Originally
published/last updated on myearlyretirementjourney.com on Jul 14, 2019.
It’s only 9a as I write this and unfortunately, I’ve been up for five hours. Why you might ask. Well, first the heat.
I was already up so I got this brilliant idea to book my dummy travel for my upcoming job interview. My current plan is to get there a day early and visit my cousin who I haven’t seen in over 5 years.
In case you missed the beginning: Journey of 20 Job Applications: July 7 Update
The letter the company (No. 14 AVE) sent me said they would reimburse for airfare, 1 night hotel, and car rental. I’m not even sure they know where I live to know if this offer applies to me, but ok. They didn’t say I couldn’t do it. This is my third time flying in for an interview this year (2019), but this is the first time I had to book it myself.
Thoughts on this: It definitely makes it easier not to feel obligated to attend. When the company sets up the travel, it takes the indecision away; it’s more of a done deal. Reimbursing for travel makes it seem more tentative. Like… I could cancel anytime (or not book at all) and not feel that bad about it. Which essentially is how I feel.
Anyway, since I was adding an extra day to my trip, I booked a dummy itinerary where I flew in Sunday and flew out Monday. This changes my airfare and car rental. Not much changes with hotel, since I’d be staying one night with my cousin. Once I got those confirmations and receipts to turn in, I cancelled those bookings.
My real booking is going to be for a Saturday flight and 3 days of car rental (as opposed to two). I may be indecisive, but I’m not dishonest.
Why I don’t want to go:
- It’s a 7 hour interview day (at 9a to 4p, this might be my longest yet)
- I’ll be meeting with 9 different people
- I’ll be forced to present (this requires so much prep, it’s annoying)
- In addition, it’s a cold weather state (where I grew up and was so pumped to leave)
- Have to call out of work and use a vacation day
- Oh did I mention…. I have to make this presentation while not irrelevant, it’s not really what I’d be doing there
Why I might still go:
- Interview practice… I guess
- Greater chance I might see my cousin this year
I think I’m mostly just afraid of being treated poorly by inexperienced employees who have little to no interviewing experience. I don’t want my time wasted and then made to feel bad on top of that. Because even if they’re poor interviewers, it’ll make me feel bad long after the interview that I didn’t perform better. That I couldn’t somehow turn it around in my favor. To me it feels like 9 against 1 (me). This is why I don’t like interviewing in general.
So to get out of my feelings, I went ahead and checked the status of my other applications.
Two more rejections. I’m not sure why I thought this would help.
The one I really wanted based on location alone was No. 20. I would have been more willing to jump through these hoops to be back on the West Coast.
I’m hoping to make a final decision Monday close of business. My hope is I’ll start/finish the presentation by then; hear from landlord about lease renewal; and hear back from the other two job opportunities currently moving forward. I hope to email them (No. 14 AVE) by Wednesday if I ultimately decide not to go. Part of me wants to email them a bunch of questions, namely centered around what’s the point of interviewing with nine people and making a 45 minute presentation. Thoughts?
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