How would you balance your personal life and the heavy workload you can expect from this role at SpaceX?

What You Need to Know
1st Answer Example
2nd Answer Example
Mechanical Engineer Example
Manufacturing Engineer Example

Some previous employees have described the life of working at SpaceX as a burnout culture, where expectations of the amount of time and the work you put in are high. Elon Musk has even been quoted as saying that you aren't successful unless you are putting in at least 80 hours a week. Considering this unique working environment, your interviewer wants to know how sustainable such a lifestyle would be for you and how you would balance the demands of your personal and work life. How you answer will inform them of whether you can sustainably thrive in an environment like theirs.

"I find that with the right company, it's pretty simple to balance life and work. When I enjoy what I do, it doesn't feel like a chore. When I'm home, my family gets my attention first. I take time on the weekends to do things for myself and ensure that I regenerate before the work week begins."

"Not every day will be balanced, and I understand that. I find that I can achieve a great work/life balance most days when I take some time to do something for myself, whether that be a quick workout or cooking a delicious meal when I get home."

"Work/life balance for me is accomplished by separating the two entities. They have to exist independently of each other and have their own set times. This is not to say that exceptions can't be made, but on the whole, there needs to be clear delineations of when is work and when is personal time."

"When I am working in a role that is a great fit for me and my skillset for a company that values me, it becomes very easy to have a good work/life balance. Enjoying my work allows me to go home without bringing the stress of the day with me to maximize my personal time effectiveness."