Jessica Booker
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Graduate Recruitment
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- Aug 1, 2019
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A four hour commute each day is quite long - I don't think many firms would be expecting someone to commute for that long unless they were happy to do so (some people will because they just want to stay home). I'd say 90 minutes or less is reasonable but anything beyond this (and calculated door to door) is worthwhile having a conversation with Graduate Recruitment about. The worst that they will say is no - but that is not going to impact how they see you as a candidate.@Jessica Booker
Just wanted to post to ask for advice for an upcoming vac scheme. I do not live in London and the commute to the office in question is roughly 2 hours each way (so a total of 4 hours every day). The firm has on their website that support for travel/accommodation is to be discussed with grad rec and is looked at on a case-by-case. I am a bit nervous about emailing and am unsure of how to ask for support.
Ideally, I would love to ask for help with accommodation, but I’m nervous that they will look down on that considering the fact that I can technically commute (as in I don’t live on the other side of the country or anything like that). If so, I’m also a bit nervous they might see a request for help with travel costs as silly if they view the money paid during the scheme as what should be covering those costs anyway (even though the costs will add up to almost 200 pounds a week).
Should I send an email and ask this anyway or will it make me seem an undesirable candidate or one simply asking too much?
You can always contact them in a more inquisitive way asking what factors they take into account when offering accommodation or other travel support. For some firms. this may be means tested, for others it maybe either calculated on a cost basis or a time basis. By asking what support they would give you (and outlining your circumstances), rather than just asking straight out for accomodation, the firm will come back to you with the appropriate support they would be happy to give you.