FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

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This section assesses how well is my personality, values, and work style to align with the company's culture, goals, and mission.

Basic Questions
Behavioral Questions
Self-Discipline Questions
Flexibility Questions
Empathy Questions
Leadership Questions
Accountability Questions
Professionalism Questions
Emotional Regulation Questions
Task Prioritization Questions
Humility & Character Questions
Integrity Questions
Honesty Questions
More Questions About Me

Basic Questions

Tell me about yourself.
Tell me about your work experience.
How old are you?
Are you married?
Why did you leave your last job?
Why is there a gap in your employment?
What is your professional goal?
What did you like least about your last job?
When were you most satisfied in your job?
Are you considering other positions in other companies?
Are you currently interviewing elsewhere?
What is your ideal company?
How did you hear about this position?
What are you looking for in a new position?
What do you know about our company?
What can you bring to the company?
Why do you want this job?
Why do you want to work at this company?
How much is your expected salary?
How much is your previous salary?

Tell me about yourself.

I am Romnick Mamisay, a Cum Laude graduate of Lyceum of the Philippines University Batangas, with bachelor's degree in computer science. I am currently residing in the Philippines. I have 4 years of corporate experience as a Software Developer with expertise in documenting, designing, developing, testing, and maintaining web applications.

Tell me about your work experience.

While I have 4 years of experience as a Software Developer, I am currently focused on applying and gaining experience in the modern web technologies required for this specific position.

How old are you?

I am XX years old.

Are you married?

May I understand how this information relates to the requirements or performance expectations of this role?

Why did you leave your last job?

My last role is temporary. I completed a fixed-term contract project at DOLE.
On January 2022, I was focusing on gaining transferable skills and hands-on experience aligned with what the current job market needs. I learned a lot and appreciated the moment I have had with them, but I felt it was time to move on for better opportunities.

Why is there a gap in your employment?

I took this time to focus on gaining transferable skills and hands-on experience aligned with what the current job market needs.

What is your professional goal?

My professional goal is to constantly expand my technical expertise while delivering maximum value to the company, ensuring I'm always growing professionally and contributing to the success of our projects.

What did you like least about your last job?

I took all challenges in my previous jobs as opportunities to realize where did I fall short, make a better plan, and what recommended actions are applicable to become a better person.

When were you most satisfied in your job?

When everyone helps each other despite the challenges, promotes work-life balance, and rewards the team for its great efforts.

Are you considering other positions in other companies?

Yes, I am interested to consider other positions where I can see the long-term goal at the end of this to achieve success in life.

Are you currently interviewing elsewhere?

I am exploring a few opportunities and having some conversations, but I'm being very selective and focused on roles like this one, where I feel there's a strong alignment with my skills and values.

What is your ideal company?

An ideal company for me is a place that encourages professional growth, promotes collaboration, work-life balance, and fair compensation.

How did you hear about this position?

From my friend who works in [department]
Your online job advertisement through [employment company]

What are you looking for in a new position?

A place where I can keep growing, contribute to meaningful work, and be challenged.

What do you know about our company?

I looked into your work in healthcare and was impressed by your recent FilroCare: An Artificial Intelligence Robotics System for the Unaccompanied People in the Philippines using Reinforcement Learning project. I would love to contribute to prioritize unaccompanied people that no one will be with them for the rest of their lives.

What can you bring to the company?

Commitment. It is a standard practice in the company to follow the instructions that were assigned to me, apply the best strategy to meet what the client has expected from me, and proactively seek improvement opportunities that can matter to your company.

Why do you want this job?

This role excites me because it aligns with my skills in modern web technologies and my passion for Software Development. I have heard great things about your team culture.

Why do you want to work at this company?

I am excited about the opportunity to work at XYZ Company because of its reputation for innovation and its commitment to using cutting-edge technology to drive business growth. As a software developer, I have been passionate about creating solutions that provide real value to users. XYZ Company's focus on delivering high-quality software aligns perfectly with my professional goals. I am eager to contribute my technical skills and collaborate with your talented team to continue pushing the boundaries of what software can achieve, while also growing my expertise in this dynamic field.

How much is your expected salary?

A 6-digit monthly salary is a safe range which may last for several years for sustainability as inflation goes up over time, but as a professional who is willing to start all over again, I am willing to settle down my monthly basic pay salary standard in a negotiable price as low as 50000 pesos in compliance with a full on-site work setup to cover an estimate of 15000 pesos for the rent, 8000 pesos for the utilities, 3000 pesos for transportation, and remaining 24000 pesos to afford my basic needs within my professional goals to keep up with the rising inflation in the Philippines for a sustainable cost of living.

How much is your previous salary?

In respect to the confidentiality of the last company where I worked at, I prefer not to disclose my previous salary. Instead, I will focus on the value that I can bring to this position.

Behavioral Questions

What was the last project you led, and what was its outcome?
Give me an example of a time that you felt you went above and beyond the call of duty at work.
What is your greatest fear and why?
How do you feel about working weekends or late hours?
What was the most difficult period in your life, and how did you deal with it?
Give an example of how you have handled a challenge in the workplace before.
Give an example of when you performed well under pressure.
What assignment was too difficult for you, and how did you resolve the issue?
What's the most difficult decision you've made in the last two years and how did you come to that decision?
What's a time you disagree with a decision that was made at work?

What was the last project you led, and what was its outcome?

The last project I led is the Purchase Request Information System for 1 Regional and 6 Field Offices under Department of Labor and Employment. The system has been deployed in live production.

Give me an example of a time that you felt you went above and beyond the call of duty at work.

When I feel that my workload gets a bit heavy which requires to finish it within the deadline to the best of my ability.

What is your greatest fear and why?

Fear of failure. Unable to meet the company standards is uncomfortable. On the bright side of things, failure can be my best teacher. When it happens, I use this moment as an opportunity to identify what went wrong, what strategies should I take to solve the issue, and what adjustments should be made to prevent committing the same mistake in the future.

How do you feel about working weekends or late hours?

There is no problem about working weekends or late hours if it meets mutual benefits of all parties.

What was the most difficult period in your life, and how did you deal with it?

My first experience as a Software Developer during my training period is my most difficult period of my life. There are no available resources to study their technologies, and I must figure everything on my own. I survived the challenge by working extra hours voluntarily for me to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Give an example of how you have handled a challenge in the workplace before.

Through regularly spending my free time in gaining proficiency on my weaknesses that has the potential to overcome a workplace challenge easily.

Give an example of when you performed well under pressure.

When I managed to take down notes of all verbal instructions accurately, use the best strategy to complete my tasks efficiently, and eventually ensure that my clients are satisfied regarding the system that I have developed.

What assignment was too difficult for you, and how did you resolve the issue?

Every assignment that was given to me, I took them as my motivation by seeing what the long-term goal at the end of this will be. Trial and error is my strategy until I successfully resolve the issue.

What's the most difficult decision you've made in the last two years and how did you come to that decision?

It is about maintaining the balance between upskilling and marketing myself in the community. Although I still must go through a lot of sacrifices to reach the minimum acceptable standard, persistence is the key to success.

What's a time you disagree with a decision that was made at work?

When I was assigned to a place where professional advancement is no longer possible as a minimum wage earner such as maintaining a proprietary framework.

Self-Discipline Questions

How would you describe your work style?
How do you stay focused when working alone without supervision?
Tell us about a time you had to meet a tight deadline.
Describe a goal you set and how you achieved it.
What keeps you motivated when tasks get boring or hard?

How would you describe your work style?

I would describe my work style as detail-oriented, focused, and organized. During my business meeting with the team, I even pointed out small details like typographical errors. Although those were simple mistakes, they can ruin the first impression with potential clients.

How do you stay focused when working alone without supervision?

When I worked on a web application project, I document all necessary information that has been discussed during the meeting, utilize productivity tools to come up with a high-quality product, and maintain continuous upskilling on what really matters during off-hours to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Tell us about a time you had to meet a tight deadline.

I would stay fully focused on what needs to be done, put extra hours to complete my project, and remove unnecessary distractions that can hinder my progress to ensure that I can deliver my expected results on time.

How do you manage distractions during work or study time?

I go to a cozy place where it's quiet and uncrowded, set my phone to silent mode, and place myself that my deadline to complete a task will be tomorrow by imagining that someone pressures me to hurry up.

Describe a goal you set and how you achieved it.

Staying ahead of the curve is my professional goal. It can be achieved when I prove myself to the company that I meet at least the minimum acceptable standard for the position and uphold a positive work ethic to retain client's trust and improve employee satisfaction.

What keeps you motivated when tasks get boring or hard?

I remind myself of the end-result: when I document software applications for hours and improve the quality of the product, it may create significant positive impact to the user experience, an application that becomes high-performing, easily maintainable for developers and eventually increase a business's profitability.

Flexibility Questions

How you handle sudden changes at work?
Can you describe a time when you had to work on something outside your job description?
How do you manage working with people who have different work styles or opinions?
Are you familiar with [new task]?
Are you open to learning new skills or taking on different roles if needed?
What would you do if your manager gave you a task you've never done before?
How quickly do you adapt to new technology?

How you handle sudden changes at work?

I stay calm, adjust fast, and focus on the goal, not the panic.

Can you describe a time when you had to work on something outside your job description?

At my previous job in a BPO company, I was transferred to a Network Operations Center department to handle customer's complaints by phone, document the issue, and offer a solution to their issues. This is a new kind of experience, but that is one way to combat my weaknesses as a professional.

How do you manage working with people who have different work styles or opinions?

When my teammate expects a straightforward approach while I perform a step-by-step approach in developing a software application to ensure long-term maintainability, I look for alternatives by building templates from scratch or utilize built-in frameworks to deliver high-quality results on time. Showing that I am flexible often means finding what works for both of us.

Are you familiar with [new task]?

I didn't have the chance yet, but I am capable to learn [new task] on my own using available online resources and have already started exploring it independently.

Are you open to learning new skills or taking on different roles if needed?

Absolutely! In fact, the market is changing fast. I need to fully focus on expanding my skill set and hands-on experience on what really matters aligned with my professional goals and what the job market needs.

What would you do if your manager gave you a task you've never done before?

I will take my manager's decision as a challenge to myself and prove to him that the impossible can become possible by giving my best shot.

How quickly do you adapt to new technology?

Through intensive bootcamp training to understand fundamentals and acquire best practices.

Empathy Questions

Can you describe a time when you had to understand someone else's perspective at work?
How do you handle a situation where a team member is upset or frustrated?
What would you do if a customer or client was unhappy with your service?
How do you work with someone whose personality clashes with yours?
How do you show empathy when giving difficult feedback?

Can you describe a time when you had to understand someone else's perspective at work?

One of my coworkers was struggling with a project, and instead of assuming they were unprepared, I asked what challenges they were facing. I learned they were balancing personal issues, so I adjusted my expectations and offered support to help them catch up.

How do you handle a situation where a team member is upset or frustrated?

I listen first, without interrupting, so they feel heard, then I acknowledge their feelings before suggesting solutions. In my last job, a coworker was stressed over a deadline, so I helped break the project into smaller tasks and offered assistance, which helped them regain confidence.

What would you do if a customer or client was unhappy with your service?

I would take a brief pause, listen carefully, and let them finish expressing their frustration with my service. At my previous job, my teammate was upset about my work output, so I reassured them that I understand their concern, explained the situation clearly, and prove that I can deliver a better work output next time aligned with their expectations.

How do you work with someone whose personality clashes with yours?

I focus on the goal, not the differences. I once worked with a teammate who had a blunt communication style, while I prefer a more patient approach. Instead of taking things personally, I adapted by keeping conversations clear and direct, which improved our collaboration.

How do you show empathy when giving difficult feedback?

I make sure to acknowledge the person's effort first, then frame my feedback to help them improve rather than criticize. For example, when I had to tell a teammate their web application project revisions, I first praised their accomplishments, then suggested specific ways to refine it, making the conversation constructive and supportive.

Leadership Questions

What are the qualities of a good leader? A bad leader?
Do you think a leader should be feared or liked?
What does teamwork mean to you?
How do you motivate your team?
Can you share an example of a time you led a successful project?
How do you handle conflict within your team?
What's your leadership style?
How do you ensure your team meets deadlines and goals?
Give an example of when you showed leadership qualities.
Have you ever been on a team where someone was not pulling their own weight? How did you handle it?
How would you feel about working for someone who knows less than you?
How do you help people grow so well?

What are the qualities of a good leader? A bad leader?

A good leader is someone who sees my potential and creates opportunities to lead and grow while a bad one sees my results and gives me more work.
A good leader is someone who will fix what is causing the stress by removing obstacles to create environments where people can do their best work without burning out while a bad one will ask me to manage my stress.
A good leader is loud when you do something great and quiet when you make a mistake while a bad one is loud when you make a mistake and quiet when you do something great.

Do you think a leader should be feared or liked?

A leader deserves to be liked. A boss will do otherwise.

What does teamwork mean to you?

To me, teamwork is about shared accountability and open communication where we actively support each other's ideas and offer constructive feedback to achieve a common, high-quality result that is greater than what any single person could produce.

How do you motivate your team?

I set clear goals, recognize achievements, and create an environment where everyone feels valued and inspired.

How do you handle conflict within your team?

I listen to all sides, mediate to find common ground, and guide the team toward a resolution that benefits everyone.

What's your leadership style?

I focus on collaboration and adaptability, tailoring my approach to fit the needs of the team and situation.

How do you ensure your team meets deadlines and goals?

I break projects into manageable steps, track progress regularly, and provide support to overcome challenges they have faced in the project.

Give an example of when you showed leadership qualities.

I met a software developer where we have something in common. I shared the story on how I get started for inspiration ideas, my values, and strategies to deal with pressure or stressful situations.

Have you ever been on a team where someone was not pulling their own weight? How did you handle it?

Yes. To handle the issue, it is always best to communicate with my team by addressing internal concerns, define clear objectives of where a team stands, and reward the team for every accomplished business missions.

How would you feel about working for someone who knows less than you?

I believe in my team because they have proven a lot to reach where they stand right now. Every member of the team has its own capabilities to solve problems and drive results. Success can be achieved through maintaining a positive work ethic in a dynamic environment.

How do you help people grow so well?

I do not push them to grow. I remove what is blocking them.

Accountability Questions

Can you tell me about a time you made a mistake at work?
How do you handle deadlines, especially when you're running behind?
How do you stay accountable when working independently?
What do you do if a team project goes wrong but it wasn't your fault?
Are you going to do someone else's work "just one more time" so things don't fall apart, deadlines aren't missed, or tension is avoided?
How do you prove you're reliable over time?

Can you tell me about a time you made a mistake at work?

I was prone to making my own decisions on my task that was assigned to me, potentially leading to misalignment of my work output to what is expected from me during the presentation. It is always best to clarify some hesitations I have encountered on my task to the client or my immediate supervisor to ensure that both of us are on the same page.

How do you handle deadlines, especially when you're running behind?

If I'm falling behind, I speak up early, adjust priorities, and ask for help if needed, because missing a deadline silently is worse than admitting you need support.

How do you stay accountable when working independently?

I create a clear daily plan, track my progress, and check in regularly with teammates - even if no one's watching, I work like someone is.

What do you do if a team project goes wrong but it wasn't your fault?

I focus on helping fix the issue instead of pointing fingers because being part of a team means owning the outcome together, not just your piece.

Are you going to do someone else's work "just one more time" so things don't fall apart, deadlines aren't missed, or tension is avoided?

No, except in truly extreme situations. While stepping in can feel efficient and helpful in the moment, it often leads to burnout and prevents real change. My focus would be on addressing root causes such as building capability, clarifying ownership, and supporting others so the team becomes stronger and more sustainable over time.

How do you prove you're reliable over time?

I consistently meet deadlines, follow through on promises, and keep people updated. Because being reliable isn't about being perfect, it's about showing up, even on hard days.

Professionalism Questions

What does professionalism mean to you?
How do you stay professional under pressure?
Do you have any conflicts with coworkers? What was the conflict and how did you resolve it?
How do you handle conflicts with coworkers?
How do you handle working with people who annoy you?
How do you handle angry customers?
How do you manage your time when everything feels urgent?
If you happen to be new in the workplace and your boss figured out that you do not know how to do your job, what should you say?

What does professionalism mean to you?

Professionalism upholds values by arriving on time, abiding to the company rules, communicating respectfully, being honest, having a positive attitude, taking responsibility, helping others, and being reliable.

How do you stay professional under pressure?

I remind myself that staying respectful and focused gets better results. During an emergency at my previous job in a BPO company, I kept a friendly tone even when my teammates are upset to maintain peace and stability by pushing myself beyond the limits.

Do you have any conflicts with coworkers? What was the conflict and how did you resolve it?

Yes. When I cannot finish my tasks on time, I usually get scolded. This is why I am getting more interested to invest on upskilling on what really matters to establish better systems.

How do you handle conflicts with coworkers?

I listen to my coworker's constructive criticisms to improve next time what I can perform and upskill on what really matters to establish better systems.

How do you handle working with people who annoy you?

I choose my poison wisely. I pick constructive criticisms to improve on and adapt myself to changes surrounding people with different personalities.

How do you handle angry customers?

I would take a brief pause, listen carefully with an open mind, and respond calmly and empathetically aligned with their concerns. All complaints have a root cause, so I would exercise maximum tolerance and stick to finding the best solution to address their concerns.

How do you manage your time when everything feels urgent?

I break things down, prioritize what moves the needle first, and communicate. Recently, there were several areas that urgently requires upskilling such as mastering modern technologies, social communication, and managing important portfolios within the limited time frame. Therefore, I am fully focused on what needs to be done to stay ahead on the curve and remove unnecessary distractions.

If you happen to be new in the workplace and your boss figured out that you do not know how to do your job, what should you say?

Sir / ma'am, this is something I missed out. Let me get back to you in 15 minutes. Let me consult my colleague about this.

Emotional Regulation Questions

How do you feel about taking no for an answer?
How do you react when someone disagrees with you strongly?
What do you do when you feel frustrated at work?
How do you manage your emotions during stressful team situations?
How do you stay calm under pressure?
Tell me about a time you received unexpected criticism - how did you respond?
How would you feel if you found out that your boss at work has a criminal record, like for murder?

How do you feel about taking no for an answer?

I respect his decision and move on to the next.

How do you react when someone disagrees with you strongly?

During a planning meeting, a colleague pushed back hard on my idea, and instead of reacting defensively, I asked questions to understand their view. I've found that staying curious, not combative, often turns disagreements into better solutions.

What do you do when you feel frustrated at work?

When a project I worked on has still a lot missing in my progress while nearing the deadline, I exhaust all remaining options pushing myself beyond the limits to deliver results on time using my current technical skill set. I've learned that frustration is normal, but where I channel it is what defines my professionalism.

How do you manage your emotions during stressful team situations?

Once, when tensions ran high in a deadline meeting, I chase to speak calmly and ask others how they were doing, which helped cool things down. Keeping my own tone steady often encourages the room to follow.

How do you stay calm under pressure?

I focus on my mission. With good time management skills and proper planning on finding solutions, I can stay myself calm under pressure to ensure the best outcome.

Tell me about a time you received unexpected criticism - how did you respond?

When a manager surprised me with harsh feedback on my presentation, I paused before replying, thanked them, and later asked for tips. I've realized that how I handle hard feedback in the moment says more than what I say next.

How would you feel if you found out that your boss at work has a criminal record, like for murder?

As long as his actions won't damage the work environment, I'll keep working, get the job done, and go home on time.

Task Prioritization Questions

How do you prioritize your work?
What gets you up in the morning?
How do you decide which task to do first when everything feels important?
What do you do when a new urgent task suddenly interrupts your plan?
How do you handle long-term projects while managing daily tasks?
Describe a time when you had too much to do - how did you stay productive?
What do you do when someone asks you to take on more work but you're already busy?
Describe how you would handle a situation if you were required to finish multiple tasks by the end of the day, and there was no conceivable way that you could finish them.

How do you prioritize your work?

I perform my duties to the best of my ability where it is most prioritized by the client while organizing my workload at the same time to benefit myself and my teammates in the long run.

What gets you up in the morning?

A situation where I need finish my pending courses immediately to create value that can matter to what the job market needs aligned with my professional goals.

How do you decide which task to do first when everything feels important?

When my immediate supervisor clarified what tasks are urgent out of all important ones, I should only focus on completing what is assigned to me, not interfering with others' work.

What do you do when a new urgent task suddenly interrupts your plan?

I would first observe the context of a new urgent task if there is a big potential to the company's success, or if it has a significant positive impact on my professional advancement once I finish the task successfully. If either of the two conditions meet, I will gladly accept the decision.

How do you handle long-term projects while managing daily tasks?

While my first personal application project is still under development, I stay fully focused on acquiring in-demand skills every day to eventually have the capability to develop software application projects using modern technologies.

Describe a time when you had too much to do - how did you stay productive?

I go to a cozy place where it's quiet and uncrowded, set my phone to silent mode, and place myself that my deadline to complete a task will be tomorrow by imagining that someone pressures me to hurry up.

What do you do when someone asks you to take on more work but you're already busy?

Someone I know asked me for help in preparation for his election campaign, so I asked if it could wait a day, then proceeded to finish his request in the evening and eventually sent my work output to his email. I've learned that saying yes wisely means knowing when to say not yet.

Describe how you would handle a situation if you were required to finish multiple tasks by the end of the day, and there was no conceivable way that you could finish them.

I would list down all tasks that were assigned to me and sort them by priority based on the details of the project and how urgent a task is. It is always best to be honest with them right away about some obstacles encountered while discussing contingency plans for a specific task to carry on.

Humility & Character Questions

How do you handle praise or compliments at work?
Tell me about a time you had to ask for help.
What would your previous manager say you could still improve?
When was the last time you changed your mind about something at work?
What's something you know now that you wish you'd known earlier in your career?
What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?
What negative thing would your last boss say about you?
What are three positive character traits you don't have?
If you were interviewing someone for this position, what traits would you look for?
List five words that describe your character.
What kind of personality do you work best with and why?
If you had to choose one, would you consider yourself a big-picture person or a detail-oriented person?
What are your pet peeves?
How do you like to be managed?
How would your colleagues describe your work style?
Tell me one thing about yourself you wouldn't want me to know.

How do you handle praise or compliments at work?

When my teammate praises me for my accomplishments, I smiled and express my gratitude because I believe compliments should lift the whole team, not just one person.

Tell me about a time you had to ask for help.

When I feel stuck on my task that was assigned to me for several hours, I ask my teammate some smart questions to display results in three different database models based on the item information inputted by the user in Purchase Request Information System. I got some ideas from his advice, took additional steps using my personal strategy, and eventually solved my problem.

What would your previous manager say you could still improve?

Quality of service and verbal communication. This is now my daily routine to stay fully focused to work on those weaknesses and prove myself to you this time that I can be an asset to your company based on my current skill set and my values.

When was the last time you changed your mind about something at work?

When I figured out that my current work progress follows bad practices, I must recreate those processes using a more efficient approach following best practices to ensure that all parties involved in the project will remain peaceful and stable.

What's something you know now that you wish you'd known earlier in your career?

I wish when I was a college student, I should already have invested on technologies being used aligned with what the current job market needs, not only focused on what is being taught in school just to get good grades.

What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?

Diligent, organized, and workaholic.

What negative thing would your last boss say about you?

Weird

What are three positive character traits you don't have?

Efficient verbal communicator, flexibility, and resilience. With sufficient training and frequent exposure, these character traits will be possible to acquire.

If you were interviewing someone for this position, what traits would you look for?

I look for just 3 traits: Character, Attitude, and Reliability. Anything else can be trained.

List five words that describe your character.

Ambitious, Introvert, Optimistic, Persistent, and Sensitive.

What kind of personality do you work best with and why?

Someone who is caring. His presence will remain to accompany me in my darkest days.

If you had to choose one, would you consider yourself a big-picture person or a detail-oriented person?

Detail-oriented. It is the responsibility of a software developer to minimize human errors as much as possible because even a single slip of code can destroy an entire business.

What are your pet peeves?

When I feel that my best is not good enough despite all the preparations I made.

How do you like to be managed?

Macromanagement who steps back and trusts me to do my work using all possible means to achieve the business goal.

How would your colleagues describe your work style?

They would say I am dedicated, detail-oriented, excellent, and entertaining. For instance, when I finish the entire project, they expressed gratitude for the dedication I have shown. During my business meeting with the team, I even pointed out small details like typographical errors, which praised me for being detail oriented. I was also named one of the best presenters they ever met in Department of Labor and Employment. When the office is not too busy, I told some funny jokes to make people laugh.

Tell me one thing about yourself you wouldn't want me to know.

I am reluctant to seek assistance from others for supervision. I prefer dealing with difficult challenges independently using all possible means to complete a task aligned with company's standards.

Integrity Questions

Have you ever been asked to do something you felt wasn't right? What did you do?
What would you do if you saw a teammate taking credit for your work?
Have you ever made a mistake at work and tried to cover it up?
What would you do if your manager asked you to do something against company policy?
If I were your supervisor and asked you to do something that you disagreed with, what would you do?
What if you have exhausted all your diplomatic efforts and still did not work for them?
Can you give an example of how you've demonstrated honesty at work, even when it was hard?
If you found out your company was doing something against the law, like fraud, what would you do?
What is considered a "red line" to you?
What do you think our company/organization could do better?

Have you ever been asked to do something you felt wasn't right? What did you do?

Yes. I would first analyze the context of the request and the potential consequences if it is done successfully. Whatever my findings are, I would suggest alternatives to come up with something without affecting the team's credibility. It is always best to think first before I act.

What would you do if you saw a teammate taking credit for your work?

I would reach out to my teammate privately to discuss issues that may arise with his action and find ways to come up with an agreement. I believe protecting my work is important, but protecting team spirit matters too.

Have you ever made a mistake at work and tried to cover it up?

I asked the Human Resource officer directly to conduct tour orientation without consulting my immediate supervisor first. Although my intention is to prepare myself for uncertainty, that shifted out of focus on my task that was assigned to me. I apologized to my supervisor, owned up to my mistakes, and prove to him that I will do better next time.

What would you do if your manager asked you to do something against company policy?

I would remind him of the rule politely and suggest alternatives to proceed with the request without affecting the company's credibility.

If I were your supervisor and asked you to do something that you disagreed with, what would you do?

I must take a step back first by exploring all possible legal options to meet what is expected from me. Diplomacy and dialogue are the key to strengthening trust and understanding between the two parties.

What if you have exhausted all your diplomatic efforts and still did not work for them?

I will focus on doing the things that I can control. "If I have not done enough, I am sorry because I cannot do it anymore." (Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte).
It is about time to emphasize the need for a paradigm shift in tackling various issues as diplomatic efforts with the authority were heading in a poor direction. "We have to do something what we have not done before. We have to come up with a new concept, a new principle, a new idea so that we move, as I say, we move the needle the other way. It’s going up, let’s move the needle back, so that paradigm shift is something that we have to formulate." (Philippine President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr.).

Can you give an example of how you've demonstrated honesty at work, even when it was hard?

I met one of my former colleagues who has great leadership skills in a public mall. I connect with him virtually, shared a lot of memories with him, and even recalled my past mistakes as a teammate in IT department. We find common ground, appreciated my honesty, and later thanked me for making the entire conversation a productive one.

If you found out your company was doing something against the law, like fraud, what would you do?

I would first analyze what type of violation the company has committed in accordance with the National Labor Code. This will be coordinated to the ambassador of the company through dialogue and consultation to seek a peaceful resolution for the benefit of all parties involved in the long run.

What is considered a "red line" to you?

A place where professional advancement is no longer possible as a minimum wage earner such as maintaining a proprietary framework.
An employment bond for more than 6 months including high penalties, no proper training, enforced outright from the start date, or unclear roles.
An overly broad non-disclosure provision
An overly broad, one-sided indemnification clause
A restrictive non-compete clause
A one-sided non-disparagement clause

What do you think our company/organization could do better?

I wish XYZ Company could collaborate with ABC Corporation in the future. XYZ Company promotes physical and mental health awareness while ABC Corporation promotes quantum technology, so I wish both sides can come up to an agreement to prioritize unaccompanied people that no one will be with them for the rest of their lives under Artificial Intelligence robotics project.

Honesty Questions

What is your greatest strength?
What is your biggest weakness?
How do you handle criticism or feedback?
How do you use strengths to solve a problem?
What is your favorite way to solve problems?
Everyone around you expects you to deliver a straightforward approach to solve their problems in a tight deadline. How can you deal with it?
How do you ensure weaknesses don't impact work?
What is your greatest failure, and what did you learn from it?
When you need someone to speak up for help, when necessary, but then realize that you have no one to rely on, what would you do?
If you were given the chance to meet your previous colleagues or your classmates, would you do it?
If your former boss asked you to come back and work for them again at three times your old salary, would you do it?
If the work culture is good, with less toxicity, but compensation is lower, would you still take the role?
If you could say one thing to a workplace bully before the year ends, what would it be?

What is your greatest strength?

My persistence has helped me successfully complete projects at my own pace, like web applications and documentations. I applied for relevant courses available online, built documentations to compile every progress that has been done, and presented the output to my potential users before the deployment.

What is your biggest weakness?

I used to take on too much myself, but I have learned to ask for help and collaborate more effectively.

How do you handle criticism or feedback?

I view feedback as a learning opportunity. For example, after receiving feedback about some cracks found in a web application project that does not cover in my manual testing, I took a more powerful approach by investing on automation testing to monitor system issues much faster.

How do you use strengths to solve a problem?

When the current market showed me a list of the required technical skills for a client project, I stay myself fully focused to achieve something even though I still must go through a lot of sacrifices to reach the minimum acceptable standard.

What is your favorite way to solve problems?

A step-by-step approach is my favorite way to solve problems. Although this approach may be time-consuming and exhausting as a sole project maintainer, it can prevent technical debt to ensure long-term maintainability of the project. But if I got a chance to be a part of an Agile Team, a straightforward approach would be manageable to deliver a quick, consistent, and efficient high-quality results to ensure the long-term success of an organization.

Everyone around you expects you to deliver a straightforward approach to solve their problems in a tight deadline. How can you deal with it?

As a sole project maintainer, I keep reusable frameworks, documentation tools, and a strong understanding of my tech stack ready so I can move quickly when tasks arrive. At the same time, I clarify requirements early and communicate realistic timelines and trade-offs to manage expectations.
In team settings, I collaborate closely with planning and QA so responsibilities are clear, allowing me to focus on implementation while still ensuring alignment across the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). Ultimately, my goal is to deliver high-quality work without burning out the team or accumulating technical debt that we'll have to pay for later.

How do you ensure weaknesses don't impact work?

During off-hours, I need to expose myself regularly on at least utilizing interactive speech software to retain my proficiency in verbal communication skills to ensure that tomorrow, I can still communicate well with others, even on hard days.

What is your greatest failure, and what did you learn from it?

My greatest failure is that despite my full commitment to a job to prove myself in the community, knowing that my best is still not good enough is something that I take seriously. I learned how important it is not to take the problem too personally and always speak up for help when necessary. "No man is an island." (English Poet John Donne).

When you need someone to speak up for help, when necessary, but then realize that you have no one to rely on, what would you do?

I will focus on doing the things that I can control using the remaining resources and energy left to survive. Once it reaches to a point where everything is permanently depleted to fight for a life physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and financially, that's the time when I can say this life is officially over and would truly look forward for the next reincarnation to come.

If you were given the chance to meet your previous colleagues or your classmates, would you do it?

Of course! I have learned a lot during my tenure with them such as best practices for application development and valuable feedback to become a better person. Once I finished all the courses in my plate, I would take the chance to discuss everything I have learned aligned with the requirements of an open position. This ensures my own knowledge remains current, and ready to collaborate with them. Furthermore, these connections serve as a strong, pre-vetted resource for high-quality referrals if our company ever needs to hire top talent.

If your former boss asked you to come back and work for them again at three times your old salary, would you do it?

It depends on the team, industry, and the environment since all my former bosses are now in their respective companies. I also need to check carefully if my skills, values, and experience align with the company's culture, goals, and mission to ensure that I can add value and bring solutions to company problems.

If the work culture is good, with less toxicity, but compensation is lower, would you still take the role?

No. A healthy culture is non‑negotiable, but it should never come at the cost of fair compensation. Employees deserve both, psychological safety and equitable pay. Choosing one over the other only perpetuates imbalance and signals that well‑being is a trade‑off, rather than a standard. For me, the work lies in organizations that value people holistically: empathetic leadership, inclusive culture, and fair rewards. Anything less is compromise, not progress.

If you could say one thing to a workplace bully before the year ends, what would it be?

"All love champ. God bless you and your family always." (8-division world champion Manny Pacman Pacquiao).