Experts say that many of us are now working more, longer,
and harder than ever before. It's often presumed that while the boosts in
productivity that today's demanding workplace schedules have ushered in may be
good for business, they are wreaking havoc on the social and emotional lives of
employees. The truth, however, is not quite that simple.
In fact, each one of us has our own unique stress threshold.
For every worker who starts to feel worn down and emotionally depleted after a
few weeks of double shifts, there's another employee who only truly starts to
feel engaged and invigorated when the pressure's really on. According to Andrea
Molloy, author of Stop Living Your Job,
Start Living Your Life, if the demands of your position don't line up with
your scheduling preferences, it's unlikely that you're going to be able to make
it work in the long-term.
What Does Work/Life Balance Mean to You?
Just as each person has their own idea of what defines the
perfect job, most people also have a unique conception of the type of schedule
that their dream job would entail. Whether your idea of the perfect job is a
leisurely part-time position with virtually no "on-call" expectations,
or a demanding dawn-to-dusk role with lots of opportunities for overtime and
double shifts, it's important that you define your unique work/life balance
needs before you begin your next job search.
By including work/life balance on your list of job-search
criteria, you'll be better-positioned to find a role that you can thrive in.
Here are some tips to help you land the job that will be a perfect fit with
your unique work/life balance needs.
Assess
yourself.
Spend some
time thinking deeply about work/life balance and what it means to you. Identifying
your scheduling needs is one component of this, but try to delve deeper and
come to an understanding of your personal stress threshold. What type of work
schedule leaves you feeling tired and worn out? When do you feel most engaged
and excited about your work? Use the insights you gain to focus your list of
job possibilities.
Do a
reality check.
After
you've narrowed down your scheduling and work/life balance preferences, make
sure that they are compatible with the type of work you're looking for. For
example, if you're the easily-stressed type who prefers a laid-back work
schedule, it's going to be very hard to find a kitchen position that meets your
criteria. If you identify a potential mismatch, it may be best to go back to
the drawing board and brainstorm a few alternative career directions that offer
schedules more in keeping with your preferences.
Observe
the team in action.
As you're gathering the names of the places
to which you'd like to apply, take the time to do a little field research. If
possible, pay a visit to the finalists on your list and get a first-hand look
at the organizational dynamic. Is the workplace hustling and bustling, or does
it have a more laid-back feel? Can you imagine yourself fitting in well here?
Bring
up work/life balance in the interview.
It's great to have a list of questions prepared to ask in your
interviews, and work/life balance issues are an excellent kick-off point for
the discussion. Of course, it's likely that every hiring manager you encounter will
say that their organization's work/life balance is just right, but try to dig a
little deeper and read between the lines to get a clearer glimpse of the big
picture. Does the company have any work/life balance initiatives already in
place? What are their flexible scheduling policies? How does employee leave
accrue, and in what circumstances can it be used?
Your work/life balance needs are as unique as your
fingerprint. By pinpointing your personal requirements and then using them as a
road map to help find a company that will be a good fit for you, you'll be much
more likely to land a job that you'll want to hang on to for a while.