Google flying me to Cali for interview. Startup there also wants interview. Can I combine the trips?
So I have an onsite coming up with Google. They are offering to pay for my flights to Cali. Another startup in Cali also wants an onsite. Ideally, I'd like to combine the two into one visit to Cali. How do I go about arranging this? I have an interview date with Google. They expect me to fly back on the next day. Should I ask the startup if the onsite can be on the next day? (they seem to indicate they want an onsite, but don't seem ready to schedule yet). It'll also mean I stay an extra night. How do I ask the startup if they want to pay for the night? Should I just connect Google travel department and the startup and let them arrange things with each other?? Or should I not let each know the other company I'm interviewing with. How do I ask Google for an extra night? Google told me they want an onsite like two weeks ago and I still haven't booked flights. Getting the interview is in mid March. Should I just book without regard to the startup?
Say that your friend’s bday also falls on the next day and that you want to fly out 2-3 days later and that you will make accommodation arrangements for the extra days yourself. Please DONT tell them you are interviewing with a startup too lol
Definitely wouldn’t recommend connecting the startup and Google. Is google flying you out the day of or the day before the interview? If the day before, I’d just try and select the earliest time you can fly in and interview that day. If the day of, then I’d select the latest possible flight out of Cali and schedule the interview the day after your the google one. This is all assuming you’re picking the flights though.
The google interview is on Monday. They want me to fly out on Sunday and fly back on Tues
Or take both interviews separately and maximize flight & hotel points?...
I can't afford the time two separate trips to California would take
I interviewed with Google and Amazon in December. First had Amazon interview scheduled on Monday. Then asked Google if they can schedule interview on Tuesday. Told them about Amazon interview. Asked Amazon to pay for flight, Friday evening, Tuesday evening. And stay for Saturday and Sunday. Asked Google for only accommodation on Friday night, and Monday night.
Ask southwest flights and hotels from both companies for back to back on-sites. Cancel 1 leg from each one and keep for your own travelfor upto 1 year
Why southwest?
Because you can do what zHly06 said with southwest. Not sure any other airlines allows that.
Stop calling it Cali, everything else will work itself out...
Google should give you the number of their travel provider, and they won't care about why you need an extra night. I agree with @EllisonSux though - we are fortunate enough to work in an industry where we don't have to pay for interview expenses, so you should take advantage of it.
Tell them you need to be in California on X dates. Ask for them to book the flights accordingly, but only expect them to cover your hotel for the night before your interview.
This sounds like a very practical way of looking at it