How would you describe your work ethic?

The Goal

Work ethic describes the moral principles that you apply to your work. The interviewer wants a clear idea of what drives you to do the right thing in the workplace. The goal of your response is to show the interviewer that your moral principles and ethics relate to the work you will be doing and match the principles of the hiring company.

What to Avoid

Avoid giving a general response like, Id describe my work ethic as consistent and reliable. The interviewer wants a specific description of how you approach your work, allowing them to understand how well you fit with their workplace environment.

Pro Tip

When the interviewer asks about your work ethic, they are looking for specific wording to which they can relate. When you read the hiring companys job posting or job description, check for the mention of particular principles and values. When you respond, clearly outline how those principles align with your work values.

How to Answer

After outlining your work ethic for the interviewer, share an example of when you demonstrated those characteristics and traits in the workplace. Storytelling impacts the interviewer because it provides evidence of your ethics and personal character. If you want to tell a longer-form story, you can reply using the STAR framework (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Rachelles Answer “I am a very dedicated and loyal employee. I saw on the company website that the organization values those who are honest, transparent, and go the extra mile for clients. My work ethic is the same. I am honest, flexible, and ready to work hard for my employer every day. For instance, in my current role, I am often the last to leave because I am committed to returning every clients voicemail and email before I leave for the day.” Rachelles Admin Example Answer “I am very proud of my reputation as a reliable Executive Assistant. I base my work ethic on being reliable, honest, and consistent. Last week, I found a discrepancy in my pay, and I alerted our payroll department right away. I know that this instance would have gone unnoticed; however, it would never sit well with me to act in a way that hurt my employer, no matter how small.” Rachelles Manager Example Answer “I am a motivating person who brings a lot of enthusiasm to the workplace. I am sure that any of my coworkers would agree! As a Manager, I take opportunities to huddle with my team, review our greatest wins for the week, and I make the time to encourage others when I see their efforts making a difference.” Rachelles Sales Example Answer “Id describe myself as driven and goal-oriented. I am driven by the competition that comes with working in a sales environment. That said, I am also a dedicated team player. I never want to disappoint my employer or co-workers. I will always go the extra mile to reach my personal goals and the goals of my team.” Rachelles Retail Example Answer “I am driven, dependable, and loyal. I always focus on winning, and I know what I want to achieve. I am ready to take action whenever someone needs me. I stick with a company for the long term and love to grow with one organization. I am confident that my managers would describe me as loyal and dependable, as well.” Rachelles Teacher Example Answer “I count myself among the most dedicated teachers, not only to my students but also to my school. I am hardworking, humble, kind, and passionate. I wake up every day happy to go to work, excited about my job, and ready to impact my students and the school community. I want my passion and drive to light up a room.” Rachelles Marketing Example Answer “I describe myself as excited to learn, driven by growth opportunities, and someone who executes. For example, I am constantly listening to audiobooks and podcasts geared to growing my knowledge of digital marketing and content creation. I quickly take these lessons and apply them to ensure that I put my new knowledge to work. I am certain my previous bosses and clients would concur, and Id happily provide them as references.”

30 Community Answers

Anonymous interview answers with our interview experts feedback

Anonymous Interview Answer “I am honest, dependable, and hard-working. I am sure that any of my coworkers would agree. As a manager, these are the qualities that I expect from my team in return.” Laurens Feedback for the Answer Above I really like your personal and mutual accountability. “My work ethic is honest, dependable, and hard-working. I believe in mutual respect and accountability. I never expect anything from coworkers that I am not willing to do myself. I take a lot of pride in my work, and I think my coworkers would agree.” How would you rate Laurens Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “I am a dedicated and loyal employee. I work hard for what I take part in, which results in very few missed deadlines. I am very organized and good at time management, which I consider two of my biggest assets. My communication is also key to ensuring strong collaboration.” Rachelles Feedback for the Answer Above Good answers! I have reworded for clarification. “I describe my work ethic as dedicated, loyal, hard-working, and organized. Time management is one of my greatest strengths which is why I rarely miss a deadline. I am a strong communicator and solid collaborator.” How would you rate Rachelles Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “I see myself as driven, dependable, and loyal. I am always happy to help anyone that needs and stay loyal to the company that I work for many years” Rachelles Feedback for the Answer Above Excellent! Loyalty is an important factor that many people miss. Expressing your tenure is a great approach. How would you rate Rachelles Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “I am remarkably persistent and determined. Ive never given up on anything and always find a way to adapt and overcome. Ive done so in dangerous, high pressure situations numerous times throughout my career. Its because of this level of commitment that I was designated as team-leader on several deployment operations. You arent trusted with that level of responsibility if your attention to detail, work ethic, and loyalty arent beyond reproach.” Rachelles Feedback for the Answer Above You sound very confident and the interviewer should appreciate the way that you back your response with action-based examples. When it comes to your last sentence, I recommend personalizing it just a touch. Ive provided an example below. “I am remarkably persistent and determined. Ive never given up on anything and always find a way to adapt and overcome, and Ive done so in dangerous, high-pressure situations numerous times throughout my career. Its because of this level of commitment that I was designated as a team leader on several deployment operations. I was trusted with that level of responsibility because my attention to detail, work ethic, and loyalty were beyond reproach.” How would you rate Rachelles Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “I am a very dedicated and loyal employee. I saw on your website that you describe your company as honest, transparent, and you go the extra mile for your customer. My work ethic is the same; I am reliable, flexible, and come ready to work hard for my employer every day.” Rachelles Feedback for the Answer Above Its great that you responded using a tie-in from the companys job description. Nice answer! How would you rate Rachelles Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “My ethic is that my employer hires me because they trust I am intelligent and passionate to do the job and provide business value. So if I do not live up to expectations I am betraying their trust in me, that is my internal compass to always do my best. I do not want my team members to pick up the slack where I am lazy. For instance, when my previous boss showed appreciation for how fast I was able to do certain tasks, that drove me to keep working hard.” Amandas Feedback for the Answer Above It sounds like you have a dedicated work ethic and are committed to doing your part in a team setting. You can make this answer more impactful by sharing an example of a time when your work ethic enabled your team to solve a problem or complete a project on time or after changes were made, ultimately completing the work accurately and on time. This helps paint a picture for the interviewer of how your work ethic can inspire others and add value to the company. How would you rate Amandas Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “I have a strong work ethic, and I am very hard-working.” Amandas Feedback for the Answer Above A strong work ethic is valued universally! However, you can make this answer more impactful by talking about a time your tireless work ethic was recognized by a supervisor or team member. You can also share a specific example of a time your work ethic benefited a patient. How would you rate Amandas Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “Collaborative and dedicated, work until the job is done and do it right the first time.” Amandas Feedback for the Answer Above Terrific answer! How would you rate Amandas Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “Im a dedicated and motivated individual who wants to finish, however long or many people need to help me get there, I make sure it happens.” Stephanies Feedback for the Answer Above It sounds like you are a very hard worker! To strengthen this response, consider adding a specific example of a time when you illustrated an exceptional work ethic. What was the situation? How did you go above and beyond? How would you rate Stephanies Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “I am loyal, accountable, and supportive. I am looking for long-term employment and I would like to grow and develop as the company grow in a long run. Also, I always deliver commitment at work. When you give me a task, I will finish it with an excellent result in a short time. When I work in a team, I always like to help others with my knowledge and skills.” Marcies Feedback for the Answer Above Is there an example you can provide that highlights your great work ethic? If so, consider including it to make this answer more memorable to the interviewer. Otherwise, youve done an excellent job of explaining your work ethic and how loyal, supportive, and accountable you are. How would you rate Marcies Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “I would describe my work ethic as reliable and consistent. I enjoy my work and I find it easy to stay motivated and productive. Ive also noticed that I feel better at the end of the day when Ive had a great, productive day. So I find it rewarding, too. I guess Im fortunate, but Ive never struggled with motivation or work ethic, and I consider it to be one of my strengths.” Marcies Feedback for the Answer Above Excellent! You come across as motivated, reliable, and productive, which is wonderful. The interviewer will undoubtedly recognize that you have a great work ethic. Great response! How would you rate Marcies Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “I would say that I always like moving forward. I am a self-starter that doesnt need to be told to get going and get busy. I think a good example of this is when we opened the last location, the first two weeks were non-stop, busting at the seams busy and I stayed past my scheduled work time every day to make sure we were getting caught up and ready for the next day.” Chads Feedback for the Answer Above Good answer! Its clear from your example that you have a strong work ethic, and are dedicated and highly motivated. How would you rate Chads Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “I base my work ethic on being reliable, honest, and consistent. I never expect anything from teammates that I am not willing to do myself. I take a lot of pride in my work, and I think my teammates would agree. Just last week, I helped out a team member by coming in early to do early checks on challenged cows. I didnt have to; in fact, he said he could do it himself, but I couldnt let someone come in knowing that there was something I couldve done to help.” Stephanies Feedback for the Answer Above Your response clearly shows a strong work ethic! How would you rate Stephanies Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “I describe myself among the most dedicated employees, not only to my team members but also to my organisation. I am hardworking, humble, kind, and passionate. I saw on the company website that they value enthusiastic team players from all walks of life who can bring something different and unique to the team. My work ethic is the same. I am honest, flexible, and ready to work hard as part of a team responsible for implementing information security requirements, policy standards, guidelines, and procedures. As per my supervisors review of my performances, they have described me as the most reliable and competent team member. I am quick to follow direction, high work rate, quick to seek clarification from supervisor when needed, and demonstrate high commitment to responsibly completing tasks. I would happily provide them as references.” Rachelles Feedback for the Answer Above Terrific answer! You provide a lot of detail, painting a full and flattering picture of your work ethic. Great job bringing the companys ethics into your answer, as well. You show total confidence that the work ethic you are describing is the absolute truth by offering your references. How would you rate Rachelles Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “I consider myself to be ambitious and thoughtful. In my last position, with little training or guidance, I created a training manual for my role, knowing that it would help my successor to adapt. I continually look for new challenges by learning more than what is expected of me. For example, on the weekends, I sometimes watch tutorials that will strengthen my accounting knowledge base. I do this because I believe in delivering exceptional results to my employer every day.” Rachelles Feedback for the Answer Above This question is a big one for the hiring authority when determining fit. Again, think of the factors that make you very unique. This answer sounds a bit rehearsed and could use more genuine details specific to you and your situation. You could add in examples from past behavior to really impress the interviewer. Ive offered a revision below. (*Great way to implement the previous feedback.) “I consider myself to be ambitious and thoughtful. In my last position, with little training or guidance, I created a training manual for my role, knowing that it would help my successor to adapt. I continually look for new challenges by learning more than what is expected of me. For example, on the weekends, I often take online coursework and watch tutorials to strengthen my knowledge base in accounting. I do this because I believe in delivering exceptional results to my employer every day.” How would you rate Rachelles Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “Accountable, driven, determined, respectful” Rachelles Feedback for the Answer Above These are all excellent descriptors! Next, try giving the interviewer an idea of the ways that you apply these qualities in the workplace. How would you rate Rachelles Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “I am a very dedicated and loyal employee. I have always gone the extra mile to help any employee and work towards assisting the company in advancing towards fulfilling long term goals.” Rachelles Feedback for the Answer Above You come across as dedicated and loyal, indeed! Between your responses, employer reviews, results, and accolades, it sounds like youre a great bet for any hiring company. How would you rate Rachelles Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “I would say I have a do whatever it takes to get the job done work ethic. If I need to come in early, stay late, work during lunch to get a task complete, then that is what I will do. If I need to take a last-second flight to fly out and take over teaching a class for a team member who is sick, then that is what I will do to get the job done.” Rachelles Feedback for the Answer Above You sound like an incredibly hard worker, and any interviewer should appreciate how you describe your work ethic. How would you rate Rachelles Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “I describe my work ethic as dependable, loyal, and consistent. I present the most helpful simple solutions to my team at all times. I will address the situation right away, with a collaborative mindset.” Rachelles Feedback for the Answer Above You are very descriptive in your response, which will be a big bonus for the interviewer. How would you rate Rachelles Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “I am an enthusiastic, positive worker who encourages my team members through words of affirmation, and having a sense of humor lightens the environment when work gets too stressed out. I am also efficient and try to implement ideas to cut costs and improving workflow. For example, by initiating that we should go paperless and go digital saves us space in the office and money in buying paper and other materials by 30 percent!” Rachelles Feedback for the Answer Above These are strong work ethic descriptors! To strengthen your answer, try telling a quick story that highlights your work ethic in action. How would you rate Rachelles Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “I am a dependable, respectful, humble person. I am driven to succeed and believe in personal accountability.” Rachelles Feedback for the Answer Above Great descriptive words! This is a well-crafted answer, especially since personal accountability is often missing in the workplace. How would you rate Rachelles Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “I am a go-getter. I do my job without being told. I help my colleagues if needed too. I am a good team player. I can also work by myself.” Laurens Feedback for the Answer Above It would be best not to be repetitive. The interviewer wants to see dynamic responses. “I care a great deal about my work, and lead by example. I am a very reliable, pleasant employee who always tries to help out and exceed expectations.” How would you rate Laurens Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “I love working towards a goal and see the fruits of my labor when the goal is achieved. If I cant do something, I like to figure it out and get a great sense of satisfaction in learning new things.” Rachelles Feedback for the Answer Above Very good! How would you rate Rachelles Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “I am very dedicated and loyal to my employer. I believe I have the determination to strive harder then most so I am willing to go above and beyond, and especially to help the store in #1 customer service.” Laurens Feedback for the Answer Above Fantastic response. You convey conviction and confidence! I supplemented your response a bit, but overall, this is a very solid answer. “I have a very strong work ethic which is conveyed through my dedication and loyalty to my employer. I have a strong drive to work hard and exceed expectations. I demonstrate a lot of pride in what I do and how I uniquely do it; I consistently provide superior customer service.” How would you rate Laurens Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “My work ethic can be described as reliable, honest, and consistent. You are welcome to speak to my references regarding my work ethic. I am very proud of my reputation.” Rachelles Feedback for the Answer Above Its great that you are proud of your work ethic and reputation! Interviewers always like to hear of consistency, too. Good answer. How would you rate Rachelles Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “I would describe my work ethic as dependable and smart. I work hard to solve problems and answer the call of my responsibilities. However, I have learned its best to put together a sound plan of attack before just hammering away. This has saved me time and energy.” Rachelles Feedback for the Answer Above This answer is nicely detailed and interesting. Good work! How would you rate Rachelles Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “My work ethic is to do the right thing, such as come to work on time, follow the directions, finish the job on time, help/support coworkers, and provide good customer service.” Rachelles Feedback for the Answer Above These are all great examples of a solid work ethic. Well done! “My work ethic is to do the right thing such as getting to work on time, following directions, meeting my deadlines, helping my coworkers, and delivering exceptional customer service.” How would you rate Rachelles Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “I am honest, flexible and team playing. I come ready to work hard for my employer every day.” Rachelles Feedback for the Answer Above Short, sweet, and well said 🙂 How would you rate Rachelles Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “Hard-working. During the first release of our new product, I put in approximately 350-400 hours in one month to help assist our end users. If something wasnt working, and it was my time to go home, I would stay and get it working for our end users. This is where I began to improve on my project management skills as well as delegating tasks, but I do believe in hard work, growing and not staying stagnant in your position “” always wanting to achieve more for yourself.” Rachelles Feedback for the Answer Above 10/10. Nice answer! How would you rate Rachelles Feedback? Anonymous Interview Answer “I am a very honest person. I find that very important also on the work floor. If there is something thats isnt going very well with a colleague, I would like to find out what is it that I have done or can do differently. I am also a very hard worker. I worked in the operations part of our company store, which was a lot of physical work, with long hours spent standing, and night shifts.” Rachelles Feedback for the Answer Above The idea is there! Ive reworded this a bit to include complete thoughts. “I describe my work ethic as honest, communicative, and dedicated. I present the most helpful solutions to my customers at all times. If there is a riff on the sales floor with my colleagues, I will address the situation right away, with a collaborative mindset. I am dedicated to my employers, no matter how hard the work; be it long standing hours or evening shifts.” How would you rate Rachelles Feedback?