Job Searching is the Worst

"Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle" (1500sand535)
07/12/2017 at 13:07 • Filed to: None

My family is moving “back home” from the PNW to Minnesota. We were originally going to try and wait until one of us had a job lined up but that seemed tricky, as most employers want to know when you are arriving. So we set a date for the end of the month.

I had a phone interview with a firm earlier this week. Before the end of the day the person I interviewed with responded to my “thank you” email saying that she wanted me to talk with HR and meet the rest of the team for the next interview. She offered trying to setup video conferencing or that I could visit. I had previously stated I would fly out for any follow up interview and I am genuinely interested and it seems like a good fit so I offered to fly out(on my own dime, it’s not that swanky of a position). We exchanged a few emails to figure out a time and then I booked a flight.

I just got a call saying that the HR person wants to interview me before I fly out.

What the heck?

My only guess is that they want to just make sure I’m not an HR nightmare or that my preferred salary range was too high. But another part of me thinks why not do this before I paid for the flight.

Aston Martin rocket ship for your time...

DISCUSSION (16)

wpudvah: GTI, Super Beetle, now with more 80-Series > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
07/12/2017 at 13:14

Yo! I work in the staffing/search industry here in Minneapolis. Specifically I head up business development for our IT specialty group. We also have divisions for creative/marketing, finance/accounting, and engineering as well. Not sure what your BG is or what you’re looking for, but would be happy to help in any way!

Chariotoflove > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
07/12/2017 at 13:19

My experience is that HR departments often add their own requirements for hiring and interviews on top of those of the actual hiring departments. More hoops to jump through that probably annoy your prospective supervisors as much as they annoy you. Your offer was surely not wasted, as it shows good will and enthusiasm. As least that’s my positive take on it. Good luck on your move!

Textured Soy Protein > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
07/12/2017 at 13:21

I’m a corporate recruiter and have been doing staffing a long time.

First off, never offer to fly yourself out to a job interview if you don’t have to. Either the company that’s interviewing you will make the arrangements for you to fly out, or they’ll set up a video call. Because it’s easy enough for a corporate travel account to cancel a flight on someone’s behalf but if you as an individual consumer buy a flight it’s a pain in the ass. The only exception to this I would recommend is if you are planning to relocate somewhere, line up multiple interviews for the trip out there.

But since you’re already on the hook for the flight, how did they word this call to you about the conversation with the HR person?

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Textured Soy Protein
07/12/2017 at 13:33

The HR’s assistant just said she wanted to do a short phone interview before my visit next week.

I don’t feel that bad about arranging to fly out, it’s a cost I expected. It does make me nervous that there is all of a sudden a step in the interim. I am trying to arrange for one other interview when I’m visiting.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Textured Soy Protein
07/12/2017 at 13:38

Any tips when trying to land a job in another city? I’m looking to move to south Florida this winter. Don’t need a company to move me but I’d like to have something lined up.

Textured Soy Protein > Future next gen S2000 owner
07/12/2017 at 13:43

The best thing you can do is mention right at the top of your resume where you have your contact info that you are planning to relocate to wherever it is they’re located. If you include a cover letter, you can say something about why you’re planning to move there and that you don’t need relocation assistance.

The first thing most people do when they read a resume with some random address not near them is to wonder about why this person is applying to their job, and if that person is looking for a relo package, or what the deal is. So if you can say right there at the top, “I’m planning to move near you,” you’ll get a better response rate.

That said, you’ll have to send out a higher number of applications because even with that note on your resume, there are assorted logistical hurdles in the way of you starting their job, so they may still give preference to local candidates. So it’s really all about blasting out a high number of applications, and explaining your relo plans.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
07/12/2017 at 14:06

I thought that Pagani looked funny.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
07/12/2017 at 14:14

Travel costs for interviews are tax deductible. Don’t forget to itemize next year!

Future next gen S2000 owner > Textured Soy Protein
07/12/2017 at 14:30

Would it be wrong to use the address of a friend that lives there already? Would that make it worse?

Textured Soy Protein > Future next gen S2000 owner
07/12/2017 at 14:33

That’s worse because it puts you in a position of saying actually you don’t live there and you’re planning to move there. The likely reaction is “I’ve been lied to,” instead of if someone sees “planning to relocate to Florida” they know exactly why you’re applying to their job in Florida.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Chariotoflove
07/12/2017 at 14:40

Thanks. Positivity is always a good thing for me.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > wpudvah: GTI, Super Beetle, now with more 80-Series
07/12/2017 at 14:41

Hey thanks, I’m in the legal field. Have a JD and bar membership in OR but have been focused on research. Trying to stick with research but will probably take the MN bar next year.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
07/12/2017 at 14:42

British Pagani is best Pagani...

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
07/12/2017 at 14:44

British Pagani is broken Pagani.

Oh wait, Pagani is Italian. nvm

wpudvah: GTI, Super Beetle, now with more 80-Series > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
07/12/2017 at 15:40

that’s about the only field I don’t have many connections! but the good news here is that the job market in MN is one hundred percent a candidate’s market. job searching always sucks (trust me - twice in the last two years) but I’m sure something will come about soon.

E90M3 > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
07/12/2017 at 15:56

Job Searching is the Worst

That was about my experience as well. Scroll down about half way.