Do you have an upcoming job interview? Check out my example answer to the interview questions: “Are you willing to travel?” AND “How much are you willing to travel?”
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The reason why interviewers ask this question is to gauge your willingness to take on travel responsibilities and how much you are willing to travel for their company. The interviewer will most likely share a travel percentage and then evaluate your response to their expectations. Answer the question as follows:
Example Answer
If you want to answer by saying ‘YES’
“I’m definitely willing to travel. I read the job description and know that regular business travels are part of the job, in fact, it’s one of the reasons why this position appealed to me in the first place. Previously, I spent roughly 50% of my time outside the office. I’ve learned a lot from direct collaboration and communication with clients in the [Industry]. These experiences also allowed me to grow my professional network which is definitely important to me.”
Example Answer
If you want to answer by saying ‘MAYBE’
âSure! Traveling for work is something that has always interested me and I’d love to hear more about the travel requirements and job role to see if itâs a good fit. For example, how much travel is required for this position? And, what about the traveling requirements to different client- and work locations? Is the 50% travel time listed in the job description a fixed number, or can it be compensated with working remotely from time-to-time?â
TIPS
â Do understand the meaning of travel percentage. For example, a travel job with a 50% travel percentage requires you to spend half of your working days outside the companyâs home city.Â
â Do make a distinction between travel schedules. Some travel jobs require you to travel 2 weeks straight and the other 2 at home. Perhaps youâll be traveling 3-4 days at a time, returning, and repeating the routine a couple days later, or itâs a seasonal job where youâll be spending weeks or months working abroad.
X Donât rule yourself out by saying: âI enjoy sightseeingâ, âI prefer to stay close to homeâ OR âWhat about travel reimbursement?â Last mentioned, can be discussed at a later time.
X Donât be vague or dishonest. Thatâll only cause problems in the future. Youâd better emphasize your positive experiences with work-related travel and clearly explain your boundaries.
X Donât be afraid to ask questions such as: âCan you tell me more about the work/travel schedule?â OR âCan you tell me more about the average travel duration?â