How to Answer: Are you willing to work overtime, nights, or weekends?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for an American Express job interview.
17. Are you willing to work overtime, nights, or weekends?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Depending on the role you're interviewing for (e.g. a call-center position) you may need to work a variety of shifts. The interviewer wants to gauge how open you are to working other shifts. How you answer this question, direct or evasive, will clue them in to your openness to this, as well as your flexibility.
Written by Kevin Downey on February 9th, 2022
How to Answer
You need to be upfront about the schedule you're willing to work. Don't let this question catch you off guard! Ask discovery questions, or ask to see a sample schedule if appropriate. As you know, you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. This distinguishes you from the herd as a viable candidate simply due to the fact that you are both after the same thing, a good fit.
Written by Kevin Downey on February 9th, 2022
Pro Tip
Interviews are an excellent time to uncover what's expected. Take notes and follow up with questions. When possible, have a notebook or folder containing all your resumes and cover letters that you've sent off to other employers, divided into sections, with notes from each interview in each separated tab. This will not only advertise you are playing the field but are approaching it with an organized systems approach, where you are scaling what each job has to offer, as well as respectfully exhibiting your interviewing skills.
Written by Kevin Downey on February 9th, 2022
1st Answer Example
"If you need me to work extra hours or be flexible to work different shifts, I am willing to do it! I'm comfortable working longer hours as needed. Do you have a sample schedule that I could see?"
Written by Elisabeth Walter
2nd Answer Example
"I've no issue working a variety of shifts. I'm flexible, but I think it's important that flexibility is a two-way street. I've worked waterfall schedules in the past, where each shift is earlier, often with 8 hours or fewer in between each shift. 8 hours between each shift never allot enough time for basic needs, like 8 hours of sleep and time enough for proper meals. That scenario is proven to lower productivity and decrease quality of work. I have a lot of integrity and pride myself on my quality. The last thing I'd want to do is overpromise and under-deliver. So I'm definitely open to doing whatever is needed to perform at my best. If you need me to work any shift, that's fine, as long as it's sustainable."
Written by Kevin Downey on February 9th, 2022