essay on ethical dilemma you have faced

Essay on Ethical Dilemma You Have Faced

Students are often asked to write an essay on Ethical Dilemma You Have Faced in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Ethical Dilemma You Have Faced

Introduction to an ethical dilemma.

An ethical dilemma is like standing at a crossroads, not sure which path to take. It’s when you have to choose between two things that both seem right or both seem wrong. I faced such a challenge once.

In school, I saw a friend cheat on a test. I felt stuck. Telling the teacher was honest, but it could hurt my friend. Keeping quiet didn’t seem right either. I wanted to be loyal yet fair.

The Tough Choice

After thinking hard, I decided to talk to my friend first. I explained why cheating was wrong and how it could backfire. I hoped they’d understand and not do it again.

This experience taught me that making tough choices can help people grow. It showed me that talking about problems can sometimes solve them better than telling on someone.

250 Words Essay on Ethical Dilemma You Have Faced

Understanding ethical dilemmas.

An ethical dilemma is a tough choice we have to make between two right things or between two wrong things. It’s like being stuck between a rock and a hard place, and no matter what you pick, it feels like you can’t win.

My Experience with an Ethical Dilemma

Once, I faced a tricky situation. My friend, who was always nice to me, copied my homework. My teacher thought I was the one who cheated. I had to decide: tell on my friend and save myself or stay quiet and get in trouble.

Choosing What to Do

I felt torn. On one hand, I didn’t want my friend to get in trouble. On the other hand, it wasn’t fair for me to be blamed for something I didn’t do. I had to think hard about what was more important: our friendship or being honest.

The Outcome

In the end, I chose to talk to my teacher privately. I explained the whole story. My teacher understood and didn’t punish anyone. Instead, she talked to us about why it’s wrong to copy work. My friend said sorry and promised never to do it again.

Lesson Learned

This experience taught me that sometimes, being honest can fix things without hurting someone. It’s not always easy to decide what’s right, but it’s important to think about the effects of our choices on others and ourselves.

500 Words Essay on Ethical Dilemma You Have Faced

Introduction to ethical dilemmas.

An ethical dilemma is like being stuck between two choices that both seem right or both seem wrong. It’s when you have to make a tough decision and whatever you choose could have good or bad results. I faced an ethical dilemma once, and it was not easy to decide what to do.

The Situation

I was part of a school group where we all worked together on projects. One day, I found out that a friend in the group was taking answers from someone else’s work. This was wrong because everyone is supposed to do their own work. But my friend was very scared of getting a bad grade.

The Choices

I had two main choices. The first choice was to tell the teacher what my friend was doing. This was the right thing to do because cheating is not fair to others who are working hard. The second choice was to stay quiet. This would keep my friend from getting in trouble, but it didn’t feel right to let the cheating continue.

Thinking It Over

I thought a lot about what to do. If I told the teacher, my friend could get into big trouble and might even fail the class. This could hurt our friendship too. But if I said nothing, I would be letting someone do something wrong without any consequences. It was important for me to think about what was fair and what was kind.

My Decision

After thinking hard, I decided to talk to my friend first. I told them how I felt about cheating and how it wasn’t fair. I explained that it was better to try and maybe get a lower grade than to cheat and not learn anything. My friend was upset at first, but then they understood. They agreed to stop cheating and to work harder.

In the end, my friend worked on their own and did okay on the project. They didn’t get the best grade, but they felt good about doing the work themselves. I learned that sometimes the best choice is not to go straight to an adult but to try and help your friend see what’s right. Ethical dilemmas can be tough, but they teach us about honesty and being a good person.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Global Governance In The 21st Century
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• Essay on Global Flow Of Silver

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Interview questions answered: Describe a time when you faced an ethical dilemma

Life is not easy, or fair. Employees are not always loyal, and won’t do the best thing for the company at all occasions. Actually we face temptation at work every day. A chance to date an attractive colleague , for example, though it may be only an unrealistic dream, especially when they are married. Or an opportunity to approve this or that contract, or choose a specific supplier , because it will pocket us a few extra thousands dollars.

There are many other dilemmas we can face. Should you opt for the less expensive way of doing something, though it is not environmentally friendly ? Should you sell your client a certain product, which is good enough for them, though you know you could sell them a more expensive alternative , and make more money along the way, for both you and your employer?

Facing an ethical dilemma is something normal, something you cannot entirely avoid , unless you work as a lighthouse keeper. What matters to the interviewers is your attitude. How did you eventually decide? Did you do the right thing for you, for the company, for the environment ? And what factors did you consider before making your decision? That’s why they ask you to provide an example when your ethics were tested.

Let’s have a look at 7 sample answers to this interesting interview question. I hope you will find at least one answer that resonates with your personality and experiences in my selection, one you can use in your interview. Enjoy!

7 sample answers to “Describe a time when you faced an ethical dilemma” interview question

• I faced a big one in my last job of a production manager. We were negotiating with several suppliers of clothes. One factory from Bangladesh gave us by far the best offer, and on paper they passed all environmental checks . But when our guys traveled there to inspect the production site, they found out that the company actually faked a lot of things, and polluted local rivers while producing clothing . Now, I could have said it didn’t matter. It was thousands of miles away after all, and they gave us the best offer, and they had the papers and certificates and everything. So it definitely was an ethical dilemma . But I eventually decided to reject them. What’s more, I reported them to local authorities. We chose another supplier. We paid more, our profit margin was tighter but we did not lie to our customers and did not participate on polluting the nature. I believe I made the right decision, though not everyone in the company would agree with that.
• Speaking honestly, my ethics were tested a lot in my last job . I knew that my manager was interested in me. They could get me a much better position in the company, or authorize a big raise. Just I had to go with them for a drink a few times. It was obvious and they made the offer several times. However, first and foremost, I knew it was not the right way up the career ladder , not the right thing to do. What’s more, they were married, so even from an ethical standpoint it was not correct to go with them… Hence I refused their offer repeatedly. Instead of promoting me, they decided to make it really difficult for me in work . Apparently they didn’t like losing, or maybe they weren’t used to getting refused. At the end of the day, I had to leave the company, and that’s why I am here today. But I would do the same thing again, because money is not the most important thing for me, and it never has been.

* Do not forget to check also : Full list of most common behavioral (describe a time when…) interview questions .

• This is my first job application , so I haven’t faced any ethical dilemmas at work yet. But I’ve faced them regularly during my studies… You know how it works with the exams. Someone knows the questions beforehand, and sometimes it is easy to cheat , because the professor doesn’t pay attention. I would lie to you if I said that I never cheated. But I eventually realized that it wasn’t ethically correct , and more importantly, that first and foremost I was cheating myself . I went to college to learn something. Getting the diploma was the goal, but the knowledge mattered for me more , and the connections with the community of students and teachers. Hence I decided to quit cheating, during my second year at the college. I managed to stick to my promise till the end of my studies.
• In my opinion, we face such dilemmas every day . And if we are responsible, and think about future generations as well, we should think about our daily decision. Take a typical shopping in a supermarket as an example. Will I drive there, or walk? Will I prefer local and environmentally friendly food , or will I opt for imported alternative, just because it costs less money? And how much will I buy? A lot, so we have a great selection back home, but eventually throw half of the food to rubbish , just like most US households? Or just enough, so maybe we can’t satisfy each carving of the stomach, but will end up eating and processing everything we bought? I try to think about these things, because I realize that each decision I make has an impact on the planet , and especially on the future generations. We shouldn’t be so selfish…
• Working as a purchasing agent , I faced many ethical dilemmas in my last job. You know how it works in this business, don’t you? A manager from one of the suppliers calls you and invites you for a private meeting. There’s an envelope on the table , or they make you a direct offer–you can get this and this if we win this competition. They do not always have to offer you money, but they will offer something. This is how it works, sad but true. But I never accepted such an offer, I kept my integrity . Maybe I was stupid, hard to say. Because if I accepted few of these offers I might have enough money today to not apply for jobs for the next ten years. But you cannot be someone you aren’t . I enjoy working, and I am not the kind of guy who would enjoy drinking champagne in a tropical resort for months on end… So I quit my job, and here I am, trying to start a new career with you.
• Actually I am here because of the last dilemma I faced –whether or not to stay with my present employer. When I graduated from pharmacy I was naive . I really thought that drugs help people, that pharmaceutical companies exist to help cure diseases and make the population healthier. I couldn’t be more wrong . They exist only to generate profit, lot of it. And to actually make the population sicker, or addicted to the drugs they produce, so they can make even more money each year. It is a vicious cycle, but I decided to quit the ride . Surely, they paid me well , and I have to start from scratch in a new field now. But money isn’t everything, and I could not live with myself if I stayed in the pharma business any longer.
• I faced such dilemmas each day with my last employer, and that’s exactly why I left them–because I was too weak, and I often fell for the temptation . And then I felt terrible. Let me explain it in more detail. I was selling insurance and retirement plans to clients. But we did not get the same commission from each provider. Actually one provider paid 50% more to the agents, and their product looked great on the paper. In reality, however, the clients paid a lot on hidden fees each year , and they eventually saved less money in a long run. But I still sold this plan to some clients, and I felt terrible afterwards… Here I am, honest and smarter than before, applying for a job with your company. I know that your agents get the same commission for each deal they close. I really like this payment model, because it motivates us to look for the best solution for the client, and not the one which is best for our pocket…

Ethical dilemma examples for students

If you face this question in a school admission interview , or should write as essay on the topic , as a part of an admission process, the pivotal thing remains the same: to show the right attitude, to explain your reasoning . You were tempted, no doubt, but you eventually did the right thing, or at least one you considered right . Or at least that’s what you should write or say :). To some good examples of ethical dilemmas for students belong:

• Do I pick the major I love, or do I decide according to the eventual salary and career opportunities?
• Will I help my classmate during an important exam, since I know how much it matters for them to pass, even if it entails cheating? Or will I, on the contrary, ignore them or even notify the teacher?
• Do I try to stand out in a classroom, always having the best answer ready, or do I rather back up, giving some of other schoolmates the opportunity to stand out and shine?
• Will I go to the party, to strengthen the camaraderie with my schoolmates, or will I rather skip it since it will impact my studies?

None of these situations is easy, but as long as you explain your reasoning on your essay (or in the interviews), the admission committee should be happy with your answer. Show them that you are a mature individual who sees pros and cons of their actions. You always try to do the right thing, though you may something do the wrong one–you’re still just a student at the end, trying to find your way in life…

Ready to answer this one? I hope so! Do not forget to check also the following posts, to make sure you get ready for your interview:

• Tell us about a time when you had to comply with a policy you didn’t agree with.
• What is the most important thing you learned at school?
• What makes you unique?
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Home — Essay Samples — Philosophy — Ethics and Moral Philosophy — Ethical Dilemma

Ethical Dilemma Essays

Understanding how to write an ethical dilemma essay.

If you're tasked with writing an ethical dilemma essay, it's essential to start with a clear understanding of the topic. Here are some prompt samples to help you grasp the key aspects:

• Prompt 1: Analyze a personal ethical dilemma you have faced and the decision-making process involved.
• Prompt 2: Discuss an ethical dilemma in a real-world professional setting and propose a solution.
• Prompt 3: Explore the ethical dilemmas surrounding advancements in technology and their impact on society.
• Prompt 4: Investigate the moral conflicts arising from environmental conservation efforts and economic development.

Brainstorming and Choosing a Compelling Essay Topic

Now that you have some prompts to work with, it's time to brainstorm and select a captivating essay topic. Consider the following points:

• Personal Experience: Reflect on personal ethical dilemmas you've encountered, as they can provide unique insights.
• Relevance: Ensure your topic is relevant to the prompt and highlights the complexity of ethical decision-making.
• Moral Ambiguity: Choose a topic that involves conflicting values or principles, making the dilemma truly ethical.
• Contemporary Issues: Explore current events or situations where ethical choices play a crucial role.

Unique Ethical Dilemma Essay Topics

Here's a list of unique essay topics that go beyond the ordinary:

• The Ethical Dilemma of Artificial Intelligence in Autonomous Vehicles
• Ethical Decision-Making in Healthcare: The Case of Allocating Limited Resources During a Pandemic
• The Moral Implications of Genetic Editing and Designer Babies
• Corporate Responsibility: Balancing Profit and Ethical Practices in the Pharmaceutical Industry
• Environmental Ethics: The Conflict Between Conservation and Indigenous Rights
• The Ethical Challenges of Privacy and Surveillance in the Digital Age
• The Use of Torture in Interrogation: An Examination of the Ticking Time Bomb Scenario
• Ethical Dilemmas in Journalism: Reporting on Sensitive Subjects and the Public's Right to Know
• Animal Testing in Scientific Research: Balancing Scientific Advancement and Animal Welfare
• The Ethical Considerations of Assisted Suicide and End-of-Life Care
• Police Use of Force: Balancing Public Safety and Individual Rights
• Environmental Conservation vs. Economic Development: The Case of Deforestation
• AI and Employment: The Ethical Dilemma of Automation and Job Displacement
• The Ethics of Human Cloning and Its Potential Consequences
• Refugee Crisis: Ethical Obligations and National Sovereignty
• Ethical Challenges in Artificial Intelligence Research: Bias and Fairness
• Food Industry Ethics: The Dilemma of Factory Farming and Sustainable Alternatives
• Medical Trials in Developing Countries: Balancing Scientific Progress and Informed Consent
• The Ethical Implications of Space Exploration and Colonization
• Ethics of AI-Powered Deepfake Technology: Implications for Privacy and Misinformation

Paragraph and Phrase Inspiration

When crafting your essay, here are some sample paragraphs and phrases that can inspire your writing:

• Introduction: "Ethical dilemmas are the moral crossroads where our values and principles clash with real-life decisions."
• Main Body: "In the case of AI in autonomous vehicles, the ethical dilemma centers around the choice between prioritizing passenger safety or minimizing harm to pedestrians."
• Counterargument: "While some argue that sacrificing individual privacy for national security is justified, it's crucial to consider the potential abuses and erosion of civil liberties."
• Conclusion: "In conclusion, ethical dilemmas are not mere theoretical exercises; they shape our society and define our values. By examining these complex issues, we can strive for a more ethical and compassionate world."

Now that you have these tips and unique ideas in mind, go ahead and write an engaging ethical dilemma essay that leaves a lasting impact. Dive deep into the complexities of moral choices and spark thoughtful discussions.

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An ethical dilemma refers to a situation or scenario in which an individual or group is faced with a complex decision that involves conflicting moral principles or values. It is a challenging predicament where there is no clear-cut right or wrong choice, and the decision-maker must carefully navigate the moral and ethical implications of their actions.

Personal Ethical Dilemmas: These arise when an individual faces conflicting moral values or principles in their personal life. For example, choosing between honesty and protecting a loved one's reputation. Professional Ethical Dilemmas: These occur in the workplace and involve conflicts between ethical responsibilities and professional obligations. For instance, deciding whether to blow the whistle on unethical practices that may harm others but jeopardize one's career. Societal Ethical Dilemmas: These pertain to broader societal issues and involve conflicting values or interests. Examples include debates on topics like euthanasia, abortion, or genetic engineering, where different ethical perspectives clash. Organizational Ethical Dilemmas: These dilemmas arise within organizations when employees face conflicting values or ethical standards. For instance, deciding between loyalty to the company and reporting unethical behavior by a colleague. Technological Ethical Dilemmas: With advancements in technology, ethical dilemmas have emerged, such as privacy concerns, AI ethics, or the impact of automation on employment.

Conflict of Values: Ethical dilemmas arise when individuals encounter conflicting values or principles, where there is no clear right or wrong answer. These conflicting values create a sense of moral uncertainty. Difficult Decision-Making: Ethical dilemmas require individuals to make difficult choices between competing options, each with their own ethical implications. The decision-making process involves weighing the potential consequences and considering the moral implications of each choice. No Perfect Solution: Ethical dilemmas often lack a perfect or ideal solution that satisfies all ethical considerations. Regardless of the decision made, there may be negative consequences or ethical trade-offs involved. Personal and Moral Significance: Ethical dilemmas are deeply personal and have significant moral implications for the individuals involved. They often challenge personal integrity and moral values, making the decision emotionally and morally burdensome. Ethical Reasoning: Resolving ethical dilemmas requires careful ethical reasoning, analysis, and consideration of different ethical theories or frameworks. It involves examining the principles, values, and potential consequences involved in order to make an informed and morally justifiable decision. Contextual Nature: Ethical dilemmas are influenced by the specific context in which they occur. Factors such as cultural norms, social expectations, legal considerations, and professional codes of conduct can further complicate the decision-making process.

Utilitarianism: Utilitarianism asserts that the ethical choice is the one that maximizes overall happiness or utility for the greatest number of people. When faced with an ethical dilemma, individuals utilizing this theory would weigh the potential consequences of each option and choose the one that leads to the greatest net benefit. Deontological Ethics: Deontological ethics focuses on adhering to moral duties and principles regardless of the outcomes. This approach emphasizes the inherent rightness or wrongness of actions rather than the consequences. Individuals using deontological reasoning would consider universal moral principles, such as honesty or respect for autonomy, when making ethical decisions. Virtue Ethics: Virtue ethics centers on the development of moral character and emphasizes the importance of virtuous traits and intentions in ethical decision-making. When faced with an ethical dilemma, individuals using this theory would consider which action aligns with virtuous qualities, such as honesty, compassion, or justice.

Film: In the movie "12 Angry Men," a jury must decide the fate of a young man accused of murder. Jurors face an ethical dilemma as they confront their biases, prejudices, and the weight of the evidence, ultimately questioning their responsibility to deliver a just verdict. Literature: In the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, the character Atticus Finch faces an ethical dilemma when defending an innocent black man accused of rape in a racially divided society. He confronts the moral choice between upholding justice and challenging deeply ingrained prejudices. Television: The series "The Good Place" revolves around ethical dilemmas and moral philosophy. Characters navigate complex ethical situations as they question the nature of good and bad, exploring themes such as utilitarianism, deontology, and moral relativism.

The topic of ethical dilemmas is crucial to explore and discuss in essays due to its profound impact on individuals, societies, and decision-making processes. Ethical dilemmas present complex situations where individuals face conflicting moral choices, and examining them allows for a deeper understanding of ethical principles, values, and the complexities of human behavior. Writing an essay on ethical dilemmas offers several benefits. Firstly, it encourages critical thinking and ethical reasoning by presenting real or hypothetical scenarios that challenge one's moral compass. It prompts individuals to analyze different perspectives, weigh the consequences of actions, and navigate moral gray areas. Secondly, exploring ethical dilemmas fosters ethical awareness and character development. By examining these dilemmas, individuals gain insights into their own values, biases, and decision-making processes. It promotes self-reflection and the cultivation of moral virtues such as empathy, integrity, and responsibility. Lastly, the topic of ethical dilemmas is relevant to various fields, including medicine, business, law, and technology. Essays on this subject provide an opportunity to explore how ethical frameworks and principles can guide professionals in making ethically sound decisions within their respective domains.

1. Beauchamp, T. L., & Bowie, N. E. (2020). Ethical theory and business (10th ed.). Pearson. 2. Bredeson, D. (2017). Ethical dilemmas and decisions in criminal justice (10th ed.). Cengage Learning. 3. Davis, M. (2016). Ethics and the university. Routledge. 4. Kidder, R. M. (2005). How good people make tough choices: Resolving the dilemmas of ethical living. Harper Perennial. 5. Lo, B., & Field, M. J. (Eds.). (2009). Conflict of interest in medical research, education, and practice. National Academies Press. 6. May, L., & Vandekerckhove, W. (Eds.). (2019). Routledge handbook of whistleblowing studies. Routledge. 7. Resnik, D. B. (2015). Playing politics with science: Balancing scientific independence and government oversight. Oxford University Press. 8. Singer, P. (2015). Ethics in the real world: 82 brief essays on things that matter. Princeton University Press. 9. Treviño, L. K., & Nelson, K. A. (2020). Managing business ethics: Straight talk about how to do it right (8th ed.). John Wiley & Sons. 10. Velasquez, M. (2018). Business ethics: Concepts and cases. Pearson.

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101 Ethical Dilemma Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Ethical dilemmas are situations in which individuals are faced with conflicting moral choices. These dilemmas can arise in a variety of contexts, from personal relationships to professional settings. Writing an essay exploring ethical dilemmas can help you develop critical thinking skills and engage with complex moral issues.

To help you get started, here are 101 ethical dilemma essay topic ideas and examples:

• Should parents have the right to choose their child's gender?
• Is it ethical to use animals for scientific research?
• Should doctors be allowed to assist terminally ill patients in ending their lives?
• Is it ethical for companies to use data mining to target consumers with personalized ads?
• Should schools teach students about different religious beliefs?
• Is it ethical to use drones for military surveillance?
• Should athletes be allowed to use performance-enhancing drugs?
• Is it ethical to genetically modify crops to increase yield?
• Should governments regulate the use of social media to prevent misinformation?
• Is it ethical to use sweatshop labor to produce cheap goods?
• Should companies be required to disclose the environmental impact of their products?
• Is it ethical to use algorithms to make hiring decisions?
• Should parents be allowed to track their children's online activity?
• Is it ethical to use artificial intelligence in criminal justice systems?
• Should doctors be allowed to prescribe placebos to patients?
• Is it ethical to use genetic testing to screen for diseases?
• Should schools monitor students' social media activity to prevent cyberbullying?
• Is it ethical to use facial recognition technology for law enforcement purposes?
• Should companies be required to pay a living wage to their employees?
• Is it ethical to use virtual reality to simulate traumatic experiences for therapy?
• Should journalists be allowed to publish leaked government documents?
• Is it ethical to use animals for entertainment purposes, such as in circuses?
• Should governments regulate the use of AI in autonomous weapons?
• Is it ethical to use predictive policing algorithms to prevent crime?
• Should companies be required to provide paid parental leave to employees?
• Is it ethical to use gene editing technology to create designer babies?
• Should schools teach students about the ethical implications of climate change?
• Is it ethical to use facial recognition technology in public spaces?
• Should employers be allowed to monitor employees' internet usage?
• Is it ethical to use AI to create deepfake videos?
• Should doctors be allowed to perform cosmetic surgery on minors?
• Is it ethical to use drones for environmental monitoring?
• Should companies be required to disclose their political donations?
• Is it ethical to use social media algorithms to manipulate user behavior?
• Should governments regulate the use of biometric data for security purposes?
• Is it ethical to use gene editing technology to cure genetic diseases?
• Should schools teach students about the ethical implications of artificial intelligence?
• Is it ethical to use facial recognition technology in schools?
• Should employers be allowed to use AI to make hiring decisions?
• Is it ethical to use predictive analytics to assess creditworthiness?
• Should companies be required to disclose the gender pay gap?
• Is it ethical to use AI to create personalized healthcare treatments?
• Should doctors be allowed to perform experimental treatments on patients?
• Is it ethical to use drones for wildlife conservation?
• Should governments regulate the use of AI in financial markets?
• Is it ethical to use facial recognition technology for identity verification?
• Should employers be allowed to use AI to monitor employee productivity?
• Is it ethical to use gene editing technology to create new species?
• Should schools teach students about the ethical implications of genetic engineering?
• Is it ethical to use facial recognition technology in airports?
• Should companies be required to disclose their carbon footprint?
• Is it ethical to use AI to predict criminal behavior?
• Should doctors be allowed to prescribe psychedelics for mental health treatment?
• Is it ethical to use drones for disaster response?
• Should governments regulate the use of AI in healthcare?
• Is it ethical to use facial recognition technology in law enforcement?
• Should employers be allowed to use AI to monitor employee emotions?
• Is it ethical to use gene editing technology to create designer pets?
• Should schools teach students about the ethical implications of nanotechnology?
• Is it ethical to use facial recognition technology in retail stores?
• Should companies be required to disclose their use of data analytics?
• Is it ethical to use AI to predict job performance?
• Should doctors be allowed to assist patients in medical tourism?
• Is it ethical to use drones for agricultural monitoring?
• Should governments regulate the use of AI in transportation?
• Is it ethical to use facial recognition technology in public transportation?
• Should employers be allowed to use AI to monitor employee health? 68

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Ethical Dilemma: Example, Problem, and Solution | Essay Example

Introduction, example of an ethical dilemma, moral dilemmas, ethical steps, ethical dilemma: conclusion.

An ethical dilemma is a situation where people are forced to make a choice between two options available to them. It is necessary to explain that regardless of the option an individual takes both options have negative consequences.

However, the individual chooses an option that have few negative impacts on the event or people involved (Adair 2013). This essay uses an ethical dilemma case study to illustrate the issues involved in this context and how they are managed without causing a lot of harm to all the parties involved.

Engrave Computers is a technology based company that specializes in producing software that enable managers to monitor the performance of employees and predict their productivity. This software also gives companies opportunities to explore various issues that affect the performance of employees and propose solutions to these challenges. I am the manager of this company and Ben has been very influential in developing this software.

The company does not demand that employees should hand over their production rights and other patent requirements to it; in fact, it encourages its workers to be creative and invent software that will boost its sales and retain the right to distribute, sell, share or change the particulars of their inventions (Thomas 2010).

The company gives workers this privilege to motivate them to continue rendering their services without feeling the company or managers are misusing their talents.

The company is registered to take part in an international exhibition where the winner is awarded a quarter of its working capital and offered a free one year advertising space in an international broadcasting channel. I am confident that Ben will make the company proud since he has always won this contest.

On the other hand, this company experienced significant losses last year because most employees reported to work late or were absent without seeking permission from the human resource management (Pollock 2011).

As a result, an urgent meeting was convened and it was agreed that absenteeism and lateness will not be tolerated and anyone culpable will be suspended for three months. Workers were requested to read the new regulation and append their signatures to show that they agreed on the terms stated by the human resource department.

Last week the company secretary was suspended since she failed to observe this regulation and this was a warning that no one will be spared. Ben reported to work yesterday after being absent for four days and claims that he was not feeling well. Everybody is keen watching what will happen to him as pressure continues to pile on the human resource department to take corrective measures against him (Saaty 2011).

However, this department felt that this case was beyond its abilities and forwarded the matter to my department. I forwarded the issue to the board of directors but I was directed to solve it within 24 hours.

This situation was not as easy as it looked due to the considerations that I had to observe before taking any step. There were challenges regarding all alternatives available to me at that moment. First, being a manager means I had to a stake step that would ensure the operations if the company would not be affected. This means that the operations of the company would go on despite the measures I would have taken.

Secondly, I was supposed to show other employees that no one is above the policies of this company and if anyone commits a mistake the individual must be punished. Thirdly, it was necessary to show employees that I was committed to implement the policies regarding lateness and absenteeism (Arthur 2009).

The human resource department had suspended the secretary and thus I was supposed to follow the same path. Lastly, I was supposed to ensure that the company participates in the oncoming exhibition since it had already confirmed its participation.

The policies of this company were changed to ensure that an employee who comes late is suspended for three months. This was motivated by the poor performance witnessed in the last financial year and no one was willing to experience another financial crisis. Therefore, I suspended Ben for three months to ensure other workers become obedient and follow the regulations provided to them.

The following are ethical considerations that guided me to take this step. This decision was motivated by the need to ensure that no one commits this mistake against regardless of the position of an individual in the company (Haberfeld 2012). Ben was an indispensable employee but his actions were considered to have economic, legal and social impacts on the company and other workers.

First, the suspended secretary would have complained of double standards if I would have ignored suspending Ben. This would have led to a legal tussle between her and the company. Secondly, other workers would have noticed that Ben was not punished and this could crate differences among them (McCarthy 2011).

Thirdly, I knew that we were going to miss the prestigious prize on the scheduled event; however, this was not as important as other activities of this company. In addition, the occasion is held after every five years and this means that it would have significant impacts on this company.

Therefore, my decision was economically responsible since it focused on the long term gains the company will make if employees are punctual and attend all activities as the company directed them (Baaske 2009).

The company will never make losses due to absenteeism or lateness even though it was going to miss the award. In addition, it was ethical since it showed that I was promoting professional discipline in the company. It is advisable to follow the rules and policies regarding work to ensure that workers respect with them without favoring some workers (Farrell 2012).

The decision also promoted respect for the rule of justice and equality at the company. It is necessary to explain that the secretary was suspended after failing to meet the requirements of the company; therefore, it would have been very unfair to exempt Ben from punishments yet they are all employees of this company.

Even though, I had the option of punishing him after his presentation this was not a logical alternative since it was bound to affect him during that period (Harrison 2010). Therefore, my decision was appropriate and I will hot hesitate to suspend another worker in case the individual violates the policies of this company.

Ethical dilemmas are common in life but individuals must make wise choices that will not affect their relationships or work. It is necessary to ensure that they make informed choices and if possible they should consult their friends before taking any step. These dilemmas put our faith and commitments to test; therefore, they should be approached very carefully.

Adair, J 2013, Decision Making and Problem Solving: Creating Success, AMACOM Books, New York.

Arthur, W 2009, The Thinking Manager’s Toolbox: Effective Processes for Problem Solving and Decision Making, South-Western College, Connecticut.

Baaske, K 2009, Arguments and Arguing: The Products and Process of Human Decision Making, Prentice Hall, New Jersey.

Farrell, O 2012, Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making and Cases, Cengage Learning, South-Western, Connecticut.

Haberfeld, W 2012 , Police Leadership: Organizational and Managerial Decision Making Process, Prentice Hall, New Jersey.

Harrison, F 2010, The Managerial Decision-Making Process, South-Western College, Connecticut.

McCarthy, B 2011, Justice, Crime, and Ethics, Hastings House, Washington.

Pollock, J 2011, Ethical Dilemmas and Decisions in Criminal Justice: Ethics in Crime and Justice, Prentice Hall, New Jersey.

Saaty, T 2011, Theory and Applications of the Analytic Network Process: Decision Making with Benefits, Opportunities, Costs, and Risks, Wiley, New York.

Thomas, S 2010, Theory and Applications of the Analytic Network Process: Decision Making with Benefits, Opportunities, Costs, and Risks, Prentice Hall, New Jersey.

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• Ethical Dilemma Essay

TOOLS FOR WRITING – THE ETHICAL DILEMMA ESSAY

Table of contents, defining an ethical dilemma, ethical dilemma essay topics, how to write an ethical dilemma essay, ethical dilemma essay examples.

We all have a sense of ethics – moral principles that are a part of who we are . Some people are fully opposed to the death penalty; others are opposed to abortion; some support mercy killing, or the “right to die.” But what happens when our moral principles are put to the test through an ethical dilemma?

Basically, an ethical dilemma is facing a decision that, in making that decision, violates a moral principle in order to follow another one . Either decision will mean violating one of your moral principles. 

An ethical dilemma is facing a decision that, in making that decision, violates a moral principle in order to follow another one

A simple and often used example of a moral dilemma is this: You are on a ship that is sinking, and you must get into a lifeboat. That lifeboat can only hold 10 people without sinking, and there are 11 of you that need to get into it. Your moral principle is the preservation of life at all costs. How do you determine who does not get into that lifeboat? Or do you put all 11 in the lifeboat which will kill all of you? Any decision you make will compromise your principle of preserving life at all costs. 

If you are assigned an ethical dilemma essay, chances are you are given a question or a prompt for that essay, but if not you can always search for a write my paper help on our web-site

Sample Ethical Dilemma Essay

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Writer144311 has a background in marketing, technology, and business intelligence. S/he enjoys writing about data science, BI, new marketing trends and branding strategies. On TrustMyPaper s/he shares her practical experience through academic writing.

Have you ever faced an ethical dilemma? Write a personal ethical dilemma essay about one such dilemma and how you handled it. It will be in the first person and will not have to follow the formal writing rules of academic writing .

Here are several potential topics of an ethical dilemma essay. You will note that most provide scenarios in which a person will have to make a decision.

Best ethical dilemma essay topics:

• You are a nurse who is committed to providing the best possible care according to the protocols that have been established. You have a patient who is dying. He is in extreme pain. You are charged with administering pain medication on a set schedule, but the patient remains in extreme pain and is asking for more pain medication on a shorter schedule. Do you follow your moral principle of relieving pain or the protocols that have been established?
• You are the spouse of a woman who has gone into labor. There are complications. The doctor has informed you that you must make a decision to save the life or your wife or your as yet unborn child. What is your decision-making process, and how does either decision compromise your moral principles of the sanctity of life? Do you abort the child and condemn it to death or do you preserve the life of your wife?
• You have witnessed your best friend cheating on an exam. Do you let loyalty to your friend prevail and not report this, or do you abide by your sense of what is right and report the incident to your instructor?
• You are an animal rights advocate, believing that all life is sacred. A biological research company is conducting research using animals as subjects. The goal of this research is to eliminate a horrible disease that is afflicting many people all over the world., but animals will suffer even die, in the process. Can you reconcile your advocacy of animal rights with the greater good of saving human lives?

While your essay will follow the standard format – introduction, body, and conclusion – it may be of different types. You may be writing a narrative of personal experience; you may be writing a more academic piece on an ethical dilemma in a conceptual way; you may be writing an argumentative piece on a specific ethical dilemma. And some of these types of essays may require some research.

Once you have completed your mind map, and consolidated the items into specific points that you want to make, you are ready to craft at least a rough outline of the body paragraphs you will compose.

Develop your thesis statement based upon your points. What is it that you are trying to “prove” to your audience? What do you want your reader to take away from this essay? Your answer to these questions will help you to form your thesis statement.

Write your body paragraphs first. These must be well-formed, with topic sentences and lots of detail to support them. 

One the body paragraphs are constructed, you are ready to craft your introduction – a part of your essay that will introduce the topic and provide your thesis for the essay. Work to create a “hook” for your reader – something that will pique their interest and motivate them to read on. This might be a startling statistic, a quote from a famous person, or a short anecdote to which they can relate. 

Carefully think about your conclusion. You will want to re-state your thesis , of course, but you also may need to encourage those who are dealing with moral dilemmas , as they struggle with their own.

There are plenty of ethical dilemma essay examples out there on the web. And they will give you great ideas about structure and format. But understand this: your essay must be uniquely yours. You must insert your own style, your own ideas, your own style into your essay, or it won’t be compelling or engaging to your reader. Take the ideas; take the points. But make the essay yours alone.

External links

How to Mind Map with Tony Buzan. (2015). [YouTube Video]. In  YouTube . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5Y4pIsXTV0

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Tips for an Application Essay on a Significant Experience

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The first essay option on the pre-2013 Common Application asked applicants to  Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

Although this option is not one of the seven essay options on the current Common Application, prompt #5 overlaps quite a bit with the question above. It asks, " Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others."

Key Takeaways: An Essay on a Significant Experience

• Make sure your essay does more than narrate an experience; it needs to reveal something about you.
• "Significant" doesn't mean the experience needs to be earth-shattering or newsworthy. The experience needs to be significant to you .
• Make sure your essay has flawless grammar and an engaging style.

"Evaluate"—Make Sure Your Response is Analytical

Read the prompt for option #1 carefully — you need to "evaluate" an experience, achievement, risk or dilemma. Evaluation requires you to think critically and analytically about your topic. The admissions folks are not asking you to "describe" or "summarize" an experience (although you'll need to do this a little). The heart of your essay needs to be a thoughtful discussion of how the experience affected you. Examine how the experience made you grow and change as a person.

A "Significant" Experience Can Be Small

Many students concerned about the word "significant." At 18 years old, they feel that nothing "significant" has ever happened to them. This isn't true. If you're 18 years old, even if your life has been smooth and comfortable, you've had significant experiences. Think about the first time you challenged authority, the first time you disappointed your parents, or the first time you pushed yourself to do something outside of your comfort zone. A significant risk can be choosing to study drawing; it doesn't have to be about rappelling into an icy chasm to rescue a baby polar bear.

Don't Brag About an "Achievement"

The admissions team gets a lot of essays from students about the winning goal, the record-breaking run, the brilliant job in the school play, the stunning violin solo, or the amazing job they did as team captain. These topics are fine for an admissions essay, but you want to be very careful to avoid sounding like a braggart or egoist. The tone of such essays is critical. An essay that says "the team never could have won without me" is going to make you sound self-absorbed and ungenerous. A college doesn't want a community of self-consumed egoists. The best essays have a generosity of spirit and an appreciation of community and team effort.

An "Ethical Dilemma" Doesn't Need to be Newsworthy

Think broadly about what can be defined as an "ethical dilemma." This topic doesn't need to be about whether or not to support war, abortion, or capital punishment. In fact, the huge topics that dominate national debate will often miss the point of the essay question—the "impact on you." The most difficult ethical dilemmas facing high school students are often about high school. Should you turn in a friend who cheated? Is loyalty to your friends more important than honesty? Should you risk your own comfort or reputation to do what you think is right? Tackling these personal dilemmas in your essay will give the admissions folks a good sense of who you are, and you will be addressing issues that are central to being a good campus citizen.

Reveal Your Character

Always keep in mind why colleges require admissions essays. Sure, they want to see that you can write, but the essay isn't always the best tool for that (it's obviously easy to get professional help with grammar and mechanics). The main purpose of the essay is so that the school can learn more about you. It's the only place on the application where you can really demonstrate your character, your personality, your sense of humor, and your values. The admissions folks want to find evidence that you will be a contributing member of the campus community. They want to see evidence of a team spirit, humility, self-awareness and introspection. An essay on a significant experience works well for these goals if you thoughtfully explore the "impact on you."

Attend to Grammar and Style

Even the best conceived essay will fall flat if it is filled with grammatical errors or has an unengaging style. Work to avoid wordiness, passive voice, vague language, and other common stylistic problems .

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15 Ethical Dilemma Examples You See in the Real-World

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In your everyday life, and especially at work, have you faced ethical dilemmas that challenge your personal morals? If so, considering common ethical dilemma examples can go a long way to resolving your own.

You'll learn you must analyze the risks, rely on your convictions, and trust your instincts. Stepping back and removing yourself from the situation can help you gain a perspective that will aid in making your best decisions.

It's also important to be sure you act after thinking the situation through and not before. To help with this, take a look at our article, “7 Ways to Live Consciously in an Unconscious World.”

Drawing on the experience of others may empower you to navigate your struggle and arrive at the best decision.

This process exercises your critical thinking skills and the decisions you make can help you become respected as a person and a professional. Therefore, looking at ways that others have navigated those difficult moral decisions may be an excellent way to help you should you ever face similar circumstances.

In this article, you’ll learn about specific ethical dilemma examples that will help you understand the difficulty of making decisions that go against moral principles… which may make it less troublesome to make a decision when facing your next ethical dilemma.

Table of Contents

What Are Ethical Dilemmas?

Ethical dilemmas are all about difficulty in choosing between two courses of action, in which either choice involves disobeying a moral principle.

For instance, if you’re facing an ethical dilemma, it can affect you emotionally as you may struggle between what you consider to be right against what you consider to be necessary for a certain situation.

An ethical dilemma occurs when your moral principles are challenged. Some instances of the moral tenets are honesty, abstaining from and not promoting violence, caring for others, respecting the privacy of others, aiding people in trouble, and not harming others, whether humans or animals.

You may have heard of ethical dilemma examples called moral dilemmas or ethical paradoxes. In some instances, any choice you make is wrong in some sense.

In each ethical dilemma, the options are at odds with each other; they conflict with each other, causing a contradiction or paradox.

There are situations where you might have two choices; if you choose one, it would be impossible to choose the other.

Real-World Ethical Dilemma Examples

Often, the best way to mitigate ethical dilemmas is to learn about and seek understanding with real-world examples. Here are 15 examples of real-world ethical dilemmas we trust you’ll find useful. 

1. Monitoring Teens on Social Media.

Should a teenager using Snapchat, Instagram, or TikTok have their social media use monitored? This is an ethical dilemma many parents of teens face as teenagers spend many hours engaging in online activities daily. For some parents, the question may be: Do I trust my child to use social media responsibly or not?

For others, they may be asking themselves: From a safety standpoint as a parent, should I monitor my teenager’s online activities, or are they old enough to use social media responsibly?

Whichever ethical dilemma they are facing, a parent’s fear of cyberbullying and safety for their children is not unfounded. According to 2018 Pew Research , 21% of 13-15-year-olds, 16% of 16-17-year-olds, and 12% of 18-20-year-olds experienced cyberbullying.

While anyone utilizing the Internet risks cyberbullying, teens are ill-equipped to deal with such treatment as their brains are not yet fully developed. Therefore, it is a parent’s duty to protect their child from online attacks.

However, since the close monitoring of a teenager’s activities, online or otherwise, may be construed as a lack of trust toward the teen, it can potentially damage or at least put a strain on the parent-child relationship. Therein lies the ethical dilemma and the choices each parent must make.

One father of two teenaged girls chose to monitor their activities, sharing that, above all, “The devices belong to me and my wife, and we are entitled to see anything and everything on them.”

A good way to build trust with your teens may be to spend time playing games or asking “would you rather” questions ; trust will help them know that whether you monitor their online activity, you care.  

2. Ghosting.

This is when you end a relationship by not responding to the other person at all, by just ignoring them, rather than telling them you would like to end the relationship. While ghosting someone is not the nicest of ways to end a relationship, is it morally wrong?

If you believe in kindness, you may struggle as to whether you can live with your decision to ghost someone. Ghosting seems like the easy way out for the one ghosting, but it's hard for the one being ghosted to find closure and move on.

Someone may choose to ghost their soon-to-be ex because they want to avoid conflict. Or maybe they are afraid the other person might lash out and become violent. For whatever reason, facing that person is uncomfortable that they consider ghosting.

If you consider ghosting someone, think about how that could make them feel. Is that really who you are? Getting a fresh and honest perspective may make you think differently if you're considering ghosting someone.

If you've been ghosted, you find some benefit in reading our “ 55 Survival Quotes to Make You Tough in 2023 .”

3. Intentionally Misinterpreting Data.

There are several instances you may find yourself in where you’re tempted to fudge the numbers. Maybe you’re in the corporate world and are tempted or encouraged to share the data in such a way that will cause stockholders to believe their investments are more secure than they are.

Your ethical dilemma may be whether you misinterpret the data and secure your career or share the true numbers and risk losing your job.

An ethical dilemma example of misinterpreting or outright lying about data is the FTX scandal where investors lost billions of dollars on the digital currency platform after being misled  by founder Sam Bankman-Fried. 

4. Selling a Car Without Disclosing All Known Negative Details.

Let's say you're selling your car to upgrade to a newer model. Nothing much is wrong with it, so you fail to disclose the fact that it has trouble starting from time to time; or, that it was involved in an accident.

Should you disclose whatever is wrong with it to potential buyers or do you consider purchasing a used car to be a ‘buyer beware' situation? Uphold your moral standards and make sure you aren’t the subject of someone’s used car sales gone bad story.

5. Cheat on Your Significant Other.

Your relationship has gone south but you're still considered a couple. You meet someone that, well, if you weren't married… But you are; and you stood before an entire congregation of people promising fidelity “til death do us part'.

A few years have passed and you just don't have the same romantic feelings anymore. Whether he's changed or you've changed or you've both changed, you can't quite put your finger on it. Now, you feel like you'd rather get out than stay in.

Since the relationship is rocky, can you justify starting a new relationship? Or, should you stay faithful and risk letting the potential new love of your life get away? Sometimes a person will cheat on their significant other as an act of revenge when they are mad at each other. And sometimes, the decision to cheat ends badly.

If you've made the decision not to cheat, try solidifying your relationship with our advice on relationships. 

6. Should You Lie to a Sick Loved One?

Usually, if someone considers lying, whether they do it or not, it goes against their belief system and in their heart they know that it's wrong. However, whenever the truth would hurt someone you love, it often presents a gray area or a moral dilemma.

There have been instances where family members have either lied or withheld the truth in order to spare the feelings of a sick loved one, particularly in cases of Alzheimer's patients.

If an Alzheimer's patient asks about a loved one, and that loved one is deceased, finding out about their death all over again can cause them pain. Because of that, some family members will lie to spare their loved one's feelings. Is it ever compassionate to withhold information from your loved one with Alzheimer's?

This may be a dilemma you should discuss with your family members to help make your own personal decision. However, make sure you follow your own moral compass rather than doing what others wish you to do .

7. To Share or Not to Share Political Leanings.

Have you noticed how passionate people are about politics? If you choose to share your political leanings online or in person, you would lose followers, friends, and/or family members.

Some people weigh the options and decide it's not worth it to speak what's on your mind and lose the close contact of others.

Some say it's best to be real, to be authentic, and share any and all beliefs, loud and proud. Before choosing either option, weigh your options. Which choice can you live with? Which one could you not live with?

No matter what you decide, take time to consider the consequences of each choice before firmly making your decision. Then, be prepared to live with those consequences. 

8. Whether to Report an Accident.

If you're in a rush and you pass by and an accident, would you report it? Or would you not, knowing that the next person that passes by most likely would call the authorities?

The moral dilemma would be: risk getting to your meeting late, especially if you have to give an account of what happened to the police; or risk feeling guilty because you chose not to stop and help in a situation and caused the authorities to arrive sooner rather than later or even too late.

If you're struggling about whether you should report an accident as a witness, put yourself in the shoes of those affected by the accident to discover what you should do and how you can help. 

9. To Share or Not to Share Religious Beliefs.

It's been said to never discuss politics or religion. Yet there comes a time in close relationships where the question of whether to share what your beliefs are may come to mind, bringing you face to face with a moral dilemma.

If you know the person you'll be sharing with has beliefs that are different from yours, you may wonder if sharing your beliefs will push them away.

Withholding the information as you grow closer in a relationship may cause several problems: the other person in the relationship may feel you haven't been as open and honest as you should have been, or you may feel conflicted as you want to share but are hesitant to do so.

However, if you feel a kinship with a person on a spiritual level , you may consider sharing your religious views.

If the question of whether you should share your religious views at work arises, you may want to ask yourself why you would consider sharing.

While there are employment laws against discrimination of religion, you need to be careful not to proselytize, which is to try to convert someone, and would be frowned upon in the workplace. 

10. Should You Lie to Your Boss?

Being less than truthful with your boss can have repercussions, depending on the lie. The moral dilemma you may face may be whether you should lie about your experience and education, which could easily be verified. If the lie is less impactful, as in, you call in sick but aren't, you are less likely to get caught in the lie.

In employing your critical thinking skills you may find that you agree its fine to lie to your boss in certain situations. However, does lying to your boss on any level go against your personal moral beliefs? If so, that will create your moral dilemma. 

11. Recalling a Faulty Product.

Let's say you own a business, and it has come to your attention that the product you've shipped and sold has a faulty part.

What would you do? If the part's faultiness would cause harm to someone using the product, that's a serious consideration. If, however, the faultiness may not be noticed and would not cause harm, that may cause you to consider not recalling the product.

The moral dilemma is presented as you determine how you feel about not making the product right and looking out for the best interests of your customers. There is also the legal side of recalling a product.

12. Taking Credit for Your Coworker’s Work.

You've collaborated on a project at work. Your team members have given valuable input that has drawn attention from your management team. You know this recognition could move you closer to a promotion.

Although one of your teammates had the most eye-catching input, should you claim credit for it? After all, it was a team effort, and you'd really like that promotion.

The moral dilemma is doing what's right by giving your teammates the credit they deserve, which would preserve your working relationship or risk your working relationship by claiming the credit for yourself.

To help you make your decision ask yourself whether taking credit for someone else's work is ethical. It would be more beneficial to pursue your own path to promotion without detracting from someone else. 

13. Aborting a Child with Down Syndrome.

When you're expecting a baby, it's generally a joyous occasion. If you find out your baby will be living with life-changing challenges, such as Down syndrome, you may find you're facing a moral dilemma.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the life expectancy of babies with Down syndrome increased from 10-years-old in 1960 to 47-years-old in 2007.

While there are additional challenges associated with a child with Down syndrome, the dilemma basically comes down to the question: how does an abortion fit into your moral beliefs?

You may want to read this article showcasing three families struggling with the moral dilemma of aborting a Down syndrome child. 

14. Should You Tell Your Friend if Her Husband is Cheating?

It's a heavy burden to carry and keep a secret from a friend, especially if you feel that she will be hurt by finding out the truth. You may also be worried about how the information you're intending to share will be received.

If not received well, you could lose a friend. At best, it would likely be an emotional conversation.

Or your moral dilemma might be: should you speak to your friend about the situation or speak to her husband or just do nothing?

No matter what your choice is according to your moral beliefs, I think you can agree this is a sticky situation. If you do decide to tell your friend, do it with finesse.

15. Is It Okay to Take Supplies from Your Office?

Many people work in office settings and for their job functions to be fulfilled, their companies supply tools they need. These tools may be something as simple as paper clips to pens, notebooks, office chairs, and computers.

The moral dilemma becomes when you question whether you should take some of these office supplies home for your own personal use.

According to your belief system, would that be stealing from the company or would it be acceptable? Would it matter if the item you'd like to take is a small item or do you believe, right or wrong, any item would carry the same weight in your decision? 

Final Thoughts on Real-World Ethical Dilemmas

While ethical dilemma examples may go from two difficult choices, to almost impossible choices, I'm sure you and I can agree that it helps to arm yourself with the knowledge of how others have faced similar situations.

In reading through the ethical dilemma examples we've provided, you may have found a pathway to your own answers.

When making your choices, it's in your best interest to keep honesty, integrity, and morality paramount.  The ability to weigh each choice and try to objectively choose for the greater good is beneficial.

Your critical thinking skills will come into play and possibly be challenged when making difficult choices. As you can see from the examples we've provided in this article, some moral dilemmas are quite difficult and the answers are not always clear-cut choices. 

The bottom line is that the examples detailed in this article may help you in making decisions as they arise in your own life, especially when you find them challenging.

A good starting point is to get yourself in the right mindset , consider all the facts, then figure out whether you have the control to make the decision needed before moving forward. Having done that, once you've made your choice, you'll have the satisfaction that you've chosen wisely.

An Ethical Dilemma Faced by Nestle Case Analysis

This essay about an ethical dilemma faced by Nestle regarding its marketing and sale of infant formula in developing countries. It analyzes the controversy surrounding Nestle’s aggressive promotion of formula feeding in regions with limited access to clean water and sanitation. The essay discusses the criticisms leveled against Nestle’s practices and examines the company’s response to the allegations. It highlights the complexities of balancing corporate interests with ethical considerations and underscores the importance of robust ethical frameworks in multinational corporations’ operations.

How it works

Nestle, a global food and beverage conglomerate, has faced its fair share of ethical dilemmas over the years. One such case that garnered significant attention involved the company’s marketing and sale of infant formula in developing countries. This issue sparked controversy and raised questions about Nestle’s commitment to ethical business practices and corporate social responsibility.

At the heart of the dilemma was Nestle’s aggressive promotion of infant formula as a substitute for breastfeeding in regions where clean water and proper sanitation were not readily available.

Critics argued that this marketing strategy contributed to infant mortality and malnutrition, as formula-fed babies in these areas were more susceptible to waterborne illnesses and lacked the essential nutrients found in breast milk.

Nestle’s response to these allegations was met with skepticism, as the company initially denied any wrongdoing and defended its marketing practices. However, mounting pressure from advocacy groups and public outcry forced Nestle to reassess its approach. In subsequent years, the company implemented various initiatives aimed at promoting breastfeeding education and supporting sustainable practices in the production and distribution of infant formula.

This case presents a complex ethical dilemma, balancing the interests of corporate profitability with the health and well-being of vulnerable populations. While Nestle has taken steps to address the issue, questions remain about the adequacy of these measures and the company’s broader commitment to ethical conduct.

In conclusion, the Nestle case serves as a cautionary tale about the ethical challenges facing multinational corporations operating in diverse cultural and socio-economic contexts. It underscores the importance of robust ethical frameworks and corporate governance mechanisms to navigate complex business environments while upholding the highest standards of integrity and social responsibility.

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The New York Times

The learning network | what ethical dilemmas have you faced.

What Ethical Dilemmas Have You Faced?

Questions about issues in the news for students 13 and older.

• See all Student Opinion »

In a regular Magazine feature called “The Ethicist,” a columnist answers people’s questions about everyday ethical issues, from whether to report people who don’t do their jobs to how to determine who gets the prize in a lottery if the winning-ticket holder didn’t buy the ticket. What ethical dilemmas have you ever faced? How did you solve them?

In a recent column, “Letter of the Law,” a reader, I.N. from New York, writes in with a question, and the Ethicist, Ariel Kaminer, answers:

I asked a former professor to write me a recommendation for law school. It was particularly important to me that this professor write the letter, as my top-choice law school specifically asks for a letter from a former professor, and she is the teacher who knew me best. She said she was too busy, but if I would write it, she would gladly “edit as needed” and submit it under her own name. I felt uncomfortable writing my own letter, but I did not wish to jeopardize my chances of being accepted into my top-choice school by being overly conscientious. May I do so? I.N., NEW YORK Sure you may. If the professor had asked you to come discuss your strengths, would that trouble you? What if she asked you to discuss them — and then leave your notes with her? What if she asked you to just e-mail her some notes? In effect that’s what she has done. Writing about yourself in that way can be uncomfortable, but it’s not unethical. (Many companies that engage in an annual-review process invite their employees to write self-evaluations, which can serve as a learning tool for reflective workers but also a crib sheet for forgetful managers.) Perhaps you’re worried that the professor won’t follow through on her promise to “edit as needed.” She could, theoretically, send your words on to the school as her own, but that would not be your fault, any more than if you handed her a blank page and she filled it with a bunch of made-up platitudes. So go ahead, sing your praises. And don’t forget to include “ethically conscientious.” It never hurts, not even in law school.

Students: Tell us what ethical dilemmas you’ve faced in your life, whether at school, at home, with friends, in a romantic relationship or while working or pursuing a hobby. What did you do about them? Why?

Students 13 and older are invited to comment below. Please use only your first name. For privacy policy reasons, we will not publish student comments that include a last name.

Teachers: We also have a lesson plan based on this feature, “The Good, the Bad and ‘The Ethicist.’ “

Comments are no longer being accepted.

The cost of higher education is ridiculous, my son wanted to go to college but we could not afford so we choose the “High Speed Universities” for his education while working now he working for fortune 500

I haven’t really faced any real big ethical decisions yet. But I know they are coming, and when they do, I will choose what’s right ALWAYS. Because that is what Christians do!

I’ve never really faced any ethnical dilemmas. The only thing I worry about is my college acceptances being limited because I’m not ethnic enough. I’ve never faced any sort of discrimination because of my race, and I’ve never been in a situation where I’ve been limited because of it. Hopefully I won’t have to face it any time soon, or ever, but who knows if that will happen. As far as religion, I don’t belong to any certain congregation or religion, so I don’t have any conflicts with that. As far as morals, I wouldn’t rat somebody out for something unless it directly involved me or somebody I really cared about.

I haven’t really faced any big ethical dilemmas, but even with the small ones I try to abide by my own moral code. I wouldn’t think of myself as the most “ethical” person, at least by society’s standard, but in general I would say I’m a good person. I make an effort to never lie to my parents, to keep my morals in perspective, and to always be respectful of everyone else’s. I know that you can’t just make other people happy, though. You have to be honest, and you have to put the truth out there. But in reality, if it’s not such a big deal, (like a student copying homework once, which in perspective is really not so bad,) then don’t make it your job to make sure “justice” is handed out.

I could probably agree with Will’s post on this one, which is right above the comment i am writing now. There hasn’t been any ehitcal dilemmas that i could think of that has occurred in my life just yet. However, when I do come to that time of the facing of this certain dilemma, hopefully I know exactly how to move past it and fix it in a very smart and thought out way.

I understand when someone faces an ethical decision. What feels right isn’t always the right thing to do. These big decisions may take a while and sometimes you may even feel like you never have solved the problem. When it comes time to do so, I hope everyone does the right thing.

Just the other day, my younger brother (who is 5 years old) was told that if he finished his dinner he could have a piece of candy. As soon as my mother walked away he looked at me and said, “Here eat some, im full but I really want candy.” I felt bad but I knew that it was wrong and irrisponsible to do what he said. So I replied with, ” Jordan mom said that you need to eat your dinner to have candy. If you are to full to finish your dinner, than you are to full to have candy.” ….. So I did not give in and did the right thing as the older sibling.

I havent had to make any big choices in my life yet but there will be times that I have to make big choices when I go to colledge.But im always going to make the right ones.

I haven’t faced any ethical dilemma in my life yet. But I think that it’s inevitable for this kind of dilemma to happen,that is, I will definately face it in the future. Therefore, I’ve got to brace for it. I hope I will make the right choice when ethical dilemma comes.

I have not face the situation in the article; however, some of my friends have. Actually I will choose the teacher who is free to write me a recommendation. The ethical dilemmas I have ever met is when I was in elementary, the classmate sitting next to me ask me to cheat on the test. Did I do it? Yes! I want to keep the relationship with this classmate so I did it! If I didn’t help him, it would make me look like teacher’s pet. Nevertheless, I regret now. If we are true friend, he wouldn’t mind if I didn’t want to help him doing this.

As others have responded to this question, I have not really faced any ethical dilemmas just yet. I have my life ahead of me, and I feel that I will come across a few problems here and there when it comes to college. Hopefully, I will have the right preparation and I will be able to make the right decisions in the future.

I’ve faced an ethical dilema when I saw a man drop 50 dollars in front of me. I wanted to pick them up and keep them but I gave them back to him instead.

I am facing an ethical dilemma right now in my life. I am thinking about telling this guy who has done a lot of things that have made me upset and mad at the same time. I want to make a video and tell him, but if I do, then i’m afraid that all of my friends will get mad at me, and i’ll have no friends left. However, if I don’t, then i might go a little crazy and get sent off somewhere. Either way for me, it seems like I am going to lose everything. What should I do?

I haven’t really faced any real big ethical decisions yet. But I know they are coming, and when they do, I will choose what’s right.

i had to decide if i should go with my friend to a party or go to the hospital to visit my great grandma

I once was at school and we were writing an essay and I was stuck on it. One of my friends said I could copied theirs because they knew I had to pass to play sports. I really wanted to copy his essay but I knew It would be the wrong choice to do. It was either cheat to pass, so I could play sports or be honest and just try my best to come up with something.

I dont think that i have faced any big ethical dilemmas in my life.

A guy on my bus had left his wallet and I looked over and It was laying on the seat. I went and picked it up and I checked in it to see if their name was on it. It didn’t, but it did have a lot of money in it. It had much more money than my wallet did. I didn’t hesitate and I made the right decision. I gave it to the bus driver to keep safe and right that minute the walked back on the bus to get his wallet. The best feeling was when he said thank you, it was a way more better feeling than if I bought shoes with his money.

In this life or the next we will all face ethical dilemmas. Some will face more than others, and some will rarely even face them at all, but at some point we will face ethical dilemmas, and when that time comes we all need to be ready. When I was in 7th grade, Jordans were very popular, but I never had a pair because my parents didn’t like them. One day I was in the football locker room, and my friend left his Jordans out on accident. No one was around and I could have easily taken them, but I didn’t because I knew how much those shoes meant to him. This might sound like a silly example but I had the ethics to might the right choice and do the right thing.

Waiting to do my homework until the last minute and then having to decide which one to do and which one not to do. The twist is that which ever homework assignment I don’t do would cause me to fail that class for the semester.

My neighbor dropped her wallet from her car and went upstairs. Later, I found the wallet and it had 100 dollars. I really needed that money to help my brother pay back a lot of money he took from my mom to waste on his video games. Later, I thought that it was my brothers fault he wasted his money so I went upstairs and returned the wallet to my neighbor. Did I do the right thing?

Well i haven’t really faced any ethical dilemmas just yet but i am sur ei will eventually and i hope to be ready when that day comes and even trough a lot of people think it will happen when they are going to college i strongly disagree it can happen anytime timw

like if two people are about to fall of a cliff and there about to slip of your hands but one of them is a caring person but people see him as crazy because the other is bad and attempts to kill people but they dont believe the good person but you dont want ether to fall ?

An ethical dilemma that I faced was when I was in the Marines and I was checking out military vehicles to certain Marines so they could do their duties – and when I was doing this, one of the drivers didn’t have his license. This was tough situation for me because this certain driver was the only person that could driver this certain truck – so I was stuck with the situation of either letting him drive without the license and possibly getting in trouble and possibly him getting in trouble with driving without a license or the possibility of him getting in trouble for not being able to do his duty.

I didn’t want anyone to get in trouble so it was an ethical dilemma, a tough situation. A situation where all decisions were ugly.

I chose to not let him drive the truck since he didn’t have a license. He did end up getting in trouble for not doing his duty. I almost got into trouble, but I told my superior that it wasn’t my fault that the driver didn’t have his license!

i havnt ever faced these kinds of issues

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Harvard Common App Essay: Evaluate a Significant Experience.

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you..

The  most  gratifyingly  productive  and  exhilarating  hours  of  my  life  were  spent  frantically  typing  by  the  glow  of  a  laptop  on  a  desk  in  the  dark  corner  of  a  crowded  basement  office.  Glamorous,  working  in  politics  is  not.  When  the  campaign  office  in  which  I  toiled  for  most  of  my  waking  hours  didn’t  smell  like  dirty  feet,  it  was  due  to  one  of  two  things:  someone  had:

• emptied  a  bottle  of  Febreeze  in  a  futile  attempt  at  air  freshening  or  
• opened  one  of  the  mini-­‐fridges  that  were  crammed  with  ancient  leftovers  and  energy  drinks.  

The  harsh  overhead  fluorescents  added  to  the  unhealthy  glow  surrounding  even  the  most  defiantly  active/healthy  members  of  the  campaign  staff.  We  worked  exhaustively,  putting  everything  else  in  our  lives  on  hold.    A  few  of  my  colleagues,  and  best  friends  because  of  the  campaign,  joined  the  campaign  in  lieu  of  going  to  back  to  college.  Another  postponed  his  wedding.  I  neglected,  to  a  certain  extent,  my  friends  and  family.  We  did  all  of  this  because  we  shared  a  common  commitment  to  what  it  was  we  were  working  for.  We  did  all  of  this  for  a  losing  candidate.    

 Of  course,  we  weren’t  planning  on  losing  at  the  time.    When  I  met  and  began   working  with  Congressman  Tom  Perriello’s  field  director  in  January  2010,  I  had  no  idea  what  I  was  getting  into.  Returning  his  January  phone  call  turned  out  to  be  one  of  the  best  decisions  of  my  life.  After  working  during  the  early  months  of  the  campaign  as  a  volunteer,  reaching  out  to  party  activists  around  the  district  and  helping  to  build  a  field  program  from  scratch,  the  campaign  hired  me  as  paid  staff  for  the  summer.    This  was,  of  course,  excellent  campaign  strategy.    Whether  I  was  leading  database  training  over  video  conference  or  traveling  to  and  working  in  Rocky  Mount,  Virginia,  (yes,  it’s  exactly  as  rural  and  charming  as  it  sounds)  for  two  weeks  during  the  dog  days  of  summer,  I  had  opportunities  to  meet  and  work  with  incredibly  dedicated  people  at  every  turn.    

 Despite  our  best  efforts  and  great  work,  we  failed.  There’s  really  no  sugar-­‐coating  that  point.  Tuesday,  November  2nd,  was  a  rough  day  for  many  in  Democratic  politics,  to  be  sure.  While  we  were  able  to  find  some  consolation  in  the  nitty-­‐gritty  numbers  (we  out-­‐performed  expectations  in  virtually  all  metrics,  except  in  the  pesky  vote  count),  it  still  didn’t  change  the  fact  that  Tom’s  days  as  the  congressman  from  Virginia’s  5th  district  were  numbered.    

 When  the  dust  settled,  and  after  everyone  got  a  few  hours  of  sleep,  the  up-­‐sides  of  losing  became  readily  apparent.  Losing  is  worthless  unless  you  take  the  skills  that  you  honed  in  the  process,  land  on  your  feet,  and  apply  them  to  your  next  adventure.  Tom  Perriello  (occasionally  pronounced  “Per-­‐jell-­‐i-­‐yo”  in  5th  district  vernacular)  is  democracy  building  in  Egypt.  Several  of  my  former  coworkers  are  working  for  the  President  of  the  United  States,  which  is  super  snazzy.  A  couple  went  back  to  college.  Me?  I’m  figuring  it  out.  

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Sample College Admission Essay 1 with Feedback

Introduction.

We've discussed in a general sense what makes a good essay, but it's always helpful to look at specific examples and hear how admissions officers evaluated them. Included below is a sample essay. It's well-written and avoids the common admission essay pitfalls discussed in previous videos (listing off accomplishments like a resume, writing about someone else instead of making it personal, etc.), so it's not simple to know how an admissions officer will react. Read the essay, and then proceed to the follow-up video to hear from admissions.

Sample essay 1

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you (500 word limit).

A misplaced foot on the accelerator instead of the brakes made me the victim of someone’s careless mistake. Rushing through the dark streets of my hometown in an ambulance, I attempted to hold back my tears while two supportive Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) comforted me. Although I suffered a minor knee injury, the trauma of that accident still lingers.

Fast forward six years to the present. Now I am sitting in the back of the ambulance, a rookie EMT, with my purple gloves on, stethoscope around my neck, and a red medical bag in hand. I am also making sure we have the proper medical equipment stocked, including neck collars and long body boards. As I step out of the ambulance, a bitter breeze nips at my face. Shattered glass, two crushed car hoods, and traffic everywhere, the scene is put into perspective as I can finally see what is happening. I stop in my tracks. It is my accident all over again.

“Get the collars and boards, there is a possible back injury,” my partner whispers to me. I fetch the items, still attempting to deal with my conflicting emotions. Using the help of five other EMTs, we extricate the victim from the car and secure him to the stretcher. While in the ambulance, I realize now that circumstances have been reversed. This time, clutching the patient’s hand, I tried to soothe him, and he slowly calms down. I keep my composure and actively tried to help the patient feel as comfortable as I did. Keeping all of his personal belongings close to me, we wheel him into the busy emergency room and transfer him safely. As we leave, he looked into my eyes and I could feel his sincere gratitude. Rather than being an innocent victim, like the current patient was, I am now the rescuer.

Even though I felt the horrid memories rushing back, I kept my duties as a rescuer in the forefront of my mind. Keeping my cool in the face of extreme pressure I came out of the call a changed person: someone who can see a problem, regardless of any bias I may have, and focus only on what is happening at that instant. Confidently facing my own terrors, I felt as if conquering my fears allowed me to face my duties with a grounded and compassionate outlook.

Tears stream, limbs hurt, children cry: I am there, with a smile on my face, a stethoscope around my neck, compassion in my heart, happy to help and proud to serve.

Related Articles

Describe A Time When You Faced An Ethical Dilemma? (With 10 Sample Interview Answers)

There are always a few crazy situations in our life when we are stuck in the midst of a dilemma. A dilemma refers to a circumstance in which we have to decide between two equally likely options, using our power of wit and knowledge. Though this might seem less daunting and intimidating on the face of it, however, when any such real event occurs it indeed requires a lot of thinking and comprehension. That is why, this is one of the favorite interview questions of an interviewer using which they want to evaluate and examine your critical thinking and innovative abilities, using which you can choose out a single option.

Every question of an interview session is highly thoughtful and created with a broader prospect in mind with a sole objective to evaluate the personality as well as the mindset of a candidate. Hence, this question too, like every other, requires serious preparation and sincere effort. This article promises to complete your preparation and presents you with some really effective tips and ten unique sample answers to consider.

Six Best Tips To Effectively Answer This Interview Question

1) understand the question completely.

At a workplace, an employee might face a variety of dilemmas and situations, which might be strictly professional and some might be ethical issues. This question requires you to focus only on the ethical conundrums which you might have faced in your own professional career. Hence, stick to the real expectations and demands of the question instead of wandering and delivering an irrelevant answer.

2) Narrate A Real Story

The best way to respond to this question is by narrating a real story that you might have faced in your real professional life. When you are working, you are bound to enter into social as well as ethical dilemmas. Hence, just lay some stress on your mind and try to remember about such situations. Narrating an imperfect or a cock and bull story might affect your chances of selection considerably as any such answer can be easily caught by a veteran interviewer.

3) Do Not Answer In Negative

You face any tricky answer, just respond negatively. This might seem to be the best way to avoid an uncomfortable situation. Unfortunately, this is not. The best way is to accept the challenge and face it with all your vigor and energy. You are strictly advised by Prepmycareer, not to answer this question in a negative manner as that would simply mean that you are underprepared or not interested in the position advertised.

4) Display The Dilemma Clearly

Whatever story you are narrating, just make sure that your interviewer is able to understand and get hold of the two situations completely. If you cannot establish a relationship between the two equally likely options, the whole purpose of this question goes for a toss and an interviewer would simply mark the reply as vague or ambiguous. Such an act would hurt your chances of selection.

5) Share A Single Event

There might be more than one such event that you have faced in your professional career. However, as an ideal reply to this question you are expected to share any single event. This is primarily because of the limited amount of time available with an interviewer and also because stories are really long and time-consuming to narrate.

6) Fair or Not, Justify Your Stand

Ethical dilemmas are against the humanity, environment, or any other social cause that might adversely affect the masses at large. Being an employee of the organization you are trusted and confided in to execute all the tasks, unethical or not. An interviewer totally understands it, and in case you executed an unethical task just for the sake of getting your salary, explain it to the interviewer with logical rationales.

Ten Best Sample Answers To Consider and Study

Sample answer one.

Sir, it is absolutely common for professionals to enter into tricky situations at the workplace with some of the worst situations occurring when an employee faces an ethical dilemma. I remember one event during my previous tenure when I was leading a construction project. We were supposed to create 500 villas on a particular landscape which consisted of more than 1500 trees and a variety of unique shrubs and herbs. Despite, having environmental clearance, it was pretty tough for me to just order the clearing of such a beautiful natural habitat.

The project was really profitable for the organization to execute and at the same time, it could have enhanced the environmental issues to their zenith. Hence, I preferred to use my wit and before giving a sanction to clear the forest, I made a written representation to the senior management, to re-think and re-consider the project and if there are chances to shift the project to any new location. I believe, I made the right choice of sending a written representation, but unfortunately, my proposal got refused.

Sample Answer Two

Sir, in my ten years of professional career, I have faced such dilemmas a number of times. However, I would like to show you the one which really attached me to it. 5 years back, I was working as a manager with a pharmaceutical company. The company was highly profit-oriented and just wanted to earn substantial profits in a very short period of time. This led to aggressive selling of its products and even bribing the doctors. I faced an ethical dilemma when I was forced to give a bribe to a doctor and persuade him to start recommending organizations’ produce of lower quality which might also affect human health. I refused to do so, which is why I am here, sitting for an interview.

Sample Answer Three

During my previous tenure, I was a factory supervisor of a reputed manufacturing organization. The organization was in a habit of making substantial pay cuts to illiterate labor. When one fine day, I remember I was asked to pay depleted wages to the workers of the factory. This was an ethical as well as an emotional dilemma, as I knew the organization was making unjust pay cuts from the wages of the poor and illiterate workers of the factory. I was really tensed for a few moments, and then I decided to become a whistleblower and made a written complaint to the concerned labor officer.

Sample Answer Four

There have been several such instances throughout my professional career. I remember, when I was working as a counselor at a reputed counseling and overseas education organization, to guide a young child in the wrong direction just because the organization was getting handsome commission out of that deal. I was supposed to send the candidature of a child to an inferior foreign university, even though he secured some really good scores.

This was an ethical dilemma for me, as on one side there was a lucrative commission and on the other side, there was a career at stake. I chose the opposite and sent the candidature to the university which the kid actually deserved. As a side effect, I was ousted from my position and thus, I am here in front of you.

Sample Answer Five

I believe, in a quest to earn higher profits, organizations commit and enter into a few unethical business practices that lead to the creation of an ethical dilemma for their employees and workers. I remember, when I was working for ABC Trading Corporation, how the organization was swallowing small traders and manufacturers and tossing the rules and guidelines of the competition law and ministry into the trash.

I was a project manager there and was supposed to offer a minimal amount for purchasing the entire business of its smaller competitors. In case they resisted, they were in to experience some force. This led to the creation of an ethical dilemma, I was simply swallowing up the livelihood means of these smaller corporations. As a result, I simply resigned.

Sample Answer Six

My previous employer was a garment manufacturing company who used to forward job contracts to several smaller manufacturing organizations. I was the inspection officer who used to visit the factory premises of these smaller manufacturing organizations so as to finalize their contracts after making an inspection. There was a really attractive and affordable supplier of ours, who quoted the lowest for the job work. When, I personally went for the inspection purposes, I found that the organization was using unethical manufacturing practices, and the entire factory waste was simply allowed to flow in the fresh river water, which was responsible to serve the water needs of an entire village.

This was really a tough ethical dilemma that I faced, as on one side the livelihood of millions of people was at stake and on the other side there was an entire bucket load of organizational profit that was at stake. But, being a person from a humble financial background, I caved in front of my employer’s demand only for the sake of securing my job and handed over the job contract to that manufacturer.

Sample Answer Seven

I was working as a manufacturing head of a reputed business organization in my previous employment. Our organization had the habit of packaging its goods and heavy products into paper and jute packaging, as a measure to prevent the environment and follow the environmental guidelines. However, there was a period of time, when the company’s profits really dwindled downwards, and it started using plastic for its primary packaging purposes.

I was totally against it as plastic causes greater harm to our environment and was thus stuck in an ethical dilemma. Our company could simply not afford the expensive paper and jute packaging, and being a committed and loyal employee of the organization, I stood by the plastic packaging.

Sample Answer Eight

I faced an ethical dilemma when once upon a time, I encountered some unethical business practices of my previous employer. I was given a task to execute the supervision of a production process for a food company on a job contract basis. It was pretty clear from our client, not to use a particular chemical in our manufacturing processes. However, that element was a catalyst, and used to speed up the production process considerably, but was unhealthy for human consumption.

This pushed me into an ethical dilemma, as our organization was adamant about using this chemical so as to earn a higher amount of profit. However, I never supported the organization in such an ethical practice. I resigned, and even complained to the concerned official

Sample Answer Nine

I remember a similar instance from my previous employment when I was working as the factory manager for a reputed business organization. The working conditions of the factory were strictly in contravention of the applicable factory law and were really unsafe as well as unsanitized. Once I was supposed to hire more laborers for the booming factory production by luring them about high payouts and perfect working conditions. This was a real ethical dilemma, as I knew that is untrue. But, since I was jobless before for a fairly long period of time, I did everything at the instructions of the organization, unethical or not.

Sample Answer Ten

It is common for employees of an organization to get stuck into ethical dilemmas more than not. I remember, how I got stuck into a similar messy situation when I was supposed to give manufacturing contracts to an organization, which used unethical environmental practices while undertaking its manufacturing process. However, being an employee who is loyal and committed, I stood by the organization and supported it even though I never wanted to.

• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012369209604116
• https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1473325010370189

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The Common App essays: Breaking down the questions - Part 2

Examining the questions is a major key into figuring out what admissions officers really want.

Last week we took a look at one of the Common App essay topics:

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

Maybe you read over it a few times and tried hard to brainstorm but came up empty. Maybe you just don’t find this topic all that exciting. Fortunately, if you aren’t digging this one, you have other options. Here’s option 2:

Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.

Let’s break this baby down. What are the key words?

Discuss some issue of personal , local , national , or international concern and its importance to you .

Issue: An issue is more than just a topic. An issue has baggage. It’s alive. It’s something unresolved, in dispute, contested over or disagreed about. Not an issue: mosquitoes. An issue: Your town is divided about whether or not to spray insecticide on the local golf course to kill the mosquitoes.

Concern: A concern implies that the issue has negative implications and may cause (or is causing) problems. An issue that is not of concern: how a lot of people don’t like Justin Bieber’s new haircut. An issue that is of concern: how the media documents celebrity body image and the impact on one’s own body image.

Discuss: This is key. Discuss does not mean summarize or lecture. Discuss means tell the facts and then analyze deeply. Look at the issue from multiple viewpoints, and express the multiple viewpoints involved. Weigh them against one another; look at where they are coming from. Issues are complicated. Show that you’ve considered the issue in all its complexity. For example, repaving the decrepit parking lot at your high school will mean fewer flat tires in the long run, but it also means that for the next six months half the student drivers can’t park, and this might affect attendance.

Personal , local , national OR international : Maybe you’ve got a ton of thoughts on issues ranging from a falling out with a close friend (personal) to the new condominium being built in your town that has caused conflict within the community (local) to the question of socialized medicine (national) to global warming (international). Just pick one -- you don’t have room in a 500-word essay to write about more than one, as much as you might want to.

Importance to you: If you don’t personally care about an issue, don’t write about it. Maybe your parents talk at the dinner table about how worried they are about the election. If you don’t want to write about the election, don’t write about it. And don’t feel pressured to write about something on the national or international level, either. If it’s a topic that big, chances are the admissions committee has read about it before. What they probably haven’t read about is a hotly contested debate in your hometown or a problem your school district is facing and how you feel about it.

At its core, this question is trying to get you to reveal something unique and memorable about yourself -- your mind, your principles, your ability to problem-solve and think about complex issues. So pick the topic that you can write about with confidence and authority -- the topic that shows how you think and how you understand other viewpoints, and that demonstrates your own values and ethics and your ability to see how a wider issue impacts your own life and your future.

Emily Herzlin is a writer and teacher living in New York City. She is a graduate of Columbia University’s MFA Nonfiction Writing program and received her BA in Dramatic Literature from NYU. Emily teaches Creative Writing at Columbia University through the Columbia Artists as Teachers Program. Her writing is featured in various online and print publications including The Millions, The Women’s International Perspective, and The Under 35 Project. She is head editor of Crescendo City, a local Harlem literary magazine. Emily is a blogger and editor at Admissionado , a boutique admissions consulting company that helps students navigate the undergraduate and graduate admissions process. As a writing and academic tutor for high school students in New York City, Emily knows how tough the college application process can be, but she promises that you will get through it.

This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.