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The job interview tip for today is:
Can I ask about work-life balance?
Before I give you a definitive answer, I want to define what an interview is used for. From an employer’s perspective, they are trying to evaluate and assess you in order to figure out whether you can do the job they need to have done. From their standpoint, well, you know you’re not supposed to ask about benefits at the first interview, right? You also know that you want them to like you first, in order to get them to want to move forward, right?
So, let me give you a job interview tip here. When you ask about work-life balance, employers hear that as, “What’s the minimum amount of work I need to do in order for you to think that I’m doing my job?” They are not fond of that thinking and that is how they interpret the question. You can get a better idea of what you want to know by asking a different question.
Let me give you a suggestion. You know when they get to the part of the interview where they ask, “So, do you have any questions for us?“
I’ve covered a lot of different questions in different videos, articles and podcasts. I’m not going to repeat those. Instead, here’s the way to ask the question so that you can get the answer that you want.
“Describe a typical day for me from the time I walk in at what time do you expect me to walk in until the time I leave (tell me what time you expect me to leave). I want to get a clear idea of what I’m going to be doing by working for you. You have given me a good broad brush stroke I what I would be doing. Let’s get into the weeds a little bit.“
The reason to act on this job interview tip is so that you get a good idea of what you will be expected to do as well as getting a good idea of your arrival time and departure time, too. If they expect that you will be working late hours, they’ll be telling you that in the course of answering this question. That, I believe, will help you solve the question of work-life balance.
Look, I don’t know of many job hunters, I don’t know of many American or foreign workers, who actually want to do the least amount of work. I just believe that most people want to have some time for the rest of their lives, too. They want to have a little bit of time for their family, to have a little bit of fun to do other things in their life, too.
I don’t believe that you are looking for this “mythical work-life balance thing.” I believe you want to find out about what they want you to be doing, what you’re actually going to be doing and how many hours a day, you’re going to be doing, right?
That’s a job interview tip worth remembering!
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