Research from totaljobs.com shows that the average jobseeker is willing to travel up to 72 miles to attend a job interview. The research also shows that jobseekers are willing to spend more time preparing for interviews than they have in previous years, with 44% of jobseekers spending more than two hours preparing for each interview, a 12% increase on last year. The number of jobseekers spending more than five hours preparing for interviews jumped 11% compared to last year, demonstrating that this year’s jobseekers are recognising the importance of being fully prepared at the interview stage, and are putting in the time to get ready.
The fact that jobseekers are willing to travel up to 72 miles to attend an interview shows that they are more willing to search for a job outside of their home town or even region. 72 miles equates to one hour and 20 minutes by car, and one hour by train. Out of the total number of jobseekers surveyed, twenty of them had travelled over an incredible 800 miles for an interview, a distance which equates to a 12 hour drive or an 80 minute flight.
John Salt, Website Director of totaljobs.com says:
“Despite the fact that the UK jobs market has grown in recent years, it is still a competitive market. These statistics show that jobseekers are increasingly aware of the commitment they need to make in order to find employment. This is no longer a time where people can expect to walk into a job, or be able to ‘wing’ the interview. People are willing to travel a long distance from their homes, and an increasing number are willing to put in over five hours work, in order to better their chances.”
The research also showed that people are willing to spend £52 on a job interview, whereas in reality they are only spending £32 on average, down 7% from last year. Money spent on the interview process will mostly go on travel, but can include wardrobe updates too. This shows that whilst people are willing to make an investment in terms of time and travel, they are still cautious with the amount of money they are spending on the process.
John Salt continues
“The interview process can be a real investment in terms of time and money. Many employers are not often aware of the economic cost of interviews, and therefore it is important for them to provide feedback whenever they can. This way, if a candidate doesn’t get a job offer, their investment pays off in more terms than just experience.”
