What would you do if your manager asked you to do something unethical?
Politely ask questions to make sure you understand, explain your concern clearly, suggest an honest alternative, and if pressure continues, refuse and raise it through HR or the company's ethics channel.
Explain it simply
This could be anything from marking a test as passed when it failed, to changing figures in a report. The interviewer wants to know that your integrity holds even when someone senior pushes.
Start by assuming it may be a misunderstanding: ask why. State your concern calmly and offer an honest way to meet the real goal. If the request stays unethical, say no and use the proper channel. Most large companies have a code of conduct and a whistleblower policy for this.
Example
Situation: Picture Reema, a fresher in QA, whose lead asks her to mark three failed test cases as passed so a release can go out on time.
Task: Protect quality and her integrity without being disrespectful.
Action: She asks if there is a reason those cases do not apply anymore. When the lead says it is only to meet the date, she explains she cannot mark them passed, and suggests releasing with those three features switched off, or documenting them as known issues for the client. When the lead insists, she emails him the facts and her suggestion, and raises it with the QA manager.
Result: The release goes out with the issues documented, and the QA manager backs her decision.
What to say in the interview
"I'd first ask why, in case I've misunderstood. Then I'd explain my concern and suggest an honest alternative. If they insisted, I'd decline and raise it through the right channel."
Common mistakes
- Saying you would just do it because your manager said so.
- Saying you would quit immediately.
- Going straight to social media.