Is is cool to ask recruiters for job interviews to cover accommodation costs?

[La Fiera]

So I have a couple job interviews lined up in different cities as a graduating EM resident. But I've noticed that some recruiters offer to pay for everything right up front, and others allude to you paying your own way.
Would it be cool for me to ask the recruiter of a large company like Team Health or EMCare to cover the cost of my flight, even though they haven't mentioned paying, but they set up a interview date? Or is just asking frowned upon?

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[WilcoWorld]

I avoided recruiters, so I don't really know what I'm talking about. However, I suspect the following of being true:

1) If a recruiter is involved, you are in the driver's seat. The group probably needs a doc more than you need their job.

2) Asking a Recruiter - NOT an employer - about how expenses will be covered is unlikely to hurt your chances of getting a job.

3) If a recruiter pays for your visit, and you take that job the recruiter will get that money back from you somehow.

 

[totalbodypain]

I avoided recruiters, so I don't really know what I'm talking about. However, I suspect the following of being true:

1) If a recruiter is involved, you are in the driver's seat. The group probably needs a doc more than you need their job.

2) Asking a Recruiter - NOT an employer - about how expenses will be covered is unlikely to hurt your chances of getting a job.

3) If a recruiter pays for your visit, and you take that job the recruiter will get that money back from you somehow.

Was going to respond but WW beat me to it. Just discretely ask about travel reimbursemt. This is not an uncommon request at all for a recruiter...
Hope all is well. See you at ACEP.
TBP

 

[southerndoc]

Be careful with the statement that groups with recruiters are more desperate for docs.

Many large companies (TeamHealth, EmCare, Apollo, EMP) have so many hospitals that it's to their best interest to have recruiters on their payrolls. They don't contract out to recruitment companies.

My company has recruiters and we are in no way desperate for docs. In fact, we're pretty selective and turn down a lot of applicants.

 

[roja]

I would not directly request it. Simply ask how expenses are handled.

Remember, just like residency, its good advice to assume every single interaction you have while on the interview trail is ipart of the interview, from leaving messages with an assistant and the actual interview.

 

[bartleby]

A relationship with a recruiter is a business relationship, so you should not at all feel bad about discreetly asking if they will be able to help defray your travel costs. If they say "yes" and they don't make direct arrangements for your flight and hotel, staying someplace reasonable (not the Four Seasons) might be a good idea.

Keep in mind that if you are dealing with a non-internal recruiter, these people soak the group/hospital with fees (and you indirectly if you accept the job), so don't feel like you need to fall on your sword when dealing with these folks. You should ALWAYS be polite and professional, but the private recruiters (non-group or hospital employed) typically act as matchmakers and are not going to be the people interview interviewing you or deciding whether or not to hire you.

 

[La Fiera]

Thanks for all the input!!

 

[Arcan57]

For the large companies (personal experience with TeamHealth, no idea about others), I think it's standard practice to pay for accomodations and travel. Unless they set up your travel (booked flight, etc), you will probably be reimbursed ~4-6 weeks after you interview.

 

[cbaird26]

As a recruiter, I would arrange for the Hospital to fly you over for an interview no questions asked. If they cannot offer this they are wasting both mine and my candidates time.

I have had hospitals willing to fly a CRNA from California to Florida, just because of their resume and how I presented them.

You put in the hard work, don't let the bureaucracy short change you.