15 Honesty Interview Questions & Answers
1. We have had concerns with employee theft recently. What would you do if you caught an employee or co-worker stealing?
How to Answer
The interviewer would like to know that they can trust you to report theft and dishonesty in the workplace. Some businesses have trouble with employee theft, and they need to make sure that they are hiring someone who is honest and trustworthy. Talk to the interviewer about the steps you would take if you caught a co-worker stealing.
Answer Example
"I am sure that you have an internal policy for employee theft so I can assure you that I would follow the required steps to report the theft. I am a trustworthy person with a strong track record of honesty with my previous employers."
Admin
"When I work for an organization, I take pride in the work we are doing. With a focus on delivering value to a company wherever possible, I would feel obligated to report a co-worker stealing from the company. I will refer to any policy or guidelines available and speak to the manager in charge of the department where theft is taking place."
Manager
"I would most likely confront the employee first. Sometimes perception can be wrong, and I would not want to accuse someone of theft falsely. Upon confrontation, if my suspicions are validated, I would then start the process of corrective action."
Marketing
"In the marketing industry, I am aware of many companies needing to protect themselves against the theft of intellectual property. I am happy to sign an NDA and would immediately report any suspicious activity that I saw."
Retail
"If I caught an employee stealing, I would report the incident immediately. As a retail manager, I understand the value of employee honesty."
Sales
"Theft is never acceptable. If I suspected an employee was stealing from the company, I would report the incident immediately. Do you have a process or guidelines in place for this type of reporting?"
Teacher
"I have heard of teachers stealing supplies, book, and other resources. I have never witnessed this myself but rest assured, I do not find this acceptable. Any theft taking place would be immediately reported."
User-Submitted Answer
"I speak with her or his supervisor and explain the situation."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Stephanie Cafaro Reviewed the Above Answer
Great start, but this response should be developed a bit more to improve clarity and impact. In the "Revised Answer" section, I have provided suggestions for a revised response.
"This is a tough situation to be in, but I understand the importance of honesty and integrity at work and would need to act accordingly. If I learned that a colleague was stealing, I would approach their supervisor to explain the situation, and I'd let the supervisor handle things from there. I value honesty and understand the importance of honesty in the workplace."
2. When have you shown great integrity at work?
How to Answer
The interviewer would like to know about a time when you have shown high levels of integrity on the job. Integrity is best displayed through honesty and consistent moral values. Talk to the interviewer about the ways that you show your integrity in the workplace.
Answer Example
"In my last position, I was responsible for the cash deposit on a daily basis. There was never a discrepancy, in the four years that I worked there. I best show my integrity by being a consistently reliable employee."
Admin
"I show integrity every day at work by being my true self. The "me" that you see at work is the "me" that my family and friends get. I am an honest and genuine person."
Manager
"Integrity is fundamental to me. I was once given credit for a report that I did not create. I did present the report, but one of my staff members had put it together for me. I made sure to show thanks for the compliment and alert everyone to its creator. I took my subordinate out to lunch later for making me look good."
Marketing
"I show great integrity by delivering my projects to my clients when I say that I will. Nobody likes to be left hanging and I feel that is part of what gives me such an amazing reputation in the industry."
Retail
"Honesty and integrity are two values at the center of my being. I like to think I practice this in the workplace by always doing the right thing by the company, its customers, and its people."
Sales
"I show integrity every day when I am creating proposals and giving quotes. My high level of integrity shines through in my work which is why I have an 89% referral rating - the highest in the company."
Teacher
"I work with children, and so I have to be aware of the example that I am. This idea means being integral at all times. Even when you think that nobody is watching - they are!"
User-Submitted Answer
"My boss told me to download customer information from the cloud. However, it was strict company policy not to download that data so I told him I wouldn't follow his instructions. He agreed and admired me for my integrity at work."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Amanda Knight Reviewed the Above Answer
This sounds like a powerful example that you can expand on to more clearly highlight your integrity. What kind of data did he ask you to download and why? Did you explain to him why you were unwilling to do so? Did you report his unethical request to leadership? Was he initially upset when you refused? Did your refusal cause tension in the workplace that made it difficult to maintain integrity? Sharing more detail helps the interviewer grant the scope of the scenario.
3. How will you earn the trust of your coworkers?
How to Answer
The interviewer would like to know how you can wind your new co-workers over. Workplace relationships are essential to nurture. Talk to the interviewer about how you plan to earn the trust of your new co-workers, should you be offered the position.
Here are some ways that you can build trust with your coworkers:
- Show common courtesy. Say hello, hold the elevator door, bring coffees now and then
- Be respectful in your communication, avoid over cc'ing unnecessarily in emails
- Avoid being a distraction, and respect the use of their time
- Respect their personal space and the line between work life and personal life
- Always ask if they have time before diving into a conversation
- Try to find the answer to your questions before running to ask a manager or co-worker
- Connect with them on LinkedIn but avoid more personal social media platforms
- Treat everyone the same, regardless of their job title
- Do not complain about your job to your coworkers
- Reach out to new employees and make them feel comfortable
- Own up to your mistakes and fix them
- Be timely with your followups and meet your deadlines
Admin
"I will win my new coworkers over by going above and beyond the expectations given to me. I want to be a helpful team member that they can always come to."
Manager
"Trust is something you earn over time with people. I will lead by example and be transparent in my communications. Trust happens when people deliver on doing what they say they will do. I take the approach of under promising and over delivering to accelerate the trust process. With strong trust, teams can accomplish great things together."
Marketing
"Offering clear lines of communication is the best way for me to earn a good reputation with my coworkers. Unclear communication can cost my team members hours of work so for that reason; I commit myself to always keeping the lines of communication open. Trust is built from there."
Retail
"I feel that the best way to earn the trust of my co-workers is to be helpful, always do what I promise, and be honest with them at all times. Strong relationships are built on these principles."
Sales
"I win trust by being honest and upfront with my sales team and expecting the same from them. Trust and mutual respect are critical to me."
Teacher
"Teachers can be a tight-knit community which is why bringing a good reputation with me, to my new role, is critical. I am respectful and a team player, always doing what I can to help a fellow teacher out."
User-Submitted Answer
"- always be civil, keep a smile and be positive
- avoid trivial discussions.
- complete my tasks on time so they don't get shifted to my coworkers
- always try to figure out a problem on my own before coming for help.
- always be open to the questions of others and give feedback when necessary"
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Amanda Knight Reviewed the Above Answer
These are all excellent ways to earn the trust of others because they demonstrate your commitment to being a strong, productive team member. You can also build trust by actively listening to others and appreciating differences.
4. Tell me about a time at work when your integrity was challenged. How did you handle it?
How to Answer
Have you ever faced a time, in the workplace, where you were put to the test when it came to your integrity? Perhaps a co-worker has asked you to lie, or you were tempted to be dishonest on your time sheet when the boss was away. Talk to the interviewer about a time when you overcame the temptation to be dishonest.
Answer Example
"Last year our manager went away on vacation for three weeks. Some of my co-workers wanted to falsify our time sheets to reflect overtime hours that we did not work. I disagreed and was able to convince them that it was a bad idea and certainly not worth being fired over."
Admin
"I rarely feel the pressure to do anything that goes against my integrity. I hold strong to my values and do not allow pressure to get to me."
Manager
"I once had a subordinate that would perform work after clocking out. There was a rumor later that I forced my team to work off the clock to save the company money. I did not know it was happening, and I certainly did not ask anyone to work outside of their scheduled shift. The situation was cleared up thankfully."
Marketing
"I had a client complain to my marketing director stating that I did not implement his requests. My boss was taken aback because he has never received a complaint regarding my work in the six years we have worked together. We worked towards a solution with the client, and my boss quickly realized the client contradicted himself often."
Retail
"I once had a customer accuse me of lying about our return policy. We had just changed it but had not update the website yet. I felt sad that someone would accuse me of lying. The situation was repaired quickly, thank goodness."
Sales
"My manager once asked us to lead our teams in a direction that was not in alignment with the overall department's mission and values. As a results-oriented person, I typically switch into high gear to accomplish the work. When I gave it thought, I realized it was against our best interests and brought my concerns to the leadership team. Together, we formulated a plan to meet the objective and still behave by our vision and values."
Teacher
"A parent was not happy with their child's grades, and they blamed my teaching. It was upsetting because they involved my principal. Luckily the principal knew the backstory and that the child was often late for school and would fall asleep at her desk. We worked collaboratively with the parent on a plan without placing the blame on anyone."
5. Have you ever kept the remainder of an expense that was allotted to you?
How to Answer
The interviewer would like to know if you have ever falsified an expense report or kept funds not meant for you. Assure the interviewer that you can be honest with your expense reports. Discuss your previous expenses and how you keep track of them.
Answer Example
"I always keep very close track of my expenses, and I keep an exact spreadsheet which I update weekly, supported by receipts. I have never falsified an expense report."
Admin
"No, I absolutely have not kept the remainder of an expense allotted to me. That would be dishonest and I am a very trustworthy person."
Manager
"No, I have asked openly to use any remaining expense allocations for supplies that were not previously budgeted. But, I asked first, and the money was kept in my department, not my pocket."
Marketing
"What is an expense account? Kidding, of course! We bill our clients on milestones and do not have any expense allotments, due to the nature of our work. Rest assured, I would never be dishonest in the workplace. I am a firm believer in karma!"
Retail
"Certainly not! I am cautious with my employer's money and have always been a person with a solid moral code."
Sales
"This would be completely unethical. I keep an accurate count of my expenses, records/receipts, and payments. If there is an overpayment, I will credit the expense report, and include the backup, on the next expense request."
Teacher
"I have never been in a position where I had an expense account, but even so, I would never steal from my employer. That is out of the question."
6. Do you think honesty is always the best policy?
How to Answer
The interviewer would like to know if you genuinely feel that honesty is the best policy. Many will argue that honesty is not always the best policy. What is your take? Talk to the interviewer about your thoughts on honesty in the workplace.
Answer Example
"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."
Admin
"I do feel that honesty is the best policy so long as the honest comment does not come with the intention of being hurtful."
Manager
"Honesty is always the best policy. Often, it is just a matter of how you communicate and deliver your message so managing this with each situation is critical to building honest and trustworthy relationships."
Marketing
"Without honesty, there is no real transparency which makes it difficult to deliver a great product. I am always honest with my coworkers and clients. I deliver my message tactfully of course!"
Retail
"Yes, honesty is the best policy, but sometimes brutal honesty is worse than a lie if not communicated well."
Sales
"When it comes to business decisions and dealing with clients, I do feel that honesty is the best policy. In my personal life, not always. For instance, if I don't like my mom's cooking, I am certainly not going to tell her!"
Teacher
"I need to offer my student fair and true feedback if I expect them to improve. For that reason, I do believe that honesty is the best policy. With that said, it's all about a kind and respectful delivery."
User-Submitted Answer
"Honesty is valuable when giving constructive criticism. However, being too honest can be hurtful to others if you're too callous in how you word your response. That's why it might be better to sugarcoat what you're saying so the message is better received."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Amanda Knight Reviewed the Above Answer
Generally, honesty is always the best policy. However, the words you choose or the way you communicate can adapt to meet the needs of the specific situation. Without honesty, it's difficult to build trustworthy dependable relationships with others. Consider improving this answer by sharing a workplace example that illustrates why honesty is important to a strong team, customer, or partner relationships. This makes your answer more memorable.
7. In what type of situations is it better to stretch the truth in order to sell a product?
How to Answer
The interviewer would like to know if you would stretch the truth to sell a product. Of course, you already know that it is not okay to fib to make a sale. Talk to the interviewer about your ability to sell without stretching the truth.
Answer Example
"I feel that if you need to stretch the truth to sell a product, you probably aren't a natural salesperson. If you know what you're doing and understand your product, there should be no need to stretch the truth. Honesty is always the best policy."
Admin
"When selling a product or service, describing features and benefits is the best approach. It is not in the best interest of a company or a customer for anyone to stretch truths."
Manager
"I am not in the habit of stretching the truth. I believe that fact-based decision making is the best route for everyone. I would not want to make an important decision with the information that was loosely based on fact, so I would not do the same to my customers."
Marketing
"As an advocate for truthful advertising, I think it would be appalling to fib to gain business or client approval."
Retail
"In my opinion, there is never a situation where you should stretch the truth to sell a product. Selling a product should include asking more questions of the client and talking a little less."
Sales
"Being in a high-pressure sales environment for the past ten years, I have seen it all! Stretching the truth never bodes well in the end. I am upfront with my clients at all times and confident enough in my product line that I can always find the right fit for their needs without lying."
Teacher
"Stretching the truth can be damaging to a student. I would never do anything to compromise the position of trust that I am in, as a teacher."
User-Submitted Answer
"We should not oversell our features as oftentimes we cannot deliver on those features. However, we should be able to use exaggerated words like "groundbreaking" instead of "good" because the former is a vague claim which doesn't need to substantiate but it does carry strong psychological power."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Amanda Knight Reviewed the Above Answer
With this question, the interviewer is trying to gauge whether or not you'd stretch the truth to sell a product. You're right - it's not a good idea to oversell and under-deliver. You can strengthen this response by talking about how you can make a sale without exaggerating about a product. Do you share customer reviews or ratings, talk about specific features that would benefit the client, or discuss future expected advancements?
8. Have you ever broken a confidentiality agreement?
How to Answer
Companies will have confidentiality agreements for a variety of reasons. These could be to protect their trade secrets or to ensure that you do not bring clients over on the occasion that you leave their company. Talk to the interviewer about your thoughts on confidentiality agreements.
Answer Example
"I never have, to my knowledge, broken a confidentiality agreement. Despite my reasons for leaving a position, I would never choose to hurt a previous employer in any way."
Admin
"Confidentiality agreements are necessary and important to protect an organization. I understand the need for confidentiality and take those factors very seriously. I have never broken the trust of my employer."
Manager
"I have signed NDA's in all of my previous roles, with no issues. As a manager in this particular industry, I also understand the importance of asking my new hires to sign the same. I hold myself, and my team, accountable to confidentiality agreements."
Marketing
"I sign a waiver with every one of my clients, and I have had thousands of clients in my marketing career. I would never compromise a company or person's request for confidence."
Retail
"No. I have only once had a confidentiality agreement and had no problem adhering to it."
Sales
"In my sales career, I have been asked to sign a confidentiality agreement, before onboarding, more often than not. Discretion has never been an issue for me, and I am happy to comply with any matters of confidence brought up in your organization."
Teacher
"Being a teacher requires a great amount of tact, discretion, and respect for your student's privacy. I understand the importance of this and would never knowingly compromise any confidential matter."
9. Have you ever been advised by a fellow employee or supervisor to lie about a situation? How did you handle this ethical dilemma?
How to Answer
The interviewer would like to know how you would handle an ethical dilemma. Ethical dilemmas in the workplace will come up from time to time. Assure the interviewer that you can control these types of difficulties with professionalism and poise.
Answer Example
"I have never been told to lie to a fellow employee or supervisor on the job. If I were to be asked to lie, I absolutely would not do that. I am not the type of personality to be pushed around on the job. I will always be myself and keep my integrity first."
Admin
"I have never been advised to lie in a situation and would not tolerate being put in such an ethical dilemma."
Manager
"I am a firm leader who makes my ethical stance very clear, straight away. I believe this is why I have never been put in an ethical dilemma as you describe."
Marketing
"Oh goodness, we all know in marketing that this happens all the time. People want to lie about stats, overdo projections, or overpromise on deadlines. I would never cave to that pressure. Aside from being dishonest, it doesn't do anybody any favors in the end."
Retail
"Yes, I have been asked to lie on the job before. In a previous role, our inventory count was off. My co-worker wanted to go home, and he suggested that I lie about our count. I refused to lie, and we stayed late. I would always choose honesty over lying, any day."
Sales
"I have not been directly asked to lie about anything. I think that is because everyone knows that I would not agree with it."
Teacher
"As a teacher, I have a moral obligation to set the tone for my students at all times. I would never lie, and I teach my students to do the same."
User-Submitted Answer
"I would never lie on the job. If caught, this could reflect poorly on my supervisor, or my supervisor could turn on me and blame me. I always have the integrity to not lie."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Amanda Knight Reviewed the Above Answer
It's clear that you value honesty. However, this is a situational question that is best answered using an example. If a fellow employee or a supervisor has ever asked you to lie, briefly discuss that situation. What did they want you to lie about? How did you respond? If you refused based on your ethics, how did they feel about your refusal?
10. On a scale from 1 to 10, how honest are you?
How to Answer
Do you feel that you are a sincere person or do you have room for growth? This question could be a tricky one as nobody is always 100% honest. Answer to the best of your ability and back your reply by speaking about your ethics.
Answer Example
"I would love to give myself a 10/10 for honesty but truthfully - nobody is 100% honest all of the time. I will give myself an nine because I always do my best to be as honest as possible."
Admin
"I value honesty more than anything. For that reason, I would rate myself as a 10/10 for consciousness on the honesty scale."
Manager
"I put a heavy focus on honesty and trustworthiness in the workplace, as well as in my personal life. Because I strive for complete honesty, I will rate myself as a 10/10. My values are solid."
Marketing
"Honesty is a tricky thing because I will not be honest with someone if it will come across as hurtful. I try to find alternate ways to have the conversation at times. When it comes to related ethical issues, however, I am always honest. A 10/10 for sure."
Retail
"I am honest but yet not a 10/10 because I cannot say that I have never fibbed in my personal life. I am human, a work in progress, and not perfect."
Sales
"I recently read the book 'Radical Honesty' by Brad Blanton. He suggests that we can transform our lives by always telling the truth. I agree with this concept which is why I strive for honesty in all areas of my life."
Teacher
"I admire honesty, I believe in it and, as an educator, I teach it every day. I rate myself as a 9/10 when it comes to honesty since everyone has room for improvement."
User-Submitted Answer
"I would say I am 9/10 because I always have integrity and tell the truth. However, I will not be overly callous when giving negative feedback so I feel sugarcoating what I say is important. So it would be dishonest of me to say that I am 10/10 honest :D"
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Amanda Knight Reviewed the Above Answer
You've done well by rating yourself highly, but leaving room for improvement because even those who strive to be honest, don't tell the truth 100% of the time.
11. Have you ever taken the fall for a situation, where it was really not your fault, in order to protect a coworker?
How to Answer
The interviewer would like to know if you would falsely take the fall for a coworker. Taking the fall for a situation, to protect a co-worker, is a tricky situation. It can show teamwork, but it may not be the most honest thing to do. Talk to the interviewer about your thoughts on taking the fall for something you did not do.
Answer Example
"I do not believe in 'taking the fall' for people based on protecting them. Transparency is always a good idea, and if something went wrong, then it needs to be addressed to prevent it from happening again. When it comes to clients, I will apologize on behalf of the company for errors. In that case, I will do what it takes to protect the company's reputation."
Admin
"As an executive assistant, I often take the fall for the executive whom I support. If she is running late for a meeting, for instance, I will call the client and apologize for overbooking her schedule. Whether I did that or not is not the point. It is my job to ensure her reputation remains intact so that the business is successful."
Manager
"As a supervisor, I have taken the fall many times. I did not "take the fall" though. As a leader, I am responsible for the successes and failures of my staff."
Marketing
"I take the fall all the time! As the marketing director, I am the face of all of our projects. I will always take the brunt of poor feedback or a client dispute. It's part of my job, and I have no qualms surrounding this fact."
Retail
"I have taken the heat for a situation that was not my fault. Honestly, it wasn't anyone's fault, and I understand that sometimes the blame needs to land somewhere when corporate is looking for answers."
Sales
"As a sales leader, I have taken responsibility for the results of my team because I hold myself to that standard. If in a situation where blame is falsely placed on me, I will utilize my communication skills to resolve the matter."
Teacher
"I once had a substitute teacher take over my class for the week. She sent home WAY too much homework, and it wasn't necessarily appropriate to the grade or age of the students. I received many upset emails from parents that week! I apologized to all of them for the miscommunication and assured them their child only need to complete what they were capable of doing without being stressed."
User-Submitted Answer
"I care deeply about my coworkers however I will not take the fall for them, not because I don't care for them but because they will not learn and it is dishonest. If they mistake I'll advise them on how to deal with the situation in an appropriate manner with integrity."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Amanda Knight Reviewed the Above Answer
You're right - While it can show teamwork, this is a complex situation. Taking the blame can backfire and set a precedent in which your team members expect you to take the blame again. You've shared why taking the blame ultimately harms the individual. You can expand this answer by also talking about how it could ultimately hurt team relationships or performance.
12. When have you spoken up for cause, knowing that it would directly look unfavorable on you, because it was the right thing to do?
How to Answer
Every manager wants a team player who will not resist company policy or argue about every detail of the workload. However; time may come when you need to speak up about something, and it may not look the best on you. Talk to the interviewer about a time that this may have happened to you on the job.
Answer Example
"I spoke up to our management team regarding mandatory overtime by the back-of-house staff. I did not believe that the expectations were balanced, so I chose to speak up. I remained respectful, of course, and supported my thoughts with facts and truths. They heard me out, and some significant changes were made afterward."
Admin
"Yes, I typically consider the big picture of all situations before I account for myself. If something makes sense for the organization and the people it serves, I will find a way to translate that to the team, even if it goes against the grain. We can then discuss as a group and come to the right conclusion together."
Manager
"For the most part, my company abides by all labor regulations. In the case of overtime, they did not abide by the regulations, and I had to speak up for my team. The company was not happy about it because it cost them a lot of money but, in the end, they realized that they were in error."
Marketing
"We had a client with a slogan that was so borderline inappropriate that I could not keep my mouth shut about the matter. My boss advised against bringing it up, but I could not, in good conscious, not tell them the ramifications of keeping the slogan. Thankfully they took my advice and changed the slogan, but it was a risk."
Retail
"I spoke up for a coworker who was unjustly fired after being set up for stealing. The person who was stealing was trying to deflect and pinned it on her. I caused a bit of a fuss, and thankfully head office listened to me. It may not have been the wisest decision, to stick my neck out like that, but it was important to me."
Sales
"Our head office shorted our entire sales team on homes sold. It was not well received when I collected the data, presented it to corporate, with backing data. They ended up having to pay over $60,000 in past commissions. The sales team was happy, and we received our outstanding commissions. I do not regret putting myself out there for the cause."
Teacher
"I outwardly stick up for students that I know are being bullied. Many teachers want to stay out of these situations, but morally, I cannot turn a blind eye."
User-Submitted Answer
"My software team lead was not respecting the project manager and instead of doing the project in an organized manner, he was doing it in an impromptu random manner. This was causing delays in the project. So I told the software team lead his expertise is not in project management and that he needs to better compromise with the project manager to get things done. Although it was a tough thing to say to him, he agreed and we had better planning with agile/scrum methods."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Amanda Knight Reviewed the Above Answer
It sounds like this was a tricky team dynamic. You can strengthen it further by talking about how this initially looked unfavorable on you. Did the confrontation upset your colleague or project team? Was your relationship tense for a while? How did the project process improve after your discussion with him? Were your colleagues or project manager appreciative of your willingness to confront him?
13. Do people see you as a trustworthy and honest individual?
How to Answer
The interviewer would like to know how others see you. It is easy to say that you are trustworthy and honest, but it's best if you can back it up with a review or words from a previous supervisor.
Answer Example
"I am told quite often that I am an honest and trustworthy individual and you will be able to hear that directly from my supervisor when you call for a reference. I hold honesty and trustworthiness as fundamental virtues."
Admin
"Yes. People who know me always know that they can rely on me to tell them the truth."
Manager
"I lead a team of 25 individuals, so I have to be honest and trustworthy. I set the tone for the day and an overall example. I fully believe my team sees me as honest."
Marketing
"It's important to me that I have a stellar reputation in the marketing world. When you call my references, they will attest to my high level of honesty and that I am a trustworthy individual."
Retail
"My friends and family rely on me heavily because I am trustworthy and honest. They can count on me to be straightforward with them and depend on me to be there when it matters most."
Sales
"Yes, my clients, co-workers, and family all see me as trustworthy and honest. I take pride in my reputation and would not have it any other way."
Teacher
"People see me as trustworthy and honest. I would not have it any other way. When you call my references, they will comment on my high morals and strong values. I pass these along to my students as well."
User-Submitted Answer
"Yes, people see me as honest. My previous manager did not have to give me deadlines, he asked how long I expected the task to be done and I told him honestly. If I thought it was to take longer than expected, I would tell him that and not overestimate myself. If it were to take shorted than expected, I would tell him that rather than completing the task early and dilly-dallying. If I were not trustworthy, he would enforce the deadlines based on his own judgment rather than mine."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Amanda Knight Reviewed the Above Answer
Being honest and trustworthy are vital characteristics that make you a valuable team member. The example you've provided helps illustrate that you can be trusted to work autonomously and with integrity. You can enhance this answer further by talking about any new or additional leadership responsibilities, complex tasks, or compliance/quality assurance duties you've been given because you've proven to be trustworthy in the workplace.
14. What would you do if a co-worker asked you to help them steal?
How to Answer
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 to 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 coworker 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 they did not work
Of course, you already know how to answer this question! Express that you would never engage in this type of behavior and discuss how you would go about reporting this type of situation. If this has happened to you in the past, you can talk about the case.
Answer Example
"Stealing is wrong, no matter which way you slice it. I have zero tolerance for unethical behavior and would report the situation immediately."
Admin
"I once had a coworker ask me to punch in for her when she was late. She didn't want to lose hours on her time sheet! I simply laughed and told her that she needed to wake up a bit earlier if she wanted to be at work on time. She apologized later for asking me to do something unethical. It didn't happen again."
Manager
"One of my senior managers, after giving his two weeks' notice, actually had the nerve to ask me to hand over the contact information for some of my major accounts. I was appalled by his behavior, reported it to our director, and he was terminated rather than being allowed to complete his two weeks' notice."
Marketing
"At one point I caught another marketing manager billing hours to a client that was not even his. He knew the client was a major one, and that they did not ever look at their itemized report every month. I dug into the situation a bit and found that he had been adding about five billable hours per month for the past six months. I approached him about it, and he asked me to keep the secret. I reported my findings, and he lost his job shortly after. I did not want my agency to get a bad reputation for one dishonest person."
Retail
"I have never had a co-worker ask me to help them steal; however, I am aware that merchandise goes missing all the time, at the hands of employees, in a retail environment. I have formal training on how to approach situations like these and have zero tolerance for theft."
Sales
"I used to do ride alongs with a senior territory manager who would falsify his kilometer reimbursement requests all the time. I was new to my career and didn't want to be a whistleblower, so I let it go on. Now, however, I would know to report a situation like that and to never participate through inaction, again."
Teacher
"I once caught an administrator taking office supplies from our school! She asked me not to tell anyone. I had a heart to heart with her and told her that I would have to report the situation, but if she returned the items that she took, I would assure the principal that she was trying to correct the situation. The theft didn't go over well, and she lost her job, but I didn't feel bad. You need to trust those with whom you work. Our school is already on a tight budget, and we certainly didn't need a staff member taking from what little our students already receive."
User-Submitted Answer
"The obvious answer is to say I won't steal any money. However, a less obvious example would be stealing company code or spending money on things I was trusted not to. I would never steal in any situation and I would report anybody who asked me to."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Amanda Knight Reviewed the Above Answer
A commitment to honesty when it comes to company funds, resources, or time is important to be a strong team member. You've done a good job emphatically confirming that you wouldn't steal and following up to confirm that you'd report anyone who asked you to do so.
15. What is your first reaction when you do something wrong at work?
How to Answer
How you react to an error made will tell the interviewer a great deal about you and your honesty level. Perhaps the mistake is one that could land you in a lot of trouble. Would you try to hide the incident, or would you tell a supervisor right away, and have the situation rectified?
Answer Example
"My first reaction when I do something wrong at work is to own it. How can anything be repaired if nobody even has a chance to fix it on time? That would be my line of thinking if a mistake were to occur."
Admin
"Nobody is perfect, and neither am I. If I made an error in the workplace, I would admit it and do what it takes to fix the situation."
Manager
"It is embarrassing to make mistakes but things happen, and I am a fan of getting things out of the way. I would tell someone about the situation in hopes that a resolution is made as soon as possible."
Marketing
"I am hard on myself so when I do something wrong or make a mistake. If I make an error, the first thing I would do is research how to fix it. I am independent and smart, so I know that I could repair any damage very quickly."
Retail
"I would never hide something or cover up a mistake just for the sake of saving face. I am an honest and upfront person."
Sales
"I was raised to be upfront about my mistakes, and for that reason, I would tell my manager or supervisor and ask for help to fix the problem."
Teacher
"I fully believe in honesty and immediately repairing what I have done wrong. I am not too proud to admit when I have made a mistake."
User-Submitted Answer
"If I make a mistake, I would confront my boss immediately. I would not cover it up as I could not live with that on my conscience. I trust that my boss would see my integrity and give feedback on how to improve myself on that."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Amanda Knight Reviewed the Above Answer
This is a good start, but a situational question that is best answered using a real example. You can improve this response by talking about a real workplace situation in which you made a mistake. How did you react? What did you do to remedy the situation and ensure the same mistake wasn't repeated? Giving a complete scenario shows the interviewer that you can bounce back from a setback and learn from a mistake.