Work-life Balance: Setting the Expectations for Working Women

No matter where you are in your career, when you start a new job, it can feel like you’re back at square one. You have a daunting road ahead before you can truly feel comfortable in a new working environment. 

One of the things many new employees, especially women and working mothers, struggle with is finding a proper work-life balance, while also moving ahead in their careers. So how do you go about navigating that intimidating and rocky path to a more equal work-life balance? Start on day one. 

Start Expectations Early

Women are often put into a position where they feel they must choose between either advancing their career or taking care of their families. One way to combat that from the jump is by asking during your initial interview: what are the typical working hours like? How flexible/accommodating is the company for employees with families? Are employees expected to be available around the clock, even on weekends and after 5pm? 

It may feel like these are difficult or unnecessary questions to ask in your first interview, but the answers could be a determinant of your possible career there. Asking that shows you are a sufficient time manager, balanced worker, and confident in your ability to get the job done while also juggling your home life. If the hiring manager is put off by those questions, then that job may not be the right fit for you. 

Know Your Priorities

A recent article in The New York Times states, “Prioritizing your days is as much about making room for career growth as it is about getting home at night.” If you want to make a good impression by staying late every night during your probationary 90-day period, that sets the expectation that you are willing and able to work past 5pm indefinitely. And research shows that flexibility is good for everyone. The Guardian says flexible working, meaning working from home and job sharing, produces a “virtuous circle” that allows employees to grow in their careers over a longer period of time, while maintaining a comfortable home life. 

So while there’s nothing wrong with occasionally being the last person to leave the office when a deadline is fast approaching, try not to let that become the norm. What’s important in your life should also be important to your employer. And don’t be afraid to ask for more flexibility. We spend a lot of our lives at our places of work, so why not make it matter?

By MNT2LEAD featured writer Jacqueline Bailey

Contact Jacqueline at  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-b-80972b98/