How to Answer: Can you tell me about a time when you were faced with an ethical dilemma and how did you handle it?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Pharmacist job interview.
14. Can you tell me about a time when you were faced with an ethical dilemma and how did you handle it?
How to Answer
This is a behavioral type of interviewing question. The interviewer wants to see how you have behaved in the past as the best indicator of how you will behave in the future. You want to identify a specific scenario and briefly describe it. Ethical dilemmas can be complex and the key is to answer this question within 2-3 minutes. You want to describe how you became aware of this situation, how you determined the correct course of action, and how you resolved this dilemma. You do not need to get into deep detail or share information that would compromise anyone else by name.
Written by Stephanie Baumhover on February 13th, 2024
Answer Example
"In my first position, a coworker signed off an expiration date checking checklist for several months in a row without actually completing the task. I became aware of it when they asked me why I was spending so much time on my section. They volunteered the information and said they only check it about once a quarter and look for dates three months in advance. I mentioned that medications may rotate in that they miss, and they said it wasn't necessary. I became concerned about patient safety and mentioned it to my manager. This coworker was upset with me and made working a little complicated for a few months, but the coworker eventually left the company."
Written by Stephanie Baumhover on February 13th, 2024