How do you find time to relax outside of work?
This question is aimed at determining whether you put effort into maintaining a strong work-life balance. Before considering any potential candidate, your recruiter needs to ensure whomever they hire is focused on sustaining their own well-being. So, it's their aim to identify those who will find job satisfaction with them, and imagine this opportunity as a long-term fit. They're hoping your answer to this question will inform them of whether you prioritize your well-being in your spare time and how sustainable an employee you'll be, or whether you are more likely to burn out on the job, bring the stresses of your personal life to work, or the stresses of your professional life home.
At UBS, they recognize that, at times, maintaining a strong work-life balance can be challenging, depending on the circumstances. So, on their website, to attract their ideal talent, they detail the benefits they offer to support their employees through more challenging times and to promote their employees' work-life balance. "At UBS, we understand that a good work-life balance is pivotal to our employees' overall wellbeing and to their job satisfaction, and therefore productivity. Employee wellbeing is extremely important to us, and that's why we offer competitive benefits to all employees across the firm. We work hard to ensure our employees, whatever their needs, are supported throughout the employee lifecycle." On their website, they offer more in-depth detail on their award-winning benefits programs, which range from health and well-being, physical well-being, mental well-being, and generous time-off benefits, to name a few.
In a careers blog post on their Meet Us webpage, one of their featured employees details how they spend their time when asked this very question. "A few colleagues and I will meet to have dinner or catch a movie after work. During weekends, you'll find me running or hiking. I used to play ultimate frisbee during my university days and I hope to join a league soon." Here they've provided specifics on how they relax, how they promote their physical wellbeing through team sports, and independently, and how some of these activities involve those they've built relationships with at work. So, consider how you do the same on each point. Think of the hobbies or activities you enjoy that help you recharge outside of work.
"Well, typically on my Friday nights, I go home and make a big bucket of popcorn and treat myself to a movie from my couch. I have a large backdrop and an HD projector, so I can feel like I have a true movie theater experience from my couch. The next day I wake up, go for my morning run, do some light reading, and then spend my day offering my services volunteering at a local shelter. Afterward, I typically blow off that steam by hanging out with friends, getting a nice meal or drinks, and dancing. Then, on Sunday, I typically go for a long hike in the woods. Then I dedicate the rest of the day to unscheduled time, where I do some cleaning, some cooking, or plan and prepare for my week, and handle those tasks at a leisurely pace."
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