How far would you travel for an interview?

[Iamamagpie]

I’ve been offered a 2nd stage interview next week and am on the fence whether or not to go. It’s a 10 hour round trip, involving 6 different trains for a 1.5 hour interview. I feel I have a decent chance of getting the job but worried it will be a stressful day and a huge waste of time if I don’t get it.

A bit more info if it makes a difference - it’s a mid level role for a salary of £55k (£10k more than I’m on now). My train fare will be reimbursed but I will need to use a days holiday from my current job.

Please help me make up my mind.

I definitely would not do that travel for that position or money

As long as you wouldn't have to do that journey regularly, as a one off for an interview I'd do it.

It must be field dependent, but as an academic this would be an absolutely normal thing to do for a job interview. (Usually for jobs paying quite a bit less than this!)

I took a ten hour flight for an interview once. However, they paid all costs upfront so I didn't really lose anything by going.

But if it's not the norm for you, that's fair.

Depends entirely on whether this level of travel is just for the interview? If the actual job won’t require this type of travel regularly then yes I would probably attend

If you can manage it and think you’d like the role I would do it
unless the journey journey you’re describing is meant to be a regular thing then I wouldn’t

I had an interview with British Airways, it was in Barbados, I didn't go but my friend did.

To clarify, the job is based near where I live and this travel would be a one off for the interview.

Thanks for your viewpoints so far, with the majority thinking I should go for it.

I'd do it for a one-off. Presumably you'd have to take a day off anyway (or at least half a day).

You're questioning it though. Does that suggest to you that you're not that into the job?

I think it’s the opposite. I can’t think of many things I’d do 10 hours of travelling for, so the fact that I’m even considering it shows that I am into the job.

It’s the thought of the journey that’s putting me off. So much potential for train delays/missing connections/getting stranded.

Absolutely yes if the job is nearby. 100% it’s one day and could change the rest of your life. Good luck!

Could you go the night before and enjoy it. That’s what I would do.

I would definitely do it, as you've clarified it's a one off for the interview. I'd also see this (as an interviewer) as a positive sign of keenness and would appreciate that there might be travel delays.

Assuming the 6 different trains works out as two changes each way, I'd do it. That's OK as a one off.

I'd do that as a one off if I was really attracted to the job.
But I wouldn't do it on the day of the interview if it involved several changes of public transport, far too much room for something to go wrong. I'd go the night before and stay in a premier inn

Hi all, I thought I’d give an update on what happened. Just after I posted this, I came down with a really severe cold which wiped me out all
week. I hung on to the day before interview to see if I felt well enough to travel but in the end I knew I couldn’t perform well at the interview feeling like I did. I phoned the company to let them know and also asked them to keep me in mind if for any reason they didn’t appoint for the position. They came back to me a couple of hours later to say they would still like to interview me over Teams, rather than having me travel to them.
Anyway, long story short, I had a Teams interview and got the job!
Thank you to everyone who gave advice even though it turned out a bit differently in the end.

Well done I’m so happy for you!! That’s great news, congratulations!!