Samantha Fernando, an executive recruiter, knows how to get a sense of a candidate’s values and ethics. “When I interview senior candidates, I often ask them to tell me about a time when they had to make a critical decision that really challenged their values,’” says Fernando, a national partner at Page Executive. “I then ask: ‘How would you handle that situation now?’
“I listen to their responses for their ability to demonstrate reflection and isolate their role in the outcome. Have they been able to demonstrate accountability, an ability to learn, and apply those lessons moving forward? In that reflection, I’m looking for their accountability and willingness to reassess. To me, that’s what demonstrates values-based leadership. It’s that constant reassessment of right and wrong. That’s the grit that I’m looking for.”
