[Closed] Interview expenses - can this be right?

Your lucky to get any expenses for an interview. Stop complaining.

I've never had expenses for an interview.

I've never understood why people expect expenses for the opportunity of getting a job. Unless trying to woo an international candidate with a weekend stay etc I've never volunteered our policy. Paid when asked, yes, but not offered.

Public sector paying interview mileage is amazing, my mileage rates mean I am effictivley paying to do my job.

winston_dog - Member

Your lucky to get any expenses for an interview. Stop complaining.

^^^ This.

🙄

I think it is quite standard to get interview expenses when travelling a long distance, and usually at the hrmc recommended rates. As you already haven't got the job I would query it.

It's a test - part of the interview process. Your response may mean success or failure. Good luck!

Contrary to the above posters, I've never _not_ got expenses for attending an interview (well, once was just a bus fare so I didn't ask for that).

They need an employee as much as I need a job, it's a (small) part of their recruitment expense. If they'll not spend that, don't bode well as an employer?

Yep should be standard practice : interview a week before with a charity paid at 35p per mile covering petrol and a wee bit of wear and tear.

As for wooing an international candidate the job was in Scotland does that count?

Cheers for your responses folks : )

Leaving aside should you expect expenses for an interview (getting anything is a bonus IMHO)

The rate is most likely based on HMRC rates (albeit based on those for a company car). HMRC allows (or allowed IIRC) 45p for a private car used for business purposes

HTH

Was there catering on site? 😉

I haven't been for a 'proper' interview in many many years -- but to be honest if I was travelling for any distance / incurring expenses I'd appreciate the interviewing company to offer. If you're already in employment, you'll have taken a day (or more) of holiday time as it is.

On leaving university it was pretty common practice to get expenses, and I think for another round of interviews I had 25 years ago it was the same.

The responses above as regard 'lucky to get expenses' I find quite surprising to be honest. Given my current location any interview would involve quite an expense no matter where the job was..

As I understand it it's not business as your applying for the job so you get public transport rate.

Welcome to the public sector.

I have never heard of or received interview expenses. I've also conducted plenty of interviews and never once been asked about expenses; do I live on some other planet or is it that all my work & interview experience have been private sector?

The one job interview I went to, I was paid for the train ticket and hotel accommodation too. That was IBM.

Expenses??? 😯

I count myself lucky to get a response.

I'd not pay someone to come for an interview at my firm.

I'd take what they are offering and don't make a deal out of it - if you do start to make a fuss how do you think that would affect your chances of getting the job?

One day public sector in this country is going to have to stop wasting money and all those workers who have become accustomed to getting away with it and being 'entitled' to everything under the sun are going to be in for a shock.

One day public sector in this country is going to have to stop wasting money and all those workers who have become accustomed to getting away with it and being 'entitled' to everything under the sun are going to be in for a shock.

YAWN

My last employer paid 15p a mile to attend the interview.

Never been paid expenses to attend an interview. Never worked at a company that would either. Have worked public and private sector.

I have an interview on Tuesday and the "work for us" page on their website where all the job postings are found quite clearly states that they don't pay expenses. Doesn't bother me in the slightest.

In my experience interview expenses are quite normal, including overnight accommodation. Remember, they are trying to attract the best candidates, and expect to pay to meet them. This is only a fraction of the fees paid to the recruitment agencies they use!

given you didn't get the job, Id ask for full compensation....you've got nothing to lose
Sorry and good luck!

Been paid interview expenses everywhere I've been, mileage is normally at around 20p/mile. I'd only expect it to cover fuel not wear & tear.

I have always had interview travelling expenses paid (by large law firms), except on the one occasion when I came to the interview on the bus (which they felt was beneath them). I had not got two beans to rub together at that point. 🙂

Haha snap big dummy except it was an il company in aberdeen and i told them i arrived by bicycle- she looked down at her form and looked surprised and said - " we have here your address as arbroath" (55 miles away and id moved to aberdeen since i applied)

Couple years later she let slip - well that certainly got you remembered when it came to selection ( it was for graduate positions)

One day public sector in this country is going to have to stop wasting money and all those workers who have become accustomed to getting away with it and being 'entitled' to everything under the sun are going to be in for a shock.

Oooh can I have one of those jobs while they are still going? Just point me in the right direction please glasgowdan,

I've always had my expenses paid too if it involved travelling outside home town.

Good luck getting candidates from the other end of the country or abroad Glasgowdan.

I can't believe I'd ever say this, but Drac has posted the right response.

If you are PS, going for a job within the PS, it is classed as concessional, not official. The lower rate then applies, which is 25p or public transport rates.

However, if you are not PS already, I'd join the "suck it up buttercup" crew and be grateful you're getting paid anything.

12p sounds a bit random though.

I have an interview on Tuesday and the "work for us" page on their website where all the job postings are found quite clearly states that they don't pay expenses. Doesn't bother me in the slightest.

Good for you, we need more like you !

Years ago had an interview in Aberdeen, flight tickets all arranged by them in advance. Didn't get it 🙁

I'd not pay someone to come for an interview at my firm.

I'd expect to be reimbursed for my expenses for an interview. In fact I always ask during the interview if the interviewer is not forthcoming about it.

It wouldn't be a deal breaker, but it would certinally put me off as the type of job I do requires international travel for extended periods, and the subsquent large expense claims, and if they won't pay the reasonable expense of my interview, what else won't they pay for??

We (public sector) no longer pay interview expenses. And about time too. An individual finds vacancy, knows where it is, applies, is lucky enough to get an interview and they should be prepared to travel for it.
We're looking after public money. And for the comments above about getting it all, wasting money etc etc - clearly never worked in the public sector and don't appreciate the hammer it is currently under.

Spud I know many people in public sector and the stories shock me. People spending time chatting away to all including management about everything BUT work, extended lunch breaks, skype chats with colleagues on holidays during work time, management approving unreasonable requests for paid time off including staff who don't even call to say they're having a sick day, random 'bonus' payments from a past era that haven't been sorted out... one ongoing cost saving exercise has ran to £10M WITHIN ONE ORGANISATION! And it is only part way through. Staff claiming ancient overtime rates that should have been changed years ago but have been let slip. Free Occup Health visits to help with personal problems that they don't even bother to attend.

I haven't worked in public sector for a while, which is perhaps why I have a more realistic grip on how to run an efficient organisation.

This hammer that you're suffering under hasn't even brought you close to the way an efficient private company runs. Be prepared for more 'pain'!

So interview expenses are something that is easy to cut, won't annoy employees, but is so insubstansial in the face of things that's it's just pissing into the wind. Yup, sounds like the public sector 😉

I've never understood why people expect expenses for the opportunity of getting a job.

I think them having to pay reasonable expenses may focus their attention on finding the best candidates rather than padding out the sift with numpties to make their preferred (internal) candidate look adequate. If they won't pay reasonable expenses maybe you're not a plausible candidate?

Oh, and

This hammer that you're suffering under hasn't even brought you close to the way an[b] efficient private company[/b] runs. Be prepared for more 'pain'!

- can't say I've ever come across any [i]large[/i] private company which is any better than the Public Sector, but I've really only had experience in Aerospace, Defence and IT. Maybe the teeny wee ones are great.

Welcome to the public sector.

12p a mile is pretty standard in the private sector - or it was until very recently*

Anyway, just view it as 12p a mile [u]towards[/u] your expenses.

*based on working for large Pharmaceutical companies for the last 15 years

padding out the sift with numpties to make their preferred (internal) candidate look adequate

I can honestly say I've never once done this is any of the hundreds of vacancies I've recruited for, I've little enough time for interviewing as it is. Doubt any of my colleagues have either. Everywhere I've worked has had a rigorous process for identifying and offering suitable internal candidates before even looking externally.

In general of you think you're a top quality candidate, in short supply and would be doing a favour by interviewing for a company then ask for expenses. Otherwise be aware that there are almost always plenty of other candidates just as good as you who won't quibble over a few quid.

It's also worth noting that those with a genuine need for expenses, i.e. those on jobseeker's allowance, can claim at the cost of the taxpayer.

I once flew round the world for a job interview, no expenses paid. When I got there, it was clear that they weren't really interested in me. That was a UK public sector employer, with a miserable salary (but potentially interesting job).

Wouldn't do that again!

Never even crossed my mind to ask for expenses at an interview. Don't even think we offer them. If significant travel was required we'd pay for flights etc up front but just general mileage claims would probably be laughed out the door

Glasgowdan is painting a very different idea of the public sector I've worked in for 24 years. He seems to be describing the private sector or at least to the many friends I've spoken to in the private sector.

It's also worth noting that those with a genuine need for expenses, i.e. those on jobseeker's allowance, can claim at the cost of the taxpayer.

This exactly.
In my whole like I've never even HEARD of someone getting interview expenses until this thread, apart from those on JSA. To my mind it's a laughable concept.
Wild guess - These are well paid jobs we're talking about? People that can afford fuel in their new Audis.
I've been made redundant two Decembers in a row now and I can imagine the response if have got asking for expenses walking into a bike mechanics interview.....

Hmmm not sure about well paid job for an Audi driver. It was a middle management post and i'm a part time Msc student and taxi driver. . .

No that bothered about the money but every other professional interview i've been for has paid enough to at least cover fuel. I guess I was just a bit taken back by the approach of this one employer (though the public sector in Scotland was supposed to be more generous than the down here ; )

That was a UK public sector employer, with a miserable salary (but potentially interesting job).

Captain - I curious what was it?

I got lots of interview expenses paid when I was a apply as a graduate. Having said that I've never had them when I've changed jobs since but then this has always been in the same town. As has been said previously it's normally an insignificant part of the cost of interviewing so I can't really see why anyone thinks it's odd.

If you can claim £90 in expenses and are still £80 short on fuel costs alone, maybe you could do with a more efficient car!

£170 worth of fuel to do 750 miles!!
Assuming £1.32/litre, that's 128.78 litres (28.37 gallons)....works out to only 26.4 mpg over 750 miles!

I reckon the same journey would cost me about £85 in fuel.

Otherwise be aware that there are almost always plenty of other candidates just as good as you who won't quibble over a few quid.

If I was in the role of employer looking to recruit for even a semi skilled role, I would be looking at many factors, skills, personality, past achievements and ability to fit in with a team. Given the whole process that interviewing now takes, recruitment agencies first, then whitling down the CV's forwarded to them. first round of telephone interviews, by the time you get down to three you want to give a face to face interview with I would be offering expenses for anyone outside of normal commuting distance, its a tiny amount in the whole process.

If you just look at employees as commodities, to be used and abused at whim, then I expect you wouldn't. But then you wouldn't appreciate the difference getting the right people into a role can make to an organisation, even at low levels.

I am not at all high up the employment food chain, don't own an audi, not management, I just do fairly low level technical work. But I view the interview process as much about me proving my worth, as also the interviewing company proving their worth, I don't want to work for dickheads who treat employees as subhuman possessions, I have been there too often.

Costs alot more to get rid of the useless clod employed over a phone interview by a previous manager than to fly him over....

Not that im bitter.

I took one of my 3 annual return flights from India to attend an interview, plus a tank of fuel and £25 parking.

Didn't get a penny, wasn't hugely impressed....their reasoning was that I volunteered a date that I could be available in the UK, they didn't specifically request my presence for the 2nd interview. Apparently this meant that they didn't feel obliged to pay any expenses at all.

My mistake for taking the initiative I suppose 😕

Cheers, Rich

My last interview paid for train tickets and overnight accommodation. Took all the candidates out to dinner too. It was about 250 miles away from where I currently live and an all day interview process.

At least two other candidates were flown in from other parts of Europe.

random 'bonus' payments from a past era that haven't been sorted ou

and are you saying this is a problem in the public sector and not the private sector? Clearly you are a metal.

Here is the crux of it. I may have benefits like flexitime, relatively short working week, generous holiday allowance, but (and it is a big but) I could probably get paid 30% - 50% more doing the same job in the private sector. Public sector knows that it cannot compete with these salaries so they try to improve the non financial benefits.

For what it is worth, I have worked in public sector for 10 years and it is more lean and efficient now than ever.

@winston_dog - oh nothing particularly exciting, just science, but I'm interested in that (and it's a pretty good place, so they can get away with the salaries to some extent)!

To my mind it's a laughable concept.

It's essentially a supply and demand thing.

I am not especially desperate to change jobs. If people want me to work for them, they need to be quite nice to me. If they come across as stingy, that puts them on the back foot in securing my (relatively rare and valuable) services.

I'm very well aware that this is an incredibly fortunate and privileged position to be in.

I flew to Australia for my last job interview. If I'd been paid 12p per mile I'd have covered the cost of the flight (if my maths is correct...). I wasn't but I did get the job so swings and roundabouts really.

and are you saying this is a problem in the public sector and not the private sector? Clearly you are a metal.

BigDummy - Member
It's essentially a supply and demand thing.

I am not especially desperate to change jobs. If people want me to work for them, they need to be quite nice to me. If they come across as stingy, that puts them on the back foot in securing my (relatively rare and valuable) services.

I'm very well aware that this is an incredibly fortunate and privileged position to be in.

This. I can fully understand this!

But where a job can be filled by several other people, and is not so "specialist" lets say, I wouldn't pay a penny in expenses.

I've got a second interview for a job 350 miles away, I'm getting 10p a mile and two nights accommodation (it's a two day interview process)
It wont anywhere near meet my costs (3 days off work for a start) but I'm thankful for the thought and the contribution
Fingers crossed I get it...