Payment by Agency for Interview Expenses

[Franky]

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) Code of Conduct

"10. Clear agreement should be reached with work seekers and hirers about any expenses payable for attending interview or for any other purpose. Information on any expenses payable for attending interview should be given in writing before interview or commencement of an assignment, where possible."

Has anyone ever received exp for attending interview.

I recently attended interview in Manchester (I live in London). I didn't get the job although I was recently confident of getting it.

I incurred £60 which if you are not working is not too be sneezed at.

Neither did I get any reason for not getting the job.

I am not particularly looking for jobs outside London and so I don't apply for such jobs. It is the agency that has contacted me.

I am not surprised that the consultant burbled something abuot it being a national market. The fact that his agency is a prominent member of the REC is obviously neither here nor there.

What are other's experiences?

In future, I will ask about expenses and if these are not to be paid I will not travel outside London, which I don't want to do anyway.

[thunderlizard]

It's rare for agencies to pay expenses, unless they are pulling out all the stops to try and make you get the job rather than somebody else's candidate.
Makes sense too. As the supplier you're selling something to them, so it's your job to put the money up front to try and get the deal.

[Franky]

In the particular case that I am speaking about (in Manchester) I had very good reason to think that I would get the job. Yet afterwards I heard nothing as to the reason why I didn't get the job.

I am mainly looking for jobs in London, and it has determined me even more to only go for jobs in London.

In the case of another job in the Midlands I was already on the train, when the agency rang me to say that the employer had postponed the interview. As a result I left my jacket on the train which I had to go to Liverpool to collect. The following week I didn't have the ticket and so I had to buy another ticket.

Then following the interview, the agency never told me the result of the interview.

I know the list of 10 tricks by agencies at the ezboard website includes this one, but it doesn't make it any less acceptable.

[malvolio]

In the particular case that I am speaking about (in Manchester) I had very good reason to think that I would get the job. Yet afterwards I heard nothing as to the reason why I didn't get the job.

Hey, welcome to the real world. There are notable exceptions, but agents are not going to spend time on people who aren't going to be bringing them any income. There's no point in getting excited about it, just kick the cat and move on.

[oaksoft]

What exactly is your point

Franky,

I'm not sure if you still frequent these boards but I am struggling to understand your point.
Are you expecting to run a business with no financial risk whatsoever but with the strong desire to earn > £25 per hour?

Would you like to see my expenses level?
I must have spent well into 5 figures this year chasing business with absolutely no guarantee of success.
Most of the time nothing results but it only takes one or two to pay for itself. I also don't have a huge pot of cash but without the investment you get nothing at all. The key is to understand precisely which revenue generating avenues are likely to be most fruitful.

I think you need a little perspective if you don't mind me saying.

[jason986]

Eh???

As a result I left my jacket on the train which I had to go to Liverpool to collect

So how is that the agents fault? Looks like you like blaming other people for your own shortcomings.

Jason

[lilelvis2000]

Re: Eh???

I'm afraid I don't get it. If you want expenses paid ask for a written confirmation and also provide an estimate of expenses. If the client okays it then go, else don't. You can also ask DWP to pay the expenses if you are on job seekers.

I have got expenses paid..I mentioned it to the agent and on my way out of the interview I mentioned it to the client. After some plesant exchange of letters I got a cheque in the mail. Also government employers always pay expenses. The only time I didn't get payment was when I went to a complete waste of time interview. The interviewer told me as I arrived that "we didn't mention this in any correspondance but we deal with porn." I demanded a payment of my expenses on the spot and also sent a couple of strongly worded letters. Luckily it wasn't a huge amount.

If you a seeking contracts..well you have to cover your own expenses..part of the risk of doing business.

Elvis