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I've been invited to fly out to a major company for a final interview next week Wednesday. (I live in Minnesota, the job is in New York state). Is it ever OK to ask that the visit be extended by one day, at personal expense, so I can tour the area? I've never been to this area and I'd like to see more. I'd be relocating my family and it's a big decision to make.
The hiring manager let me know it will be next week Thursday and I will hear back soon "about travel arrangements and the day's schedule." Should I wait to hear about the arrangements and schedule before mentioning this, or should I say something now? Who knows, maybe a tour of the area might be included in the day, or I might be asked if I want to extend.
Sure, you can be upfront about it and ask them to book the return flight a day or two after the interview is over so you can tour the area. Make sure you mention that you will check from the hotel out the day of the interview but want the return flight a day or two later. Should not be any problem for their logistics team.
No, i would highly recommend against that. You dont yet work for this company and you dont want there to be a chance that this is the reason a company doens't hire you. Dont risk it.
If you want to do it, do it on your own. You'll get a plane ticket, you can call the airline and change it. You'll maybe get a hotel room, you can phone the hotel and have them make it an extra day.
That being said, if you wind up with the job, I have never seen a relocation package that doesn't include usually a week to scout the area and home hunt.
I wouldn't ask the employer to do anything beyond bringing you there for the interview. I'd wager that your plane ticket is same day there and back, and hotel isn't involved.
I think it's a common request and demonstrates you are serious and practical about the possibility of relocating. Do mention it would be at your own expense, and it should not be a problem for them. I would try to let them know before the travel arrangements are made, though.
I've been invited to fly out to a major company for a final interview next week Wednesday. (I live in Minnesota, the job is in New York state). Is it ever OK to ask that the visit be extended by one day, at personal expense, so I can tour the area? I've never been to this area and I'd like to see more. I'd be relocating my family and it's a big decision to make.
The hiring manager let me know it will be next week Thursday and I will hear back soon "about travel arrangements and the day's schedule." Should I wait to hear about the arrangements and schedule before mentioning this, or should I say something now? Who knows, maybe a tour of the area might be included in the day, or I might be asked if I want to extend.
Thanks!
I think this will be fine but you should let them know immediately before the flight is booked. You're contemplating moving to a completely different area, I would expect that you would want to explore it some.
I booked travel arrangements for a candidate who asked for the same consideration. I prepaid only one night at the hotel, and scheduled the departing flight for one day later. It was no additional cost or trouble.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeyyc
That being said, if you wind up with the job, I have never seen a relocation package that doesn't include usually a week to scout the area and home hunt.
I wouldn't ask the employer to do anything beyond bringing you there for the interview. I'd wager that your plane ticket is same day there and back, and hotel isn't involved.
At that stage, OP would be locked into the job without having had the opportunity to explore the area. As for the travel being same day, it all depends on the flight schedules and how considerate the company is of its candidates. Even if it's the same day, there is no problem with OP asking to have the return flight be the next day instead.
It doesn't hurt to ask. I recently was flown out for an interview to Las Vegas, my interview was scheduled for Monday morning and they wanted me to fly out the day before. I requested to fly out a few days earlier since I was worried about the potential of weather delays, as well as wanting time to get used to the time difference. I made my request when I spoke to the travel agent making the arrangements. The company did not have a problem with me coming earlier, they just made it clear that I would have to cover the expenses of the two extra nights.
I think this will be fine but you should let them know immediately before the flight is booked. You're contemplating moving to a completely different area, I would expect that you would want to explore it some.
I booked travel arrangements for a candidate who asked for the same consideration. I prepaid only one night at the hotel, and scheduled the departing flight for one day later. It was no additional cost or trouble.
At that stage, OP would be locked into the job without having had the opportunity to explore the area. As for the travel being same day, it all depends on the flight schedules and how considerate the company is of its candidates. Even if it's the same day, there is no problem with OP asking to have the return flight be the next day instead.
Same here.. In fact, I would appreciate that they want to explore the area. To me, it would show they are serious about relocating. I doubt they would be flying you out if you weren't a top candidate. What if you hated the area?
It's a fairly common request. I've done it before, and when I've been on hiring committees, it's not uncommon at all for applicants to specifically ask if they can extend the trip by 1-2 days at their expense to check out the area, get a feel for cost of living, etc.
I found out after I was hired the fact that I'd been very transparent about wanting to get a sense of how much rent I'd be paying, what my commute/traffic would be like, etc was actually a point in my favor - they felt positive about my interest and demonstrated commitment, and also felt confident that I wouldn't accept the offer and then backpedal when I discovered the cost of living.
As I recall, the recruiter's admin handled all of the logistics for me. The company paid for my airplane ticket, rental car, and one night hotel/food. They arranged it so that the hotel billed the 2nd and 3rd night to my personal credit card. The hotel staff mentioned they saw this arrangement fairly often, too.
I live in a very high cost of living area, so if you're going to a cheaper area, it might not work as well.
I'd probably, if you were going to ask for this, extend the trip on the front-end rather than the back-end.
That way, you can put it to them this way.. Interview is on Wednesday, they plan to fly you in Tuesday.. Ask them to fly you in on Monday, you'll pay for the added hotel, and tell them that you with the airlines the way they are, if something happens and a flight is cancelled, there's a full day to make alternate arrangements.
It's fully possible if they're flying you in on the last flight of the day on Tuesday, it gets cancelled, and then you're rushing from the airport to make an 11am interview on Wednesday.
That way, it makes it sound less like you're just going to be a tourist and more like you're being proactive in planning for the interview.
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