Tell me about a time you showed your superior officer that you are trustworthy and responsible.

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
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What to Avoid
Entry Level Example
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Experienced Example
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The interviewer would like to know if you have a history of being reliable and trustworthy. It can be challenging to speak highly of yourself; however, providing a great example of your trustworthiness and ability to be responsible will set you apart from other candidates.

If you have a letter of recommendation or a past performance review, use your superior officer's words when describing your trustworthiness and responsible nature. That way, you are using another person's words rather than bragging about yourself.

Avoid not providing an example of a time you showed that you are trustworthy and responsible. If you have not worked in law enforcement before and do not have an example from a superior officer, provide an example of a time you showed these traits in another profession or school.

"I just completed my training at a local state prison and learned that the best way to show my superior officer that I am trustworthy is to listen to my orders without hesitation and keep my nose clean when it comes to altercations."

"I have always shown trustworthiness and responsibility throughout my career as a correction officer. I once caught an inmate with a significant amount of drugs. Some correction officers were assisting inmates in smuggling contraband for a financial kickback in that particular prison. I exercised responsibility and reported it immediately."

"One time, I caught an inmate smuggling contraband by hiding objects under a loose tile. The cameras didn't cover this area. The inmate observed that I saw him, approached me, and offered me a substantial bribe to turn a blind eye. I told the inmate that I would think about it and immediately reported the incident to my sergeant."

Anonymous Answer

"I have the trust of my current boss. I've shown him I'm responsible by always showing up for work. I can work on the job site without him and still get the job done in a timely matter."

Rachelle's Feedback

Perfect example! I have reworked the sentence structure below.

"I have earned the trust of my current boss. I have proven to him that I am trustworthy by always showing up for work on time, and getting my tasks done promptly, regardless if he is on site or not."

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Anonymous Answer

"I remembered there was the time one of my bosses contact me at 9 pm. My boss texted me and want me to do a little analysis of a student and his behavior pattern. He needed it is by 7 in the morning so he could talk to the parents. Even though it was not during my working hours, I managed to have the report done on time."

Rachelle's Feedback

It sounds as though you are very reliable! Try diving into this example further so that you can better set the stage for the interviewer.

Anonymous Answer

"I worked as a cashier while I was in college. While my manager was collecting the draws, I realized a few bills hadn't been put in the register. I picked them up and carried them to her office."

Rachelle's Feedback

Nice! Your manager must have really appreciated your honesty :) Next, be sure to offer a statement regarding how your trustworthy nature will ensure that you are an excellent correction officer.

Anonymous Answer

"On my first call to guard, I was shown the bare minimum of what to do and was left alone guarding a prisoner overnight by myself. I accomplished all tasks that were laid out for me and answered any questions that the next shift of officers had for me."

Rachelle's Feedback

This sounds like a potentially stressful situation; however, you handled it with poise and professionalism. If you'd like to form a more robust answer, I recommend studying the STAR framework - a great method for approaching 'tell me about a time...' questions. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result, and you can learn more in this guide: Master Behavioral-Based Interviews Using The Star Method

How to Answer: Tell me about a time you showed your superior officer that you are trustworthy and responsible.