FBI Mock Interview
Master 40 FBI interview questions covering security clearances, investigative scenarios, and ethical judgment.
Question 5 of 40
Would you lie to a friend? What if it was for their own benefit?
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Community Answers
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
The interviewer asks if you believe that honesty is always the best policy. You need to think back and determine if you have ever lied to a friend to protect them from the truth. This question is tricky, especially since you are interviewing to work for the FBI. If you lie, they will be able to tell. If you speak the truth, you could rub them the wrong way.
Think about the facts you know about your interviewer and the rapport you have built so far. Each situation is different. If your end goal is to protect someone you love, describe why lying to a friend is necessary at times.
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
Instead of focusing your answer on the lying aspect, focus on why you would lie to a friend if it were for their benefit. Even though you come across as dishonest, you also show the interviewer that you have compassion and empathy for others.
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
As mentioned before, you should avoid being dishonest with the interviewer. If you say that you would never lie to a friend even if it were for their benefit, but you have done so, the interviewer will be able to see right through you. Even though you might admit to lying to a friend to protect them, you do not want the interviewer to catch you in a lie.
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
Remember to give a reason you would lie to a friend in certain circumstances. Even though the interviewer might disagree with you lying to a friend, they will better understand your intentions for doing so. If you are the type of person that will not lie under any circumstance, explain why you cannot lie, even to benefit a friend.
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
"Sometimes full disclosure can damage someone's self-esteem, and reality isn't always best expressed in full and can be self-indulgent based on the person's intention. In those instances, honesty isn't always the best policy, and I would lie to a friend to keep from damaging their self-esteem."
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.
"Not everything is black and white. A question such as this requires a greater understanding of the nuance of any given situation. But regardless of the situation, the means don't always justify the ends. For some, omitting truth, depending on how it is presented, can look the same as lying. But, more often than not, the truth should be delivered on a need-to-know basis. So, if the truth could be potentially harmful to someone, or jeopardise their safety, then I would say the truth should be withheld. But that doesn't necessarily mean you should lie. You could easily offer them a redacted version of the truth. However, there are exceptions, I'm sure. I imagine, when it comes to decisions within the FBI, such as being undercover, it is necessary to lie, within the bounds of the law. When it is for the greater good, it may be necessary and a matter of saving an investigation. So again, the nuance needs to be considered, before offering a blanket answer to such a question."
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Anonymous Answer
Yes. Some things are better left unsaid and if it is a situation that would only be unnecessary hurt emotions, its better avoided.
Krista's Feedback
This is an honest answer and makes sense. Be sure to finish your answer with a statement about your personal integrity. I have added an example, below.
"Some things are better left unsaid, which can be a form of lying by omission. If the truth would unnecessarily hurt emotions, I believe its best to leave out certain details in those instances. Otherwise, I do believe in being honest and upfront."
Anonymous Answer
No. Honesty is always the best way to handle any situation. A lie, no matter what it is, can get messy and show you have no integrity in future situations.
Krista's Feedback
You make excellent points in your response, and your answer certainly showcases your integrity.
Anonymous Answer
I understand that lying in law enforcement may be a necessity in some situations. However, it should only be for the sole purpose of catching someone who is a threat to the safety of the public. When speaking to a friend, I would be open to omitting certain details that would blatantly hurt them, but I would not lie or keep anything from them if they asked directly. I would never want to lose their trust.
Krista's Feedback
Excellent! You make some thoughtful and important distinctions in your reply. This answer shows that you are mindful of doing the right thing while maintaining an understanding of the techniques you will need to utilize as a law enforcement professional.
Anonymous Answer
Only if I knew their livelihood was in danger. I pride myself on being an authentic person and aim to live my life that way, but if I knew I could lie to save a friend's life, I would.
Krista's Feedback
You make an excellent distinction, and your answer shows that you would give this type of situation a lot of thought. Good work!
Anonymous Answer
For the better good of the whole situation, I believe it would be best to leave out certain facts that may damage my friend's self-esteem or bring out insecurities. However, I also believe that if lying is the only option for the safety of innocent people then it cannot be avoided. I would not feel good about lying to a friend of mine, but when once the situation blows over, I would like to have a sit-down and explain myself.
Krista's Feedback
Your answer shows thought and balance, and I like that you mentioned explaining yourself when/if you can. In terms of your work with the FBI, you show a good understanding that lying may be the only option for safety reasons.
Anonymous Answer
If it were for the greater good then yes, I would lie to a friend, if it would benefit my case or in the future the FBI. I am an honest and noble man who has moral standards, but I understand that if a lie would benefit me, a friend, and/or the FBI, then I would not hesitate to do it.
Krista's Feedback
This is a tricky question that requires a thoughtful approach! While you do a good job of highlighting the fact that you'd be willing to lie to a friend if were for greater good (such as benefiting a FBI investigation), I would encourage you to remove the part where you state "benefit myself." This could be misinterpreted to indicate that you would be willing to lie for personal gain, which could be seen as a potential character flaw by interviewers.
While I pride myself on honesty, I would be willing to lie to a friend if I knew it were for the greater good. For example, if I needed to lie in order to benefit the outcome of a sensitive case or for the future of the FBI, I would be willing to do so. I am an honest and noble man who has moral standards, but I understand that if a lie would benefit the wellbeing of my friend or the future of the FBI, then I would not hesitate to do it.
Anonymous Answer
Yes, if it was to save them from unnecessary pain. Some information can do more damage to a person than it benefits them to know about so in those circumstances I think it is okay to lie to a friend.
Krista's Feedback
Can you discuss this in more detail? It's clear from your answer that you've thought this through, but expanding can help illustrate why you've come to this conclusion.
Anonymous Answer
It all depends on the situation. If it is for their benefit then I will because I care for them and would want to see them safe, happy, and successful whether it be in their personal or professional lives. However, I will get details about the information I have to present to my friend and make sure it will not cause a rift in our relationship if later down the road they find out I lied to them.
Krista's Feedback
For this response, I suggest specifically naming your commitment to honesty. When you answer the question about potentially lying for a friend's benefit, I would suggest explicitly mentioning safety (in other words, lying to keep someone safe is different than lying for their benefit when safety or wellbeing isn't the issue at hand.) I have included an example below of how this response might be restated.
Honesty is extremely important to me, both personally and professionally. When it comes to lying for a friend, it would truly depend on the situation. While I might consider lying if my friend's safety or wellness was at stake, I am unable to think about many other circumstances where lying would be beneficial or appropriate. I value honesty and believe this is important to my personal and professional relationships.
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