WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU DISCOVERED THE COMPANY WAS DOING SOMETHING ILLEGAL?
One of the questions you should be prepared to answer during a job interview is “What would you do if you discovered that the company was doing something illegal?
Interviewers ask questions about illegal and/or unethical company conduct to measure both ethics and company loyalty. The best answers will reflect a concern for ethics without sharing an overly zealous response, which might jeopardise the reputation of the employer. Interviewees can benefit by reflecting on an assumption that the incident may be isolated and not indicative of a company wide failure as they respond.
– Reporting illegal or unethical actions
Asserting that you would bring the matter of illegality to your employer’s attention by following the chain of command is often the best approach. Typically, this would involve informing your supervisor of the suspected irregularity unless she was directly involved. In that case, you would go to your boss’s superior to report your concerns.
You might also be asked by your interviewer what you would do if no action was taken by the person to whom you first reported the problem. The next step might then be to move up to the next level manager to share your concern.
– What type of company do you want to work for?
Assuming that you are looking for an employer who operates ethically, there is little danger to an applicant who follows this strategy during an interview. All you need to do is ask yourself if you would want to work for an employer who would cover up illegal activity.