A six month pilot, to test the benefits of a four day work week, has seen hundreds of businesses register their interest.
If a four day week becomes the norm, employers will want to know how employees will adopt to working less hours. It will be in the job interview where hiring managers ask about productivity in the hour-day week world.
In this article, we will list potential four-day week job interview questions and answers.
Less hours equals more productivity?
The 4 Day Week Global will see a reduction in the number of hours an employee with the hope of increasing production.
Three universities; Oxford, Cambridge and Boston college (US) plan to sign up around 30 companies during this new initiative. The idea is that less work equals less stress, and less stress increases productivity.
The trio of universities will collect data from the trial, including evaluations via an interview method, to check the advantages and disadvantages of working just 80% of the (current) working week.
Currently three official businesses have signed up to the trial, with the experiment needing a variety of job sectors to participate to test the impact of a reduction in working hours. MLB Seminars (a training company), Yo Telecom and Hutch Games (computer) are currently testing the four day week.
The data gained from the UK companies will be assessed along side data taken from similar experiments across the globe. It is predicted that different sectors will have to vary how they adapt the four-day week to meet the needs of their industry.
In a four day week trial in Iceland the results show how reducing working hours increased smarter working, with staff managing their time better, reducing time spent in meetings and improving internal communications.
Employee wellbeing had a significant improvement, with staff stating how they felt more positive and happy. Experiments has shown this before, where overworked staff working more hours are less productive then staff working the average number of hours per week.
The goal is to offer employees less hours with the same pay (rather then compressed hours in a four day week), not to decrease hours and pay. The concept is referred to as the 100:80:100 model. Employees receive 100% of pay for 80% in exchange for 100% productivity.
As AI becomes more embedded within organizations, a 20% cut in working hours could easily be accommodated with technology automating business as usual low skilled tasks. The pandemic has taught businesses time-saving lessons, as an example virtual project meetings has reduced the total number of travel hours, to and from the meeting, of the participants.
Looking at the wider picture, a four-day week can also support the green agenda. In 2019, Microsoft Japan’s trailed a three-day weekend that resulted in a recorded 40% productivity but also increased efficiencies, such as 23% electricity savings.
Employers look for productive staff
Each recruitment process is designed to predict the job performance of the interviewee, their productivity.
The evidence is clear, happy fulfilled and trained employees are more productive. Whereas a stressful working environment reduces each employees productivity.
From an employees perspective, the workers expect that employees create processes and procedures that help create a productive workforce. Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory states that their are two categories for workplace motivation:
Motivation factors that give employees a sense of satisfaction
- Work that has a purpose
- Greater autonomy
- Recognition
Hygiene factors that determine the basic level of stability and job security:
- Pay
- Job security
- Working conditions
On the other hand, employers expect a level of output from a paid employee. In the job interview the job candidate, through their answers, makes a pledge of their skill set and work ethic which the hiring decision is based on.
As with all new initiatives that get launched, the organizations that take part in the trail will have a vested interest in the initiative and happy to work within the guidelines. As the initiative becomes common place, other organizations get on board rather then being seen to rock the boat.
The problem here is that the latter employers may need commitment from the interviewee, at the interview stage, that they can and will offer 100% productivity during a four-day week.
Four day week job interview questions
In the main, employers will ask four day week job interview questions that come under one of three categories:
- Time management
- Output
- Wellbeing management
How will you maximize output while working a four day week?
Employers are looking to hear what tasks or last time activities can be reduced to increase productivity.
Job interview answers should cover time management processes, the use of automated technology/systems and task priority.
Job Interview Answer:
“Output is improved through the management of tasks. The time management matrix explains how tasks can be prioritised based on their urgency vs importance. Tasks that are highly urgent and important must be completed straight away, this could include (example).
One of the common task in our sector is (add task) which often takes up (number of hours per week) but can easily be automated through (system/procedure/software). Another common task is (second task and third task) which is required in several departments. I propose, to save time, that these tasks are job shared. With one department completing all (task one) and the other all (task two).
One the reasons why I always have a high level of productivity is due to my wellbeing management. The research shows how stressed employees have less production, whereas motivated staff are highly productive. Personally, I keep motivated by regularly (add activity)”
What ways can you think off that will help reduce time spent on non-productive tasks?
Each sector varies, but generally speaking their are a number of ways to reduce time.
When answering the time saving interview question, it is important not to use examples that make the candidate to be viewed as lazy IE ‘I would talk less’. Instead think more strategically, as an example having ‘task and finish’ team meetings or shared calendars that reduce planning time.
Job Interview Answer
“Thinking about our industry there are two areas that could be changed to reduce the amount of time spent on non-productive tasks. The first is (add specific situation). Time is wasted here because of (give reason), instead we could save time by (give solution).
The second area is (add specific situation). A number of hours are wasted because of the amount of people who do (add time wasting task) Instead if we were able to implement (solution) we could save a (give percentage) of time.”
An example of a solution to a time wasted tasks is in the recruitment sector, where many companies are now using AI bots to read job applications rather then leaving it to humans.
Give me an example of how you managed your stress levels during a busy period?
When giving a real life example of part of a job interview answer, it is important to create context by describing the situation – the why this was happening.
Then, specifically explain what actions were taken to create a positive outcome. Ideally, the example used must be relative to the position being applied for.
Job Interview Answer.
“A couple of years back, I was working at an organization named (company name). I was part of a team working on (a specific project). The project was highly important as (describe how the successful completion of the project would have a benefit to the employer).
The timeframe for the project was tight, we had to complete (task) within a (add timeframe). the reason this was difficult was (give specifics).
It was a very stressful time for everyone, but I was always able to manage my stress and stay motivated and productive.
To stay motivated and to have good wellbeing I (generic stress management technique). When on a tight deadline I always (stress management technique)which helps me to stay on track. When working in a stressful environment or when other colleagues are stressed I will (stress management technique).”
