While it’s true that living to work as opposed to working to live is not necessarily the best pursuit, it’s hard to deny the huge influence a dream job can have on our lifestyle.

Not only might it come with a more preferable salary, but perhaps give you the chance to express the skills you’ve really worked for, or have an impact in a field you care about.

Sometimes, a dream can be kept with you for quite some time, others it might have developed in childhood. It’s hard to think of anyone who has studied long, hard degrees in aerospace engineering who wouldn’t love to work for organizations like NASA or SpaceX, or an animator who wouldn’t want to work at Dreamworks Animation or Pixar.

Either way, if you’ve secured an interview, you have your foot in the door. For a dream job, that might mean travel to a large city in order to account for yourself.

In this post, we intend to share some helpful travel tips that can allow you to succeed but also format the experience to your favor.

Give Yourself Enough Time To Prepare

Nothing adds stress to an interview, which is stressful already, quite like rushing around at the last minute and arriving in a hurried breathless state. If you can, pack your interview outfit the day before and make sure everything is ironed, and polish your shoes. 

This gives you time to notice if your best shirt has a missing button or if your shoes have a scuff mark that could have been worked out. Attention to detail matters here, even if you’ll never dress quite this formally for the role again.

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It’s also healthy to double-check all your documents too, such as  your resume, portfolio, and any other materials they’ve asked for. Having these organized the night before means one less thing to worry about in the morning.

If You Can, Set Off The Night Before Or Early Morning

Big cities like New York or San Francisco aren’t exactly known for their predictable traffic patterns, and you don’t want to be stuck in a taxi feeling more frustrated by the minute. Setting off the night before lets you get settled in your hotel room, check out the area, and wake up fresh. 

This does cost a bit more, but compare that to the stress of a delayed flight or heavy traffic on the morning of your interview and the cost might be worthwhile to you.

Moreover, a good night’s sleep can always help you remain more approachable in the day. Though of course, if staying overnight isn’t possible, leaving extra early in the morning works and you can use services such as Sydney City luggage storage to hold your bags you can collect later.

You can always find a nice coffee shop to review your notes if you arrive a little earlier and remain near the office for when your interview time comes.

Arrive Thirty Minutes Early

You might have heard the old advice about arriving fifteen minutes early, but for a dream job interview, thirty minutes gives you more breathing room even if you have to wait in their meeting room a little longer. 

If nothing else this extra time lets you visit the restroom, check your appearance, and get your nerves settled.

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It’s also a chance to observe the office environment and see how employees go through the building, which is good insight into the general culture of the place you’re hoping to work.

It’s fine to check in early with the reception desk as well, perhaps they’ll ask you to come up earlier if your interviewer isn’t particularly time-restrained.

Understand The Transport Routes

Google Maps is great for the most part, but it doesn’t tell you everything, and that can be the difference between arriving on time or ten minutes late.

For example, you might have thought that a road headed in the right direction but it was only one way, or maybe an entire parking area is closed due to a recent issue or renovation.

If you’re worried, you can look up recent construction work or planned transport strikes that might affect your journey. In the UK for instance, train strikes have become pretty common, and so having one route as your only option there could be a problem. 

If you’re taking public transport,  it’s good to be familiar with the stations near your interview location, as sometimes the closest stop isn’t actually the most convenient, and the last thing you want is to walk down an icy canal path in your office shoes because you misjudged how far the place is.

Having a backup route planned helps here. Now, this all reads as a huge effort, but if you’re unfamiliar with the city, it really can be.

Luckily, if you get the job, your commute will generally ease into a more comfortable pathway. Hey, perhaps you’ll even work remotely from time to time.

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Arrange For Non-Peak Time Arrival

Some companies will give you a window in which you can come and be interviewed, based on what’s available and the schedule of those hosting it.

If you can, avoid peak commuting hours in major cities because they can turn a simple journey into a real annoyance.

For instance, if your interview is scheduled for 9 AM, you’ll be competing with every commuter in the city. That might give you a good idea of what your daily work travel will be like, but it’s best to be fresh-faced for the interview right now.

If possible, see if you can schedule for mid-morning or early afternoon instead. Some companies prefer these times since their team has settled into their day.

Wear Weather-Appropriate Clothing

Finally, it’s wise to wear weather-appropriate clothing if you can, because your perfect interview suit might not feel so perfect after walking two miles in summer heat or winter snow.

Check the weather forecast and plan for whatever more you need, as a light jacket that looks professional but keeps you comfortable is still fine.

Travel Tips for Your Dream Job Interview

With this advice, we hope you can find it easier to travel for that essential job interview. We wish you the best of luck in your efforts!