If you are someone who prefers to work independently and lacks interpersonal “people” skills, you may not be the best candidate for the job. How to Answer Interview Questions About Availability, How to Describe Your Work Pace During a Job Interview, 100+ Job Interview Questions and Example Answers, Tips on How to Answer Retail Interview Questions, Best Answers for the Most Common Job Interview Questions, 5 Tips About How to Help Your Employees Perform Under Pressure. This answer would please the interviewer if there was concern about the applicant’s dedication to the job or ability or desire to work longer hours. As seen above, you should try not to pin yourself down to a specific number of hours. Comments. You should do this from the very first communication to reduce the back and forth. But that's not all you want to avoid in your answer. For example, if you must take your children to work in the morning, or if you cannot work evenings because you take a night class, say so. While you don't want to be construed as a slacker, neither you want to come across as a workaholic, or for that matter, someone who cannot finish tasks in a reasonable amount of time. Recently, writer Kate Parham, after reviewing an Accountemps 2008 survey and Andrew Bradbury’s book, Successful Presentation Skills, determined that the best time to give a presentation is Tuesday morning around 10:30 a.m. I will certainly come in on occasional weekends whenever needed, but I think my time management skills will make that the exception rather than the rule. Chances are, they know you have the skills and expertise they need. For instance, if you create a to-do list first thing in the morning, explain how you list your tasks and … 30 Questions to Ask the Hiring Manager in a Job Interview, 6 Steps You Need to Take Before Changing Employee Hours, Answers for Common Interview Question for Sales Positions, "I have always been able to create and maintain an efficient work schedule that allows me to work on the same number of hours per week. I realize that it is a salaried position and overtime is included in my salary. The way you answer this question varies slightly whether you are applying for a full-time job, a part-time position, or a shift job. If you are asked about the hours you can work, answer the question directly and calmly. Energy/productivity guru Schwartz recommends that workers “build at least one period of uninterrupted focus each day for 60 to 90 minutes and see how much more you get done.” … Others want to know that you are willing to work long hours for the good of the company. Two workers are arranged to do a job. Just because the company only requires a certain number of hours per week doesn’t mean that the employees only work that number of hours. I really value my weekend time with my family. According to the research of Dr. Paul Kelley, the best time to start working is later than you think. "I have always been able to create and maintain an efficient work schedule that allows me to work on the same number of hours per week. Note: A prospective employer is not legally allowed to ask whether or not you have children and you're not required to volunteer this information. It can also be a launching point to ask about how you prioritize your work. Alison Doyle is the job search expert for The Balance Careers, and one of the industry's most highly-regarded job search and career experts. How to Describe Your Work Pace During a Job Interview, Interview Questions About Handling High Call Volumes, Best Answers for the Most Common Job Interview Questions, Interview Question: "Do You Prefer Working Independently or on a Team? Interview questions about how much you work can be tricky because employers ask this for a variety of reasons. For example, if this work environment is going to be very fast-paced, you’d want to tell them you do your best work in a fast-paced environment and then back it up with a real example of a past job that you produced great work in. Let us know what's wrong with your vehicle. When you answer interview questions about your work availability, be honest about any commitments that are not flexible. Considering that the “best” presentation times and interview times are likely similar, then Tuesday morning could be a great time to set up your interview. You probably spend 40 at work, leaving you with 128 to sleep, eat, rest, and spend however you want. I'm flexible and available just about any time you need me to work. Why It Works: You could use this answer, or something similar, with full-time, part-time, or shift work. Your safest bet, therefore, is to avoid stating a specific number of hours unless the interviewer insists. You may describe how you save time by focusing on one task at a time to produce higher quality work. Instead, speak more generally about the way you typically complete your work. If the business clearly values people who work only the required number of hours, emphasize your organizational and time management skills that enable you to complete tasks on time. You can use the website LinkedIn to research many companies. ", "While I know this job requires me to work a set number of hours every week, I am always willing to come in early or stay late, "I'm committed to working with the team, so I'm willing to pitch in extra hours when my group is under the gun. Research the company: Find out the hours someone in the position you are interviewing for normally works and how that compares with the hours on the job description. ", Answer Interview Questions About Applying for a Lower-Level Job, How to Prepare and Answer Job Interview Questions About Travel, How to Answer Interview Questions About What Motivates You to Sell, How to Answer Interview Questions About Organization. If you need to, you can create a daily checklist of items to prepare and refer to until it’s an ingrained habit. Whatever time of day you work best, it's important to keep in mind that energy levels rise and fall throughout the day. Think carefully before you reply about how many hours per week you work. Why It Works: This answer would work for either a full-time salaried or hourly job if you want to make it clear to the interviewer that you have a family and want to have some sort of work/life balance. Would you be interested in this part-time job if, at some point in the future, it turned into full-time. Suggest Possible Times. When you're organized, it saves the company time and money. Skip negative comments about working overtime, since long hours may be typical at the company. ', Answer Interview Questions About Applying for a Lower-Level Job. Give yourself a break every now and then to recharge and refocus. The best move here is to answer the question by referencing your field of work. I am available to work Monday through Friday, and I am very flexible about the start and end times on those days. Describe how you schedule your day. This might be the most general and gentle method to ask for someone’s approval. I'm available during school hours while my children are at school, 9 am - 3 pm, Monday through Friday. That's why interviewers appreciate candidates who incorporate time management strategies into their daily work routine. Determine at what time you need to arrive at work. Employers often ask this because they want to know how flexible you are. Alison Doyle is the job search expert for The Balance Careers, and one of the industry's most highly-regarded job search and career experts. Take a cue from Neil Patrick Harris, Oprah, Taylor Swift, Michelle Obama, Marianne Elliot, and other super-achievers like them: Use your free time wisely—make healthy, intentional choices during your evenings, weekends, and vacations—and you’ll bring even more energy and brilliance to your work. At some companies, the norm is a 40-hour week and everyone goes home on time. It’s always best to make it clear up front what your limitations are regarding work availability. I expected, when I applied for this job, that it would require long hours. It’s always best to make it clear up front what your limitations are regarding work availability. Why It Works: This answer would work for either a full-time salaried or hourly job if you want to make it clear to the interviewer that you have a family and want to have some sort of work/life balance. If you are applying for a shift job or a part-time job, an employer might ask this question because they want to see if you would be willing to work less popular days and hours (like nights and weekends). It clearly states the hours that you are available to work so there would be no misunderstandings. Or it could be the inverse. If you are applying for a part-time job, or a shift job, you will want to emphasize your flexibility even more. For instance, I do the following: The following dates/times (EST) work for me: Monday, 1/24: 11am – 12pm EST; 2pm – 3pm EST. Earlier is fine too if that works better for you. Since you will be doing shift work, how do you handle your sleep, health, and family life requirements? You have to decide in advance, before you go to the interview, how you're going to answer this question. Before you answer these types of questions, consider the nature of your current work, your current work schedule and your current work situation. You can use your own professional goals to create specific scenarios that would make you feel fulfilled. If there are certain days or hours you simply cannot work, say so. And for some reason, this question always seems a little awkward to answer. Only on Gradeup app and website. It’s important that you are absolutely honest with the interviewer about this issue. More importantly, so does every other person they are interviewing. This gives you some leeway in your answer and allows you to play up some of your strengths, like your efficiency, time management, or persistence. As explained above, we work best in 90-minute cycles. What you actually just said: “Hey, why don’t you spend some time going through your schedule, pick out some times that work and email them to me. I knew it was full-time and then some. How Many Hours a Week Is a Full-Time Job? So the answer gives the interviewer insight into where and how you are spending your time. Don’t change your mind. However, emphasize that you are open and flexible about any other days or hours they may need. Avoid any response that could make it sound like you work inefficiently (e.g., "Since I'm slow to get started in the morning, I usually wind up having to stay late once everyone else has left the office."). 1. If you are applying for a full-time job, you want to emphasize that you are willing and able to put in a full workweek and that you can work occasional other hours as needed. Make note of particular days or shifts you know you cannot do. 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