Q: If I'm offered a job based solely on phone interviews, but it's important to me to still visit the company, who should pay those expenses? How do I bring up
the subject?
R.W.
A: Only the brave take jobs at newspapers they never have visited. Only the foolish hire people they have never met.
But, if the paper is small or its budget tight, the paper may not insist on an in-person interview. This shifts considerable risk to the job candidate who will be out a job and the cost of moving if there is a mismatch. The paper will just be out in the job market again.
If you are offered a job based on phone interviews, I would say, "Wow! I'm excited to get this offer, but I don't think I should accept until we've had a chance to meet each other. Can I come out to meet you and the staff? How would we handle that?"
As will be the case with most negotiations, when you ask a question, you put the ball in their court. They will then tell you whether they will pay for the visit or no. If they say they won't, you can ask about sharing expenses. Maybe you can buy the plane ticket and they can pay for housing. Ultimately, it could come down to you deciding whether to take the risk. As I said, most of it will be yours.
A visit will help inform you about the paper -- and will require the paper to make a bigger investment in getting this to succeed.
