Is a job interview worth $150+

[Farang]

Please answer poll assuming you have a useless degree, no experience, and are desperate for any meaningful work.

So in 2 months of applying for jobs I have had 1 interview with a real job (and another for a valet that doesn't count). I have a degree in Social Sciences and no real experience to speak of so basically any job that would give me some sort of office experience would be great, any job which has me use analytical skills is even better, because then I'm not a burger flipper anymore I've acquired some real world experience that will make me much more marketable in the future.

I got called for an interview in Santa Barbara. Problem is I live in Seattle. I figure transportation alone will run me around $130 or more, then I remember there is a hostel right by the train station where I can stay for cheap. I was just in Santa Barbara in December and remember thinking it was an awesome town and how I'd love to live there if I had time to job search. This job is working as a researcher/editor at a well respected institution so it is a chance to get in my foot in the door.

Problem is the lady calling was vague, and said I would meet with someone and then take a test. That smells of a lot of competition, maybe they are testing 100 people for this job. So I feel pretty dumb if I go down there and take a test and walk out the door.

I should also say I'm already running into the red so it isn't like I can really afford this. Am I stupid for considering going? For considering not going?

 

[Corporate Thug]

In this economy, I would probably shell out the cash.

 

[QurazyQuisp]

Why not ask for further information on the interview?

 

[darkxshade]

I'll have a cheeseburgur deluxe... no tomatoes.

 

[nickbits]

Do a phone interview and if they like you enough they want to see you in person negiogate for them to pay for your expenses.

 

[AreaCode707]

What's the job title? Are they going to actually interview you or just test you? Have you had a phone interview/would they do a phone interview first?

I stayed in Carpenteria in March at a little cottage type place that was pretty cheap. Let me dig up the info for you.

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp
Why not ask for further information on the interview?

I guess I could call back but I don't have the lady who called me's name, just the interviewer lady. I was caught off guard by the call, I usually screen these days but the area code was similar to my brother's so I figured it was him (and I knew I hadn't applied to any jobs in Salt Lake).

Maybe I can ask about what to bring as far as writing samples and whatnot and get a better feel for what it is

 

[Farang]

I should also say I lied and put my address as an Extended Stay in santa barbara, like I do with all out-of-state applications otherwise they get thrown out

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: nickbits
Do a phone interview and if they like you enough they want to see you in person negiogate for them to pay for your expenses.

LMAO

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: Farang
I should also say I lied and put my address as an Extended Stay in santa barbara, like I do with all out-of-state applications otherwise they get thrown out

Gah, lying on your resume is a great way to get tossed out of the application pool. You should have put "Seattle (Willing to Relocate at Own Expense)".

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: AreaCode707
What's the job title? Are they going to actually interview you or just test you? Have you had a phone interview/would they do a phone interview first?

I stayed in Carpenteria in March at a little cottage type place that was pretty cheap. Let me dig up the info for you.

that is ok, unless it was under $40. I would probably come in from LAX by train and there is a youth hostel right at the station

It sounds like a combination interview and then test. So it could be mostly interview, with a test of my editing abilities so they know I am good

edit: as for lying, it is not lying about qualifications. If I take the job my address will indeed be the extended stay in santa barara

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: Farang

Originally posted by: AreaCode707
What's the job title? Are they going to actually interview you or just test you? Have you had a phone interview/would they do a phone interview first?

I stayed in Carpenteria in March at a little cottage type place that was pretty cheap. Let me dig up the info for you.

that is ok, unless it was under $40. I would probably come in from LAX by train and there is a youth hostel right at the station

It was under $40; we chose to stay there instead of the hostel for that price. However Carp is a little far so you'd need to have a car which would probably negate the savings.

 

[Farang]

yea that is pretty far, thanks though

 

[Deleted member 4644]

Sounds too vague man. I think you need to find out more about the job itself. Or give us more info.

 

[Farang]

I have a full job description and it sounds like a great job. Really the vagueness for me is only in how seriously I am being considered, which is difficult to gauge over the phone. My first interview lasted 5 minutes because I messed up and I would not like to go all the way down there for 5 minutes (thats what she said)

 

[Babbles]

For entry level jobs it is pretty typical for the candidate to shell out the money to travel. In my experience only when a company is looking to fill an experienced job opening and as such may search outside the immediate region will they pay for transportation and accommodations.

Something to keep in mind: Save your receipts for job hunting related expenses, you can itemize those as deductions on your taxes.

 

[halik]

No,
if they don't comp your travel, even if you do get the job the compensation will be terrible. Ask me how I know

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: halik
No,
if they don't comp your travel, even if you do get the job the compensation will be terrible. Ask me how I know

I'm entry level non-technical nobody is going to pay for me to travel anywhere, plus they think I live in Santa Barbara. So it isn't them trying to scam me, if anything it is the opposite although I don't see what I did as wrong

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: Farang

Originally posted by: halik
No,
if they don't comp your travel, even if you do get the job the compensation will be terrible. Ask me how I know

I'm entry level non-technical nobody is going to pay for me to travel anywhere, plus they think I live in Santa Barbara. So it isn't them trying to scam me, if anything it is the opposite although I don't see what I did as wrong

I don't think it's wrong, just means that you are going to have a hard time explaining why you're not immediately available for an interview. It's also a bit of a risk that they would interpret it poorly if they found out. And yeah, it's unreasonable to expect them to comp your travel with the position they're hiring for.

Since you have a full job description, assuming you think you'll be a good fit, I would spring for the trip. They won't get serious until they see you face to face, so this was inevitable when you were applying out of your area. If you weren't ready to follow through with the cash, there wasn't any point in applying far away.

Even if you don't get it it'll be a nice trip. Consider it a vacation for yourself.

 

[Babbles]

If you value any serious career advice, do not listen to these naysayers.

Turning down a potential job offer for a company you are interested in all because you do not want to shell out gas and hotel money is absolutely ridiculous. That is especially true for this environment.

Now, that being said, intentionally misstating your address on your resume is pretty boneheaded and may come back to bite you in your ass.

 

[Farang]

Thanks for the advice. It is just at the edge of where I would consider going to for an interview, so I applied. Plus it is a confidence booster to get a call back even if I don't go. I'm leaning towards going, I think I'm going to send out a flurry of resume to LA and anywhere that might be on a possible train trip back to see if maybe I can get lucky and get a 2-for-1 deal.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: Babbles
If you value any serious career advice, do not listen to these naysayers.

Turning down a potential job offer for a company you are interested in all because you do not want to shell out gas and hotel money is absolutely ridiculous. That is especially true for this environment.

Now, that being said, intentionally misstating your address on your resume is pretty boneheaded and may come back to bite you in your ass.

Not exactly,
it's telling of what to expect from them comp-wise. I recently turned down an investment banking position due to comp after paying to transport to the interview.

 

[Farang]

halik you don't appreciate my cirumstances. nobody is paying for me to go anywhere, and they don't even know I need to go anywhere

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: Babbles
If you value any serious career advice, do not listen to these naysayers.

Turning down a potential job offer for a company you are interested in all because you do not want to shell out gas and hotel money is absolutely ridiculous. That is especially true for this environment.

Now, that being said, intentionally misstating your address on your resume is pretty boneheaded and may come back to bite you in your ass.

Not exactly,
it's telling of what to expect from them comp-wise. I recently turned down an investment banking position due to comp after paying to transport to the interview.

If you're mid level or higher and the company wants to court you, then yes, it makes sense to have transportation paid for. Sounds like that's the position you're in.

However, if you're just one of 200 applicants for a grunt job then it's a buyer's market - the employer doesn't need to shell out extra cash to find a good hire. Expecting them to do so is unreasonable.

 

[clamum]

I guess since it's an entry level you have to pay, but while interviewing for my first job out of college (this was for a software dev position) they paid for me to fly down to Madison, WI for two days and paid for the hotel (fucking nice as shit too) and transportation and whatnot. There were also many applicants for that position and I had to take a test.

If the job sounds good and you'd like the area, I'd say go for it then and give it your best shot. Can't your parents lend you a bit of money in just this case or something?