Have you ever been advised by a fellow employee or supervisor to lie about a situation? How did you handle this ethical dilemma?
This is a good opportunity to re-emphasize your commitment to the mission and values of World Food Program USA. Be specific about the process you would take to report this situation if necessary.
"I take the contracts I sign seriously, and there are many policies in employee handbooks that outline proper procedures for reporting inappropriate behavior. In my previous position as Special Events Coordinator, I noticed the Accounting Director taking money from the cash box and slipping it into his pocket. I waited until the event was over, asked to speak to him privately, and told him what I'd seen. He responded that the money was meant to be kept separate from the funds raised at the event. Since the event was in the evening, I had to wait until the next morning to speak with Human Resources and report the behavior as outlined in the employee handbook."
"Although I have never been asked to lie on behalf of an employee or supervisor, I do know what I would do if I encountered this situation. When I work for a nonprofit, I am driven by the mission and values of the organization; therefore, I strive to be a good steward of that mission. If anyone ever asked me to lie to help them cover something up, I would have to respectfully explain that I could not do that for them. Then, I would report the situation to my immediate supervisor or Human Resources."
If you have never encountered this experience at a previous workplace, imagine what such a scenario might entail. Think about this from the perspective of your unique role in a nonprofit setting.
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
Yes, in my current position one of my colleagues reported a false number of served beneficiaries in a certain situation and to support her in this. I asked her to amend the report in order to report the accurate stats and not to do that again. As she refused, I reviewed the Code of Conduct and Employee Handbook and file a complaint against this behavior and of course, advise the related department to review the report again before publishing it.
Amanda's Feedback
Excellent! You've shared a pertinent example that illustrates your commitment to honesty and integrity, which are characteristics valued by all employers. You can also give this answer a bit more impact by briefly explaining what kind of harm or damage could be caused to the company or beneficiaries by filing a purposefully inaccurate report.
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