Do you think honesty is always the best policy?
This question isn't about the subjectivity of honesty. It's more a question of your integrity and intentions. Describe what your word means to you. Touch on your approach to emotionally confusing situations and how your integrity guides your actions and responses. Explain that you see great value in transparency while consistently respecting the chain of command. Address the nuance of those more complicated situations where alternative means of communication are taken and how these are intended to protect your clients' interests. Your examples should all be guided by your integrity.
"Sometimes full disclosure can damage someone's self-esteem, and reality isn't always best expressed in full and can be self-indulgent depending on the person's intention. In those instances, honesty isn't always the best policy."
"I feel that honesty is the best policy so long as the honest comment does not come to be hurtful."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
Honesty is always the best policy and I believe my integrity shows in my work.
It's important to also know when to use empathy when being honest about negative or unpopular facts.
Marcie's Feedback
Good response! You definitely appear to be honest and full of integrity. Perhaps consider delving more into why honesty is always best. Are there times you have to be tactful? How does your integrity show in your work? Is there an example you can include of a time when you were honest with a client although it may have been tempting not to be? What was the end result?
Anonymous Answer
Honesty is the best policy as long as it is not meant as a personal attack with the intent to hurt someone else.
Marcie's Feedback
Great answer! Perhaps you might want to discuss tact here as well and explain an instance or two of when you might use it. In other words, your sentiment here is great - just make sure to explain it fully so your answer is meaningful and memorable to the interviewer.
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