What does integrity mean to you?
"Integrity is more than just doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do. It's more than having an ethical or moral code. It should be part of your makeup. I believe I have a lot of integrity, so much so that when someone asks me a question that I don't know the answer to, I won't ever guess or speak with conviction. I am not afraid to say the words, 'I don't know.' But in a professional setting, I will always follow up with 'I will find out.' All I can do is live my life in a way that makes me proud and regret-free. So I consider myself to have a lot of integrity."
"To me, integrity is an issue of character. It is how you conduct yourself on a day-to-day basis. It is not only how ethical you are but also how impartial and objective you are. It comes down to emotional maturity. It is not only how honest you are to others but how honest you are with yourself. It is taking responsibility for your actions and inactions."
Integrity can mean many things to many people. For most, it is one's moral code; for others, it's equated to how honest you are. While trying to answer this question, examine the civil service's competency framework, which "sets out how we want people in the Civil Service to work. It puts the Civil Service values of honesty, integrity, impartiality and objectivity at the heart of everything we do."
Your interviewer is looking for candidates who possess the values of the civil service. They are looking for empowering, inspiring, and confident individuals who set direction and can see the big picture. Those who are always changing and improving while making effective decisions. Those who engage people while delivering results, and are inspired by their work and its future. Those who are confident in their engagement while empowering their teams to deliver.
