It’s a fact of life: job interviews can often feel nerve-racking. In this article we’ll take a look at an interview technique that could help you break down tricky questions into more manageable chunks – the CAR method.
Questions like “Tell me about a time when you dealt with a challenge at work” often leave candidates unsure where to begin – despite the fact that they’re commonly asked at interviews.
That’s where the CAR method comes in. This simple approach helps you shape clear, confident answers that employers find easy to follow.
In this blog, we’ll break down what CAR means, how it works, when to use it, and why it’s one of the most effective ways to prepare for interviews.
Key takeaways: Using the CAR method in interviews
- CAR stands for Context, Action, Result.
- It’s a methodology used to create a simple structure for answering competency and behavioural questions.
- The method is shorter and more streamlined than the STAR method.
- Practising your CAR responses helps reduce nerves and keep answers focused.
- Employers and hiring managers appreciate it because it highlights both what you did and the outcome.
What is the CAR technique?
Simply put, the CAR interview technique is a three-step formula designed to guide your responses in interviews.
- Context – Outline the situation you were in.
- Action – Explain what you personally did to address it.
- Result – Share the outcome, ideally backed up with evidence.
It’s essentially a storytelling tool. Instead of jumping around or rambling, you follow a clear sequence that shows your skills in action.
This is especially useful when you’re asked to recall specific examples of past experiences – and then explain them coherently and with relevance to the role you’re applying for.
Note: The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is largely similar in that it allows for a concise narrative – with the outcome of your actions and decisions at the forefront.
It is another strong methodology, useful to answer questions such as – How do you work under pressure?
CAR, however, plays heed to the fact that Situation and Task can, in certain cases, besomewhat interchangeable. The CAR method is quicker and often easier to use in fast-paced interviews.
In a brief guide to competencies, the government recommends both CAR and STAR to the civil service.
Where did the technique come from?
CAR has developed as a technique to support candidates when facing competency-based interviews – an interview style which many employers now use to assess candidates.
Competency-based interviews allow recruiters to compare potential hires more fairly, based on evidence of how they’ve handled situations before.
Using the CAR method effectively is dependent on having a good grasp of the types of competency based interview questions that you might face – do take a look at our blog where we cover the subject in depth.
When should you use the CAR method?
CAR works best for behavioural or competency questions — the ones that start with:
- “Tell me about a time when…”
- “Describe a situation where…”
- “Give an example of how you…”
For example, if an interviewer asks “Can you share a time when you worked under pressure?” you can use CAR to organise your answer.
It’s particularly useful in telephone and video interviews, where concise responses are even more impactful (there tends to be less of a discursive feel due to the medium of the interview).
Why is it effective?
Employers don’t just want to hear that you have certain skills — they want you to prove it to them. CAR helps you provide that evidence without overloading the answer with irrelevant detail.
It’s really easy in an interview to slip in unnecessary extra information to pad out your answer and fill the silence – almost everyone has been guilty of this before. However, it only takes away from the strength of your answer.
It also builds confidence. Instead of worrying about where to start, you know to begin with context, move into the action you took, and finish with results. That structure keeps you calm and ensures you hit all the important points.
Most importantly, CAR puts the spotlight on you. It’s also useful for sharing relevant short stories as part of your answers to questions such as: Tell me about yourself.
It makes sure the interviewer understands what you contributed, rather than just hearing about the situation or the team effort.
- Keep the context brief. You want to share just enough for the interviewer to understand the situation.
- The core focus of your answer should be on the action you took and the result you achieved.
- Where possible, use numbers or measurable outcomes to back up your point, and choose examples that highlight skills relevant to the role.
Be sure to practise a few CAR stories in advance so you can deliver them with confidence. It’s always best to do this out loud – but even just being able to scribble down the key points for a range of different competency based questions will stand you in good stead for the interview.
How to use the CAR method in interviews
Think of CAR as telling a short story in three steps.
- Context – Set the scene briefly. Example: “In my last job as a sales assistant, we had rising complaints about late deliveries.”
- Action – Explain what you did. “I introduced a system to track issues and presented it to the manager.”
- Result – End with the outcome. “Complaints fell by 20% and customer satisfaction scores improved.”
Note: Having stats to hand – as per the Result section – is a great way to feel confident in a job interview.
Employers love it and it really adds credibility to your answer.
Example of a CAR answer
Imagine you’re asked: “Can you describe a time you solved a problem at work?”
Here’s how a solid CAR response might sound:
- Context: “While working as a project coordinator, I noticed our weekly reports were regularly delayed because departments weren’t sharing their data on time.”
- Action: “I set up a shared tracker online and introduced a cut-off deadline two days earlier than before. I also organised a short weekly check-in to flag any problems quickly.”
- Result: “From then on, reports were always delivered on time for three months running. Senior managers said it made their planning much easier because they could rely on consistent reporting.”
This style of answer is direct, specific, and highlights both the steps you took and the value you added.
FAQs – the CAR method
What is the easiest way to use the CAR method in interviews?
Keep it simple: describe the situation, explain what you did, and finish with the outcome. Think of it as a mini story with a beginning, middle, and end.
Is CAR the same as STAR?
Not exactly. STAR adds an extra “Task” step, while CAR keeps things concise with just three parts: Context, Action, Result.
Why do employers use the CAR interview technique?
Because it makes answers more structured and specific. Employers can clearly see how you’ve demonstrated the skills they’re looking for.
How to use the CAR interview method?
When asked a behavioural question, structure your reply in three steps: context, action, result. Keep each part short and focused.
What are good CAR examples?
They might include resolving a customer complaint, managing a project deadline, or improving a process at work. The key is showing your action and the positive result.
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Conclusion – the CAR interview technique
Many experts agree the CAR method is one of the simplest ways to approach competency-based interview questions.
Simply by breaking your answer into Context, Action, and Result, you’ll stay organised and demonstrate your value clearly.
Whether you’re preparing for your first graduate role or a senior position, practising CAR can give you the confidence to deliver strong, memorable answers.
If you’d like to access bespoke support from the PurpleCV team, our career coaching services are designed to help you perfect your responses – allowing you to walk into interviews feeling ready.
Need to line up a few more interviews first? We have you covered too with our bespoke CV writing service. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any queries!
