Hard work and dedication can be interpreted differently by everyone. To one person, another person's hard work could seem like slacking. But this question goes farther than what your work standard says about you. It also touches on the same points as working harder versus working smarter. Talk to the interviewer about how you interpret a hard day's work. Someone who has more of a strategic approach to their work, working smarter, might have less of a need to work hard. Hard work could equate to an employee putting in long and taxing payroll hours. Working smart exemplifies your ability to prioritize, organize, and effectively managing your time and strategizing how to complete a project or any given task well within a given timeframe. Often when working smarter, the payroll hours you'd otherwise put in are cut in half, lightening your work load, contributing to effective time management, all while protecting your company's assets.