How to Answer: Would you be available to stay late and work weekends or overtime when needed?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Frito Lay job interview.
3. Would you be available to stay late and work weekends or overtime when needed?
What You Need to Know
Your interviewer is curious about how adaptable you are and whether you are willing to rise to the occasion when your teams need your support. According to the value propositions they advertise towards their recruiting efforts, this expectation may not be the norm. "We offer a variety of schedules so your job fits your life, not the other way around!" However, it's worth mentioning the hours you would be expected to work at Frito-Lay largely depend on the role and which department you would be working in (in their plants, on the road, or in their stores). If you have questions regarding scheduling and whether overtime is required regularly, do your research and try to answer those questions on your own. If, after familiarizing yourself with what they advertise on the job posting or their website, you are unable to answer this question on your own, feel free to ask it in your interview.
Written by Kevin Downey on September 5th, 2023
1st Answer Example
"I am excited about the opportunity to work for Frito Lay, and I am available to work whatever hours are required to get the job done. Can you tell me more about what I can expect from the schedule? I am flexible, and I am comfortable with working long hours. I pride myself on managing my time well and maintaining a strong work-life balance. So I like to know what to expect and prepare."
Written by Kevin Downey on September 5th, 2023
2nd Answer Example
"The only restriction I currently have on my schedule is Thursday evenings as I take my son to tutoring those evenings. Other than this, I am flexible with my availability. Having a family, I ask for reasonable notice to schedule changes."
Written by Rachelle Enns
About the Author
Before I was in management, there were positions I wasn’t sure I wanted to be hired for. I wasn’t convinced it was the right job for me. Despite this, some of those interviews resulted in job offers. Then, some jobs felt like the perfect fit. I went into those interviews feeling confident and commanding, believing I would get hired. Yet, I didn’t get hired for many of those jobs despite my confidence and swagger.
Later in my management career, I learned there was more to it than being the right fit. I had my agenda, and my interviewee had theirs. When I sat down to interview someone, my goal was to check off all of my boxes. Is this person up to the job? Do they have the right skills? Does their character align with our values? Will they stick around and raise morale, strengthening our teams? What are their goals, aside from trying to land a job? Do they have leadership potential? What would this professional relationship look like?
This is the key to mastering any interview - understanding each other’s goals and objectives. The cold reality is that your interviewer has sat down with countless candidates before and will sit across from countless more. Every one of them wants a job. But only a few of them check off all the interviewer’s boxes.
If you are wondering how you could know what your interviewer is looking for, that’s easy. Most of it is posted all across their careers page. You just have to be on the hunt for those keywords that say it all. For Frito Lay, it’s physical hard work. Grit and determination. Punctuality and teamwork. Faster, stronger, better, and honest. These qualities aren’t unique to any one person. In fact, at some point, you have exhibited every one of these qualities.
The secret formula for delivering a great interview is simple. Actions speak louder than words. If you present yourself sincerely and honestly in every answer, aligning these traits with their values, they will know you prepared thoughtfully. It shows you respect their time and take this opportunity seriously. Your words showcase the actions you took to get ready for your interview. It proclaims you have a strong work ethic. It explains why you are so confident and shows that your interview isn’t a performance but an accurate presentation of who you are as a person and a professional. This is the key to delivering a great interview, which gets you closer to hearing the words, ‘You’re hired.’
Learn more about Kevin Downey