How to Answer: Are you willing to work in excess of eight hours a day or in excess of 40 hours in a given week, including weekends and holidays, and under stressful, physically demanding, and austere conditions?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Fema job interview.
3. Are you willing to work in excess of eight hours a day or in excess of 40 hours in a given week, including weekends and holidays, and under stressful, physically demanding, and austere conditions?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
You want to be fully prepared for your interview and every question in it. This will ensure you are confident and knowledgeable, showcasing a strong work ethic. If you are only interested in the work associated with the position you are applying for, or if you are also interested in growing within the agency or the Department of Homeland Security, you should familiarize yourself with the different work schedules of the people you will be working with.
Written by Kevin Downey on October 15th, 2023
What You Need to Know
When you search current or recently posted FEMA positions on USAJobs.gov you can also filter your results by work schedule. Full-time requires most employees to work 40 hours per work week, with slight variations in their schedule. A part-time job requires most employees to work less than 40 hours per work week. Shift work requires coverage 24 hours per day, and sometimes 7 days per week. A shift-work job means you'll work during a set period of time within that 24-hour period. You may work a night shift, morning shift, or you may rotate shifts with other workers. An intermittent job requires you to work from time to time. A job share job requires you to share a full-time job with another employee. You and the other employee share the full-time job responsibilities and receive salary and benefits on a pro-rated basis. Each job sharer can work up to 32 hours per week. A job with multiple work schedules usually means there is more than one position that can be filled and the work schedules may vary.
Written by Samantha Brown on November 28th, 2023
Experienced Example
"Over the years, I have worked many varying schedules which required rotating shifts, overtime, being on-call and working waterfall schedules. I am no stranger to these types of demands and am able and willing to do what it takes to get the job done. I find that maintaining a positive attitude is all it takes to enjoy every moment of your life, no matter what you are doing or where you are. It never helps to be somewhere doing something and wishing you were somewhere else doing something else. You're not in the moment, and you're not living. I try to have a strong working relationship with myself, and that requires the right attitude and love of what you are doing, no matter where you are or what you are doing at the time you are doing it. You have to make it count."
Written by Samantha Brown on November 28th, 2023