Tell me about a time something broke down in the middle of a busy day. How did you keep things running?

What the interviewer is looking for

• This question tests problem solving under pressure. Stays calm in disruptions, triages quickly, communicates clearly and follows up with a fix that prevents a repeat.
• What to bring out: Triaged quickly, set up a workaround, assigned roles, communicated with the team and customers, and later fixed the root cause.
• Expect a follow-up like: What did you change afterwards so it would not happen again?

Another way it may be asked: Picture your main system or machine failing at peak time. Tell me about a time like that and what you did.

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 problem solving under pressure 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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