How Common is being Asked to fly to UK for Interview?

Thargor

Is it a sign the jobs in the bag do you think? Im 25, just finished my second degree the other day but I dont have great experience, just 2 previous 6 month contracts and a couple of short work placements at the end of both degrees, Im sure there are 100's or 1000's of more qualified people ahead of me in UK nevermind Ireland so I have no idea why they rang me tbh, they got my CV from Monster and I had a pretty good 30 minute phone interview with them this morning now they want me to fly out next week, the job is pharmaceutical related for one of the UKs biggest companies and the pay is way more than what I would expect, Im kind of in shock to be honest.

So does that usually mean you have it if they're going to bother flying you out?

robbie_998

The question i'd ask is

"is it a scam ?"

twitch1984

if they are going to pay for you to go what harm will it do, doubt they would fly you over just for the chance to meet you and turn you down

Mucco

No, it does not mean the job is in the bag. I have been flown to the UK from Ireland and from the UK to Ireland for interviews many times - it's not unusual. If it costs ~$800m to develop a new drug, a few hundred Euro on flights is nothing.
A lot of pharma companies will conduct many screening interviews to filter people before conducting proper interviews. So be prepared for a full day of technical and HR interviews.

As the company will pay, it is definitely worth the time going - and I don't think a big pharma company will be out to scam you.

Thargor

Ok thanks Mucco, Im definitely going, of course I wasnt worried about it being a scam, if they're sending me Aer Lingus tickets to London that would be a pretty elaborate scam, unless they're sex traffickers or organ theives or something.:p

Berty

I had to fly to Scotland for an interview and it was all expenses paid. If they are a big company and are willing to pay for your expenses then go for it. You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain.

Thargor

Did you get the job?

Berty

Thargor wrote: »

Did you get the job?

Yes I did but then again I was the only person who was flown over to meet them.

3DataModem

I've flown to plenty of interviews... In the last 6 months; Stockholm, Vancouver, isle of Man, UK.

Does NOT mean it's in the bag.

In the context of the costs of recruitment, travel is a drop in the ocean.

connundrum

I was only brought to London for 1 interview - all expenses paid.

UK based media company with an Irish satellite office.

I've had one friend who had to pay for their own flight over to Machester for an interview, turned out to be a pyramid/door to door sales job. Thank God his flight was only €20 return, but €20 which could've been saved with a bit of research!

Berty

3DataModem wrote: »

In the context of the costs of recruitment, travel is a drop in the ocean.

Yes, especially considering a recruitment agent/consultant normally charges 20% of the candidates salary when successful.

3DataModem

Berty wrote: »

Yes, especially considering a recruitment agent/consultant normally charges 20% of the candidates salary when successful.

20%?

Some jobs command 35%.

Berty

3DataModem wrote: »

20%?

Some jobs command 35%.

I guess they are likely to be either top level positions or unique positions with hard to find skill sets.(Astro physicists)

20% is probably industry norm for my kind of position. Field Sales.

Sabre0001

Well I feel like an idiot...Over a year ago, I had an interview in the UK (after an application and phone interview) - job was not in the bag (i.e. did not get it) and paid my own way


For the future, how do you bring up a subject like that?

murphym7

Sabre0001 wrote: »

Well I feel like an idiot...Over a year ago, I had an interview in the UK (after an application and phone interview) - job was not in the bag (i.e. did not get it) and paid my own way


For the future, how do you bring up a subject like that?

Depends on how desperate they are - a couple of years ago we used to offer to fly people from the UK/EU to come to interview for us, we would offer signing on bonus's and relocation expenses. Now people can fly but at their own expense, although it depends on the role too - we are still finding it difficult to fill certain roles. If its a difficult role to fill we will still throw the kitchen sink at them to join us.

Don't worry about bringing it up, all they can say is no and they are used to people asking.

harney

Sabre0001 wrote: »

Well I feel like an idiot...Over a year ago, I had an interview in the UK (after an application and phone interview) - job was not in the bag (i.e. did not get it) and paid my own way


For the future, how do you bring up a subject like that?

I said I was refusing to go for the interview unless the recruiter paid, they relented and 5 years later I am still with the company I interviewed for. :cool:

My other favourite term during the package negotiations was psychological barrier - I'm afraid we would be passing a psychological barrier if I went below x amount. I'd love to have seen the recruiters face as he went, em OK :P

murphym7

harney wrote: »

I said I was refusing to go for the interview unless the recruiter paid, they relented and 5 years later I am still with the company I interviewed for. :cool:

My other favourite term during the package negotiations was psychological barrier - I'm afraid we would be passing a psychological barrier if I went below x amount. I'd love to have seen the recruiters face as he went, em OK :P

This works both ways and is defiently not advice to be taking on board. Out of the candidates that have come in front of me and tried what you did I would safely say that 90% of them were told "fair enough, sorry we could not come to an aggreement, we were looking forward to meeting with you." They were not entertained after that. There is always the exception for certain roles that either by the level of the role or the lack of suitable local talent we would do almost anything to get them.

My advice is ask, and if told no, do not push it because you may not know whether they are having an issue filling the role or not.

Or you may know you are a rock star and know your own worth, in that case push away.

harney

murphym7 wrote: »

This works both ways and is defiantly not advice to be taking on board. Out of the candidates that have come in front of me and tried what you did I would safely say that 90% of them were told "fair enough, sorry we could not come to an agreement, we were looking forward to meeting with you." They were not entertained after that. There is always the exception for certain roles that either by the level of the role or the lack of suitable local talent we would do almost anything to get them.

My advice is ask, and if told no, do not push it because you may not know whether they are having an issue filling the role or not.

Or you may know you are a rock star and know your own worth, in that case push away.

Yea it was a bit cheeky, but worked none the less. It was one of those roles they had been searching for months in the UK before looking abroad.

It was the recruiters though, and not the company that were paying. I am pretty sure the company would have told me what I could do with myself if I tried it with them I think there might be a better chance of getting a recruiter to pay than a company as flights are not overly expensive, they can probably claim some of it back and they are on commission.

I guess it boils down to knowing your cv and what they are looking for. If there are others in the market that you tick the boxes either equally or almost as well then don't be an arse.

Mucco

Thargor wrote: »

Im sure there are 100's or 1000's of more qualified people ahead of me in UK nevermind Ireland so I have no idea why they rang me tbh

Thargor,
This is not an unusual situation. There are a lot of highly qualified people around at the moment, but it sounds lie this compamy are looking for potential.

I would make sure I have the basics of my job memorised, then good, solid examples of where I have exceeded expectations - examples that will stick you out from the crowd.

gambare,

M