leisure.

While it might seem like a good idea to ask, and you may be able to get the agent's approval, this won't look all that great to your interviewer. Just go to the job interview and concentrate on getting that. You can get all the leisure you want after you have secured the job.

I agree.

Agreed

 

[gopunk]

i'd say it depends on the custom for your field... law firms do this all the time with their summer associate interviewees