Knowing How Many Hours You Usually Put In Each Week, might assist a potential employer understand how your schedule can meet their demands. Whatever job you are applying for, knowing how to express your available working hours can directly affect your success.
Schedule management is a vital talent, but it requires planning. In this post, we will explore why employers need to know your availability days and hours, as well as provide examples of how to respond to this specific interview question.
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Why Interviewers Ask – How Many Hours Do You Usually Put In Each Week?
This question is usually only asked by interviewers who expect more than a regular 40-hour workweek. It’s not so much a matter of work ethic as it is of work expectations. However, don’t assume that just because the question is asked, the interviewer would expect you to work 80+ hours a week.
However, there are certain businesses (such as investment banking) where working long hours is expected.
A recruiting manager may enquire about your availability in a variety of ways. Among them are:
- What days and hours are you available?
- How many hours are you accessible every day?
- What are your hours of availability?
- Are you available to work various shifts?
- Do you have any other obligations on certain days or hours during the week?
- Do you have the ability to work on weekends?
- Are you willing to work extra hours if necessary?
- What would be your ideal work schedule?
Most applicants are eager to show that they are the best fit for the position for which they are seeking, but it is critical, to be honest, and upfront with the hiring manager about your schedule. If you are unable to work certain shifts or are unavailable on specific weekdays due to other responsibilities, you should state this during the interview, allowing the hiring manager to determine if your schedule will enable you to execute your job tasks adequately.
Overstating your availability may be enticing, but it may have a negative impact on your future employment prospects.
How to answer – How Many Hours Do You Usually Put In Each Week?
You can try to sidestep particular about the hours by responding with “whatever it takes,” but you should also be prepared for the interviewer to draw you back to specifics (for example, “How many hours did you work last week?”).
If you have any worries about working long hours or balancing work and life, now is the moment to address them. You must consider if xx amount of hours as a work requirement would be a no for you as a candidate for the position.
The easiest approach to answer the question is in general terms, then ask a follow-up question before the interviewer can ask you for particular figures.”
How Many Hours Do You Usually Put In Each Week? Sample Answer
Sample Answer 1
“As a college student, my classes are from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays.” Aside from that, I am adaptable in terms of employment outside of my academic schedule, including nights and weekends.”
- Read More: How to Answer “Why Should We Hire You?”
Sample Answer 2
“I am accessible throughout the weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., as these are the hours when my children are in school.” If necessary, I can also come in on Saturday and Sunday mornings.”
Sample Answer 3
“I am aware that this is a full-time position, and I have no objection to working 40 hours a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.” However, my family relies on me to be there for them, so I’m concerned that I won’t be able to come to work on weekends or beyond usual office hours.
Sample Answer 4
“I am looking for a full-time job. However, I am now enrolled in college on a part-time basis, with sessions beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. As a result, on those three workdays, I will not be available for overtime or late hours.”
Sample Answer 5
“My weekday routine is fairly flexible since I can rely on my husband to drive the kids to and from school. I’m willing to work extra hours after standard business hours, either early in the morning or late in the evening. However, family and church obligations prevent me from working on weekends.”
Sample Answer 6
“Having held comparable positions in the past, I anticipate that this position will be full-time and that I may be required to work additional hours. That isn’t an issue for me because I don’t have any other obligations and I like what I do. When the circumstance calls for it, I am OK with working long hours and taking infrequent weekends.”
Conclusion
Do your homework. Certain sectors and firms are recognized for working long hours and having people who value putting in the time. For example, if you apply for a position at a firm that provides benefits such as free dry cleaning or free lunches on the corporate campus, it’s a strong indication that managers would expect workers to work long hours in exchange.
Other organizations’ cultures may lean toward rigid nine-to-five hours, with late evenings regarded as a sign of bad time management. If you conduct preliminary research about the firm and industry, you will be able to provide a more powerful response.
Stress your dedication to finishing assignments and tasks on schedule. Even though a firm is keen to give its workers a healthy work-life balance, they will frequently want to know that you are prepared to put in the time when it matters. It’s a good idea to mention that you’re prepared to work beyond hours to assist colleagues in need or to start significant projects.
Please Do Not…
Negative statements about working overtime should be avoided. After all, it’s conceivable that working long hours is the norm at the firm. However, if you are unable or unwilling to work particular hours—for example, past sunset on Fridays for religious reasons—now is the moment to make it plain.
Don’t indicate laziness, either for yourself or for others. You don’t want to react in a way that implies you work inefficiently (for example, “Because I’m sluggish to get started in the morning, I typically end up needing to remain late once everyone else has left the office”). It’s also crucial not to imply that those who work short hours are slackers.