Remote job but employer asking for face to face interview?

[Seawitchandgarden]

I just wondered what are people's thoughts/experience with this.

Due to health issues/a disability I have been applying only for remote roles or local roles that don't require the use of public transport. I made it clear in my job applications/the equal opportunities that I am disabled.

I was offered an interview for a role advertised as remote with a charity yesterday but this is a face to face interview.

The interview is in a random location which I assume was hired for the day and it would take me almost two hours each ways of travel, be costly and they are not offering any support with transport costs.

I am a bit baffled by this. What is the point of a face to face interview when you are not even inviting the candidate to your offices to meet the team or see your work environment and when the role is fully remote?

I have replied to point out my disability and request a Zoom interview instead.

So far crickets...

There is a surge of people using stand ins and/or live AI to reply in virtual interviews. That could be why, and/or the just want to get a human vibe from you which is impossible when both are behind a screen

See what they say and consider if there’s a solution compromise available?

If I were recruiting I'd insist on face to face interviews too. You can't really gauge much from a zoom type interview.

And If I was looking for a job, was disabled, had been offered a job that was fully remote but wanted a face to face interview, I'd move heaven and earth to get to that interview.

I would assume all interviews have to be face to face. Sorry op.

I wouldn’t read anything into them not responding, presumably you only asked yesterday and they may have some logistics to sort. I think even for remote roles employers like to meet you and get a sense of you so I don’t think it’s unusual, I’d agree a remote interview as a reasonable adjustment.

With a charity I think that’s odd. I very much get it for any sensitive or key industry, due to ai risk. There were a fair few articles around not so long ago saying if you haven’t met an employee face to face and you’re in tech or finance, you are probably paying a North Korean worker under a false identity, for them to feed their salary to the government.

i think it’s fair to reply the way you have regarding your disability though.

Ring them up and speak to someone in HR and explain why a face-to-face interview would be so difficult. Ask whether there any reasonable adjustments could be put in place for you.

I think it's fair they want a face to face interview. But they shouldn't expect you to travel so far.

You are obviously not disabled.

Because 'moving heaven and earth' is not going to make my disability disappear. It does not work that way...hence why I apply for remote jobs in the first place.

It is such a shame that so many people have the view that it is OK to interview or employ a disabled person as long as:

• they don't act disabled
• they can do everything that a non disabled person can do... which is frankly just ridiculous and insulting and goes a long way to explain why so many people with long term health conditions and disabilities are not in work.

Either it’s like people said and they want to gauge what you’re like in real life, or it could end up in a few weeks they’ll be saying‘actually you have to be in one day a week’. I’d think if you can’t get to their location maybe there might be a problem in the future possibly but if you want the job I’d just say ‘thank you and see you then’.

People are using cheats in online interviews so face to face makes sense.

It has always been an employer’s market, there are only very minimal amounts of roles (niche, specialist, very few people sufficiently qualified to do the role etc) where the employee would get to dictate terms before even being employed without appearing to be the type of employee that might not be an asset to the workplace.

I think a face to face interview is important part of recruitment. My current role is remote working with once 1/4 face to face meet up. I had three rounds of interviews for it and had to travel to London and present in person for the final round. Yes it was a cost to put out for interview but I’ve got the job!

It’s now mandatory in some orgs to have a face to face interview as part of the process due to risks from AI. It’s not reasonable for them to ask you to travel so far or not pay your travel costs though.

In the old days, when God was a girl, all interviews had to be face to face. With the advancement of technology & Ai I can understand why they want to actually see you.

It’s a shame it’s so far away given your circumstances so it will be reasonable to ask for a compromise and hope they’ll be helpful.

I would never hire anybody for any job without a face to face interview. However I would expect to pay travel expenses to candidates and make any reasonable adjustments for somebody with a disability.

My husband recently did about 5 interviews all of which required travel. 5 different organisations.

No one reimburses for interview travel nor did my husband ask. Is that even a thing?

Yes, my feeling as well was that this 'remote' job might suddenly turn into a one day a week in the office role.

I have had that before. I accepted a role with another charity because I was assured at interview I would only need to attend departmental meeting every three months. Then six months into the role they asked me to come in once a week which would have meant a 5 hour commute. They knew perfectly well where I lived when they offered me the role and that this was impossible for me to do. Since then I am very careful about not getting into the same situation and wary of remote jobs not being what they seem.

Is your husband disabled and struggling to use public transport? does he apply only for remote role?

If not this is not the same situation.

Sadly you can’t remove the disability that you can’t just remove using heaven and earth.

I would hope this comes under reasonable adjustments.

My ds is disabled and works remotely and was invited for an interview face to face.

He was able to make arrangements to get there as local company.

He arrived . Got directed to the interview - on the first floor with no lift.

He’s a wheelchair user and this was disclosed. 🙄

I'm disabled and I'm with you on this comment!

Absolutely

Requesting a zoom interview is a good alternative, but a face-to-face interview is fairly routine. Also, employers don’t normally compensate travel costs.

Yes my husband has a disability.

And If I was looking for a job, was disabled, had been offered a job that was fully remote but wanted a face to face interview, I'd move heaven and earth to get to that interview.

I agree with this.

There is a level of rigidity to your approach @Seawitchandgarden that will work against you because surely you know that the world is not how you think it should be, nor is it for anyone else with a disability, even if that is not what you want to hear, it is true.

Does your disability mean that you can't travel @Seawitchandgarden? I understand your frustration, and sympathise with your worry that this job might morph into one that requires you to be in the office, but I think if you can manage to get to this interview it would be much better for you.

Have you asked about travel expenses?

Wow, I didn't know that was a thing, but as it is, I don't think it's surprising or unreasonable that any employer would follow procedures designed to prevent that, regardless of the sector.

I dont think it's unreasonable to expect to meet the candidate anyway, the employer has a duty to know they're employing the person they think they are, with right to work etc

I have a fully remote job and my first interview was virtual and second interview was face to face- I had to travel 3 hours each way and paid out for a hotel to make sure I was fresh for the night before, so quite a lot to outlay.

if it’s the companies procedures then you have to abide by them, meeting/interviewing people in person is different face to face and I think you get a better feeling for the candidate.

is this your first interview? At least with my 2nd I felt it was worth it and I was in with a shot.

is there anyway you can get there? Will you decline if it remains face to face?