Not a regular 9 to 5 job

[MGRJob]

Lately I am hearing this statement quite a lot in my job applications. "Not a regular 9 to 5 job". But what does that mean? Does it mean its a 9:00 to 6:00 job?

It seems something else might be implied but I don't get it.

 

[LookingForAName]

I would take that to mean it isn't a job that you forget about when you leave a desk at 5pm- whether it be doing work from home, different hours, etc. I don't know, I've never had a 9-5 job!

 

[vvaannmmaann]

"Not a regular 9 to 5 job" = Lots of unpaid overtime.

 

[MGRJob]

But people speak of it as if its a good thing. How do employers expect us to be fresh in the morning, if we've worked late, missed our gym class, and our grumpy over all the work.

How is it a good thing?

 

[StevensOnln1]

Could mean you're on different shifts each week or might be a zero hours contract i.e. no guarantee of how many hours you'll get.

Sent from my GT-P1000 using UK Business Forums

 

[thelegalstop]

I would take that to mean it isn't a job that you forget about when you leave a desk at 5pm- whether it be doing work from home, different hours, etc. I don't know, I've never had a 9-5 job!

I agree with LookingForAName. It shows some dedication to the job

 

[MGRJob]

But if its a full-time job it makes no sense. If we take it to mean as working as required, that would mean we might be working less than might be the regular hours also.

 

[Paul_Rosser]

It really depends on who's saying it, one of my old employers used to use the term to mean you will be working 60 hours a week for no overtime, another it meant that you will be working 35 hours a week but it's expected that you will be flexible about when you work them. So some late nights but then taking the next day off etc.

 

The general interpretation is.

"Work your nuts off"

 

[toastking]

It's meant to mean its not your average boring job.

9-5 is the typical hours.

Its just a saying - that everyone knows what its trying to convey but in reality its actually a pretty bad one.

 

[lynxus]

"Not a regular 9 to 5 job" = Lots of unpaid overtime.

I have one of those! Highly demotivating.

 

[thelegalstop]

I am starting to think this is one of these modern cliches, which sound posh, but actually has no actual meaning.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

I am starting to think this is one of these modern cliches, which sound posh, but actually has no actual meaning.

What like "web site designer" ?

 

[Davidcooper]

For me, not a regular 9 to 5 suggests a job that you will want to stay in the office more. Most organisations promote jobs this way however so I would look into the job description and ask the interviewer why is this not the typical 9 to 5 job.

 

[bsummers]

I agree with what toastking said. These days, a 9-5 job doesn't really cut it. You might have to work different hours everyday, you might have to bring your work home, or you might have to be on call all the time, pretty much the scenario that a good number of employees in the US encounter.

 

[Gecko001]

The prospective employer has stated what they do NOT want, namely someone wanting a 9 to 5 job. Perhaps they say that because they are unsure of what they DO want.

 

[Multi-store]

What they mean is that if you rock up at 8:59 and leave at 5pm on the dot everyday, without a second thought for the business, then you will not cut it.

To me its not about unpaid over-time, I get my work emails all day to my personal BB, including weekends. I sometimes scan over them, or even sit down for ten minutes if there is an interesting one to read. It dosent mean i turn off the tv and start working through the day, it just means im there to make the business a success, not just make a wage.

There is a huge amount of satisfaction about helping the business your'e part of succeed. Once that happens, the term overtime wouldn't mean jack.

If you counted the amount of time people spend online, making tea, checking their phone, talking about coro, daydreaming etc then we probably never do any actual overtime.

 

[superdooper500]

There is nothing more grating and frustrating than people who arrive at their desk at 8:59 and 30 seconds, and at 4:59pm pack up for the day and run out of the door at 5pm sharp. What I believe the company is saying in their job spec is don't be expecting a 'clock in, clock out' culture, if time over runs to get something done, then so be it. They clearly want a free thinker, someone who is committed to the goals of the company and is prepared to work towards them, not a clock watcher with an entitlement complex who thinks the company 'owes them', that so many staff seem to have these days.

 

[Multi-store]

clock watcher with an entitlement complex who thinks the company 'owes them', that so many staff seem to have these days.

Bang on there, love the term "entitlement complex" lots of them in the workplace, They are the same people who claim benefits when too lazy to work or because they get "headaches"

blah blah blah

 

[toastking]

At my work it also works the other way, they know I do overtime from the 9-5:30 pm I am contracted to. Heck I am working bank holiday Monday for them from mid day till probably about mid-night (but then again taking customers to Wembley for the Bobby Moore suite is hardly taxing), but when I really need a 1/2 day and don't want to use leave for a particular reason, I can usually negotiate it with my director, and this is for a very big company.

 

[superdooper500]

At my work it also works the other way, they know I do overtime from the 9-5:30 pm I am contracted to. Heck I am working bank holiday Monday for them from mid day till probably about mid-night (but then again taking customers to Wembley for the Bobby Moore suite is hardly taxing), but when I really need a 1/2 day and don't want to use leave for a particular reason, I can usually negotiate it with my director, and this is for a very big company.

Very nice work if you can get it!

It sounds like a good level of give and take, although not all companies can send employees to the play off final I'm sure!

 

[Gecko001]

I have worked for several firms and I would not underestimate the value of employees who turn up at 8.59 and leave dead on the dot of 5.30. Some of the most productive and reliable colleagues I have known have been such people.

PS. and some of them have gone on to found their own sucessful buisnesses

 

[nelioneil]

There is nothing more grating and frustrating than people who arrive at their desk at 8:59 and 30 seconds, and at 4:59pm pack up for the day and run out of the door at 5pm sharp. What I believe the company is saying in their job spec is don't be expecting a 'clock in, clock out' culture, if time over runs to get something done, then so be it. They clearly want a free thinker, someone who is committed to the goals of the company and is prepared to work towards them, not a clock watcher with an entitlement complex who thinks the company 'owes them', that so many staff seem to have these days.

And would you say the same thing about people who always take their hour lunch (which people are entitled to)

 

[MASSEY]

It means you have to kiss more arses than your typical, usual job.

 

[sjb84]

Have to agree with most the posts, it's simply a way of saying ' this isn't a boring job - out of interest what are your working hours?? Because if it is 9 - 5 then technically it is a normal 9 - 5 job, just because they say it isn't doesn't mean it is.

I'd suggest asking dolly parton anyway.......

 

[thelegalstop]

And would you say the same thing about people who always take their hour lunch (which people are entitled to)

But what`s wrong with the lunch break? A and with the exact timing? If the person is conscious enough, they will be great at what they do, without staying some extra time.