Glitch-Free Traveling to an Interview
Traveling to another town is an exciting adventure where you get to discover all the on-site details about a possible job offer. Visiting an out-of-town company in person usually means you are under serious consideration for the job, so follow these tips to make sure everything goes off without a hitch.
Who’s paying? This is one of the first things to find out, so make sure that whoever is making the travel arrangements fills you in on the procedure. If the corporation is picking up the tab, keep all your receipts for reimbursement; if you are footing the bill, still keep the receipts for calculating your taxes at the end of the year.
Carry on luggage. Don’t risk having your interview clothing lost at the airport. Pack everything you need for day of the interview (including resumes, toiletries and clothing) into a carry-on sized bag. If you aren’t meeting a rep from the company, then feel free to wear something comfy and casual on the plane.
Get directions. Once you arrive at your hotel, contact the concierge to make sure you know how to get to the interview site and approximately how long to expect for the commute. The last thing you want to do is get lost in an unfamiliar city or underestimate the traffic conditions and arrive late.
Plan your bedtime routine. Look over your resume one last time and then set it aside along with any anxiety you may be experiencing. Go to bed early to get a good night’s sleep. If you are feeling on edge, read a book, take a bath or do something else relaxing. However, say no to alcoholic beverages the night before an interview; the last thing you want is to deal with a hangover during an interview. Also, call down to the front desk and schedule a wake-up call so that you don’t oversleep on the big day.