Interview and the company not paying for travel

[richardycc]

sure, you can write off job search expenses, so why not.

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: SunnyD
Well the question that you should be asking yourself - is it a "huge" enough jump in salary to make this hassle worth your time? If yes, then take it up the ass like a big boy for the initial interview (though they really should be willing to do this over the phone - odds are because it's client facing however, this is why they won't).

If you end up with an interview with the actual company, well then the company should be willing to pay for travel (at the very least reimburse). Even small companies have travel budgets, and interviews are part of that budget.

Again - is the job what you're looking for exactly, will you be happy, and is the salary that you'd potentially be getting worth it ... to YOU?

The job itself is interesting. I know the general field the company is in and that is about it. The job description is...interesting. There is both a technical component as well as a social? component. It would be managing an outsourced group as well as some internal people (which I have never done). I would say that I am completely confident that I can learn the technical knowledge needed, but am more unsure about the management/client-facing aspects as I have never done it. I also REALLY hate sales, but it does not look like the position involves this. The position is basically two steps above where I am at in my career now. For comparison, I make ~$38k/year now. The job pays at least 60k and while the cost of living is much higher it should still make a significant difference in my disposable income (almost none at my current job).

So, since the job has responsibilities I am unfamiliar with it is hard to be sure how much I would like it.

Going by what you?ve said in this post, I doubt you?d have a chance of getting the job anyway.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: RichUK

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: SunnyD
Well the question that you should be asking yourself - is it a "huge" enough jump in salary to make this hassle worth your time? If yes, then take it up the ass like a big boy for the initial interview (though they really should be willing to do this over the phone - odds are because it's client facing however, this is why they won't).

If you end up with an interview with the actual company, well then the company should be willing to pay for travel (at the very least reimburse). Even small companies have travel budgets, and interviews are part of that budget.

Again - is the job what you're looking for exactly, will you be happy, and is the salary that you'd potentially be getting worth it ... to YOU?

The job itself is interesting. I know the general field the company is in and that is about it. The job description is...interesting. There is both a technical component as well as a social? component. It would be managing an outsourced group as well as some internal people (which I have never done). I would say that I am completely confident that I can learn the technical knowledge needed, but am more unsure about the management/client-facing aspects as I have never done it. I also REALLY hate sales, but it does not look like the position involves this. The position is basically two steps above where I am at in my career now. For comparison, I make ~$38k/year now. The job pays at least 60k and while the cost of living is much higher it should still make a significant difference in my disposable income (almost none at my current job).

So, since the job has responsibilities I am unfamiliar with it is hard to be sure how much I would like it.

Going by what you?ve said in this post, I doubt you?d have a chance of getting the job anyway.

Indeed. You sound amused by the thought, tantalized by the money, but lack the confidence and/OR skills necessary to be fully competent.

Now I'll be the first one to say never back away from a challenge, especially if it's where you'd like to end up. If you personally think you can do the job (even if you struggle), and are personally willing to pay your way to get there - you have nothing to lose. If it's literally too much of an expense for you to go through this process as listed, I'd say call them up, offer to do a phone interview from your location - or if you can at least swing a trip to the recruiter's office do so. If they won't or you can't, well then that settles it.

If the first phase does work out and you end up interviewing well, you have two options at that point - either ask the same questions of yourself again, and give a call to find out whether the company will fly you in for the in person. If not, then they are likely not as seriously interested as your thought. Otherwise you have to make up your mind to foot the bill for your trip.

Long and the short of it - take it in phases. Sounds like you really should be feeling this one out, cause odds are you may be disappointed in the end.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
Long and the short of it - take it in phases. Sounds like you really should be feeling this one out, cause odds are you may be disappointed in the end.

Let me try to explain my background a bit more and maybe it will make sense. I worked for various companies while in college in part time and occasional summer full time positions. Most of these positions dealt with this niche field in some way (metadata is a large component of it). I developed these systems from scratch for a few companies (just as part of my job). Even my current job deals with it to some extent.

Despite all of this I have not done this kind of work as my full-time professional position. Obviously this makes me a bit uneasy as my experience with small businesses and nonprofits helps but is not the same as experience with a large company whose core business depends on this. In addition to that the whole client-facing aspect of things does have me questioning. I truly dislike sales (I am one of the worlds worst liars and am honest to a fault) so if the "client-facing role" part of it truly is sales in any fashion then I have no interest in it.

Additionally, breaking into this field is extremely difficult, so this could be a major chance for me. I did a search on indeed of the term and came up with all of about 40 results anywhere in the country. Since almost all of these are on the same level, it is hard to get the necessary experience in the first place.

All that said, I am 100% confident in my ability to learn the job, but truly do expect that I have a lot more learning to do than other potential candidates.

 

[krylon]

In order to make money, you have to take risks. Feeling like a pansy noob? Stay where you are. /thread

 

[RichUK]

Let me tell you, if you?ve never held a position which requires a small amount of face-to-face interaction with a client, delivery partner, project director, senior management or whatever, it will certainly be a steep learning curve if you?ve even got a hint of what it takes to uphold the said position.

There are so many skills you need to learn which simply can?t be taught. This is where experience comes in.

But hey, if you don?t ask you don?t get. See how you get one with the telephone interview, then go from there.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: SunnyD
Long and the short of it - take it in phases. Sounds like you really should be feeling this one out, cause odds are you may be disappointed in the end.

Let me try to explain my background a bit more and maybe it will make sense. I worked for various companies while in college in part time and occasional summer full time positions. Most of these positions dealt with this niche field in some way (metadata is a large component of it). I developed these systems from scratch for a few companies (just as part of my job). Even my current job deals with it to some extent.

Despite all of this I have not done this kind of work as my full-time professional position. Obviously this makes me a bit uneasy as my experience with small businesses and nonprofits helps but is not the same as experience with a large company whose core business depends on this. In addition to that the whole client-facing aspect of things does have me questioning. I truly dislike sales (I am one of the worlds worst liars and am honest to a fault) so if the "client-facing role" part of it truly is sales in any fashion then I have no interest in it.

Additionally, breaking into this field is extremely difficult, so this could be a major chance for me. I did a search on indeed of the term and came up with all of about 40 results anywhere in the country. Since almost all of these are on the same level, it is hard to get the necessary experience in the first place.

All that said, I am 100% confident in my ability to learn the job, but truly do expect that I have a lot more learning to do than other potential candidates.

The point is you're unsure. Or are you unsure that you're unsure? Either way - you're unsure.

Get those questions answered first, before you even interview. Put it to the recruiter - bluntly - "Does this job involve any sales at all?" If yes, then you say no.

But again, your entire post there says you're unsure about the whole thing, which means you need to ask yourself whether it is worth the investment. You need questions answered before you can make that decision, so you're either going into an interview blind or you're going to do some legwork first, OR someone is going to have to make a few compromises.

If I were in your position, I'd be asking for travel expenses or a phone interview first if the sales question isn't clearly answered.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Drive the 5hrs to the interview - this is obviously a position you want so sacrificing a day off atthe current job plus some gas money & $60 for a nigt in Motel 6 is relatively cheap.

If the interview goes well and you are interested in the job then spend a few hundred bucks in getting yourslef into a happier job.

This whole process sounds like it would only cost you $500 or less and in todays current job market that aint bad in finding yourself a new & improved job with more pay.

Easy decision! Do it!

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: dmw16
Odd, I thought it was standard practice to pay for travel for interviews.

With that said, if it's just a 5hr drive and you really want the job I'd get in the car and go. But I would push for a phone interview.

No, it is a five hour drive (each way) just to get to where I need to do the phone interview from. It is a flight halfway across the country for a final interview. Both are unpaid.

That really sucks. One small company I interviewed with sent me a reimbursement check for all my interview trip-related expenses (on-site interview). Another company took care of everything up front, including flight and taxi to/from the airport.

When I got an offer from the latter, it wasn't a hard decision to take it over the offer in Helena...

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: polarmystery
it seems odd that they want to interview you but don't want to pay for travel expenses. I thought it was common practice to do so?

They are the recruiting agency, not the employer. The agency probably stands to make $10-15k if they get the OP hired...things are slow now for them so many are desperate.

I wouldn't be surprised if they are pushing 100+ people to show up there and apply.

I'd skip that deal...chances are at that salary they will eliminate anyone not local just to not have to deal with a debate on covering relocation expenses.