If you’ve ever walked out of an interview thinking, “Did I just ramble for 10 minutes straight?” …you’re not alone.

A few years ago, I was interviewing for a role I really wanted. The interviewer asked me to describe a time I handled a difficult project.

Easy enough, right? I launched into the story—but halfway through, I realized I wasn’t sure where it was going. I jumped from point A to C, circled back to B, threw in a side story that felt relevant (but wasn’t), and by the time I reached the end, the interviewer looked more confused than impressed.

That day, I learned the hard way: structure matters.

Why Structured Answers Win Interviews

Hiring managers aren’t just listening to your answers. They’re watching how you think, how you communicate, and whether you can get to the point. When your thoughts are jumbled, it creates doubt—even if your experience is solid.

That’s where the CAR Method comes in.

What Is the CAR Method?

CAR stands for:

• Context: What was the situation or challenge?

• Action: What did you do?

• Result: What happened?

You might be more familiar with the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), which is great too—but in my experience coaching clients (and personally using these methods in interviews), I find that CAR is cleaner, faster, and less likely to trip you up. It’s easier to remember and helps you avoid rambling.

Why I Recommend CAR to My Clients

Because it’s simple. In high-pressure moments, simplicity is your best friend. The more steps you have to remember (like in STAR or SOAR), the more likely your brain is to panic.

In mock interviews, I often see clients start strong with STAR but lose their place somewhere around the “Task” section. With CAR, there’s less room for error.

When to Use CAR

Use the CAR method any time you’re asked a behavioral question that starts with:

• “Tell me about a time when…”

• “Can you give an example of…”

• “Describe a situation where…”

These are golden opportunities to show your value, and CAR helps you do that clearly.

👉 Top 35 Most Common Interview Questions

Example:

Question: Tell me about a time you improved a process.

Answer using CAR:

• Context: Our onboarding process for new hires was taking up to two weeks, and it was hurting productivity.

• Action: I created a centralized checklist, automated repetitive emails, and introduced a buddy system to streamline the experience.

• Result: Onboarding time dropped to 3 days, and feedback scores from new hires improved significantly.

Boom. Clear. Measurable. Impactful.

Want to Level Up?

I get it. Interviews are tough. But you don’t have to figure it out on your own.

At RezzyCheck, I offer personalized interview prep courses and mock interview coaching where we walk through questions, tailor your stories, and build your confidence. I’ll help you build out your CAR stories so you walk into the interview calm, clear, and ready to crush it.

👉 Book a free interview prep appraisal here.

You’ve got a story worth telling. Let’s make sure you tell it right.