Describe Your Work Ethic.
In a field of work like law, ethics is an extremely important issue.
Being asked to describe your work ethic is more of a personal question in which the recruiter tries to gain some insight on who you are as a person and the values you have as an employee
In this article from the How To Answer Series by Your Legal Career Coach, we bring you guidance and tips on how to answer ‘Describe Your Work Ethic.’ during an internship or job interview. Read on!
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY WORK ETHIC?
Work ethic is a term used to describe a person’s dedication in relation to their job. While every employee may show up to work and perform their duties, not everyone has a strong work ethic that allows them to highly value their professional life and success and commit to doing whatever it takes to get the job done. Employees with strong work ethic skills exemplify determination and a commitment to their role within their organization and are highly valuable to employers. People with work ethic understand that hard work is a natural part of the job and aren’t intimidated by the need to put in the effort to succeed in the workplace.
WHY DOES A RECRUITER ASK THIS QUESTION?
With this question, interviewers seek to get a sense of eligibility for the position and what traits you possess as a potential employee—are you someone who measures every minute and only the bare minimum? Or, on the contrary, if you are someone who will go the extra mile for the organisation, and always stay until important tasks are complete. Are you someone who works well in a team, or are solely focused mainly on completing your own tasks? The answer to all the pressing concerns helps the recruiter determine whether you are the right fit for the job.
Read Our Article On ‘How To Answer- Would You Be Rather Liked Or Respected’ HERE.
TIPS TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION
When asking this question, the recruiter is expecting a meaningful answer about your traits at the workplace, instead of a string of generic adjectives. It is therefore important to practice your answer beforehand.
One can start by ask himself/herself these questions:
How do I like to be managed? What is my greatest accomplishment? What type of work environment do I thrive in? How do I tackle challenges at work? How do I get motivated?
A story from one of your previous experiences as an employee can also be used to make an impact. However, the story must be narrated in a crisp fashion or what we otherwise known as the STAR technique- Situation, Task, Action, and Response that shows how you conduct yourself as an employee.
Talk about the actions you took in the situation you shared, and explain how those actions are reflective of your work ethic. For example, if you shared a story volunteering to work overtime, you might add more details about why you decided to volunteer, the amount of overtime you worked and the tasks you completed during that time. If you shared an anecdote about a problem you noticed and then solved without prompting, you might explain the steps you took to implement your solution and how those steps show your initiative in your career.
Read our article on ‘How To Answer- How Many Hours A Week Do You Normally Work?’ HERE.
Here are some of the traits you may choose to highlight-
- INTEGRITY
Integrity is demonstrated by people with strong work ethics in all they do, from how they manage client complaints to how they treat their coworkers. Integrity entails doing the right thing even when no one is looking and not cutting corners in order to complete a task faster or come out on top. People with integrity are more likely to acquire the trust of others and to be viewed favourably by employers.
- DISCIPLINE
Discipline is an important component of a strong work ethic and is a skill that is highly valued in the workplace. Discipline refers to your ability to follow rules, regulations, and procedures, and to stay committed to the code of ethics in the workplace. It also refers to your dedication and determination to uphold your part in a project or task and to ensure it’s done in an efficient and effective manner.
- TEAMWORK
Employees with excellent work ethics recognise that they are a part of a team, not just someone who comes in and out of the office every day. You can perform well in a team situation and build useful relationships with coworkers if you have a strong work ethic. Being a good team player and participating in team activities is a vital element of succeeding at work. It can increase job happiness and productivity, both of which lead to a stronger work ethic.
- ADAPTABILITY
Adaptability is another crucial aspect of a strong work ethic. Employees who can alter and roll with the punches have a crucial quality that makes workplace adjustments easier and more successful. Instead of grumbling about a change, people with a strong work ethic rapidly adjust and learn how to work around it rather than allowing it to hold them back.
For example, if you are applying for a law firm, an ideal answer may be something like this-
I am enthusiastic when it comes to taking on new tasks, and my seniors often consider me for new opportunities. At my last job, I was asked to work on an important merger and I was part of the due diligence team which carried in-depth research to find out whether the merger would be beneficial for our client. My passion and enthusiasm for the project resulted in my partner asking me to assist him on several other big cases the firm was dealing with at the time.
HOW NOT TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION
- DO NOT TAKE THE QUESTION LIGHTLY
Even if you are not serious about this question and have not prepared for it beforehand, it should not reflect in your body language. While it does not relate to your job-specific skills (like marketing, customer service, graphic design, data analysis, etc.) it can be just as important to an employer!
- REFRAIN FROM EXAGGERATION
Exaggeration is strictly discouraged as it takes the authenticity away from your answer.
- DO NOT BE DISHONEST
During interviews, dishonesty is always a bad policy. Your work ethic will most likely be evident in how you respond to other queries and when the hiring manager checks your references.
YLCC would like to thank Sachet Labroo for his valuable insights in this article.
Read our article on ‘How To Answer- Do You Normally Take Work Home With You?’ HERE.
