Got interview for job I really want but I can't attend! Help!

[Rhubarb]

I applied for a fundraising assitant position with the Red Cross not long ago. I was quite excited about it because I have the experience and the skills. The app form didn't come through properly and I have no ink in my printer, so I copied the whole thing out using black pen, ruler and so on, it took hours! But I did it! The job has part time flexible hours, it's in the right area to where we want to live, the money is good and I think I would enjoy the work.

Anyway, today I got this email off them:
[Could you possibly attend for interview on Thursday 29th June at 11.45am at our Kendal office?

I know that you will be returning to the UK on the 12 th July, but we cannot put off the interviews until that date and the 29th June is the only date that all members of the interview panel are able to attend.

Can you let me know as soon as possible. I will put a letter in the post to you today.]

I can't go! We can't afford the flights back and it would mean travelling the night before, landing at M/cr, finding my way to Kendal, staying overnight, attending the interview, getting back to M/cr for flight back (although not checked the times to see if they would be comptatible)

Yet I really do want this job! What can I do?

Yeh, sue the ba$tard$

Rhubarb, my honest opinion is, I know they're The Red Cross and all that but still the charity sector is (I think, someone will correct me if I'm wrong) fairly competitive and I think you're making it quite hard work from their POV to see you atm! It's one thing to ask will they reimburse a few expenses and another to put so many obstacles in their way that they think fk it, let's get someone else. But I am experienced in business not this sector so others may disagree with me. I think you either Go or Don't but if you're interested you have to find a way to get there on the day they've asked you and take it from there. I wouldn't video conference unless it was a second/third rubber stamp interview really. And it doesn't matter if you're qualified to do the job they don't have to see anyone at all, there are no laws about it! Well done on getting the interview.

WWW's right - voluntary sector is pretty competitive. Believe me, I've spent my working life around it.

Hmmm, I see what you are driving at. So far I haven't said that I won't go, I have told them how much the flights will cost and I have mentioned that a lovely lovely friend has offered to put me up and drive me to the interview. I think if someone were coming from say, London, it would cost them just as much to get there and surely they would also enquire about travel expenses?

I am trying to sell some stuff to raise a bit of money for the airfare and when she does eventually call (or I call her in the morning) I will say that I want to go to the interview. It would be nice if they could help out with expenses or at least give me some indication of whether it would be worth all the grief or not.

It's not so much that I'm putting obstacles in their way. It is obviously going to be very difficult to fly from France to the UK 2 weeks before we are due to move, and then get to Kendal for an interview and another alternative would be preferable. But they can always say no to the telephone interview, it's no trouble for them to do that.

I think that if they don't offer to help in some way that they are pretty mean tbh! I know they are a charity, but to expect someone to pay 225 euros to attend an interview in a different country is asking a lot and it's only due to luck and generosity that I have somewhere to stay and a lift into Kendal!

I am worried that I heard nothing more today and I certainly don't want to put them off. I shall call tomorrow and see what happens. Thanks for all your opinions though, you've all been very helpful on this!

Rhubarb, see your point but tbh they are entitled to assume that if someone applies they can get to an interview I think. If you can't you can't but they will have applicants who CAN make it and so would be entitled to decide to see them above you if you are finding it difficult to get there. I speak as someone who had 5 minutes and no more to review cvs this afternoon for four vacancies I have and I spent precisely 30 seconds on each cv with a 'yes I'll see them' or 'no I won't' - anyone who can't make it won't be seen and won't get the job, I haven't got time to do anything else. Maybe I would if I was interviewing for a v technical highly specialised role but I'm not. Anyway, up to you, just my two pence worth.

Depends, I had no way of knowing when the interviews would be and kind of hoped they would be when I got back.

It's also not too much to ask for reimbursement of travel expenses I should have thought? A friend of mine used to get travel expenses and a hotel stay if it was far and his applications were just for warehouse manager!

I agree that it can be very cut-throat in these businesses, charity or no. But I cannot afford to leave myself short at this crucial time in our already stressful lives to attend an interview that in all reality I might not get. If they cannot understand my point of view then they are not worth working for. Business is business, but they are humans too and after the effort I made with the application form, plus the honesty I've shown, surely it wouldn't be too much to ask for them to be a little lenient? Either help me out with the travelling expenses or let me know if it's worth my while - what effort is that for them?

I need to decide if I want the job too, it's not all up to them. And how they react to my request will decide that.

I see both sides !

I think RC have been a bit inconsiderate in asking you to travel from France for an interview when they know you are moving back to the UK only two weeks later, But on the other hand - you are lucky to have been offered an interview at all. To be totally honest - I think it is very positive that they have invited you knowing that you will have to travel so far - they could easily have sifted you out - so I assume they must be pretty interested in your application ! We certainly don't go down the route of wasting our time during Video interviews to Oz etc unless we are pretty keen on the application.

Agree with WWW - I have also spent the day sifting applications - and you just don't have the time to give people special treatment/consideration. That said I doubt they would now withdraw their invitation just because you have asked a few questions - and I think you are 100% right to come over for the interview.

This is just unlucky timing for you - but if you can do it you really should.

Hopefully she'll ring you back with some good news tomorrow - but be prepared for her to say they won't pay expenses - have your decision ready !

My decision will be, that if they are not prepared to help a bit with expenses, which is a fairly standard thing as far as I can tell, and they are not prepared to do anything else to make it easier for me, then I will say no. I respect the Red Cross and I want the job, but I will not work for cut-throat and unsympathetic people. The interview is my chance too, to find out if I want to work for those people.

It all depends on how she is with me on the phone tomorrow. I am preparing to make a huge, huge effort here, I think the least they can do is to acknowledge that, if they don't then I don't go. I think it would speak volumes about my standing on the canditate stake anyway.

I got a job in NZ on a phone interview.
Didn't take it though.

Mmmmm..I think I agree with www Rhubarb. They do have an entitlement to say that if you applied for the job it's really up to you to make sure you can attend the interview.

I really think you should go for it but I do totally understand what a shite situation this is for you.

I remember my dh getting down to final three for a job with a charity.
He didn't get it,nor were any of his expenses covered.l

Oh, boo, no puter all day and I see you are still not near a resolution Rhubarb :(
I think my perspective is skewed now because I've been away from the charity sector too long and have adopted dangerously touchy-feely public sector shortlisting habits
Because we don't refund out-of-UK expenses, I never shortlist such candidates unless I think they are in our top two on paper...
I think the only specific advice I can give on top of all the general encouragement you've had is that if they will not help with your expenses, I would favour pressing for a phone interview over trying to get them to give you a hint as to how strong a candidate you are. For the following reasons

1. Asking for a phone interview is demonstrating keenness without asking for unduly special treatment IMO

2. Trying to coax out of them where you stand in the interviewee rankings might get up their noses because of their Equal Ops obligations, and also, truly, they might not be sure of that til they have interviewed you.

Oh, I really hoped so much for you that some progress would have been achieved. I'm me, and not a RC recruiter but I would not have offered a candidate from outside the UK, who has been honest about her situation at the mo, an interview unless I was either willing to pay her reasonable expenses, or secretly confident she'd get the job. I'd never let myself admit the latter in writing or on the phone though Rhuby because of Equal Ops.

If it helps I'd go on the convenient airports websites & look at the timetables. This is sometimes better than just searching for flights as you can be more specific.

Also the trainline.com is good for reasonable train journey prices - not sure how useful that would be to fit in with the flights & interview but may be useful. Should be easy enough to get to Kendal from Man airport station.

Travelodge r offering really reasonable room prices at the moment.

I hope that it all works out in the end.

No word. Just phoned her and she's still trying to get hold of this senior person on the interview panel. She'll call me when she can.

I've looked at the cheapest flights possible, BMI baby and Ryanair are the cheapest airlines that fly from convenient airports. So far BMI baby is the cheapest and directest.

I've also looked into trains - £350 euros for a return train from Bdx to London. I've even looked into coaches!

I have been totally honest with them and sent a letter with my application explaining when I was returning to the UK, so they knew that the interview date would not be convenient for me. I guess they could have marked me off there and then, but they didn't, which is hopeful.

I'll do my best to go, but I can't book anything until I hear more from them. I did tell her on the phone that I'd really like to go in person, so they know I'm keen.

What else can I do?

nothing else you can do but wait I'm afraid

Nothing else - the ball is in their court !

If I were that senior manager though - I would decide to give you a telephone interview on the 29th - and if they liked the sound of you over the others they saw in person they could delay the result of the interview until you could get in to see them when you are back in the UK. If they didn't like the sound they could just offer the job to their best candidate. Nothing lost ! You get your chance - they get their person !

Would be a lot better all round and more sympathetic/flexible of them - indicative of a more family friendly company etc....

Good Luck - isn't the waiting vile ?

Update here !