Work-life balance is important to job candidates today, especially the younger generation of professionals. But it’s also a topic many are concerned about talking about during interviews for fear of being disqualified from contention.
Why are candidates worried about asking about work-life balance during interviews?
Candidates are worried about appearing lazy or not as motivated as others. While some organizations have eased their approach to work-life balance, many continue to maintain strict expectations, with some requiring more in-office time than at any point in recent years.
We hear from candidates all the time who are worried that if they ask about balance or flexibility, employers will see it as a red flag.
“The handful of times I have asked the question straight up, I’ve had hiring managers go on tangents about how they really want someone who can work hard and give their all,” said Jorge Alvarez, a 24-year-old entrepreneur looking for a role in philanthropy or social impact on businessinsider.com.
Alvarez added that the conversations could often “feel like a condescending take on this idea that Gen Z is ‘lazy’ simply because we want work-life balance.”
Strategies to ask about work-life balance during job interviews
Since it’s becoming so common for people to ask about this topic, we thought it would be a good idea to ask our HR recruiters about the best ways to broach the subject. Here’s what they suggest:
1. Research the company’s culture, then ask about it
Companies often communicate whether they promote work-life balance. So, do some research on the company’s values, mission statement, and work culture. Look for any information that indicates that the company prioritizes work-life balance, such as flexible work hours or remote work options.
As part of your research, read reviews about the company online. Past employee reviews will give you a good sense of how the company prioritizes balance. Use this information to ask pointed questions during the interview.
Read more: Popular Employee Benefits and the Canadian Companies Offering Them
2. Ask questions that are related to flexibility
There are a lot of ways that you can approach the subject of workplace flexibility without speaking about it directly. You could ask about what the day-to-day looks like and ask about company wellness programs. Or you could ask them about the core work hours, overtime, and other things related to scheduling.
3. Approach the subject from a productivity perspective
When asking about work-life balance, emphasize that you are interested in finding ways to be more productive and efficient, rather than simply trying to avoid working too hard. For example, you could ask if the company encourages breaks or if they have any tools or resources to help employees manage their workload.
4. Speak to your work preferences
Talk about your own work style and preferences. For example, you could say something like, “I find that I’m most productive when I have a bit of flexibility in my schedule. Would that be possible at this company?” This shows that you’re not lazy, but rather that you have a specific work style that you think would work well with the company’s culture.
5. Ask about career growth and retention
Employers value people who want to stay and grow. Ask questions about the reasons why people stay with the company long-term. This opens up the discussion about workload, support, and balance.
6. Save direct questions about work-life balance for the second interview
If you’re early in the process, keep it subtle. In later interviews, especially with a hiring manager, you can be more direct. Once you’ve shown you are a strong candidate, and the company has interest in you, you can then start discussing specifics about how the company operates.
A final word about talking about work-life balance during interviews
Rather than asking questions directly about work-life balance, take a broader view of the information the company has provided during the interview process. If an employer offers flexible work arrangements and a great work-life balance, they often promote it to attract candidates. If they don’t mention balance at all or offer vague answers, it may be a sign it’s not a big part of their culture.
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