The job starts at seven and you're stuck in traffic. What do you do?

What the interviewer is looking for

• This question tests reliability & work ethic. Shows up on time, communicates delays early, keeps a clean jobsite and finishes what they start.
• What to bring out: Calls or messages the foreman or customer right away, gives a realistic arrival time, and plans to avoid it in future.
• Expect a follow-up like: What do you do to make sure you're ready to work when you arrive?

Another way it may be asked: You're going to be late to the job site through no fault of your own. How do you handle it?

A structure to follow: STAR, with the weight on Action and Result

1. Step 1

   Situation

   One or two sentences: where, when and what was at stake. Pick a real example you were close to.

2. Step 2

   Task

   What you personally were responsible for. Say "I", not only "we", so the reliability & work ethic you showed is visible.

3. Step 3

   Action

   The two or three things you did and why you chose them over the alternatives. This should be about half your answer.

4. Step 4

   Result

   What changed, in your own measure of it, and what you would do differently. Only use numbers you can stand behind.

This is guidance on shape, not a script. Use your own real experience and facts; never invent details to fill a gap. See the STAR guide and answer frameworks.

Common slips

• Describing what the team did without saying what you did.
• Choosing an example with no clear outcome, or one you cannot answer detailed questions about.
• Ending on the action and skipping the result and what you learned.

How to practise it

Write two bullet points for each STAR letter, then say the answer aloud in about two minutes.

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