Columnist and sports writer -- Winston-Salem (NC) Journal

I do see his point. My point is that it's just an employer's market right now. IIRC the guy who asked the question was a young guy from out of state. Not like he's coming from the New York Times.

And I've done that before, too, so I'm putting my money where my mouth is. But, of course, each person has to decide what's important to them.

 

Yeah, I had a couple of places long ago pay for me to come for an interview. But I realize times have changed and if you've got a dozen candidates within a 200-mile redius to choose from, why the hell would you bring in someone from 2,000 miles away? There just isn't that much difference between the candidates. (I had one SE tell me this on a phone interview years ago.)

If you go someplace for an interview and they pay..... and then you get offered the job, but decide for whatever reason to turn it down, how would you feel? I'd at least pay them half what the interview cost just to clear my conscience.

 

Because the one from farther away might be better.

 

None of us are that much better to make it worth their while. Not for jobs like this. Maybe at the highest levels (USA Today, half a dozen major metros, etc.). Again, the person who asked the question is a relative newcomer with little track record living somewhere far away. What incentive would anyone have to pick him/her out of the crowd?

 

Are you serious?

 

If they fly me in and decide not to make an offer, that's their call.

But if I agree to go, there's sort of an unwritten rule that "You're our guy unless we come across some major red flag." So unless I find a major red flag. If I go on an interview feeling the chance I take the job is slim, that I'm just fishing around..... to be that is being dishonest.

 

There is no such unwritten rule. If they fly you in and don't like what you see or hear, you are not obligated to anything unless that was some sort of deal you specifically made with them up front. Just because they bring you in doesn't mean you're getting the job. And accepting their offer to come and interview doesn't mean you owe them jack. If you go on your own dime and they don't hire you do they owe you half the cost? No.

If you think the chance of taking the job is slim, then you're right that you probably shouldn't go. But if you think there's a decent shot and you go for an interview but decide not to take the job, there's no obligation to pay for anything and there's certainly no reason to have clear your conscience. It's business.

 

I've never gone when I didn't think I would take the job if offered. If I have a better offer dangling, I'm going to be honest and not play two companies off against each other. That's just me. Oh, well.

Sorry for hijacking the thread.

 

A job interview is a two-way street. You're interviewing them just as much as they're intervewing you. You owe them nothing. I can't say I've ever gone to an interview assuming I'd take the job if offered. I'm there to find out what I'd be getting into.

Oh, and no one said anything about other offers dangling in this scenario. But there's no reason you shouldn't play one against the other if you can. It isn't dishonest -- just business -- and they'll try to play you if they can.

OK, that's my last word (I think). Carry on.