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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 9/4/2008
Posts: 2
Points: 6
Location: North Carolina
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Hi everyone!
After having one phone interview, I've been asked to travel from North Carolina to Maryland to have an in-person interview--with no travel expenses paid. Should I politely insist on having those expenses (which would total about $300--including train-fare and hotel fare) paid?
Last week, I interviewed at a Southern University which paid for not only my travel expense but meals as well ( won't know if I got that job until next week).
If the Maryland school can't reimburse me, is it reasonable to ask that they have someone in North Carolina affiliated with their school interview me?
I asked them if they could postpone the interview a few days so that I could avoid traveling while Hurricanes Gustav and Ike are on their way--they said time was of the essence, and they couldn't delay this.
I'm trying to be flexible in my job search--I'm applying to academic and public universities alike--and I'm not limiting my search geographically. But I (like most newly minted librarians) have a limited budget--but should I go the extra mile (or in the case the extra dollar) hope for the best and pay my own expenses? Is reimbursement for traveling expenses by libraries the exception--not the rule?
Thanks in advance for everyone's response.
--prdean111
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Rank: Member
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Joined: 11/19/2007
Posts: 21
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Location: New York
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Many academic libraries will reimburse for travel expenses, and many others will not. Unfortunately, there is no rule. You need to consider your own well-being, and your own budget. Why would you pay out-of-pocket to interview at one place, when another one will pay your way? I have turned down interviews with institutions that would not pay -- but that's my own policy.
It's great that you interviewed at a place that did pay -- so you can see both sides, and you do not (or should not) feel desperate enough to whip out your credit card for this other interview.
However, you should definitely ask them about being reimbursed for travel, although they should have told you by now if they do... they have their policy (pay everything, pay partially, or pay nothing), and you should have your policy or limit. Figure out how much you want this particular position, and how much (if at all) you would pay to interview, keeping in mind that does not, by any means, guarantee you the job. If you are very interested and would like to pursue this position, ask about alternative ways to interview, such as a phone interview (which maybe you did already), and an interview at a different location, closer to home for you. This cannot hurt, and it will show them that you are interested.
Good Luck!
Susanne Markgren
Systems / Electronic Resources Librarian
Purchase College, SUNY
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Management - Moderator
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Joined: 1/2/2008
Posts: 223
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Location: Cleveland, Ohio
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You will have to decide how much you are willing to get this job or the chance to get this job. You will have to make that decision. But I would be considered with an academic library that did not reimburse travel costs. Are they having budget problems? Do they have a candidate in mind and you are a token interview? Do they have a policy again it. Have you formally asked if they will or not reimburse?
Brian C. Gray Head of Reference & Engineering Librarian Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University http://blog.case.edu/bcg8bcg8@case.edu
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 9/4/2008
Posts: 2
Points: 6
Location: North Carolina
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Suzanne and Brian,
Thank you both for your responses--now I know there are no set rules re: these matters.
To answer and comment on something you said, Brian, I have not asked them formally if they will reimburse (but they said 2 days ago they'd email me directions to the library--and I am going to call them this morning to ask why those directions never got emailed to me--and to formally ask for reimbursement.)
One other factor that comes into play here (I think): it's a library at a community college--so I'm assuming they have a smaller budget/no endowment? in comparison to a southern university with 16,000 students. So I was thinking of cutting them more slack thinking a community college had less money for travel expenses and other such expenses.
Thanks again!
--Peter
Newly minted Simmons GSLIS Librarian
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Rank: Advanced Member
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prdean111 wrote:Suzanne and Brian,
Thank you both for your responses--now I know there are no set rules re: these matters.
To answer and comment on something you said, Brian, I have not asked them formally if they will reimburse (but they said 2 days ago they'd email me directions to the library--and I am going to call them this morning to ask why those directions never got emailed to me--and to formally ask for reimbursement.)
One other factor that comes into play here (I think): it's a library at a community college--so I'm assuming they have a smaller budget/no endowment? in comparison to a southern university with 16,000 students. So I was thinking of cutting them more slack thinking a community college had less money for travel expenses and other such expenses.
Thanks again!
--Peter
Newly minted Simmons GSLIS Librarian
I would not assume too much about their finances without asking. It often takes much money and time to find the best candidate.
Brian C. Gray Head of Reference & Engineering Librarian Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University http://blog.case.edu/bcg8bcg8@case.edu
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Joined: 3/3/2008
Posts: 59
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Location: kansas
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I agree with Brian--don't make assumptions about their finances. Also, remember that this the behavior they use to entice you to work for them. If they are lax in sending information now, and are not paying for your travel, how do you think they will be when you want to go to a conference? Is this the kind of employer you will be happy working for?
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