Common Interview Question: What Kinds of Hours Are You Used to Working?

“European ones.”

Different types of jobs have different hours. Retails jobs occasionally need inventory checks which occur as late as 3 in the morning. Corporate jobs generally hold a 9 to 5 schedule, give or take an hour on each end. Grocery store jobs have random hours based on need.

How to Answer

For both retail and grocery store like jobs, they are asking you about what type of hours you have experienced I the past, so you can be somewhat honest, though make sure you emphasize that all hours are acceptable.

Corporate jobs are looking for something different. They are not looking for you to say “9 to 5.” They are looking for you to you tell them that you stay until the job is done. Most corporate jobs have the occasional night or weekend when a project is coming close to completion. Give an answer that doesn’t give exact times, but does give the interviewer an idea of how hard a worker you are.

Bad Answer

“I have worked mostly 9 to 5 jobs in the past.”

Good Answer

“I am used to working until the job is done, so on occasion I will come in early or stay late when necessary to complete a project.”

You are not giving them an exact time, because that is not what they are asking for. Instead, you are giving them an idea of how hard a worker you are, and whether or not getting your project completed is more important than your “hours.”

Take Away Interview Tips

• Do not give an exact time.
• Focus instead on factors which get you to come in early or stay late.

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