Do Companies Pay For Your Travel When Interviewing?

I know the bigger companies do such as BofA, GS, JPM, etc. since they have departments dedicated to this, but how does it work for much smaller firms such as boutiques.

I am asking because I am applying around to other places, but it would be horrible if I have to pay for flight considering I am looking to move from the South to the Northeast. If I do interviews with several companies, my wallet is going to take a serious beating. I know there are many of you that have experience with this, did the companies pay for your flights? I know it varies by company as well.

 

Some do, particularly the larger banks. Some dont however, an example being a firm which I interviewed at on the other side of the country, which didn't want to pay for transport because they had strong local candidates, so I had to make the trek on my own dime. Just try to do multiple interviews per visit, and network if you can. That will make it more efficient.

“...all truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” - Schopenhauer
 

Wow, can't believe you spent the money on the flight, I am assuming you didn't get the offer? The idea of doing multiple interviews per visit is a good idea but its not feasible. Taking off from work will be difficult, my team has no idea I am looking at other places. In addition to this, the economy is rough, I don't think I will have the opportunity to schedule interviews back to back since its up to the employers to decide.

Array
 

Still in the process now for that place actually. Hoping Ill get the offer, its a good firm. Just happens that they are in a financial hub where there are a lot of professionals in the field. Its not easy for me either, but the way I look at it is that it would be a greater cost to me in the long run if I had this opportunity presented to me but didn't take it up, and if I was able to get an offer. The short term cost would be negligible, and I would feel regret for not having taken up the opportunity if I dont get another opportunity like it in the future. Feel your pain dude.

“...all truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” - Schopenhauer
 

At lot of the smaller firms will ask you to pay for travel if they have good local candidates. For the most part the brand names will pay for your travel, though. Personally, unless it's an AMAZING opportunity, a firm not paying for my travel is generally a no-go for me. It means they are either cutting at the margins, which doesn't tell me good things about the firm, or they don't like me enough to really care all that much if I come out. And either way it seems more prudent to continue looking and stay with my current work.

 

Agree with the point that AllDay makes...if the group wants to meet you, they'll foot the bill for your flight. Boutique firms have paid for my interviewing related travel before and so have the big banks. Whether its a boutique or big name, if they are taking you seriously then spending a few hundred dollars in order to further evaluate you shouldn't even be a question in their mind.

 

seabird, how did you get the interview in the first place? Was this via your personal network or through a headhunter? Particularly interested if it was the latter as I thought not being located in the target city already was a tough per-interview sale, especially if the opportunity is in a hub with a lot of qualified candidates.

 
m2:
seabird, how did you get the interview in the first place? Was this via your personal network or through a headhunter? Particularly interested if it was the latter as I thought not being located in the target city already was a tough per-interview sale, especially if the opportunity is in a hub with a lot of qualified candidates.

Head hunter. And yes, a hub. Regarding IDR's point, its a mid sized fund (

“...all truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” - Schopenhauer
 

If you don't get reimbursed by any firm, regardless if its a boutique or a huge financial services firm, that is ridiculously messed up.

I've flown to big and small shops from the southeast to the west coast, northeast, midwest, etc, and they all paid. It should not even be an issue for [legitimate] firms that are looking for real talent.

Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis - when I was dead broke man I couldn't picture this
 

BofA has enough money to pay ppl back for recruiting expenses???...JK

they should be paying you by either connecting you to a travel agent that the firm uses, or just ask you to pay and you can send it to them later for a check/refund. if its a respectable firm and not a no-name boutique, they will/should cover.

I don't throw darts at a board. I bet on sure things. Read Sun-tzu, The Art of War. Every battle is won before it is ever fought- GG
 

I'm from the west coast and Ernst & Young paid for my airline ticket ($800) and one night stay at a Marriot ($800) for an interview. Not bad huh. Unfortunately, I didn't get the job.

No contract means I have all the power. They want me, but they can't have me. - Don Draper
 
AllDay_028:
analyst1609:
I'm from the west coast and Ernst & Young paid for my airline ticket ($800) and one night stay at a Marriot ($800) for an interview. Not bad huh. Unfortunately, I didn't get the job.
That must have been the nicest Marriot in the world.

The Marriot was just off Broadway (Times Square). Not only that, but I managed to stay in NY for 10 days instead of flying home the next day.

No contract means I have all the power. They want me, but they can't have me. - Don Draper
 
Best Response
analyst1609:
AllDay_028:
analyst1609:
I'm from the west coast and Ernst & Young paid for my airline ticket ($800) and one night stay at a Marriot ($800) for an interview. Not bad huh. Unfortunately, I didn't get the job.
That must have been the nicest Marriot in the world.

The Marriot was just off Broadway (Times Square). Not only that, but I managed to stay in NY for 10 days instead of flying home the next day.

You mean this one that regularly has rooms for ~250 a night unless you are booking the day before?

http://www.marriott.com/reservation/availabilityCalendar.mi

Did you stay in a suite? It's inconsequential, but it just stuck out to me because it's so out there.

 

I haven't read the other comments, but would like to say that most banks (good banks) will pay for your interviews. This includes MM. I don't have experience with and boutiques, but a friend of mine recently was flown to Florida for a boutique. I had a surprising instance where a BB bank said that non core students would come down for a "non-core" super day to the office, but they did not mention that they would not be paying for it. I wouldn't worry too much about this instance. For those that were further away could do phone interviews.

 
OMS:
Husky32:
To the above posters, can you get reimbursed for a long drive (given that the firm is legit)? I had to drive 4 hours for an interview once and cost about $65 in gas and I had to pay.

that's just silly.

at one firm i got 50c/mile

 

When Ive been reimbursed for driving, it was at 55 cents per mile. This was because it was a 3 hour trip each way, It was the only time I was ever reimbursed for traveling expenses.

“...all truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” - Schopenhauer
 

I am also curious. I was suppose to fly out to Chicago for my final round with a prop firm but they said it was quite expensive ($1K +) and want to have another phone interview before biting the bullet and flying me out. Obviously I am not pumped about this but I have to play ball. The feedback I got from my last interview was that I had the personality and quick math skills but that I lacked industry knowledge. How in depth should my industry knowledge be for a college senior? Sorry to be off topic, but I thought that this thread might offer some insight.

 

Most banks will cover flight + taxis and certain allotment for meals

----------------------------------------------------------------- “It's all nonsense. Firms use titles to pander to the egos of the employees without giving away the store. If you are getting the money, who cares about the title?"
 

So far, every firm I've interviewed with has booked the plane tickets for me and a hotel if more than one day.

Most also covered taxis to and from hotel, and one covered food too.

But yea, this is what I'm worried about too, especially now that I'm applying for companies in Asia.

-- Recent Actuarial Science (good statistical skills) grad looking for entry-level work ANYWHERE. Writing CFA Level 1 in June 2010. Passed 3 actuarial exams.
 

I had an interview with a BB in NYC and they only payed for my airfare, transportation, and incidentals. I was on my own for hotel. My other experiences were inline with the monkeys above however.

 

Do they know you are studying abroad in London?  It sounds absurb to make a college student travel overseas for a 2 hour interview.  I think you should remind the recruiter you are studying abroad and than go from there.

 

I disagree. I was invited back for a Superday at a BB and was told I HAD to attend the superday, on site. I am studying with semester at sea and coming back would require me to travel from Puerto Rico back to New York, then back from New York, through Miami, through Rio and to Salvador Brazil. And I would have to miss 6 days of classes. Semester at Sea also wouldn't ALLOW me to come back because of insurance issues. I explained this and they wouldn't budge, wouldnt bring me in early, or let me do it on the phone. Talk to the recruiter, but in my experience, they require you to be there.

 
BTbanker:
You'd have to either do a lot of coke, or wake up at 3am and fuck up your superday... This is a dumb question.

It is not a dumb question. You could certainly pull off waking up at 3 am and crush a superday, so long as you planned far enough in ahead and cared enough to follow through.

That said, I think that requesting a hotel is totally reasonable in this case, no question.

"There are three ways to make a living in this business: be first, be smarter, or cheat."
 

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