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[admin_track]

Does not reimburse travel costs?

I have been invited for an on campus interview, subsequent to a successful phone interview. 

The college has a stated policy of not reimbursing costs for on campus interviews. 

While I am quite interested in the job, I am not sure my paying for the travel sends a wrong signal. 

It would be useful to read other experiences of this “college belt tightening” exercise.

[expatinuk]

They have been very upfront with you... they don't pay travel costs. Do you want the job enough to pay your own way for the interview? If the answer is 'yes' then go.. if the answer  is 'no' then don't go.

[busyslinky]

I have never had that experience. 

But, it makes you wonder how serious the position will be.  If they can't get funding to do an adequate search and pay travel expenses, does that mean that the administration really doesn't have a line for that position.

I think more information is needed on the type of position you are looking at.  Is it a T-T position at a 4 year plus school?

But, I agree with expatinuk. If it is something you truly really want and are willing to invest travel money into it.  Then do it.  But, while you are traveling there, try to set up informal interviews at other places, especially if it is costly to travel to that location.

[miss_lemon]

While it has been two year since I took Tax Law, if you do decide to pay your own way, save your letter of invitation and all your receipts.  I think at least part of your travel expenses related to a job search can be "written off."  Check with a CPA, tax preparer office, or tax attorney for all the details, restrictions, and find print.

At this point I'm obliged to say that I'm only a law student and my suggestions are merely questions for you to pose to properly trained counsel.

[larryc]

This also has to make you wonder how many people they are interviewing.  Would you be paying to be one of two people interviewed, or one or ten?  Some community colleges use the "we don't pay travel" policy as carte blanche to interview tons of candidates.  I would call and ask.

[j_source]

What level is this job?  If it's an entry- or lower-level position, it might be a reasonable situation.  But if they're doing a national search and it's for a mid- to upper-level position, like program director or dean, I'd be very wary of it.  The level of economic cheapness may signal serious financial problems at the institution.  Procede carefully here.

[admin_track]

Thanks for all the replies.  Very helpful.

What level is this job?  ....  But if they're doing a national search and it's for a mid- to upper-level position, like program director or dean, I'd be very wary of it.  The level of economic cheapness may signal serious financial problems at the institution.  Procede carefully here.

And yes, they did a national search.  I guess there are enough rich (money wasting?) job seekers traversing the county at their own expense!!

[dale1]

For administrative jobs in student affairs/services, paying your own way for local searches is not uncommon.  For national searches, I would say it's pretty rare and might raise a red flag.

[studentadvisor]

In my experience, most schools will pay travel expenses for on-campus interviews regardless of the level of the position (entry-level, mid-level, etc.).  Most schools that I have interviewed with have asked me to book my own flight and make my own hotel reservations and provide them with receipts so they can reimburse me (cut me a check usually a couple of weeks after I have returned home). 

I know that there are schools in some places that tend to have high turnover (ie, Arizona) that specifically point out in the job posting that they do not pay for interview-related expenses for job seekers.

I agree with the other posters in that:

(1) I would want to know how many other people they are inviting to campus so you know your odds before you decide to put down all that money and,

(2) Basically, if it is one of those jobs that you can't imagine anyone else but you having, then go for it.  But if you have any doubts or reservations (including if their unwillingness to pay for your visit doesn't sit well with you), then maybe let your gut take the lead on this one.

Good Luck and I hope it works out for you.

- studentadvisor
 

[conjugate]

When I was at a job I'll refer to as The Atrocious Job, I was in charge of doing some personnel searches.  These searches were with the agreement that we would ask a candidate to come to an interview, and the candidate would pay all costs.  If we did not make an offer to the candidate, or if the candidate accepted our offer, we would reimburse.  If we offered and the candidate refused, we would not reimburse.  This was, in my view, an atrociously bad policy, but it was the policy I had to work with.  That's one reason why I'm still not there (although the policy was changed in later years).

I need hardly add that we didn't get many applicants who came to interviews.

[va_prof]

My experience is that some colleges have a policy that they do not reimburse.  Sadly, they probably think that it weeds out the individuals who are not serious candidates, without regard for the fact that it might also weed out some great candidates.  It might also be a way to keep down competition when they already have an inside candidate and are not serious about anyone else, but are required by state law or institutional policies to interview a given number of candidates for the search to be considered adequate.  I would say if it is somewhere you really want to be then take your chances and be sure to keep your receipts for your taxes.