Scope of reimbursable expenses during an interview?

manpreet Best Answer 2 years ago

I am submitting reimbursement requests following two interviews. I am particularly interested in general guidelines, but have provided specific examples for context.

I would generally expect that company-wide standards should apply when interviewing (ie. they would be the same when I interview as if I were to work there), but since this is the first point of contact following an interview, I hesitate to give a bad impression.

Here are some specific examples:

1. tips (meals, taxi, cars otherwise paid for by host)
2. bus ticket replacement (I had to purchase a new one after losing the print-out sent to me by the company)
3. hotel stay because I missed my bus (see above)
4. day-pass to an airline club / lounge. (I had a 4 hour layover)
5. room service - standard breakfast fare when other options were limited.

Does it depend on the position that I am interviewing for? The company?

manpreet 2 years ago

You should ask the place where you interviewed for their guidelines. They probably have a standard list that they can give you. If they don't and they ask for clarification, bring up the tips and perhaps the airline club.

In an interview situation I would not ask for reimbursement for anything that can be seen as my fault -- the replacement ticket and the resulting hotel and meal sound like your problem, not theirs. As an employee I would ask, something along the lines of "I messed up; is there anything that can be done to help?", but not in an interview where what they'll remember is one or both of "he messed up" and "he cost us extra money".

Does it depend on position? Possibly -- the more senior the position, the more you should avoid this. A college student interviewing for his first real job who makes a mistake will be more-easily forgiven than a senior manager who ought to have known better (and anyway will be presumed to have the cash to cover his mistake).