Tell me about a time you had to be somewhere on time consistently, like a job, school or volunteering. How did you make sure you were dependable?

What the interviewer is looking for

• This question tests reliability. Gives concrete examples of showing up on time, communicating early about schedule problems, and covering tasks when the team was short.
• What to bring out: Concrete habits like planning travel, backup plans, and letting people know early when something came up.
• Expect a follow-up like: What would you do if you realized you were going to be late for a shift?

Another way it may be asked: Think of any commitment where people counted on you to show up. What did you do to be reliable?

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 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.

Related questions

• A shopper walks in looking a little lost. Walk me through how you would approach and help them.
• When you are ringing someone up and they hand you a large bill, how do you make sure the transaction and change are correct?
• If you had a few quiet minutes on the sales floor with no customers around, what would you do with that time?
• A customer is looking for a gift but is not sure what to buy. How would you help them choose and maybe find something extra that fits?
• Tell me about a time a customer was upset with you or the store. What happened and how did you handle it?

Browse all questions