Interview: Requesting another office

[Yesolafff]

I applied for a job thinking it was in X office. It is actually in Y office. I have passed the first interview and have got a second interview lined up. Can I ask for Y office at the interview?

Presuming you mean "in a different town" rather than "the big room with the nicer view" ?

None of us can answer this as we have no idea on how the company operates. My Team were moved out of our last premises and split over two building in different parts of the City and we were asked which we'd prefer as it makes no difference to the work and none of us spend much time there anyway. But I'd have though most jobs would have specific jobs in specific places 'The sales Team for Southern Region' are all in Office A and the 'The HR Dept' all are in Office B in the other town, so it wouldn't make sense for one of those people to be in Office A. However, it is going to be SO specific both to the type of job, and the individual company thinking and the way you work with colleagues.

You'd need to ask them.

@BackforGood

Presuming you mean "in a different town" rather than "the big room with the nicer view" ?

None of us can answer this as we have no idea on how the company operates. My Team were moved out of our last premises and split over two building in different parts of the City and we were asked which we'd prefer as it makes no difference to the work and none of us spend much time there anyway. But I'd have though most jobs would have specific jobs in specific places 'The sales Team for Southern Region' are all in Office A and the 'The HR Dept' all are in Office B in the other town, so it wouldn't make sense for one of those people to be in Office A. However, it is going to be SO specific both to the type of job, and the individual company thinking and the way you work with colleagues.

You'd need to ask them.

Yes a different town but within the same region. I was wondering whether to ask at interview, or wait until offer stage?

Unless the job has specified that you can be based in either office, I think it would be odd to request at all.

If it has specified it can be either office, then it might be worth highlighting your preference sooner.

Get the job first, then negotiate work location etc.

You can raise it asking them to confirm normal place of work but many jobs will have mobility clause so could move you around within a reasonable distance. It is unlikely you could choose a different location for the role in the first place unless it is completely autonomous or the location is a base for a predominantly mobile job. Is it a decisive factor for you?