Practice 35 Academic Advisor interview questions covering student success, retention strategies, and advising philosophies.
Question 22 of 35
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Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
"This is a tricky question. While I generally believe honesty is the best policy, sometimes full disclosure can damage a person's self-esteem. In those instances, honesty isn't always the best policy. Instead, I may have to withhold information to protect that person or work around the truth a bit."

Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
"I feel that honesty is the best policy so long as the honest comment does not come with the intention of being hurtful. Honesty is the best policy because it builds trust and respect in relationships. When truthful with others, we show that we value their feelings and opinions. It also allows us to maintain our integrity and avoid the guilt and stress of lying. Honesty may not always be the easiest or most convenient option, but in the long run, it is always the most beneficial for everyone involved."

Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
"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."

Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
Interviewers tend to ask various questions during job interviews to better understand your values, work ethic, and personality. Sometimes, they ask difficult or sensitive questions to see how you handle challenging situations. Most candidates would respond that being truthful is generally the best policy. However, certain situations may be appropriate to withhold information or use tact to protect someone's feelings or privacy. Ultimately, it's essential to use good judgment and consider the context of the situation before deciding how to proceed.

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Anonymous Answer
Yes, I do think honesty is the best policy. Even though it may be difficult for someone to hear, it is always best to be honest. By being honest, you can be realistic about the situation and then discuss possible solutions.
Marcie's Feedback
Good answer! You are straightforward and confident in your belief that honesty is always the best policy. You're right that this way any assessments of the situation will be realistic. Are there any times as an academic advisor, however, when you might want to be tactful? In other words, be truthful but perhaps soften the truth so as not to hurt someone's feelings? Perhaps just think this through, but as long as you answer with confidence and support your assertion, the interviewer will be receptive to your opinion. Nice job!
Anonymous Answer
Yes. It is important to give students the facts so that they can make informed choices. However, your communication style is critical. You have to assess what a student needs to know and what may be impacting them.
Marcie's Feedback
Good response! While honesty is always the best policy, sometimes it may be necessary to use tact or discretion about what needs to be immediately revealed. You've done a great job of expressing this sentiment. If there's an example you can also include of a time when you employed this type of tact or discretion, consider adding it.
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Written by Krista Wenz
35 Questions & Answers • Academic Advisor

By Krista

By Krista