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[Professor]

With respect to reimbursement . . . . Example 1:  In 1997, I had an interview at a regional public comprehensive university in KY.  In the phone call to invite me for the interview, the search committee chair told me that if I received and accepted an offer for the position, I would receive reimbursement for 100% of travel expenses.  Otherwise, I would receive no reimbursement.  Given that within 15 minutes of arrival I realized that the search committee hated me, I knew all this would be out-of-pocket. Example 2:  In 1998, I had an interview at a regional public comprehensive university in PA.  The search committee chair told me I would receive reimbursement for 100% of travel expenses within 6 weeks after the interview.  When 4 months had passed, the very quiet and shy applicant (me) finally called the human resources office, who then called the department secretary, who then called me with the news that the chair had declined to ask me for my SSN in the course of my interview and was too uncomfortable to follow-up with me because he had not hired me.  Example 3:  In 1999, I had an interview at a regional public comprehensive university in MS.  In the phone call to invite me for the interview, the search committee chair told me to purchase my plane ticket, then e-mail her with the amount so that she could start the reimbursement process.  I did so, only to receive a phone call four hours later in which she told me that, upon receipt of the amount, she and her co-workers had spent 2 hours on the phone to find me a lower-cost ticket and would I please have my travel counselor switch my itinerary.  I was unable to do so (the plane was filled by then), so I used the 1st ticket, for which I never received the promised reimbursement.  I did, however, four months after my campus visit, receive a letter from human resources that my application packet had been received and had been forwarded to the department for consideration.  By then I had already received and declined an offer from the department.  BTW - I did not have an entirely unsuccessful mid-career search for a new position.  I found the almost-perfect school, earned a promotion to Professor, and love the area.  But I sure could tell some interview horror stories.

[DadaYaya]

An institution that refuses travel expenses is sending a loud and clear message--we're cheap.

Even if you land a position there, expect to receive the same low level of support throughout your tenure.

I've served on and chaired over ten search committees at universities, and we've always reimbursed for travel.  At my current shop, we pay plane fare in advance and pay the hotel directly.  Candidates notice this.

Even if a system forbids travel reimbursement, deans have enough discretionary funds to pay for travel and for moving expenses.

Also, if you suspect a candidate is just fishing, ask the person if she/he is really interested in the position.

A final note: $350 is a lot for an indivdual to pay for the chance to get a job.  On the other hand, $1500 in travel expenses is a very cheap price for a college to hire a producative faculty member who contribute to the institution for the next decade, plus.

[moom]

Amen!

[rock doc]

I had a job interveiw for a tenure-track position at a 4-year public college in New Jersey eight years ago.  When I was invited for the interview , I was told that I was to pay my own expenses and would be reimbursed only if I was offered the job and accepted it. This left me with a bad first (and lasting) impression of this institution.  I seriously considered turning down the interview invitation for this reason.  However, my professors (I was finishing my PhD at the time) urged me to interview, claiming that interviews were difficult to come by and this was my first interview invitation.  My PhD department actually paid for my airline ticket and hotel costs.  I was offered the job, but turned it down, so was not reimbursed.

After have several more interviews that same season, all of which were completely funded by the interviewing schools, I came to the conclusion that this particular New Jersey institution was just too cheap to invest in the very important interviewing process for new faculty.  I am very glad that I ended up with a tenure-track position elsewhere.

[on the market]

Has anyone ever heard of giving stipends to candidates for coming to campus and lecturing?  I am on the market this year and had a campus interview (not at a vacation destination of any kind!) that seemed to be a requirement the school had to get out of the way so they could hire their internal candidate.  Of course, I didn't know this in advance.  

Since I had to prepare a public lecture and teach a class (where I filled in for a prof, thus saving him a day's prep), it seems to me that I should be given some sort of stipend for this.  Even if it were just $200, I'd feel much better for having taken 2-3 days out of my life do this.  

A pipe dream, I know, but I think it makes sense.

[milou]

The practical reality is, most job candidates simply cannot afford to pay several $300-$500 plane trips plus hotel in order to get a job. I, for one, know I cannot as I am adjuncting.



                                         Milou

[Andrew]

Besides sitting on a number of a search committees, I have been on seven on-campus interviews during the last ten years.  My first job was at a community college in the rural South with the "we will reimburse you unless we make an offer and you don't accept" rule. I thought the rule made some sense, and the college turned out to be incredibly generous with equipment, travel, and professional development money.



On the other hand, I have not heard the same about schools with more restrictive policies. As a couple of people have mentioned, administrators at schools with adequate resources can find ways to raise this type of money. If they can't, don't the school to be able to do much for you in other areas once you are there (as a general rule).

[charlie fox]

When I applied for a post doc at Columbia U I in fact received all my expenses and a small honorarium for my 2 day campus visit. I received the position.

I have interviewed many times since then and this was unique.

[charlie fox]

Here is my view from an assoc dean at a state school. We are given no recruitment budget and so every dollar has to come from general funds. We do believe it is very important that we pay a candidate’s expenses and so we find the money. However, we typically limit the number of candidates to be interviewed to no more than 2-3 for each position and we extensively use phone interviews, conference calls, etc. We are not able to pre-pay but we get all local costs directly and ask the candidates to submit receipts ASAP and strive to turn it around in 30 days. Not the ideal situation but we typically have several searches going on each year (this year we have 5 and we have received several notices about separations that will occur next year)

So to answer the original post - I have done lots of interviews in my career, they have all been paid (except for 2 situations where I declined the interview). Things at many places are tight but there are alternatives if the institution prioritizes the search.

[jeff]

What ever happened to "Professionalism?" If you are desparate for a "job," you'll do almost anything...including paying your own way...to get the interview. If you are searching for an outlet for your talents in the right place at the right time, please do it the right way: politely insist that you assume and expect that your travel expenses be paid...up front. A professional approach speaks highly of your confidence in your abilities. Without that, what have you got? As several responders to this issue said, "it's a two-way street." Just don't forget who is driving!

[%sig%]

[Frances]

   So I fly in, stay one night in a motel, interview the next day, check out of the motel, and get to the airport just in time to catch the plane home.  Not much of a vacation, tourist spot or not.  The idea that it is, is just an excuse, and a demeaning one at that.
   It is hard enough to afford a day or two off from my two low-paying jobs that have no benefits (e.g., no work, no pay) much less afford plane fare, motel, meals, and taxi to go to an interview.  
   One would think that institutions that are too cheap or too financially distressed to pay interview expenses would also want to limit their recruitment expenses by not placing costly national ads.
   As a current job-seeker, I skip over ads where the institution refuses to pay interview expenses.  It is an indication to me that they will be just as stingy when it comes to departmental budgets, raises, promotions, benefits, reimbursements, continuing education expenses, etc.  
   As a practical person, I would not be averse to spending a night in one of the guest rooms that many schools have for prospective student visits, and eating using a meal pass at the student union or dining hall.  I don't have to be "wined and dined" in luxury, but I cannot afford even economy rate travel, meals and lodging for interviews all over the country when I I don't have a professional job yet.   I have a mortgage to pay and two teenagers to feed.
   As a former business owner, I see interview expenses as a cost of doing business.  Refusing to pay for them is negative advertising and bad P.R.

[melba]

Mark wrote "Any school, university or community college, that does not pay for the interview is not worth looking into. It is predictive of how you will be viewed if you are hired - as a commodity. In my view, it is abusive and takes advantage of a tight labor market. People with such ethics will not make good colleagues."

I would like to know do you have any systematic data on this, or is it only your opinion? Is there actually survey data out there showing a correlation between handing of interview expenses and employee satisfaction?

If this argument is based only on opinion and anecdotes, I'll throw in my own experiences:

Interview #1, all costs are paid, in fact I am told "cost is not an issue" when it comes to booking a flight, they provide a nice hotel, all meals, everything is reimbursed. But the salary turns out to be ridiculously small, the hope for a raise over the long-term non-existent, the work load heavy, morale on campus is depressing. No connection between interview costs and the actual job.

Interview #2, all costs paid, I take the job. I stay for four years but leave in part because of working conditions.

Interview #3, no costs paid, I take the job. It is a much better institution to work at, in contrast to #1 (presumably) and #2 (definitely).

The moral of the story is do not judge a job by whether they reimburse you for the interview expenses.  This is superficial and irrelevant; perhaps some vanity sneaking in? There are too many factors to take into consideration; or I should say too many factors that you just can't know.

The bottom line is, if you think the job is a good match to your qualifications and interests then decide whether the cost of the interview is worth the chance at the job. Do a simple cost-benefit analysis but don't read too much into the process.

[profxfiles]

When I got an offer for an interview at a regional university in Oklahoma, I was originally told they would not pay my travel expenses. at that point I politely declined the offer for the interview. Four hours later the chair called me back and told me he had wrangled the money from the dean. It turned out to be the worst two years of my academic career, as the university paid many of the t-t faculty so little that they qualified for state medical assistance!

[On the market myself]

This might be field dependent. However, in the natural sciences and engineering, a school that failed to pay for any interview expenses would be viewed as cheap and would not get anyone there. When I was applying to graduate schools, they flew us out to wine and dine us. I can't even imagine a school not paying for airfare and providing lodging.  My undergrad school paid for interview expenses for all faculty candidates.  I don't know of any state laws that bar invitational travel reimbursement for job candidates.  Even if such bars exist, I suspect that creative departments find ways to use non-state money for interview reimbursement. In many ways, it's no different than a guest lecturer since most interviews include a seminar presentation.

[Christine]

I didn't know that was even done.  What type of agency do you go through?  My daughter is a singer in TN but I don't think she has ever gotten paid for show cases or interviews.  Can you tell me a little more about that?  What type of band do you have?  What is the name of your band?  My daughter sang on StarSearch when she was 12.  She is older now and much more professional.  Thanks!

Christine..