How do you feel about working nights and weekends?

1 Answer

Answer :

TRAPS: Blurt out “no way, Jose” and you can kiss the job offer goodbye. But what if you have a family and want to work a reasonably normal schedule? Is there a way to get both the job and the schedule you want?

BEST ANSWER: First, if you’re a confirmed workaholic, this question is a softball lob. Whack it out of the park on the first swing by saying this kind of schedule is just your style. Add that your family understands it. Indeed, they’re happy for you, as they know you get your greatest satisfaction from your work. 

If however, you prefer a more balanced lifestyle, answer this question with another: “What’s the norm for your best people here?” 

If the hours still sound unrealistic for you, ask, “Do you have any top people who perform exceptionally for you, but who also have families and like to get home in time to see them at night?” Chances are this company does, and this associates you with this other “top-performers-who-leave-not-later-than-six” group. 

Depending on the answer, be honest about how you would fit into the picture. If all those extra hours make you uncomfortable, say so, but phrase your response positively. 

Example: “I love my work and do it exceptionally well. I think the results speak for themselves, especially in …(mention your two or three qualifications of greater interest to the employer. Remember, this is what he wants most, not a workaholic with weak credentials). Not only would I bring these qualities, but I’ve built my whole career on working not just hard, but smart. I think you’ll find me one of the most productive people here. 

I do have a family who likes to see me after work and on weekends. They add balance and richness to my life, which in turn helps me be happy and productive at work. If I could handle some of the extra work at home in the evenings or on weekends, that would be ideal. You’d be getting a person of exceptional productivity who meets your needs with strong credentials. And I’d be able to handle some of the heavy workload at home where I can be under the same roof as my family. Everybody would win.”   

Related questions

Description : Are you willing to work overtime/nights/weekends?

Last Answer : If you are willing to work these times, then say that. If you are not, explain why. This can get tricky, as you don't necessarily want to explain why if it gets too personal (talking about your family or that you go to church on certain days).

Description : Are you willing to work overtime? Nights? Weekends?

Last Answer : This is up to you. Be totally honest. Remember though if you are working in Funds for example, there will be always be an element of overtime, especially at month end so you need to acknowledge this or you will come across as unrealistic.

Description : When do the nights and weekends minutes start on my iPhone 3G?

Last Answer : I think it starts at 9:00 pm. But I’m not positive. In your bookmarks (on the iPhone), there’s a link to your AT&T account. That will have the info. But I’ve always assumed nights started at nine.

Description : You Need to Have A Cell Phone Plan with Free Nights and Weekends?

Last Answer : One of the biggest things to consider when you are looking at what cell phone plan you should get is whether or not you get free nights and weekends. You do not want to take a plan that will not ... too quickly. When the nights and weekends are free, you do not need to worry about using them up.

Description : How would you feel about working for someone who knows less than you?

Last Answer : The reality is, the majority of the time someone is in a management/leadership position is because of their experience and past success. So they probably possess at least a unique set of ... then discuss how you would look for mentors in dierent departments to help your personal career development.

Description : I see from your resume this isn’t your first job working in a medical office. What skills did you pick up on your two previous jobs that you think would help you on this job?

Last Answer : When you described the job to me, you said you needed someone who was good with patients. You also said you wanted someone who knows a lot about the different insurance plans. My primary ... who is good with patients and insurance. That would be me. This candidate needs to elaborate.

Description : Why weren't you working for so long?

Last Answer : Explain why you took a break or were unemployed. Explain that you either quit your previous jobs for a good reason or were laid o due to budget cuts. What were you doing with your time? How did you continue to seek new skills and learn while you were not working?

Description : Describe a situation where others you were working with on a project disagreed with your ideas. What did you do?

Last Answer : This question is designed to see if you can stand by your ideas when they are good and also to see whether you can recognize when someone else's ideas are better. Give an example of each if possible.

Description : Do you know anyone working with this organization?

Last Answer : It would be great if you did - then you could potentially use them as a referral if they thought highly of you.

Description : What are your thoughts about working from home?

Last Answer : This is a new policy some companies are adopting. If the company you are interviewing for allows for it, then you should be thankful for the flexibility and convenience yet state that working from home is a ... make is that you would still be able to focus and be just as productive working at home.

Description : How do you adapt to new working environments?

Last Answer : It's important that you demonstrate that you can adapt to changing environments quickly. You want to stress that you can manage change. The one thing in life that is constant after all, is change.

Description : What is your ideal working environment?

Last Answer : Describe your ideal working environment. Do you like flexibility with work hours? Do you like working in a cubicle or independently? Do you like to be micro managed or empowered? Do you like to work on ... a team? Do you like being driven by metrics in your role? How much responsibility do you want?

Description : How are you when you're working under pressure?

Last Answer : Once again, there are a few ways to answer this but they should all be positive. You may work well under pressure, you may thrive under pressure, and you may actually prefer working under pressure. If you say you crumble like aged blue cheese, this is not going to help you get your foot in the door.

Description : Have you ever had difficulty working with a manager?

Last Answer : Interview questions: Have you ever had difficulty working with a manager? Answer tips/answer samples: Review sample answer to the interview question Have you ever had difficulty working with a manager ... try to find out the common between us and then adapt with everyone's different personality.

Description : What position do you prefer on a team working on a project?

Last Answer : What position do you prefer on a team working on a project? Answer tips Be honest. If you are comfortable in different roles, point that out. That sort of depends on the job you are going for, ... projects. Only because I know I would be most likely the only person who can get the job done right.

Description : How do you feel about the way your career has progressed so far?

Last Answer : I'm pleased with how my career has progressed. When I graduated from college, I was hired to work as a trainee at Rogers, Inc., a small advertising agency. Being a trainee meant I answered the phones ... where I am. Don't assume the interviewer knows where you are right now or how you got there.

Description : Recall a time from your work experience when your manager or supervisor was unavailable and a problem arose. What was the nature of the problem? How did you handle that situation? How did that make you feel?

Last Answer : This question is designed to see if you require supervision or if you can work independently and make decisions. Give an example that shines a good light on you.

Description : In a supervisory or group leader role, have you ever had to discipline or counsel an employee or group member? What was the nature of the discipline? What steps did you take? How did that make you feel? How did you prepare yourself?

Last Answer : If you haven't been a supervisor, think of a situation in which you were a group leader for a school project. Don't give names.

Description : How do you feel about taking no for an answer?

Last Answer : It's good to be persistent, but not overbearing. Everyone will face rejection at some point in their life, so at some point you'll have to take no for an answer but then learn why you were turned down.

Description : How do you feel about taking on repetitive tasks?

Last Answer : This answer depends on whether or not the job has a lot of repetitive tasks with no variation. If it does, then you would need to be okay with the idea of doing the same task over and over again. If you feel you can oer more than repetitive work, then describe how you would be able to do so.

Description : How do you feel about technology at the workplace in general?

Last Answer : It's a great enabler for us to collaborate better as a team, for us to reach customers more eciently and frequently and I believe it can help any company become more ecient, leaner, and more productive.

Description : What do you feel you deserve to be paid?

Last Answer : Do your research before answering this question - first, consider what the market average is for this job. You can find that by searching on Google (title followed by salary) and glassdoor.com and other ... can back it up with facts and your previous results so that you can make a strong case.

Description : How do you feel about this company's vision?

Last Answer : First find out where the company envisions itself in 3-5 years. If you can't find the vision of the company, that's probably a big question mark on the company itself. Once you do, identify ... chance to collectively impact the world to become a greener society and save our clients at the same time!

Description : Are there any areas you feel you need to improve on?

Last Answer : Be careful on how you answer this and ensure that you don’t draw attention to a key weakness that you did not mention earlier on, best to follow on from your previous questions answered.

Description : Do you feel you are ready to take on greater responsibilities?

Last Answer : Employers ask this especially if the position you are applying for is higher than your former position. This is for them to gauge if you are up for the challenge of the new position. Give a ... the right person for this job. Highlight any additional duties/projects you took on in your current role.

Description : Tell me about something you did – or failed to do – that you now feel a little ashamed of. 

Last Answer : TRAPS: There are some questions your interviewer has no business asking, and this is one. But while you may feel like answering, none of your business, naturally you can't. Some interviewers ... fun at work because they're striving for excellence rather than brooding over slights or regrets.   

Description : How will you make customers feel welcome in our store?

Last Answer : Sub: Free Retail interview questions and answers Interview questions: How will you make customers feel welcome in our store? Answer tips/answer samples: In a retail store, there are many customers in ... attitude is the key to make the customers feel warm and welcomed when coming to your store.

Description : Where could a college student in the California Bay Area get a job working nights?

Last Answer : answer:Well, this probably isn't what you wanted, but my nephew helped put himself through UCB by working in a meat packing plant near there. It was a night job, wasn't fun, very hard ... be at the ice cream factory over there. Think 24 hour businesses such as restaurants, hospitals, factories.

Description : Is it a law that the phone must ring while you're in the shower, and hot water heaters and furnaces must break down on Holiday long weekends?

Last Answer : It’s a Laws of the Universe thing.

Description : If in an interview for a office job they tell you flat out that you will have to often work on weekends and sometimes till 10 at night how would you respond ?

Last Answer : answer:To me it seems like you made the wrong judgment of them. Not respecting your personal life? I see it as them warning you in advance since they understand many people take the weekends off. I don't ... them. Feel whatever you want, but the one who agrees is going to be the one with the job.

Description : Where do people eat on Weekends?

Last Answer : I eat top ramen every day, sometimes I order out Taco Bell and KFC or Papa Johns pizza.

Description : If your children are perfectly well behaved and kind, and the come to stay with you a few weekends a month, is there any way to avoid spoiling them?

Last Answer : I think consistency is so important in parenting. And all the better if both parents maintain similar rules, even in divorce.Perhaps even more so in a divorce situation, (to establish security in children). Also to ... visit. Is it for pizza or fun, or is it for real dad time.That kind of thing.

Description : How do you usually spend your weekends ?

Last Answer : answer:At the moment I'm trying to do more things with my son rather than just stay in at home. (getting out of the house is difficult for me at times) This weekend we went and played ... like to know what others do as well because I always feel very inadequate when it comes to weekend activities

Description : How important is it for you not to work on weekends?

Last Answer : I'm the type of person who doesn't really love sitting around and doing nothing, so I wouldn't mind doing a job that lasted a few hours on a weekend. However, if it was a job that would last the ... of doing it. I like to keep busy, but I do need some time to wind down and decompress a little.

Description : What kind of activities might you do in the evenings or at weekends?

Last Answer : Go for a walk on a nearby trail in the woods or near some water. Go out to a coffee shop or to a cafe in a bookstore.

Description : Why do I have headaches on weekends?

Last Answer : I had a boss who had the same problem and figured out that he dranks coffee at work but not on the weekends. Caffeine withdrawl!

Description : How can you force yourself to eat after crazy weekends?

Last Answer : That’s so funny- it’s just the opposite for me. When I’m hungover I feel like I can’t stop eating!

Description : What time do you usually go to bed whether on workdays or weekends?

Last Answer : There is no ‘on time’, unless your parents set your bedtime. Of course it depends on when you have to get up. I figured out I need 7 hours, and have to get up at 6, so I got to bed at around 11 o’clock. Clickety for more sleep related questions.

Description : How do I save more money on the weekends?

Last Answer : Club soda?

Description : What countires/cities have tried or have three day weekends?

Last Answer : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_weekend I once learned that in France students have school mon, tues, thurs, fri, with half days on Saturday and Wednesday. Seems like a cool idea.

Description : So, I'm on a diet since monday, and I would like to go out for luch on weekends, do you know of any place that doesn't have too much calories in their food?

Last Answer : Good luck! You can get healthy options pretty much anywhere. Try picking up the restaurant version of the book Eat This, Not That.

Description : What do you do on the weekends?

Last Answer : I spend my Saturdays working at a nature reserve... Sitting under the trees... Miles away from civilzation... Responding to ask-publics on my iPhone... :P

Description : What will happen with our U.S. economy if we have three day weekends year round?

Last Answer : answer:Simply put, it would hurt the economy. A three day weekend would indicate that we would be producing less (since we would working one-less day). As a result the GDP would go down which . ... a decrease on people's credit card limits which might help teach America to spend within it's reach.

Description : I usually get up like this at 8 and 9 o'clock :)

Last Answer : I don't even sleep for a long time on the weekends

Description : Do you think there may be a check if I'm sick on the weekend?

Last Answer : He walks. It happened to me once that she came twice in one day.

Description : Which garage is open during the weekends?

Last Answer : A lot of large garage chains are open on weekends and they stay open later on weekdays too. You could check locally or online to see what is available in your area.

Description : what are 2 data-backed push messaging best practices? A. Do not use promotional language B. Send push notification during week (avoid weekends) C. Schedule push message for afternoon D. None of the above

Last Answer : B. Send push notification during week (avoid weekends)

Description : Delta Airlines prices its tickets so that it is less expensive to travel on weekends than during the week when there is heavy business travel. This illustrates ________ pricing. A)seasonal B)demand-oriented C)competitive D)markup

Last Answer : B)demand-oriented

Description : How would you feel with 5 1/2 hrs sleep for 2 nights in a row?

Last Answer : I get about five to six hours every week day. It used to make me feel like shit, and I even got sick from it a couple of times, and blacked out once at work. Over time though, you get used to it. That’s probably not a good thing though.

Description : When shopping for bed linens, how do you select sheets that feel "cool" on those hot summer nights?

Last Answer : I think that just regular cotton is the best. It’s the lightest of the fabric that are used for sheets I think (someone can correct me if I am wrong). And just use two sheets instead of a blanket.