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Original poster

To think they should pay for expenses

86 replies

broichehead748 · 10/07/2026 15:15

I was rejected for a job.

It involved:

a first stage interview made up of 10 questions and a 30 minute presentation (remote on Teams)

a second stage interview that was not mentioned in the original job listing. This entailed:

another 30 minute presentation
with follow up questions

The second interview interview gave me one weeks notice to take a full day annual leave, organise childcare, travel by car then train to a city 3 hours away, stay overnight in advance for an early interview time.

In total the interview prep took me two full days of my time. The original application took a day. Travelling to and from took two days. The cost of travelling and staying over was £300.

I was given the feedback that the successful candidate had more experience in terms of years in the sector then I did. Which they knew before asking me to the second interview. I’m so gutted that it cost me so much in time and money for a no based on something they already knew about me in advance. It would have hurt less to have not made second stage considering the stress and anxiety of travel and leaving my children to do the interview.

There are no expenses refunded. Is this unreasonable of them?

OP posts:
loveawineloveacrisp · 10/07/2026 15:33

You should have agreed expenses up front.

SockPlant · 10/07/2026 15:32

Prep time is on you. But I have always received travel expenses.

dancingdeidre · 10/07/2026 15:30

They should have offered expenses and you should have checked this before agreeing to second interview. It's a pain but you will know to do it next time.

Tryagain26 · 10/07/2026 15:27

I think they should have paid your travel and accommodation expenses, obviously not preparation time though.. Presumably though you knew they wouldn't before you attended?.
It wasn't a given that they would have given the job to the person with more experience. She might not have been so impressive when they saw her. I expect you both interviewed very well and the only difference between you was her experience. But until they had been through the process they weren't to know that.

WarmLilacHiker · 10/07/2026 15:24

My husband just had to travel to an 3rd round interview and his travel/hotel was paid. Given teams/zoom capability I think companies should be paying travel if they aren't willing to hold remote interviews, especially if they interview is significantly further away than the person will be travelling to work if they are successful!

Tastycelery · 10/07/2026 15:23

@broichehead748 I wouldn't have gone past the 2nd stage if they weren't covering expenses for the in person interview. Doesn't give a good impression of a reasonable potential employer.

FlapperFlamingo · 10/07/2026 15:23

I have never heard of being paid prep time. But you should have asked about travel and hotel before interview. It’s a good test on how interested they are and you can make a decision on their response.

DahliaDelights · 10/07/2026 15:21

Whilst I dont disagree with the sentiment; good luck on getting anywhere with it.

You chose to participate, you didnt ask for expenses prior to the interview and you wouldnt have asked for expenses to be repaid if you had been successful.

CalmTheFuckDownMargaret · 10/07/2026 15:20

I’d very politely word this feedback to them so that they can make their ‘company and recruitment process more attractive to future applicants.’ Just thoughtless, really, aren’t they?

Backedoffhackedoff · 10/07/2026 15:17

Didn’t you post about this before the interview too?

Hankunamatata · 10/07/2026 15:16

You could have refused second stage and not paid out.