I have been applying for positions in Switzerland for a month now and I have been going through rounds of interviews for a particular role . Its a dream position for me in a beautiful city. Today I went for an interview at a tech company here in Dublin, I wont lie, I was praying in my head, lord I don't want this role. Im not religious but man, I don't want to stay in Dublin anymore or stay in a role that offers me no choice to do my own projects.
I got a taxi home driving through an overcast Dublin city, I felt like i was in a sardine can. I stopped the taxi and started walking home, I needed fresh air. On my walk home, waiting to cross the traffic lights my old boss who treated me like gum on her shoe, while i was working in an apple store in my early college days, was cycling to work. As she and I locked eyes, she yelled "OMG Benji( not my real name) great to see you" through her perfectly veneered teeth, with her arms spread wide insisting on a hug. Someone who in the past handed me my termination notice whilst grinning ear to ear . In my mind all I could think was great just what i needed. A person who was as fake as the teeth in her head. Never the less I awkwardly hugged her .
Then began a conversation I wanted no part of but i couldn't leave. Commence photos of her adorable baby, how much she disliked our previous colleagues, all the gossip on old employees and how well she is doing now. Finally she asked how I was doing. I said fine, just came out of an interview. " Ok great gotta run, add me on Linkedin" . Those last two lines should tell you the type of person she is . I could only laugh. I detest Linkedin so much, but thats a story for another time.
As I approached my door, I got a call from the head of Hr offering me the role I just interviewed for earlier this morning. I asked for her to send me the offer in writing and I will be in touch by Friday.
I got home and checked my emails. Email from Hr in Switzerland inviting me to come over in the next 2 weeks for final interviews. I got super excited and called my girlfriend over. She wasn't really excited because she doesn't want to leave Dublin. Plus she feels I made the decision too quick to start applying for roles the day after we got back from our last trip to Switzerland. Which I understand.
I replied to the email and said yes sure Id love to come visit. I then asked will they be paying for my flight over.
I checked the cost of flights €400 smackaroonies .
I asked cant we just do this over skype?
Nope I need to be there in person.
I posted on reddit to see what folks in ask switzerland think.
https://www.reddit.com/r/askswitzerland/comments/6mf5hq/job_offer_in_switzerland/
Basically they want me to pay €400 for flights for a day trip to Geneve and back. I really want the role but its 400Euros. I literally have to make a decision between rent next month and this trip.
Furthermore and this is what makes me worry a bit. All my interviews were skype calls, no camera, They dont know I am black. before you give me $hit for bringing up race, you likely don't understand. Every role I have ever held in the interview the person in hr always manages to work in the conversation that my name is very unique, leading to how I sound so different from how I look, in a round about way as to not catch a discrimination case (Jk).
If its not clear I sound white on the phone. My siblings tell me, my girlfriend tells me, my friends tell me, everyone if before they meet me have only spoken to me on the phone . They assume I'm white. If you didn't see my photo from the swiss trip in my previous blog post and have only read this you likely thought I was white before the last paragraph. Its ok :P
I also checked the companies current staff( None my shade of noir)
My dilemma/Cliffs:
Called to Last round of interviews
Should I Pay 400€ for a flight to a final interview for a job I haven't yet secured?
They don't know my choice of skin tone.
Should they be paying for my flight?
(its a junior-mid level role)
I appreciate all the advice folks :)
( I treat situations like this with levity so excuse the memes Im writhing on the inside.)