An interviewer asks: tell me about a time you solved a tough problem. The answer is planned with the STAR method and practised out loud. Tell me about a time you solved a tough problem. STAR

The Short Answer

To prepare for a job interview in the UK: research the employer, map the job description to your own experience, prepare five or six STAR stories (Situation, Task, Action, Result) that you can adapt to most questions, know your CV inside out, prepare two or three questions to ask, and practise out loud. Then sort the practical details (route or video link, documents, what to wear) the day before, so the morning is calm.

Know What Kind of Interview It Is

Check the invitation, or ask, so you can prepare for the right format:

  • Phone or video screening: a short call, often with a recruiter, to check the basics: your experience, why you're interested, salary expectations and availability.
  • Competency-based interview: a very common format in the UK. Questions start "Tell me about a time when..." and you answer with examples. STAR answers are made for this.
  • Strengths-based interview: questions about what you enjoy and do naturally well ("What kind of tasks energise you?"). Answers should be quick and genuine rather than rehearsed.
  • Civil Service interviews use a framework called Success Profiles, which can assess behaviours, strengths, experience, technical skills and ability. The job advert tells you which ones apply. GOV.UK explains Success Profiles.
  • NHS interviews often include values-based questions alongside competency questions. Our NHS CV guide covers NHS values.
  • Panel interviews, tasks and assessment centres: you may be asked to give a presentation, complete a written exercise or take part in a group task. The invitation usually says so.

Before the Interview

Research the Employer

  • Read their website properly: what they do, who their customers are, recent news, and their stated values.
  • Look at their social media and any recent announcements, reports or awards.
  • Check LinkedIn for the people interviewing you, if you know their names.
  • Note two or three specific things you'd genuinely like to be part of. They'll be useful for "Why do you want to work here?"

Map the Job Description

Print or open the job description and person specification. Highlight the essential requirements, then write next to each one a real example of when you've done it. Those examples become your answers. Anything you can't match is a likely question, so prepare how you'd approach it or how you'd learn.

Prepare Your STAR Stories

Competency-based questions come up in a lot of UK interviews. Prepare five or six STAR stories that cover:

  • A time you solved a difficult problem
  • A time you worked well in a team
  • A time you dealt with conflict or a difficult person
  • A time you showed initiative
  • A time something went wrong and what you learned
  • Your biggest achievement relevant to this job

Each story should spend most of its time on the Action (what you did, not the team) and finish with a clear Result. Here's a fictional example for "Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult customer":

Situation: A customer called about a boiler repair that had been cancelled twice, and he was angry and threatening to leave.
Task: I needed to calm the situation and get the repair booked, even though our engineers' diaries were full that week.
Action: I let him explain without interrupting, apologised for the specific failures, and told him exactly what I'd do and when. I checked with the scheduling team, found a cancellation for the next morning, and called him back within the hour to confirm it. I also added a note so the engineer knew the history.
Result: The repair was done the next day, he stayed with us, and he mentioned me by name in his feedback survey. I now use the same call-back approach with every escalated complaint.

The National Careers Service guide to the STAR method has more examples.

Know Your CV Inside Out

You'll be asked to talk through your CV. Know the dates, employers, reasons for leaving and key achievements for every role, and be ready to expand on any number you've included. If there's a gap, prepare a calm two or three sentence explanation. Our guide on how to explain gaps in your CV includes interview wording.

Prepare Questions to Ask

Have three ready, and expect to use two. Good ones are about the work and the team:

  • "What would a successful first three months look like in this role?"
  • "What are the biggest challenges the team is working on at the moment?"
  • "How is the team structured, and who would I work with most?"
  • "How do you support training and development?"
  • "What are the next steps in the process?"

Common UK Interview Questions

  • "Tell me about yourself." A two-minute version of your profile: who you are now, the experience most relevant to this job, and why you're applying. Not your life story.
  • "Why do you want this job?" Connect something specific about the role or employer to your experience and goals.
  • "What are your strengths?" Pick two that matter for the job and give a quick example of each.
  • "What's your biggest weakness?" Choose something real but not central to the role, and explain what you're doing about it.
  • "Why are you leaving your current job?" Keep it positive and forward-looking. Never criticise your employer.
  • "Where do you see yourself in five years?" Show you've thought about growing in this kind of role.
  • "What are your salary expectations?" Research the going rate first, and give a range you'd be happy with.

The Day Before

  • Plan the journey and aim to arrive 10 minutes early. For video calls, test the link, camera, microphone and connection, and log in 5 minutes early.
  • Check what to bring. Employers often ask to see proof of your right to work at interview or before you start (see GOV.UK on proving your right to work). Bring anything the invitation lists, plus a printed copy of your CV for in-person interviews.
  • Choose your outfit. If you're unsure about the dress code, ask the recruiter, or go one step smarter than what the team wears day to day.
  • Ask for adjustments if you need them, such as extra time for a test or step-free access. Employers can ask about this so they can make reasonable adjustments.

During the Interview

  • Listen to the full question before answering, and ask for it to be repeated if you need to.
  • Use specific examples, not "I would..." hypotheticals, wherever you can.
  • Keep answers to around two minutes. If they want more, they'll ask.
  • It's fine to pause and think before answering a hard question.
  • Bring notes for your questions at the end. Glancing at them is normal.
  • On video, look at the camera when you speak, keep your background simple, and close other apps.

After the Interview

Send a brief thank-you email within 24 hours: one or two sentences that mention something specific from the conversation. It's quick, and many candidates don't do it.

Subject: Thank you - Customer Service Team Leader interview

Dear Ms Adeyemi,

Thank you for meeting me this morning. I enjoyed hearing about the new call-back process you're introducing, and it made me even keener on the role. I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,
Jordan Ellis

If you don't hear back within the timeframe they gave, one polite follow-up email is fine. If you're offered the job, the employer may ask for references at that stage, so give your referees a heads-up. See references on a CV for how. If you're not successful, it's reasonable to ask for brief feedback.

Interview Preparation Checklist

  • Interview format confirmed (screening, competency, strengths, panel, task)
  • Employer researched, with two or three specific reasons you want to work there
  • Job description mapped to your own examples
  • Five or six STAR stories written and practised out loud
  • Every line of your CV ready to talk about, including any gaps
  • Answers ready for the common questions above
  • Three questions to ask
  • Route or video link tested, documents and printed CV ready, outfit chosen
  • Thank-you email drafted to send afterwards

Practise With AI

CV Mojo's Interview Prep tool, in your free account, generates practice questions based on your CV and the role you're going for, with coaching tips and voice read-aloud so you can practise answering out loud. Still waiting for interviews? Check your CV free first: you'll get a CV Score out of 100 for the role you want and the fixes to make first.