Integrity is one of the most important qualities hiring managers look for, whether you’re interviewing for a technical role, a creative position, or a customer-facing job. It’s all about doing the right thing and taking pride in your work. That’s why interviewers often ask, “What does integrity mean to you?”
The following guide explains what interviewers want to learn from this question and how you can present yourself as trustworthy and honorable in your response.
Why Interviewers Ask About Integrity
Employers know that having the right technical skills isn’t enough. A person without integrity can be difficult to trust or collaborate with. By asking what integrity means, interviewers assess your honesty and willingness to do what’s right—even when faced with challenges.
Your answer provides insights into your character and values. Interviewers also want to see how naturally you speak about integrity. If you can easily explain why you believe honesty and moral principles matter, it shows sincerity. Offering a real-life example of a moment you demonstrated integrity makes your response even stronger.
How to Answer “What Does Integrity Mean to You?”
Craft your personal definition of integrity
Begin by reflecting on how you define integrity. It generally involves honesty, responsibility, and ethical conduct, but try to articulate the concept in your own words. Think about situations where you stayed true to your values, faced a moral dilemma, or upheld a standard even when no one was watching.
Ask yourself:
- How do I behave when I encounter a difficult choice?
- Which values guide me most strongly?
- How do I treat people, and do I expect the same treatment from them?
Use simple language to explain your viewpoint. You could say, “To me, integrity means being truthful and fulfilling my promises, even when it’s not easy.” Additionally, consider role models who embody integrity—maybe a mentor, teacher, family member, or public figure. Their actions and traits can also help you pinpoint how you see integrity in your own life.
Share a specific example demonstrating integrity
After defining integrity, illustrate it with a personal anecdote. Pick an instance when you were tested in a way that required honesty, fairness, or ethical action. Examples can come from jobs, volunteer work, academic projects, or personal experiences.
Possible scenarios:
- Academic honesty: Confronting a teammate who plagiarized part of an assignment.
- Workplace integrity: Returning excess change a customer gave you by accident.
- Personal responsibility: Owning up to an error at work and taking steps to fix it.
Provide enough detail to set the scene, then focus on what you did, why you did it, and how everything turned out.
Example: “At my previous job as a cashier, I noticed the drawer was $20 over one day. I reported it to my manager, and it turned out a customer had paid too much without realizing it. We found the transaction, contacted the customer, and returned the extra money. My manager appreciated my honesty, and it felt good doing the right thing.”
Connect integrity to the role you’re applying for
Tie your understanding of integrity to the role’s demands. If you’re interviewing for a customer service position, discuss how honesty builds trust with clients. If you’re joining a team-driven environment, highlight how integrity fosters a reliable, respectful atmosphere. When the job involves sensitive data, emphasize the importance of confidentiality and ethical conduct.
Examples:
- Customer service roles: “I think integrity in customer interactions means being transparent about information and owning up to mistakes so customers feel valued.”
- Team-oriented positions: “To me, working with integrity means being someone colleagues can count on, from delivering on time to communicating openly about challenges.”
- Handling sensitive data: “Dealing with confidential information requires a high level of trust. I take rules and privacy protocols seriously because integrity ensures critical details are safe.”
Linking integrity to specific responsibilities shows you understand how crucial it is for success in that workplace.
How Not to Answer
Avoid giving a generic or scripted response
A simple statement like, “Integrity is about being honest,” doesn’t say much about who you are or how you live out these principles. Interviewers are interested in your personal perspective and real-life examples. If you’re stuck for a work-related story, consider a relevant experience from volunteering, school, or community activities. Remember, authenticity is key.
Sample Answers to “What Does Integrity Mean to You?”
Example #1
“To me, integrity means doing the right thing even when it’s challenging. In a past role, I saw a colleague taking home office supplies. I felt uncomfortable just ignoring it, so I approached them privately. They realized it was wrong and stopped. Speaking up helped maintain trust in our team.”
Why this works:
It shows that integrity includes confronting uncomfortable situations head-on. The example demonstrates honesty, courage, and a commitment to the overall good of the workplace.
Example #2
“Integrity also means working hard and being someone others rely on. During a busy deadline at my previous job, a teammate struggled to keep up. I volunteered to help, even though it added extra hours to my schedule. Completing the project on time as a team felt more important than staying in my comfort zone.”
Why this works:
It highlights dependability and genuine care for team outcomes. The candidate’s willingness to put in additional effort illustrates how their moral values drive their decisions.
Example #3
“In an earlier position, I made an error in a report that was distributed. As soon as I realized it, I let my supervisor know. We quickly corrected the mistake, and I learned a lot about verifying information. Admitting errors and being transparent is vital to building trust.”
Why this works:
It illustrates accountability and shows that the candidate doesn’t hide mistakes. Being honest when something goes wrong reflects a mature, trustworthy character.
Integrity is fundamentally about your principles and how they guide your actions. Thoughtful, authentic answers that include real examples can reassure the interviewer you’re someone they can trust and rely on in any situation.