[Lewis Mc]

Just got an email back off the UK Maritime Border Force.... I got a 1st interview yey!

Anyway, as you should know I live in liverpool, which is a fair bit away, and the interview is in Portsmouth, Anyone recommend places to stay and best way to get there besides driving, I really can't be bothered to.

A quick look online gives me some figures of;

Train...£ 65+
Hotel...£65+

Which seems a tad expensive for 1 dam interview!

Do I have any other options ??

[....,,,,..,,..]

Train and travel lodge is likely best.

Options.

Train there and back same day - can they fit interview around your travelling times.

Query if you can claim travel expenses back, some HR departments allow this but don't advertise the fact.

Telephone interview (I don't like them, prefer in person).

Unfortunately interviews do cost a bit in both time and money.

So make sure you are fully prepaid.

Fully covered off on requirements, have all info to back up and qualifications or experience.

[Lewis Mc]

Originally Posted by Brigand

Train and travel lodge is likely best.

Options.

Train there and back same day - can they fit interview around your travelling times.

Query if you can claim travel expenses back, some HR departments allow this but don't advertise the fact.

Telephone interview (I don't like them, prefer in person).

Unfortunately interviews do cost a bit in both time and money.

So make sure you are fully prepaid.

Fully covered off on requirements, have all info to back up and qualifications or experience.

Dam , looks like it might have to be train and hotel

Interview is set times that i have to chose from online, 5 days to chose from with 5 times each, 6th-10th june,

Unfortunately the cheapish trains don't get there before the latest interview which is 3pm and ones that do are like £130 each way, so same day is a no go unless i drove, but don't particularly want to.

[Canary_Yellow]

Originally Posted by Lewis Mc

Dam , looks like it might have to be train and hotel

Interview is set times that i have to chose from online, 5 days to chose from with 5 times each, 6th-10th june,

Unfortunately the cheapish trains don't get there before the latest interview which is 3pm and ones that do are like £130 each way, so same day is a no go unless i drove, but don't particularly want to.

Same day train saves on hotel costs though, so might still work out cheaper if cheapest train is £65+ and hotel is £65+?

I'd probably go down the night before though, don't want to risk missing it or being late for the sake of a couple of quid.

[allachie9]

Try Flybe from Manchester to Southampton, then train.
Flybe advertising from £39.99 one way.

5 flights a day - journey time 1h.05m.
Train time 44mins.

[Lewis Mc]

Originally Posted by Canary_Yellow

Same day train saves on hotel costs though, so might still work out cheaper if cheapest train is £65+ and hotel is £65+?

I'd probably go down the night before though, don't want to risk missing it or being late for the sake of a couple of quid.

Just been scrolling through every day and every train time and we have a winner !

same day

Liv 05.30 - ports 10.30.
Interview at 13:00
Ports 18:15 - Liv 23:30

total cost : 55 quid

Now just to get the day off work

[HeresMyCar]

Originally Posted by Brigand

Train and travel lodge is likely best.

Options.

Train there and back same day - can they fit interview around your travelling times.

Query if you can claim travel expenses back, some HR departments allow this but don't advertise the fact.

Telephone interview (I don't like them, prefer in person).

Unfortunately interviews do cost a bit in both time and money.

So make sure you are fully prepaid.

Fully covered off on requirements, have all info to back up and qualifications or experience.

I second this. Do ask about expenses. What harm can it do? I work in this field and for people travelling long distance I've often approved the expense.

[Lewis Mc]

Originally Posted by BV1507

I second this. Do ask about expenses. What harm can it do? I work in this field and for people travelling long distance I've often approved the expense.

What HR would i contact though, i assume there a fair few different ones in the Home office ?

[HeresMyCar]

I'm assuming it's all online based with picking an interview slot etc? If so there should be a point of contact or a phone number or at least a faq section. Affiliated with the profession but not the industry, so can't help much further. Best of luck!

[Lewis Mc]

Originally Posted by BV1507

I'm assuming it's all online based with picking an interview slot etc? If so there should be a point of contact or a phone number or at least a faq section. Affiliated with the profession but not the industry, so can't help much further. Best of luck!

There is no number to call, but a generic email appears on one page so have emailed that querying it

[Tronneh]

Originally Posted by Lewis Mc

What HR would i contact though, i assume there a fair few different ones in the Home office ?

If i was interviewing a candidate and they asked to be refunded for their travel costs for the interview, it certainly would not be a plus point on their application.

Or am I just being old and grumpy?

[philiper1]

No idea about train, hotel but good luck with the interview Lewis

[HeresMyCar]

Originally Posted by Tronneh

If i was interviewing a candidate and they asked to be refunded for their travel costs for the interview, it certainly would not be a plus point on their application.

Or am I just being old and grumpy?

In this day and age candidates can come from far afield. In the industry I work in it is not unusual for such a question to be asked. At the end of the day it all comes down to ensuring the most suitable candidate gets the job. Asking whether expenses can be reclaimed (within reason) and requesting expenses to be paid are two different matters. Policy maybe no, so be it. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Tronneh

If i was interviewing a candidate and they asked to be refunded for their travel costs for the interview, it certainly would not be a plus point on their application.

Or am I just being old and grumpy?

Depends whether it was local or for a distance that was clearly going to be expensive to cover.

You could see it as a plus or a negative depending on what qualities you want from your candidate...

[bodtwo]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Depends whether it was local or for a distance that was clearly going to be expensive to cover.

You could see it as a plus or a negative depending on what qualities you want from your candidate...

Compared to some of the exe's I've been asked to sign off, as you say, getting the right candidate ranks higher.

This could make for an interesting thread.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by Tronneh

If i was interviewing a candidate and they asked to be refunded for their travel costs for the interview, it certainly would not be a plus point on their application.

Or am I just being old and grumpy?

A lot depends on the role of offer, number of candidates and distance travelled / cost of claim.

Anything less than say £40 a candidate for a management role I would expect the candidate to eat up.

Over £50 or if over night stay required, then it would be fair to cover reasonable travel lodge cost but not fuel say.

Overall though, it's expected for recruiting for some technical roles, there is a big skills shortage out there.

[Edinburra]

A bit depends how much the job is worth to you. £130.00 seems like small beer if the job is worth £XXXXX more to you. How much do you want it?

[Tengocity]

I suppose it also comes down to where the job is based relative to the location. A mate went for a job based in Scotland but the head office was in Yorkshire and he was asked to go there for two interviews... I think the company should definitely pay in that situation.

[goodbyalfa]

The cost of recruitment is quite high anyway when you factor in all associated costs and the intangibles. Certainly in the field I work in, all travel costs are generally recompensed as a matter of courtesy, simple form handed to the candidate at the end of the process. It must be tax deductible so...

[deebee]

Just drive, easiest option

[Tronneh]

Originally Posted by Brigand

A lot depends on the role of offer, number of candidates and distance travelled / cost of claim.

Anything less than say £40 a candidate for a management role I would expect the candidate to eat up.

Over £50 or if over night stay required, then it would be fair to cover reasonable travel lodge cost but not fuel say.

Overall though, it's expected for recruiting for some technical roles, there is a big skills shortage out there.

I understand what your saying; I myself live in Blackburn and work from home, yet the company I work for is based near newport pagnell which is around 200 miles and I was head hunted specifically because of my specialist skillset.
I went to two interviews, a techncial interview and a second with the MD.
On both occasions I travelled down the night before and stayed in a local hotel to ensure I was fresh in body and mind!
It didn't even cross my mind to ask for expenses, nor would I, as I think it would quite frankly be rude and viewed in a dim light.

That said if it's the norm in the specific industry, why not!

[Danny Fireblade]

How about someone who is on the forum and has a spare room "lets" it out for the night and saves Lewis some funds.

That way he can drive down the night before, have a good nights sleep, goes to the interview and returns the same day.

How does that sounds??