How to Answer: Describe a time your ethics were tested.
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Novartis job interview.
3. Describe a time your ethics were tested.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
As an employee of Novartis, you may be asked by friends and family to provide confidential information or other unethical behavior. The interviewer asks this question to see that you are honest and have integrity. The interviewer wants to hear that you are ethical and can be trusted if hired.
Written by Krista Wenz on May 10th, 2022
1st Answer Example
"My ethics were tested by my ex-boyfriend. He worked in a competitor's lab and knew I was working on a new drug for autism. He kept asking me for information and the proprietary ingredients in the medication, which he knew I could not provide without losing my job. I would not provide confidential information and ultimately left him. I cannot be with someone who does not share my values and ethics."
Written by Krista Wenz on May 10th, 2022
2nd Answer Example
"My ethics were tested while working at a retail store before changing careers. I saw an employee put some items in her purse without paying for them and then leave on her break. I went to the break room to ask if she would like me to ring the items up, and she told me she didn't know what I was talking about and to mind my own business. I cannot tolerate people who lie and steal, so I told my supervisor about the incident. They replayed the surveillance cameras and saw I was telling the truth. After that, she was fired, and I received a promotion to Assistant Manager."
Written by Krista Wenz on May 10th, 2022