How to Answer: Would you be willing to work over 40 hours a week?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Product Manager job interview.
3. Would you be willing to work over 40 hours a week?
The Goal
This is a common interview question. The interviewer wants to know what your preferred work hours are and if they can count on you as a reliable and dedicated team member.
Written by Tiffany McPherson on May 10th, 2022
What to Avoid
Do not give close-ended answers such as "No, I cannot work more than 40 hours a week." You also want to avoid sounding like a workaholic since employers know that path leads to employee burnout.
Written by Tiffany McPherson on May 10th, 2022
Pro Tip
Before interviewing for any job, you should know the laws in your state/province/region regarding if an employer can demand an employee work more than 40 hours a week. Know your rights as an employee. You also need to be clear about the daily time commitment you can make as far as starting and stopping times. If the employer expects you to start by 7:00 AM each day and you are not able to start until 8:00 AM due to personal commitments, it is best to discuss this in detail during the interview.
Written by Tiffany McPherson on May 10th, 2022
How to Answer
Let the interviewer know you are a reliable and hard worker and that you can finish your tasks in a reasonable amount of time. If you are willing to be flexible in situations that require extra hours, say so. This is also a great time to ask for clarification on the expected hours for the role if you have not discussed this already.
Written by Tiffany McPherson on May 10th, 2022
Manager Example
"I am willing to work overtime when needed, especially if I have advanced notice of the extra hours. Is overtime a standard expectation for this role? It would be great to know more details regarding the expected schedule and hours."
Written by Tiffany McPherson on May 10th, 2022