to refuse to travel from London to Warrington for an first round interview?

[Fillybuster]

I run the risk of outing myself here....but I work in a sector that tends to be quite geographically spread across the UK (and beyond). I live in London but over the past 15 years have spent lots of time travelling abroad and within the UK. For several years (post dcs) I even managed a team based in Glasgow and Manchester, and spent 2-3 days every 2 weeks with them.

All this is just to explain that I don't have a problem with travel for work!

I was recently approached by a headhunter to apply for a role with a company based in Warrington with offices all over the UK. Apparently the role could be London based as long as I was willing to travel to Warrington 1-2 days/week. No problem.

I've just been called for a first round interview....in Warrington next week. I have refused to spend a whole day travelling (and invest the money required) for a first round....maybe I'd do it for a third round, but it seems barmy to expect candidates to invest that level of time and money this early in the process.

Apparently the other 2 candidates were quite happy to do so. The recruitment consultant clearly thinks I'm a nutter for suggesting we do it by videoconf or investigate whether the hiring manager is going to be in London any time soon.

AIBU?

Some employers do this to weed out the ones who are serious and flexible. A surprising number of candidates say they are willing to travel and then when it comes to 2nd / 3rd interview or IME even offer stage they suddenly say they cant.

Could you offer to meet them halfway at the services or a hotel?

There will be 3 rounds of interviews...I simply explained (very politely, but probably wrongly based on the feedback here) that I didn't have the time and money to invest a whole day and £100 in a first round but that I would of course be delighted to travel for a 2nd or 3rd round if I made it through.

I genuinely do not have 3 whole days and £300 to invest in applying for a job, and I can only assume that they will want the later rounds to be in person as well as this first round.

Just to clarify - I spoke to the recruitment consultant (external) not the company, and I was very polite and repeated how enthusiastic I am about the company, and how willing I am to travel for work, but just that I had reservations about the time/money commitment this early in the process. He never once suggested they would cover the costs...

I have to say as well, it always seriously puts me off a candidate when they put up obstacles re the interviewing process. I mentally cross them off my list.

I had a potential employee who was recommended by a mutual acquaintance. I sent an email saying 'Pop in to see me tomorrow after you've finished work for an initial chat'. She replied AND I QUOTE 'I'm rather busier than that! Can we make it next week'. Bear in mind I am the MD of the company and rather busy myself! So I told her, very politely, that I would find a candidate through other means.

Mmm, I think actually this depends on the job. Assuming they're hiring you for a fairly high level position and if they've approached you via a head hunter, then yes, I'd say YANBU as clearly you're not desperately hounding them for a job but are looking at an initial conversation to assess whether a long term working relationship will be mutually beneficial.

In which case, yes, I would say making you go to Warrington is a bit much.

I would say that the headhunter could be a bit dim? I've experienced this before where the recruiter says one thing, and doesn't actually ask the client for fear of insulting them etc. I can't imagine that a first round couldn't be done by phone/video conference (out of the London office you would most likely work from) or meet somewhere that is more convenient for both parties.

I don't think YABU actually - they expressed an interest in you, rather than you applying to them, and are already expecting you to invest an entire day in a first round interview?

I don't think the OP has shown an unwillingness to travel, she has shown that she has an unwillingness to take a full day of holiday time, plus the costs of getting there and back, to attend an interview where she may not even get past the first round.

Proudnscary - the tone of her email was silly and I don't blame you. But I have just been introduced to a potential employer via a third party. We had a two way discussion about when would be convenient to meet.

Admittedly, I don't know what you do or what this potential employee would do for you, but I don't think it's unreasonable for her to say she can't make the time slot. I do think that how she handled it was pretty poor and you probably don't want anyone that bad at communicating in your organisation.

I guess it depends how many others they have for the first round. If they only have 3 including you maybe let the recruiter sweat for today and then call back tomorrow with a compromise to meet half way? They may use other agencies though so might have a good number for the first round so are not too bothered about bring flexible for one person but you'd have nothing to lose by suggesting it.

is it a specialised sector with a current skill shortage by any chance?

yabu

Bling - yes you're right. It was her response which I found rude. If she'd have said 'I'm sorry I won't be able to do tomorrow, would X date suit you?' then it wouldn't have been a problem.

Thanks - all good suggestions. The headhunter seemed very thrown by my initial surprise that I was meant to drop everything and get to Warrington (implication, possibly even this week)....I was geniunely taken aback, as I just assumed a 1st round wouldn't require that level of personal investment (time/money).

I have already suggested that I travel to any of their London/SE England offices to use their VC for this round, and I have made it clear I'm willing to travel for a future round, so I don't think I'm being too London-centric.

I will call the RC back now (tried already but he's on his lunch break) and see if he can gently bounce the VC suggestion past them for next week, otherwise set up a f-2-f in Warrington for the week after next (I really can't take a day out next week). Let's see how that lands...

To be fair, if the interviewer isn't interested in using VC to communicate with me, then I'm probably not the right person for the role anyway....with 3 dcs under 6 I can't jump on a train without some notice even if I'm in the role....plus the role itself is meant to be all about developing/driving unified comms solutions :) :) :)

Are you sure they don't reimburse your travel expenses? This has always been the case when I've had to travel to an interview or assessment centre.

Doesn't help with the inconvenience of it, I know, but it's something!

Employers are supposed to refund travel costs to interviewees.

I agree with you Filly, I think it's outrageous you are expected to invest 3 days of your own holiday and you might not even get the job. At least if it's local you can arrange your working day to come in late, leave early and not actually have to take a day off.

I've had this attitude from big blue chip companies that assume you will jump through every hoop imaginable in your desperation to work for them and it infuriates me. I once spent every evening for two weeks preparing a big presentation into the early hours that I had been required to do for a very lengthy job interview that took up an entire day and I didn't even get the job! I have no idea how I would have managed that now I have DC.

I know you need to seem keen to work for them, but these companies also need to understand you cannot be investing large amounts of money, time and energy into them until you actually have the job.

I do think employers should pay travel expenses when inviting candidates form other towns.

They did not offer to pay travel - trains, taxis etc will take the cost to over £100, and its a full days travel to go there/back for what will probably be an hour long interview.

That is a shocking amount of money to have to pay out if you are unemployed.
YWNBU to ask for a conference call/video link for a first round interview.

Well it's obviously up to you filly, if you don't want to travel that far then don't but it does make it look like you don't want the job that much. DP has travelled way further than that for interveiws (her job is also quite geographically spread out), it seems strange that you don't want to do the travelling and yet your normal commute is actually fairly long anyway!

Can you imagine someone in Warrington refusing to go to London in this situation?

However, in terms of cost, it is strange that they haven't offered to pay travel expenses, maybe that says alot about the company!

I think your plan sounds sensible to request a VC in the first instance. If they say has to be in Warrington I would ask for your travel expenses. I think that is normal. You do need to look keen but that doesn't mean not suggesting sensible alternatives.

If you won't travel to Warrington for an interview for a job that will involve being in Warrington at least once, possibly twice a week, then I would assume you didn't want the job. I might go through the motions of a VC, but would not class you as a serious candidate. If you were their for the first round, I might accept VC for further interviews.

Straight out as the recruitment consultant about expenses, they would probably book your trains etc for you directly if you ask so you aren't out of pocket, I've never heard of any headhunter contract that doesn't allow them to recharge expenses for candidate travel.

what bletchley said

I work for a headhunter, we would pay travel expenses for candidate travel if they request it. It would be refunded by the client so it depends if they will agree to it.

YANBU - but only because you obviously aren't that keen on changing jobs just now.

In my sector not only are candidates UK-wide expected to interview in London, they are then expected to relocate for a year or so. If they don't like it - tough.

YANBU

They have approached you about this job.

If they want to interview you, they'll arrange to do it in a manner than suits you.