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Subtly Is Best to Determine Aspects of Job
How to Broach Work-Life Balance without Sabotaging Your Chances
By Perri Capell, CareerJournal.com
January 30, 2008
Q: During interviews, when and how should I bring up
my desire for work-life balance? I want to give the impression that I'm
committed and will work remotely, while making it clear I'm not willing
to be in the office 80 to 100 hours a week.
A: Wait until you're certain that you're going to get
the job or better yet, until after you receive an offer, to address this
concern. Even then, the best approach is likely an indirect one.
Directly mentioning your desire for a balanced life sometimes can be
off-putting to interviewers, says Robin Ryan, a career counselor based
in Newcastle, Wash.
"Be careful about telling interviewers that you're president of the
local hockey association and that you coach four teams," she says. "If
you do, they probably aren't going to hire you."
Naturally, if you're a C-level candidate or a physician, you can't
expect to have much work-life balance. Putting in long hours goes with
the territory for high-level executives and certain professionals. The
same is true for employees at young companies. "If you want a lot of
work-life balance, don't work for a start-up or a company launching a
new product," Ms. Ryan says.
But if you're interviewing for less senior jobs at more mature
companies, ask questions about the employer's culture and the job
responsibilities instead of bringing up the issue directly. It's best to
do this once you're sure that the company wants to hire you. The
information you gather can help you decide if you'll have enough balance
in your life or if you should seek another job, says Gus Anderson, vice
president of human resources and marketing for Affinity Consulting Group
Inc., a staffing and recruiting firm in Coral Springs, Fla.
Mr. Anderson says good questions to ask might include what the
typical day or week was like for the previous person who had the job;
how much time they spent in the office; whether they usually worked
evenings and weekends; if they worked remotely via computers and digital
devices and if so, how much; and if they were expected to be available
24/7.
A more subtle query might be whether the company allows computer
log-in access from home. "If they say no and that you have to be here
for security reasons, you can make up your own mind," says Mr. Anderson.
If possible, speak with the previous job holder and potential
co-workers. Find out what the company expects in terms of face time and
how issues such as child-care responsibilities and other personal
concerns that crop up during work days are handled. If a recruiter is
involved, this person can sometimes ask these questions for you.
Recently, a candidate with a small child was concerned that she would
be expected to work excessively long hours at a potential employer, says
Mr. Anderson. A single mother, she sought advice from people familiar
with the company, who confirmed her suspicions, and then turned down the
job.
Interviewers want to know that you're committed to doing the job
well, and they often don't care about your personal needs. You need to
determine if you'll have the life you want, and it's best to find out
now if the fit isn't right.
"If the place is dysfunctional, it's unlikely you are going to be
able to change it very much," says Ms. Ryan. "You may have to make a
personal choice that it isn't the right company for you."
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