How to answer "How would you react to a colleague acting unethically?" in a job interview

You're in an interview for your first full-time position when the interviewer asks, "If you found out your colleague was doing something unethical or illegal, what would you do?"

Huh?

Remember that you're not under a lie detector test, nor are you being interrogated by police.

This may seem like a question that the interviewer uses to try to catch you off guard, but there is actually a reason for this type of question.

Integrity!

Interviewers want to know:

• If you know how to do the right thing.

• If you know right from wrong.

• If you'd be an honest and sincere person.

• As an added bonus, they also want to see how you'd problem-solve a difficult scenario.

It makes sense, right? You wouldn't want to hire someone who is dishonest, would you?

Your answer should demonstrate that you can:

1. Gather information. Before taking any action, it's important that you understand the full situation. It would save you heaps of embarrassment in case you were wrong!

2. Review company policies. Review your company's policies — there may be a requirement to submit a formal report, notify your manager, or consult with HR. Different situations require different actions!

3. Take action. This is the integrity part!

4. Maintain confidentiality. You want to ensure that this remains private for everyone involved.

If you've never been in a situation where you have seen your colleague be unethical:

If I observed a colleague engaging in unethical or illegal behavior, my initial step would be to gather information to ensure I fully understand the situation. Once I am confident that unethical conduct is taking place, I would review company policies to determine the appropriate course of action — whether that means filing a report or escalating to my manager. Finally, I would maintain confidentiality for all parties involved in case an investigation is necessary.

If you've already been in a position where you have seen a coworker demonstrate unethical behavior:

In a previous role, I observed a colleague engaging in potentially unethical behavior. To ensure I fully understood the situation, I approached their department lead for clarification. Once I confirmed that the conduct was not aligned with company policies, I reported the matter to my manager [action] in accordance with organizational procedures. Throughout the process, I maintained confidentiality while my manager and department leadership conducted their investigation.

Let's say your interviewer asks you this question: "You notice that your coworker is using personal emails to answer work matters. The emails contain highly sensitive information about clients. What will you do?"

Which of the answers below is better?

Answer A

"I would speak to the coworker to gather more information and ensure that what I saw was accurate. I will then review the company guidelines to see if there is a designated procedure I need to follow. If not, I will escalate this to my manager for next steps. Lastly, I would ensure that all the information is kept confidential in case an investigation is necessary."

Answer B

"I would speak with the coworker directly and let them know that what they are doing is against the company policy. I would give them one more chance to see if they have changed. If not, I will escalate to my manager and tell other co-workers to keep an eye out for suspicious behavior."

A few ways to help you prepare for this question: