Work ethic is related to a person's attitudes, feelings, and beliefs at work. A person's statement about work ethic can show how he fulfills his responsibilities towards work, for example through planning, accountability, willingness to work hard, task completion, independence, reliability, cooperation, communication, honesty, effort, meeting deadlines, persistence, leadership, willingness work more, and dedication. A person with a good work ethic will be very beneficial for the company because he will work in a positive and productive way. Therefore, employers will usually ask prospective employees about work ethic. Since work ethic is a multi-faceted and individual subject, consider carefully what you are going to say when explaining your work philosophy. That way, you can take advantage of this opportunity to reveal the best about yourself, if asked during a job interview.
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Part 1 of 3: Evaluating Work Ethic
Step 1. Describe your priorities at work
Is work your first priority or are there other more important aspects of your life?
- You can set your job as your first priority, but you can still fulfill your other responsibilities properly.
- A person who has a balanced life is an attractive candidate for many companies. Some companies also ask about other things you enjoy outside of work.
Step 2. Understand your relationship to the job you are applying for
In order to properly answer questions about work ethic, you must first really understand the relationship between you and your job. Please consider the following:
- The way you approach work has to do with your ability to fulfill your job responsibilities. The characteristics of people with a good work ethic can be seen from their positive attitude and willing to work hard.
- Your view of work will affect your work performance which makes an important contribution to your work ethic. Work can make you excited, proud, and positive about yourself and your accomplishments. On the other hand, you may feel stressed because of work.
- Your beliefs about work have to do with the role you are in and your own life. For example, you may believe that work can shape character and play an important role in creating a balanced life.
Step 3. Outline your views on various aspects of the job
These notes will help you remember in detail all the important things about your work ethic and skills during the interview.
- What is your view on cooperation? Explain the pros and cons if you have to have face-to-face interactions with coworkers and clients.
- What are your views on continuing education and improving skills? Describe your attitude and views on professional training.
- What is your view on working overtime or working in challenging situations? Write your feedback about working overtime or a new and challenging work situation.
Step 4. Also write down specific examples that you have experienced during your work
These notes can be helpful when you need to prove that your work ethic has supported your success in your career so far. Consider the following examples:
- Working in a team: Does teamwork find it difficult/beneficial for you? Do you find it helpful/inhibited when working with other people?
- Working with clients who are difficult to deal with: Have you ever faced difficulties when dealing with clients? How do you overcome difficulties when helping a client solve their problems while you have to show understanding and obey company rules?
Part 2 of 3: Answering Questions about Work Ethic
Step 1. Be prepared to answer questions about work ethic
Other questions related to work ethic could be related to how you view your current job, job performance, ability to work with others, skills, etc.
- Questions about work ethic may not say “Describe your work ethic” or “What is your work ethic?”
- Similar questions can be asked with the following sentences: “Please describe yourself?”, “What do you think about working in a team?”, “What do you think about training and learning new skills?”
Step 2. Give honest answers to explain a good work ethic
Be specific about your attitudes, feelings, and beliefs at work by providing the right answers and explaining a thoughtful work philosophy.
- For example, you could say that you always work with dedication because you believe that you will experience success and job satisfaction by trying to do your best.
- You could also say that you always do your best to feel happy at work and keep you enthusiastic about completing tasks.
- Emphasize that you view work as continuous learning and are always eager to attend trainings and workshops in order to develop skills and contribute to the workplace in new, innovative ways. Employers are usually looking for people who are willing to increase their knowledge of the job and contribute new insights to the team.
Step 3. Use everyday experience to support your answer
Share an experience that can prove that you do have a good work ethic.
- For example, if you say that honesty is a top priority at work, share an experience that can demonstrate honesty when faced with a difficult situation.
- If your work ethic is willing to work with others, express your contribution in supporting the group's success in completing the project.
Step 4. Describe the difficulties you experienced at your previous job and how to overcome them
Describe your success in solving the problem and work with other colleagues to find a solution.
Give a concrete example. You can explain in a few sentences, for example, “When I meet a client who is disappointed and angry because of a problem with his account, I stay calm and show understanding while trying to think of a solution. I immediately discussed this with my supervisor to decide on the best solution that was beneficial to both the client and the company at the same time. As a result, clients are satisfied with the solutions provided and I can work with the team effectively.”
Part 3 of 3: Asking Interview Questions
Step 1. Give feedback by asking about the job you want
Employers usually prefer applicants who are willing to ask questions during interviews. There are several questions you can ask as feedback when asked about your personality, work ethic, or teamwork, for example:
- “What skills and experience does the company need in order for someone to be hired?” Employers will use this opportunity to explain what the company needs. That way, you can explain more about yourself and your work ethic that you haven't expressed yet.
- “Are there opportunities for professional training or further education?” This question shows that you want to keep learning new ways of working and want to grow with the company.
Step 2. Ask questions about the working group
This question shows that you are willing to be part of a team and are willing to think about how to contribute through your skills.
- "Can you please explain about my work team?" By asking this question, you already know that later you will be working in a team. Take this opportunity to explain that you worked well together at your previous job.
- Explain that you have a view and a way of working that aligns with the company and team philosophy. You can say, “I'm ready to be a good team member. When joining, I will evaluate the needs of the team in completing the project. This way, I can use the skills that are most beneficial to the team and propose strategies in this area. I will provide support and positive feedback to colleagues in the team”.
Step 3. Don't ask about perks and salary
A job interview is not a good time to ask about perks, leave rules, work schedule changes, gossip you've heard, or personal questions about the interviewer.
- Ask only questions related to the job, the company (in general), and the work team.
- You can ask questions about facilities and salaries during the next recruitment process, not in the first interview.
Tips
- When asking about work ethic, employers will usually recruit applicants who have a positive attitude, understand teamwork, have initiative, are able to perform various tasks, can manage time well, and are willing to continue learning.
- Try to appear as a successful person. Wear a clean, well-fitting, and neat formal suit. Don't wear clothes that are disheveled, wrinkled, overly scented, or brightly colored.
