Travel reimbursement: know before you go

Even if times were good, I would not dream of asking for reimbursement. The way I understand it, travel is reimbursed only when actually employed there.

I'm with KXS. The only time I would even come close to thinking expenses would be covered is in a headhunter situation... when I'm the one being courted.

I've been reimbursed on multiple occasions for job interview trips, but only when they involved air travel and/or hotel stays. Driving (even several hundred miles) without a hotel stay probably wouldn't warrant a reimbursement.

Is A.G. insane? Or am I misunderstanding A.G.? He is looking for a job and wants to be paid to get to the interview?! Holy cow dude, good luck!

On that note, I personally think its wrong to be paid for commuting to a job even when working there. You get a salary, negotiate a high enough salary to cover transportation. Its not the employers responsibility to get you to your job! its YOUR JOB! I hate when people live out in the burbs and complain about their commute (or come in late because of it). Downsize and move closer if its that big a chore. It is not the employers responsibility! We all make decisions where we live.

But ya... A.G. I hope you are just young and dumb and you grow out of the entitled stuff.

Expenses incurred during the search for employment can usually be deducted on Federal Income Tax returns. I, too, would never dream of asking for reimbursement for mileage, tolls or other day-travel expenses when interviewing for a job.

I agree with kxs.

By the way, I understand there is a scam involving the interviewing company paying for travel expenses. The interviewing company says they will provide plane tickets but you have to send them a check in advance. They will send you plane tickets then reimburse the money once you show up for the interview. They explain that too many people have been no shows for interviews and that they want to get the tickets from their own discount vendor, that's why you have to send money in advance. Of course after that they don't send anything and don't answer your calls.

I concur with #3. I have been reimbursed for mileage and one night of hotel expenses on a job interview, but not if it was a day trip within a couple of hours of driving.

And yes, unless you ask about this ahead of time, your odds of getting reimbursed are pretty low.

Well, I certainly don't pay the travel expenses for any job interviews. Asking afterwards is always awkward, though, and if they say "no" there is not much you can do. It sounds like most of you cover this yourselves??? why?

I have frequently been reimbursed for interview travel. Usually as a part of the scheduling of the interview, it is discussed if the interviewer will be in the Boston area, or if it would be more convenient for me to fly to the interviewer. HR books the flights, rental car, hotel. I have submitted for 'incidentals', but usually I only submit for the most common of those expenses.
Tax law allows the deduction of travel expenses for the interview only in the case that you get that particular job. Otherwise there would be a lot of 'tax write-offs' for trips to 'interview' in Miami in Feb, etc.
Remember, in business everything is negotiable. Hence, negotiating skills are imperative to master.

I do not think it's the employer's obligation to reimburse interviewees. You chose to accept the interview, A.G., and it's your responsibility to get there. Sames goes for after you get the job. I would be concerned that you have inaccurate or unrealistic expectation of employers, and perhaps you should take a career skills course, both to be more accurately prepared in your job search, and to avoid embarrassing situations. As Allston said, hopefully you will grow out of this sense of entitlement.

Most of the times that I have traveled more than 150 miles roundtrip for an interview, the company has offered to reimburse me for mileage or pay for a flight/hotel room, but the economy was better at those times so that might be a place where companies are now cutting back. I have been bringing people in for interviews at my current company, and if a person lives within a couple hours drive then we don't offer anything but if they need to fly in we will pay for a flight and one night in a hotel, though the accounting department sometimes complains when I submit those expense reports.

So based on my experience AG isn't unreasonable to think that some companies would reimburse some interview travel expenses, but I agree that it is better to ask ahead of time and I would ask "does the company cover any travel expenses for interviews" rather than make it sound like that is assumed.

Good luck with the job search.

AG, Methuen - You are out of line to ask for reimbursements for traveling to an interview. I understand, you are unemployed and money must be tight. But the company is doing YOU a favor by giving you an interview. Not the other way around.
I am an employer. And if we do hire you we will reimburse you for your interview expenses. We will also pay any moving expenses and for 2 weeks of a hotel room if necessary for you to find a place to stay.
As far as opening the mail, I disagree with the Job Doc. Any mail - even marked confidential - coming to our office will be opened by our secretaries. It is in our employee manual, everyone in our office is aware of it. If you do not want your mail to be opened, then do not use our office's post adress.

kks,

Travel expenses are sometimes reimbursed when traveling for an interview. In the past, I've had my travel expenses paid for interviews, including air fare, hotel, and car fare. I've never asked for them; the company has initiated that.

Allston - there' s no reason to resort to name calling just b/c you disagree with one of the people posting.

number 1 is actually very wrong , a company can itemize a business expense forr recruiting purposes and do frequently . you need to ask up front .

I must confess, I was floored by this question. The idea of being reimbursed for expenses for a job interview seems utterly ridiculous, and I think asking would guarantee that you don't get the job. I think last8r has it right - unless you have been contacted by a recruiter/ headhunter, you pay the costs of your job search

DWilliams scam in #6: That is unbelievable! There are so many horrible people who will do anything to steal money from innocent bystanders. I wonder if they get victims by looking up resumes on internet job sites.

If anyone I ever interviewed asked me for reimbursement to show up to the interview, I wouldn't return their calls either.

We reimburse all of our candidates for their expenses traveling to an interview - particularly when they have to travel 200+ miles. We've even had candidates submit for parking expenses - its not really fair that we'd reimburse someone's long-distance travel expenses but not someone who is closer to the job site. I should specify that this tends to be in semi-finalist interviews, so there is significant interest on both sides in the position. I've also been asked to travel for a job interview myself, in which the company paid for my train ticket from Boston to New Jersey , and provided lunch so I would not have to incur that expense.

Pete in response #9 is wrong, you don't have to get the job to qualify for the job hunting related expenses. Job search expenses can be deducted as miscellaneous itemized tax deductions if you look for a job in the same field at the same level as the one you left. The job search expenses are deductible even if you don't get the job.

If the job were at a high-powered consulting firm or investment bank, perhaps it's ok to ask for reimbursement. I've had interviews where the company has paid the costs. But the company brought it up in those cases. To be honest, I am deeply concerned by a candidate who, having failed to bring the issue up at the start, crisply announces that money is owed "per customary business travel expenses practices" -and then pursues the company for the equal of an unpaid bill! Sometimes you need a friend to take you aside and explain that if the company doesn't offer the money, it's not part of the deal, and that your very first job as a candidate is to make the company feel that what you can contribute to them is what really interests you - not deciding that you are entitled to the benefits of paid employees and further demonstrating your judgment by chasing a potential employer for what you imagine you are 'owed'.

My view is travel expenses for a job interview are clearly reasonable. That being said, I would limited such expenses to cash out of pocket expenses for things like airline, cab, hotel and meals if an overnight were required. I personally would not ask for expenses for any interview involving driving a personal car. No matter what, an expenses policy must be discussed before the interview.

Opening business mail may, and must be done by either partner especially when one partner is absent. The mail is sent to the business first and the person second. Permission is not needed for one partner to open and read the mail, or email (business account only) of another partner. This is just good management. What if the letter is time sensitive? What if the letter is a complaint from a customer, or a check? As long as it says, 'partner, i.e. part owner' on the back of your tee shirt, it is both your and your partner's right to read any and all correspondence address to your company. The operative word is YOUR.

I can't imagine NOT being reimbursed. I recently travelled to CA for an interview and the company provided the rental car, hotel and took me to lunch during the day long interview. I absolutely submitted my driving expenses 51 cents a mile for 116 miles back and forth from the airport, $3.50 in tolls, and $48 in parking.

Reimbursement custom depends on the job level. For most executive-level or highly-trained professional type jobs, companies tend to pay the espenses for travel to and from, lodging and meals during, interviews. For attorneys, CEOs and other executives, this is normal. But if you're looking for a middle management of lower level office job, no travel expense reimbursement. I've had experience over my career with both types of interviews/jobs, and really it is the job level that seems to determine whether reimbursement is normal. But yes -- in all of my (not too vast) experience, such things are offered by the company, rather than asked for by the interviewee after the fact.

I got reimbursed for driving 70 miles r/t when I interviewed for an entry level position. However, I did not have to ask for it. The admin assistant sent me a reimbursement form with my interview information. Since then, I have not come across a company that offered to reimburse for travel expenses other than parking.

I cannot believe the responses on this blog. Those of you who said that employees should not request reimbursement must be employers or very naïve. There is no guarantee of being offered employment. Do you realize how much an individual would have to pay if they travel to numerous companies for interviews? If a company is interviewing twenty people, you need to consider the chance that you will not be hired. In addition, there may be a second interview. How much should a recent college graduate pay to obtain employment? Or a person who is out of work and trying to support a family? If a company does not want to reimburse for travel expenses, this is not a place I would want to work. No wonder we are in a financial crisis in this country. People are controlled by capitalism and business. Isn’t it wonderful how many people have been taken advantage by mortgage companies and are now living in tents in California? It is also fantastic to consider how big business continues to obtain and take advantage of government monies? Many people are out of work and you fools think it is stealing from the company to get reimbursement for travel expenses. What a joke!

I think it is the employer's responsibility to get the best qualified candidate for the job and to get that employee to the location where the interview is going to take place should be in the company's best interest.

Bottom line - reimbursement does NOT depend on the job level - if you're traveling more than a customary drive to work - what you're daily commute would be - then YES! you are in fact entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses. I had two interviews, in the same state, but on the opposite side of the state - totaling 763 miles round-trip - I should NOT have to front that - what if I had to fly? Furthermore, my prospective employer is covering a portion of relocation. It's standard normal operating practice for a prospective employer to cover travel expenses to/from an interview IF and ONLY IF you are traveling more than your daily commute would be. And to the people who are so rude as to reply the way you have - please show some respect. There's no need to be so condescending

I think that people shouldn't apply for an out-of-town job if they can't afford to get to the interview! If you applied for the job, then you pay. If we are recruiting you, then we pay. And for us, it does depend on the level of job.