EDITOR'S POST

What about being brought over to another city for an on-site interview?

Q. What about being brought over to another city for an on-site interview?

A. The company pays for airplane fare, hotel, car rentals/taxi, meals, etc. Thus, local candidates are more likely to be invited for an interview.

Most companies won't pay for phone calls made from the hotel room, room service, pay-per-view movies, etc. If you are being reimbursed for the phone calls, then making expensive long distance calls will hurt your chances of a job offer. Charge all calls not related to this particular interview to your home phone number instead. Be careful about over overcharged when calling from any hotel. Use a calling card and a reputable long distance company.

Likewise, treating yourself to lavish meals at the interviewer's expense may hurt your chances for a job offer.

If two or more companies want to bring you for an interview to the same city, you should let both companies know. They will probably arrange to split the costs. Trying to bill more than one company for the same expenses has resulted in legal action in the past.

It's acceptable to ask if your spouse can come with you to see the new city on the second, but not on the first interview.

Usually, the interviewer arranges hotels, car rentals, etc in advance, so you don't have to pay. Some small companies have been known to tell the candidate to submit an expense report for an on-site interview to they'd be reimbursed; then renege on the promise if the candidate is not hired.

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