Interview Tip: Discussing the Commute

I'm sure most would agree we are living in a very different world right now in terms of how we define our 'daily workplace.' Working remotely has become the rule, not the exception. And despite the efforts of many CEO's and CHRO's to get people back into the office, employees seem to be winning this tug-of-war, and 5 days/week in the office is just not happening (at least not yet). On top of this, a significant amount of hiring today remains "remote," but over the past 6-9 months, it seems the 'middle ground' with new hires - at least those in middle to senior management positions - is the added requirement of commuting, at some agreed-to cadence. The most common pattern we see is 3 days at HQ, every other week. Which means the number of those commuting every week or month, is climbing.

When I'm interviewing someone for one of these "remote + commute" opportunities, one question I ask is: "What are your thoughts on the travel between your home, and the company's HQ?" What's simply amazing to me is that more often than not, I come to find the prospect has done no research at all on what it will mean to commute, home-to-work. They don't know which airlines cover that route. They don't know which airport is closest to the company's offices. They don't know if there are non-stops available. And they don't know what the average RT fares are. And yet these same prospects will confidently tell me "I have no concerns with the commute." Interesting.

So this is the point of my post. If you want to come across as authentic in your interest, and informed in how practical (doable) a commute might be, you need to do your homework before you speak with a recruiter or a hiring manager. If you know the expectation is to be at the HQ 3 days/week, you should know which flights depart your home city on Monday night or Tuesday morning, when they arrive at your new employer's location, and what flights you can catch on Thursday night, or Friday morning, to head back home. You should know what the average fares are, and be ready to highlight the most cost-effective routes, to help minimize commuting expenses for your new employer. And if you want to earn extra credit on this topic, know how long it might take from the time you land, until the time you reach your desk. This matters, as every hour counts when you're only there 30% of the time.

Researching and mapping the details for a possible commute is critical. It sends the message to recruiters and hiring managers that you are fully engaged, and serious about the opportunity. It will also help you visualize what such a commute might really require, month-to-month, and you might even question whether it's sustainable, after reviewing the data. Commuting opens up a lot of possibilities for both companies and for commuting employees. But do your homework ahead of the interview, so everyone can be sure this scenario is manageable.