Latest / Interview Prep with Fexingo: Behavioral Questions, Case Studies, and Hiring Manager Insights / How to Answer the Integrity Interview Question
Transcript
- Lucas: There's a question that shows up in maybe one out of every four interviews I've seen — but almost nobody prepares for it. I'm talking about the integrity question. Luna: Right — the one where they ask something like 'tell me about a time you had to make an ethical decision at work.' Lucas: Exactly. And it's tricky because the stakes feel high. You want to sound honest, but you also don't want to admit to anything that makes you look bad. And the worst thing you can do is give a vague answer like 'I always do the right thing.' Luna: That basically tells the interviewer you've never faced a real ethical tension. And they know that's probably not true. Lucas: Right. So let's get concrete. I was talking to a hiring manager at a mid-size logistics firm — about 500 employees — and she told me the integrity question she asks every candidate. She says: 'Tell me about a time you caught someone at work bending company policy. What did you do?' Luna: That's a great one — it forces you to actually describe a situation where you had to make a call. Lucas: And she told me the candidates who ace it — versus the ones who stumble — differ in one key way. The strong ones don't pick a trivial, low-stakes example. They pick something that actually created a dilemma for them. Luna: So what does a good example look like? Can you walk us through one? Lucas: Sure. Let's say — and this is a composite of a few stories I've heard — you're working in a project team, and you notice a teammate is padding their expense reports. Small amounts, maybe twenty to fifty dollars at a time. You see the pattern because you're the one reviewing receipts. Luna: That's uncomfortable. It's not a clear-cut theft — it's borderline. Lucas: Exactly. And that's what makes it a good integrity story. It's not obvious what you should do. You could look the other way — it's not your money. You could confront the colleague directly. Or you could escalate to your manager. Each option has trade-offs. Luna: And the interviewer wants to hear how you thought through those trade-offs, not just what you did. Lucas: Right. So the framework I'd recommend has three parts. First, you describe the situation honestly — including your own hesitation. Second, you explain your decision-making process. Third, you share what you did and what happened. And the best answers include a bit of reflection on what you learned. Luna: Let's hear how that sounds with the expense report example. Lucas: Okay. So the candidate might say: 'I noticed my teammate was consistently overstating mileage and claiming meals that seemed personal. I was uncomfortable because we worked closely together. I didn't want to damage the relationship, and I also wasn't 100 percent sure it was intentional.' Luna: Already that sounds real. They're admitting the conflict. Lucas: Then they'd say: 'I decided the right thing was to talk to my teammate directly first, before escalating. I framed it as a question — I said I noticed some receipts that seemed off and wanted to check if there was a misunderstanding. It turned out they were just being sloppy, not malicious. They fixed the reports, and I didn't have to go to management.' Luna: That's a strong answer because it shows judgment. You didn't overreact, but you also didn't ignore it. Lucas: And it shows you're willing to have a difficult conversation. That's a skill every manager values. Luna: What about the candidates who stumble? What's the common mistake? Lucas: The most common mistake is picking an example that's too small to matter. I've heard people say things like 'I saw someone take a pen home and I told them to return it.' That's not an ethical dilemma — that's a non-issue. The interviewer doesn't learn anything about your judgment. Luna: So you want something with real stakes. But not so serious that it sounds like you're confessing to a crime. Lucas: Right. A good rule of thumb: if you wouldn't hesitate at all, it's too easy. If you'd lose sleep over it, it's too heavy. You want something in between — where a reasonable person could argue either side. Luna: That makes sense. Another thing I've noticed: a lot of people forget to include what they learned. The reflection part. Lucas: That's a great point. The hiring manager I talked to said the best candidates always add a line like 'That experience taught me the importance of addressing small issues before they become big ones' or 'I learned that most people respond well when you assume good intent.' Luna: Okay, but what if you genuinely haven't faced an ethical dilemma at work? Can you use a non-work example? Lucas: You can — but it's weaker. If you use a college or volunteer example, make sure it still has real tension. For example, maybe you were part of a student group and caught a fellow officer falsifying attendance records. That can work. Luna: But ideally you want something from your professional life. It shows you've operated in a real work environment. Lucas: Exactly. And one more thing — the structure matters, but so does the delivery. Don't rush through the moment where you felt conflicted. Let that pause land. It makes you seem human. Luna: I've also heard that some interviewers follow up with 'would you do anything differently?' How do you handle that? Lucas: That's a great follow-up. The honest answer is usually 'yes, I would have done it sooner.' And that's fine to say. It shows growth. You can say 'If I could go back, I would have addressed it earlier instead of waiting until I was certain.' Luna: That's a good recovery. It shows self-awareness. Lucas: Right. And it's better than pretending you handled it perfectly the first time. Luna: You know, this kind of practical advice is exactly why a lot of listeners tell us they keep coming back. And it's also why a handful of them have started chipping in through buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo — it helps us keep making these episodes without any ads. Lucas: Yeah, it's a small group but it makes a real difference. It lets us spend time finding these specific examples and frameworks instead of chasing sponsors. Luna: And we genuinely appreciate it. Alright — back to the integrity question. One last thing I want to touch on: what if the example you want to use involves something you handled badly? Lucas: You can still use it — but frame it as a learning experience. Say something like 'I wish I had spoken up sooner, but I learned that silence can be complicity.' That's powerful if you're genuine about it. Luna: So the key is: pick a real dilemma, show your thinking, own your hesitation, and reflect on what you learned. Lucas: That's the formula. And if you do that, you'll stand out — because most people don't prepare for this question at all. Luna: Alright, next episode we'll tackle something a little lighter — how to handle the 'what are your hobbies' question without sounding like you're reading a resume. Lucas: Looking forward to it. Until then — go prepare your integrity story.