No, it can be a long time between a verbal and a written, because the verbal offer doesn't contain all the compensation details and requires final sign off from

No, it can be a long time between a verbal and a written, because the verbal offer doesn't contain all the compensation details and requires final sign off from whoever makes those decisions. In almost all the corporate jobs I've gotten, I got a verbal offer relatively quickly, but the formal, signed offer letter came a long time (anywhere from a week to a month) later because it required the signature of VP or someone similar. Re travel: I meant that the candidate has to travel, and the interviews have to be scheduled with the pool of interviewers. The minimum time for this is generally a week, but usually it takes longer. Interviews are a significant / immovable commitment and interviewers are required to give notice if they can't make it several days ahead, which means they have to be scheduled well before that.