• Some Gen Zers fear that asking about work-life balance in interviews could harm their job prospects.
• Instead, some are looking for "red flags" to determine whether potential employers value balance.
• Gen Zers shared their warning signs when job hunting, including unclear goals and a "bonus day."

Many Gen Zers are looking for jobs that give them purpose, and some aren't willing to sacrifice good pay, flexibility, or a healthy work-life balance in exchange.

While work-life balance looks different for everyone and can vary by industry, four young professionals told Insider they're prioritizing jobs that allow them to pursue hobbies, side hustles, and activities outside the nine-to-five window.

"Gen Z are learning to be more comfortable when it comes to advocating for themselves because of all the examples they've seen of it online," Alexandria Ang, a 22-year-old communications specialist, previously told Insider.

Preston Jacobson, a 24-year-old working in retail management, said he left his job in February because it lacked a proper work-life balance. Now, as he looks for a new role, he's hunting for one that will give him more ownership over his time.

"To me, work-life balance is defined as being able to determine your success based on achieving results within a transparent growth system, while maintaining a healthy social and family life," Jacobson said. He added that last-minute work travel, weekends on call, and confusing success metrics forced him to neglect his social life in pursuit of a larger paycheck.

Jacobson's desire for a day-to-day existence that allows for sufficient time away from work isn't unusual, of course, though some Gen Zers have said they don't want to be seen as lazy or uncommitted to their roles.

Instead of explicitly asking questions about a company's commitment to work-life balance in interviews, some Gen Z job seekers are looking out for certain red flags to determine whether it's a priority for employers. Here are their five biggest warning signs:

For the five biggest warning signs and the full article: Click Here

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