How to Find a Job With Less Overtime

This article is part of the Pay, Package and Work-Life Balance guide.

Excessive overtime is one of the most common reasons skilled workers consider a job move. Finding a role with genuinely manageable hours requires asking specific questions at interview, speaking to people already in the role, and using employer data to verify hours before you commit. Optio captures working hours and overtime culture as part of employer offer intelligence so candidates can filter for this from the start.

Excessive overtime (particularly when it is expected rather than optional, uncompensated or unpredictable) is one of the most damaging aspects of a role in skilled sectors. Finding a role with genuinely manageable hours requires more than reading the contracted hours on a job description.

Why are job descriptions misleading on overtime?

Most job descriptions state a contracted hours figure: 40 hours per week, 42.5, 45. What they rarely state is the expected or typical actual hours. The gap between contracted and actual is where excessive overtime lives.

An employer with a culture of unpaid overtime, chronic understaffing or poor planning produces actual hours that significantly exceed contracted hours, and the job description will not tell you this.

How do you find out about overtime before you join?

Ask directly at interview: “What are the typical actual hours worked by people in this role?” A good employer will answer clearly. Evasion or “it depends on the week” is worth pressing.

Ask about overtime culture: “Is overtime generally expected as part of the role, or is it genuinely voluntary?” The answer reveals a great deal about how the employer operates.

Speak to current or former employees: LinkedIn connections, industry contacts or Glassdoor reviews from people in the specific role type can tell you what the lived experience is.

Ask Optio: Optio captures working hours and overtime data as part of employer offer intelligence, so you can specifically filter for roles where manageable hours are a confirmed feature of the offer. Register with Optio as a candidate to access this data. You can also explore how Optio’s talent intelligence works to understand what employer data is captured and how it is used.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if a role’s overtime is voluntary or expected?

Ask the employer directly at interview: “Is overtime ever expected as a standard part of this role, or is it always voluntary?” Follow up with: “What proportion of the team worked overtime in the last quarter?” Employers with transparent cultures will answer clearly. Evasive answers are useful data in themselves.

Can I negotiate to limit overtime in a new contract?

Yes. If limiting overtime is important to you, raise it during the offer stage and ask for it to be reflected in the contract where possible. At minimum, get clarity in writing about what is expected versus what is optional.

What sectors have the worst track record for excessive overtime?

In FM, field service and engineering, overtime culture varies significantly by employer and contract type. Roles on large managed-service contracts or high-SLA environments tend to carry more overtime pressure. Optio’s employer offer data includes working hours patterns so candidates can assess this before entering a process.

Build My Wish List | Back to Pay, Package and Work-Life Balance