I did a searched and went through a few threads and didn't find too much about what I am about to ask.

I wanted to know anyone who has applied for jobs that were out of state, any pointers, how was the interview process, how did you do travel finances, etc. Any pointers too are appreciated.

I want to move back to CA or move to Seattle. I am afraid that my listing that I live out of state will have a small impact on job hunting. that's why i am trying to get people experiences. Also if I do get called for interviews and in person interviews how will that work. I can't just fly out every time I am thinking. Its harder to get my resume out and personally deliver them if I live across country. Working in NC is not an option I really want to take.

Thanks in advance.

11/4/2008 4:20:54 PM

what industry - it's pretty common in most industries for the company doing the interviews to pay for all travel expenses minus food i thought

11/4/2008 4:23:45 PM

^.

some even comp a per diem food cost.

11/4/2008 4:29:28 PM

well government jobs mainly, so i am guessing they won't cover travel. but i would also like to do something with government contracting, international sales, something along those lines.

I just don't know the correct etiquette and this is my first time career job hunting.

11/4/2008 4:32:36 PM

when they ask about scheduling an interview time - that's when you would bring it up if they haven't

if i were applying to a job out of state then i would just apply - no etiquette or protocol - i'd guess it's more rare in the public sector but it definitely happens

11/4/2008 4:36:07 PM

they can't seriously expect the best candidates to all be local, i'm sure it's something they see on a normal basis.

11/4/2008 4:37:52 PM

do you have anyone you can stay with where you want to move?

you could always plan a trip and try to schedule interviews all within a week or two of each other, just let your potential employers know your availability (once you're contacted after applying, i would assume)

11/4/2008 4:40:52 PM

^ not really only in one city.

I guess to me it feels like when you were applying to college and in state was favored over out of state more of the time. I can understand ya the most qualified people don't work in that state where the company is, but with the economy being so shitty are people going to discriminate because they don't want to foot the bill?

11/4/2008 4:43:53 PM

Quote :

"are people going to discriminate because they don't want to foot the bill?"

Yes, but there will be that problem even in a good economy. Some companies won't even consider out-of-state applicants. So it's harder, especially if you're looking at smaller companies, but not impossible.

If they bring you in for an interview, they will almost certainly cover any of your costs and should fly you down and put you up in a hotel. If the HR dept is any good, they'll have everything ready to go and just email you the details. The large companies tend to have business arrangements with hotels and airlines. Afterwords, they usually have you fill out a form with any food/gas/etc. expenses you have, include your receipts, and they'll comp up to a certain amount.

You really can't do much about flying out there multiple times, unless you want to take time off and stay over there or get lucky with how the interview dates fall.

Also keep in mind relocation expenses. More of an interview question...sometimes they give you a lump sum, sometimes they hire movers and handle everything for you.

11/4/2008 6:28:25 PM

I interviewed and eventually accepted a government job. I completed a phone interview first before being invited for an in person interview. Everything was paid for including hotel, plane ticket, per diem, rental car (including gas), airport parking, and even mileage from my place to the airport and back. I actually ended up making money from the interview. The private company I interviewed with had a similar arrangement.

Neither job offered to pay moving expenses but they both offered a signing bonus that was more than enough to cover moving.

[Edited on November 4, 2008 at 9:08 PM. Reason : dur...]

11/4/2008 9:02:52 PM

I've essentially been hired for two jobs out of state that required relocation and travel. My first one was an internship with Boeing. They did everything to start with over the phone. Then paid for all expenses to get out there to work for the summer to get back after the summer. They then hired me for a full time position when I finished school. Paid all relocation expenses, but there wasn't really an interview process.

Most recently, I hired on with North Americna Bus Industries. They phone screened first. For the interview, they flew me from St. Louis to Atlanta, rented me a car to drive to Alabama, but me up for the night in a business hotel, paid for all food, all gas, parking at the airport. Again, covered all relocation expenses as well.

One other out of state interview I had was for an internship with John Deere, and it was the same thing, they flew me out of Raleigh to IL, paid for parking and food, and provided their own ground transportation.

Just be prepared, any trip for an interview is going to be a whirlwind trip. You'll most likely fly in the evening before, stay close, and then fly out the afternoon of your interview. Use any time you can get to scope out the area as well.

11/4/2008 9:21:58 PM

You need a hunting license in that state first.

11/5/2008 6:47:28 PM

Out of state interviews are fairly painless. For most of the ones I had, the company direct billed the airfare, hotel, and rental car, and just gave me an itenerary/schedule. Any food expenses on the way and back were mailed back and reimbursed. Only for one company did I have to put up for the expenses, but of course was reimbursed later (that's a bit much to ask a recent grad to do IMO).

As for scheduling, they would call to inform me they were interested in an in-person interview, then ask what time over the next couple weeks worked best, so there was at least some notice to get out there. As said earlier, you usually fly in the night before. Once there, the interview process was the same as anywhere else.

If you were to receive an offer, the move will vary depending on how much the company decides to cover for relocation. Always ask about their relocation policies, and what they include (do they pay movers for you to load/ship/unload? will they pay to ship your car(s)? will they pay for a separate homefinding trip for you? will they help cover any lease breaking fee to get out of your current place? things like that) because that shit can get ridiculously expensive fast.

11/5/2008 8:27:36 PM

i had two interviews in NYC, and neither firm offered to fly me up there for an interview. In fact, they both asked that i contact them when i was in town (assuming that i made it in to town on my own). it sucked, and it was expensive, but of course, i kind of had to do it. the first firm was small (less than 20 people) and the second was a larger firm. of course, my industry is architecture, which has been pretty much directly hit with the housing market and a general halt in construction (which has resulted in hiring freezes), and as far as i know, does not have a reputation for paying for relocation/interview travel.

if you are like me and have to pay the bill, i would try to coordinate your interviews to be on the same day/visit. i contacted multiple firms and let them know that i would be in town for one interview, and i was able to turn one interview into two on the same day (although i was trying to turn one interview into three or four). in this economy, i imagine that employers are going to be hesitant to hire and even less likely to be as accomodating in the interview process, and the majority of the burden will be on the prospective employee to call and ask for interviews more than you're generally comfortable with doing.

even if you don't land a job or even an interview, try to make the contacts and stay on their radar for a while for when the market opens back up.

11/9/2008 10:57:31 PM

most of the jobs i interviewed for were out of state and my experience was similar to others in here. the companies varied in size, but all offered to fly me out and pay for the hotel room and food.

i was offered relocation, however, at all firms that made me an offer. ended up moving halfway accross the country (FL -> midwest), but ive been pleased.

11/9/2008 11:16:48 PM

Don't work for a company that won't pay for you to come in for an interview. It shows

- They don't have resources. If they skimp on this, they will skimp on other stuff when you get there.
- They don't take recruiting the best talent seriously.
- Their existing employees are not that talented because did not have to be nationally competitive.

This goes for companies of any size. Working for companies that aren't very selective or effective in their hiring sucks balls.

11/10/2008 2:02:13 AM