How do you tactfully say (in a job interview) that you're not looking for a job that requires your butt to be in a chair for 60 hours a week?

11 Comments

1. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistApril 8,2023 at 1:08AM UTC

   Wanting to have a job that's a good fit for you doesn't make you an entitled brat. And most companies want new hires who are a good fit - they don't want to have to be filling that position again in a couple of months.

   The first thing you can do is be honest with yourself. Which it sounds like you've made that first step. Then you can ask the recruiter - how many hours are expected each week. Ask what the work/life balance at that company looks like. Some companies strive hard to have that be part of the culture - some companies work their people til they drop dead. You can ask that question of everyone you interview with - see if the answers are consistent.

   You can read reviews - Glassdoor and Indeed are good places to start. You can ask to do a peer interview as part of the interview process and ask them. You don't have to ask the question like it's a dealbreaker - ask like you ask any other question - like you're gathering information - which you are. So make sure if they say we need a minimum of 70 hours a week, you don't gasp. Just move on to the next question and know you'll be crossing that company off your list.

   The interview process should be a two way process. You need to be interviewing them about things that are important to you just as much as they're interviewing you. And that starts with you being honest with yourself about what's important to you. It's the best way to make an informed decision.

2. Kelly Harman-SeversonApril 8,2023 at 1:38PM UTC

   Look for companies that value work life balance. Research companies that have been awarded “best places to work”. Read the company’s website, look for their employees posting on LinkedIn. Good Luck

3. AnonymousApril 10,2023 at 2:50PM UTC

   Be careful on the best places to work. I think this is the company's public relations folks spinning at times as I work at a company that has been named to lists like that and my company sounds like the poster's company. I call it "90 miles an hour with your hair on fire" culture. Not to mention that bullying and treating people badly is also allowed. They say work-life balance is important but they don't walk that walk. Look at places where the company can't control the posting - like Glassdoor. There will always be some that don't like a company on the site but you will quickly see if there is a theme - good or bad. Don't trust the lists that are put out by magazines and the like as that is the company putting forth their name by filling out some survey. It doesn't match reality for some of these companies.

4. Cindy GrossApril 8,2023 at 3:51PM UTC

   I have a list of questions to understand work culture during interviews. I'm not at my desk right now, email me cindygross@befriendingdragons.com and I'll get it to you. I also have "5 Steps to Uplevel Your Career" you can download from https://befriendingdragons.com/.

5. AnonymousApril 9,2023 at 12:53PM UTC

   OMG did you work for my last company? Haha! Sounds like my exact scenario. Everything operating at a fever pitch. What I did in my most recent interviews is obviously ask what their expectations are, and then I'd follow up with how flexibility is important to me, as well as work life balance, as I quite value my family time. I mean, we can be go-getters and still want a life of our own. And family doesn't have to mean spouse/kids. It's whoever family is to you. Good luck!

6. AnonymousApril 9,2023 at 1:16PM UTC

   If you can afford to wait it means you can also afford to be direct, because why switch jobs if you are going to end up in the same situation? When I was asked in recent interviews why I’m switching I said it was because the scope of work was too wide for me (explained the enormity of the scope) without resources to execute. I explained the desire for a better defined role with less ambiguity. And explained I no longer am willing to work 60 hour weeks, very directly and clearly. You can be direct and also provide context and if it’s a place you would want to work they will reveal that quickly to you.

7. AnonymousApril 9,2023 at 1:41PM UTC

   Well, if I'll be in your shoes, I'll note that night shifts and weekends are not suitable for my life. make it clear that 60 hours a week is not an option for you.

8. AyianApril 9,2023 at 1:56PM UTC

   You're seeking an improvement in quality of life, particularly around work/life balance and to you that means working a standard 40-hour week with as many as <insert number> weeks that may exceed that in a year by as many as <insert number> of hours. If you can quantify your boundary within three interview process and ask about their expectations to see if there is a match there, you may have a better chance of actually finding that adjustment. This is not an unreasonable personal and professional boundary, so practice your tone as a matter of fact statement that stands by itself and requires no explanation. The phrasing here is generally considered neutral to interviews who are not exploitative.

9. AnonymousApril 9,2023 at 4:47PM UTC

   Yes there is. The best way to do this is to gently tell them that you live a well balanced life and that the role you are leaving did not allow for you to meet your personal commitments. Then let them know how organized you are and that the ideal situation for you to move into is a company where priorities are set firmly when work is tasked out. Then you can deliver high quality work within set deadlines. Let them know you are okay with working 2 evenings per week if needed in crunch time-or insert whatever threshold you want there) and that weekends are off limits for other family business. You can't expect them to mind read but setting your limit up front would help. As an alternative you could ask some of the peers in the team how often the work spills into late hours and weekends. Then if they share that its often you can decide if you want to go there. Learning to say no is difficult when you want to please your employer but don't lose sight of your life goals in the mix.

10. ANDREA RAGGAMBIApril 9,2023 at 5:29PM UTC

    That sounds exhausting! Don’t assume all employers are like that and I feel it’s fair to share what you don’t want in a new role. Be honest. It’s a win-win if they don’t take you on because they expect an ‘always on’ culture and if they are the right fit they will agree that’s a recipe for disaster because they know what burn out looks like.

11. AnonymousApril 10,2023 at 9:00PM UTC

    if/when hours come up say something like "I'm assuming that the work/life balance and overall well-being of your employees is foremost for a great business culture..." or something similar. Prioritization will be key if given any questions about getting things done on time.