Most of our waking hours are spent at work.  For some careers those hours at work are extended by peer pressure, extensive travel, deal or special project peaks.  But how predictable were those pressures?

Certain careers have a tendency to command longer hours from its incumbents; this release looks at some of the most popular career choices and poses a few questions for those considering their next career move. It may also ask a few awkward questions of those currently marching up the corporate ladder.

How much do you see your family and friends?

Have you met your life partner?

Do you get up in the dark and get home in the dark…..even in the summer?

How fit are?  Do you eat well?

These are some of the key questions we can all ask ourselves.  But do we?  How many of us would have put any negative answer down to the lack of time due to work commitments?

 To an onlooker the draw of Management Consultancy is great – strategic projects, be that in Change, Operations or pure Strategy is extremely challenging and rewarding.  If you’ve never done it – the glamour around staying in hotels and travelling to numerous cities during the course of a year to visit your clients can be extremely appealing.  But there are down sides.  That tennis game you used to play on a Wednesday, the private meal you promised your husband on a Monday, catching up with your house chores etc etc.  It all gets crammed in to the weekend. 

Investment Banking is well known for its vast bonuses and swish lunches, but it’s also extremely well known for the incredibly long hours some of the bankers work.  At your desk by 7am in many cases.  Some of the banks are more extreme then others, be sure you know the culture of the place you are joining.

In large corporates, if you want to progress up the corporate ladder then can be sometimes be a well understood route to get their.  At General Electric for example if you have worked in the Corporate Audit department you have a green light to a very bright future.  You have also spent many days on the road and worked well into the night for numerous presentations.

 I have had numerous conversations with candidates, experienced professionals that have taken a look at the last few years, and come to the realisation they dedicated an enormous amount of time and energy to their career. In most cases they have been well rewarded for it and learnt a lot, but they missed the formative years of their children, perhaps sacrificed a relationship, found no time for the hobbies they used to love.  They may have gained a few extra pounds (on the waist) during that time as the healthy eating went by the way side with all the client and hotel meals.

There is no doubt that the three examples of career choices listed above can be incredibly rewarding.  Not just financially, but intellectually stimulating, meeting your personal career goals. 

Are some of life’s other questions  thought about enough in order to make a fully evaluated decision?

 Consider these  key questions you can consider for your next career move or perhaps to assess where you are now;

•  What are the hours associated with this profession?
• Within the profession I am in/considering which companies are notorious for the hours required to progress.  (In all three of the career choices above – this differs substantially from company to company).
• How much travelling will I have to do?  Therefore how many nights a week will I be I staying away? 
• What impact will the hours I work have on my life – family time, relaxation time etc?
• What are my priorities – to earn more, to spend more time with family and friends, to become as senior as I can be?

Not easy choices, but choices that must be made.  Each person will have different priorities the main thing is that you take the time to set them and aim for the work/life balance you want and not the one you found yourself with.