What does Variable shifts/schedules Mean?

IronmanX

Saw a job posting that says Variable shifts/schedules of work as required, including evening and weekends

What does that mean?

I've never worked shift work before.
I've worked odd hours to avoid down time during busy business hours.

p@r0tuXus

Evenings, Weekends... maybe. Variable shifts/schedules means a lack of continuity and regular sleep patterns. Other obligations have to work around your work-schedule. Probably on-call work too (not sure). I would be stunned if you didn't have to work holidays on top of all that. Man, no wonder there's an opening. Tell me that's not sales.

Come to think of it... if it's for pen-testing, it could mean non-production hours as the work is available. Social engineering campaigns would require day-work, maybe weekends. This a pen-test gig?

thomas_

It means run as fast as you can from that job listing.

EANx

What are the shop hours? Those are the rotating hours you would be working. They could be 18x5 or 24x7 and your schedule would rotate.

OctalDump

Most likely (or maybe I'm just an optimist) it would be rotating shifts. So it might be 4 days on nights, 4 days off, 4 days on mornings, 4 days off, 4 days on evenings, 4 days off. But with the bonus of having to cover other people sometimes.

Best way would be to talk to them. If they seem reluctant to discuss specifics about the shifts, then that probably means they are horrible. But they might be upfront and tell you exactly what you might be getting yourself into.

IronmanX

p@r0tuXus wrote: »

Probably on-call work too (not sure).

Yes it does have on call rotating schedule as well.
Which I am not that concerned about.

Variable shifts/schedules.... variable is just so variable haha

skswitch

Would need more details on the position. Most network oriented would least be some on call. Operation centers would be 27/4 as well.

I know it does suck for sleep patterns but usually if a place is good you can get rotation shifts. Everyone has to do their turn. Bright side is some companies may pay a shift differential (12% here!). So we actually have people choose to do the odd ball shifts. On call could also bring in extra $$$. Maybe...lol