"Tell me about your availability and flexibility" answer template (A2, B1, B2)
How to use this template
Choose the level that fits your English and fill every blank with a true detail from your own work, in 3 parts: Hours, Flexibility and Start date. Plan your example on the STAR worksheet, tick the checklist, then say the answer out loud.
A2 template: simple English
Short sentences, one idea in each. Good if your English is basic or you feel nervous.
- Hours: I can work ________ (days) from ________ (time) to ________ (time).
- Flexibility: I can also work ________ (weekends or late shifts). I cannot work ________ (limit).
- Start date: I can start on ________ (date).
B1 template: linked sentences
Joins your ideas with because, and, then and so. Good for most interviews.
- Hours: I am available ________ (days), from ________ (start time) to ________ (end time).
- Flexibility: I can be flexible with ________ (weekends, late shifts or extra hours), but I cannot ________ (fixed limit).
- Start date: I can start ________ (date or time), after giving ________ (notice) notice to my current employer.
B2 template: fuller answer
Adds a reason, a result and a little more detail. Use it if you can say it without reading.
- Hours: My regular availability is ________ (days and hours), and that is stable for the foreseeable future.
- Flexibility: I am happy to cover ________ (flexible area) at short notice, with one fixed limit: ________ (limit).
- Start date: In terms of start date, I need to give ________ (notice period), so I could start from ________ (date).
STAR worksheet: plan your example
Your answer needs one true example. Plan it here in notes, not full sentences, then use it in the "Flexibility" part of the template.
Situation
What this job needs, in the words of the advert.
Task
One task in your past work that needed the same thing.
Action
What you did in that task.
Result
The result, and why it matters to this employer.
Checklist before you say it
Tick each point when it is true for your answer.
- Hours: Say clearly which days and hours you can work.
- Flexibility: Say honestly where you can be flexible, such as weekends, late shifts or extra hours at short notice, and any fixed limit you have.
- Start date: Say when you can start and how much notice you need to give your current job.
- Avoided: Saying "I can work any time" when it is not true. It causes problems once you start.
- Out loud: I said the whole answer out loud, with only true details, in about one minute or less.
A finished answer to compare
This is one way a delivery driver might answer. Compare it with your template: the same parts, with real details. Do not copy it.
Delivery Driver answer
I can work full time, Monday to Saturday, and I am happy to do longer days during peak season. I am not available on Sundays because of a family commitment, and I would rather tell you that now. I can start in two weeks, after I finish my notice with my current company.
Learn more about this question
- How to answer "Tell me about your availability and flexibility" — the short answer, the steps, mistakes and phrases
- Template: Why should we hire you?
- Template: What are your salary expectations?
- Template: Do you have any questions for us?
- All answer templates
- Example answers for your job: Care Worker · Hospitality Staff · Kitchen Porter · Barista · Hotel Receptionist · Retail Assistant · Warehouse Operative · Delivery Driver · Customer Service Advisor
Questions people ask
Should I learn the template answer by heart?
No. Learn the order of the 3 parts (Hours, Flexibility and Start date) and your own details, then say it in your own words. A memorised answer can sound flat, and an interviewer may ask a follow-up question.
Which level should I use for "Tell me about your availability and flexibility"?
Use the level you can say without reading. If you are not sure, start with A2, say it out loud twice, and move to B1 when it feels easy. A short, clear answer is better than a long one that is hard to follow.
How do I print this template?
Use the Print or save as PDF button near the top of the page, or your browser's print menu. Only the template is printed, without the menus and buttons.
Practise this answer aloud
Say your answer to "Tell me about your availability and flexibility" out loud or type it, and see what an interviewer may notice and what to fix first. Free to start, no card needed.