DungeonsNDemos

Rolling 20's all day

Acclaimed Answer

Have you been flown out for an interview? What to expect

Happy Saturday my sales peeps!

I've had a few conversations lately in an interview process for an IC role at a Series D company who leads their market segment. Things are still going well at my current gig but this potential new role would be a solid bump in base, which is why I'm considering it.

All my interviews have gone really well so far and I know the last step will be flying me out for an onsite presentation and most likely dinner.

This will be a first for me, and while I'm not nervous, I do want to be prepared. My plan so far is to treat it just like I would a prospect/customer onsite.

-Lots of prep + research on the people I'll be meeting with

-Know my presentation front and back, what questions I want to ask, and going for the close

-Have a strong alibi to my current job or at least enough time to get my PTO in. I won't disclose I'm traveling but I will have to make it work for my calendar.

I'm interested to hear about your experience if you've had companies fly you out for an interview.

1) What else should I plan for?

2) What tips do you have to share?

Has a company flown you out for an interview?

Attached poll

Yes No I've never had the option...

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🤷‍♂ Poll

🤝 Interviewing/Offer

17

29 comments

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oldcloser

Arsonist

10

💀

I think you should look at this exactly as you are. Fact is- airline tickets and a hotel room don’t happen unless you’re mentally hired. This is most likely just a final inspection for weird leaks or loose wires after a thorough test drive. It’s yours to lose at this point, but please don’t take an ounce of it for granted.

Whoever you’ve been throughout the process is the guy they want to meet. Enjoy the trip.

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

2

Rolling 20's all day

Appreciate the answer! I was surprised to hear that flying me out would be part of it, but it makes sense for the comp.
I'll do my best to enjoy the experience.

oldcloser

Arsonist

2

💀

The ride home will be much calmer ✊

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

4

Rolling 20's all day

I'll be having a drink on the way home either way it goes. Hopefully to celebrate!

medhardwaredr

Opinionated

7

Director of Sales NA

It’s more than likely a situation where it’s your job they just want to make sure you’re not all weird or some outlier personality. Nice work let us know how it goes

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

4

Rolling 20's all day

I'll make a post about it either way if/when I get to that point

jefe

Arsonist

3

🍁

This is it. You should basically have this in the bag, @DungeonsNDemos

SalesBeast

Politicker

5

Sales Leader

Commonly will be a full day and means they are very serious about hiring you.
Connect with some employees ahead of it on LinkedIn. Make sure you dress up a bit. Be early to the office. Put your best foot forward. Don’t get sauced the night before. Be super polite.
Expect to go out to lunch and maybe a dinner with the team or leadership. Don’t over share and keep your info you give out minimal. Don’t talk kids, wife, family, limit talking anything that could be a distraction from the daily grind at work.

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

2

Rolling 20's all day

Great advice, thank you. In true tech style, two of the execs I've met with just wore t-shirts on the interviews so I'm almost scared to dress up.

jefe

Arsonist

2

🍁

If you're concerned about that, go with very nice and put together casual. Maybe a nice blazer and fitted pants but not a starched shirt.. And definitely no tie.

Shoes should be on point and not scuffed or dirty. So not dressy but well dressed.

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

1

Rolling 20's all day

If this all happens I’m 100% going to ask the recruiter what people wear in the office, but I like your suggestion for my outfit

jefe

Arsonist

1

🍁

Always the best approach! Most of what I said will still apply regardless, especially the tailoring and shoes.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

1

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Sounds like you're ready and asking all the right questions!

TennisandSales

Politicker

4

Head Of Sales

I have not had this happen to me but i love it! Nothing like getting wined and dinned!

The only thing i would add, is to make sure you have a good story about your career. What are you trying to accomplish? How has every stop you have made gotten you closer to that goal?

Especially what have you learned at each org you have been at. Being able to rattle these stories off quickly will help make a good impression in my mind.

unclespacejam

Politicker

2

ur dad’s brother

WINE ME DINE ME 69 ME

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

1

Rolling 20's all day

I'll make sure my stories are prepped and ready to fire off, great point!

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

4

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

I have done it a couple of times. It should be like any onsite with a client. They already like you enough to spend time on it and have you come in.

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

1

Rolling 20's all day

How was it organizing travel? They just ask for your info?

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

1

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

Depends. Sometimes, they ask and arrange it. I have also, on multiple occasions, just booked everything and submitted receipts for reimbursement. You have to ask and they will tell you.

braintank

Politicker

3

Enterprise Account Executive

I forgot to pack a belt and felt awkward AF.
Still got the offer, but it was lowball and I declined.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

4

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

All that effort to meet you, and then a lowball offer? Crazy.

braintank

Politicker

3

Enterprise Account Executive

Yeah it was lame. I really liked the company and wanted to jump. But they came in under my current OTE. Felt like a waste of everyone's time.

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

3

Rolling 20's all day

Damn I remember that feeling from elementary school when we had uniforms haha. Sorry to hear you got lowballed after all that effort.

Space_Ghost20

Valued Contributor

3

Account Executive

Back in 2020 I was going to be flown out to Austin (I was in Virginia at the time) for an IC role. They ended up cancelling the interview because they made an offer to someone else (I guess they were further along in the process than they let on). I've subsequently applied there a few times but despite having more experience than I did then (and living closer), I've never even gotten to a screen with them.

Pachacuti

Politicker

3

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Be sure to ask what appropriate dress is. Some places expect you to wear a suit and tie. Others will hang you for it. So ask.

SerialBiller

Executive

1

Account Executive

I was asked to, but I declined and still got the job 😂😂 I imagine your role is way superior to mine though

detectivegibbles

Politicker

1

Sales Director

Yes. It's fun. Embrace it. Being nervous isn't necessarily bad, as long as it's not knee crippling anxiety nervous.

They just want to make sure you're not completely full of shit or a total weirdo in person :D

Not_Medical_Advice

Fire Starter

1

Sr. Director

I was at a company that did this pretty regularly for candidates and did it myself before getting the official offer. The roles usually required regular work travel for on site client meeting and industry conferences so business travel was a required skillset. Flying people in was a good way to quickly sort out candidates who could actually walk the walk. In that particular company I needed to have people who were resilient and could quickly get locked in. It helped sort out the princesses who needed an extra day to travel versus the ones who could jump out of the airport taxi and immediately engage with clients.My advice for you beyond normal interview prep would be to also prepare yourself to look like a competent business traveler. Think of George Clooney in "Up in the Air" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj_5Pgy-eVQ . Candidates who showed up and looked like they had a hard time at the airport were probably not going to be a fit. If the role you're interviewing for requires regular business travel then beyond the actual interview they could also be making sure you can handle yourself wherever the job will take you.

LambyCorn

Arsonist

0

A mfkn E

jeez !!! i would turn up as if the job is mine, congratulations

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