Practice 40 Costco interview questions covering membership values, teamwork, and customer service excellence.
Question 12 of 40
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Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
Costco States, "What do Costco's Mission Statement and Code of Ethics have to do with you? EVERYTHING! The continued success of our Company depends on how well each of Costco's employees adheres to the high standards mandated by our Code of Ethics. No matter what your current job is, you can put Costco's Code of Ethics to work every day. By always choosing to do the right thing, you will build your self-esteem, increase your chances for success and make Costco more successful, too."
The interviewer would like to know how you would react if put in an awkward, or potentially harmful situation like being asked by a co-worker to steal with them. Theft can occur in many ways in the workplace and is not necessarily reserved for blatantly taking a product. Ensure that you are aware of the different ways a co-worker may try to pass stealing off as 'no big deal.'
- Timecard fabrication, also known as "buddy punching," where you punch in for a co-worker who is not present
- 'Borrowing' money from the cash register
- Falsifying vendor or expense accounts
- Taking items from the lost and found
- Stealing data or documents containing trade secrets
- Taking expensive office supplies like ink or adding personal items to supply orders
- Billing hours to clients that did not work
Of course, you already know how to answer this question! Express that you would never engage in this behavior and discuss how you would report this type of situation. If this has happened to you in the past, you can talk about the case.

Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
"I would remind them of their commitment to our code of ethics and try to determine whether this was a one-off occurrence or a pattern. But regardless of what I discovered, I would document it and immediately inform my superiors."

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Anonymous Answer
I will never engage in stealing behavior whether it is a big problem or not. Whether it is just a buddy punching or borrowing money for a short time, it is misconduct behavior and all against the company's benefits.

Chad's Feedback
Excellent! You are absolutely correct that this type of behavior is deserving of misconduct. If this type of situation has ever happened to you in the past, talk to the interviewer about that situation, and how you went about reporting it, to reinforce your ethical and honest nature.
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Written by Rachelle Enns
40 Questions & Answers • Costco

By Rachelle

By Rachelle