I don’t normally write reviews of interviews, but in this case I believe it is warranted. I had three fairly normal phone interviews (screen, and two sessions with VP of Ops and VP of Quality) then a site visit to their NJ facility for an all-day 8 person round-robin. Normal interviews, nothing out of the ordinary, folks seemed rushed, but all-in-all fairly normal (for NJ, anyway). So, why am I writing the review? Well, the short story is that it has been 40 days since I submitted my interview expenses and Aquestive has still not reimbursed me for any my travel. I have sent multiple e-mails to their HR department, received only two (duplicate) “thanks but no thanks” rejection e-mails from the same HR person, but no direct response to my query until the second duplicate e-mail. Long story short, they are refusing to pay for my cancelled air ticket (they refused in e-mail, I should point out that they have not reimbursed me in ANY manner for any of my travel and it has been 40 days since I submitted my travel expenses).
The long story is, I was scheduled for an onsite interview and asked to travel to their NJ facility. They agreed to pre-pay the hotel, I was asked to cover the rest of the travel and was told I would be reimbursed in full. I was give less than 4 days to make flight arrangements. I booked the flight, and as requested, confirmed my flight info w/ Aquestive HR. Due to the short booking time and the fact that I put it on my personal credit card, the flight was non-refundable and non-transferrable. Four hours before my flight departed, Ramona from Aquestive HR (yes Ramona, I’m outing you….) called me and asked me to reschedule my flight due to weather concerns in NJ (she believed most of their staff would stay home the day of my interview due to the weather). I told her that my flight was non-refundable and non-transferrable and she said (and I quote) “…no problem, do whatever you have to, Aquestive will cover it in full”. I called up, asked United what my options were and proceeded according to their instructions: cancel existing flight, book new flight, take a flight credit. Due to cancelling the flight 4 hours before departure, I could not receive a refund….the best I could do was to put the cost of the ticket towards a new flight but could not do so within 24 hours of cancelling and Aquestive wanted me to rebook immediately. As such, I ended up with a “flight credit” that I will never use, but that I paid $587 for and Aquestive refuses to refund me for, even after they agreed to cover it. In the same e-mail Aquestive did offer to cover a $200 change fee, but, I was not charged a change fee, and I did not submit one to them. And, as I mentioned, 40 days out, I’m now paying interested in $1300 worth of travel for the on-site interview and still have not been reimbursed.
What would I tell you this? Well, if this is the way they treat a potential employee (Director level, no less), I wonder how they treat their actual employees? Further, is this really the kind of company you want to work for? If it is, I’d suggest at the very least that you don’t lay out a dime for travel if they ask you on site! 40 days out…not a penny of reimbursement and nothing but grief. Truth is, I’ve already spoken with my attorney and by the time he types up a letter and sends it to them, ¾ of what they owe me will be burned up in fees. Live and learn I guess….don’t let Aquestive “Jersey” you too.
