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Ask Us!
The Career Center
Indiana State University
Make the Career Center your first choice for career information throughout your time at Indiana State University.
Our home page can help you access information and services without coming to campus.
Stop in and see us at: http://career.indstate.edu
The CAR Model of Interview Preparation
Based on the premise that "past performance is the best indicator of future performance," behavioral-based interviewing is gaining widespread acceptance.
Hiring decisions are made by matching the applicant's skills (as demonstrated by examples of past behavior) to the job requirements.
The CAR Model of interview preparation provides a systematic way to practice behavioral-based interviewing. The CAR System allows you to tell the interviewer a "story" (with a beginning, middle, and end) about how you achieved a goal. You can use work experience, activities, hobbies, volunteer work, school projects, family life - anything that would be examples of your past behavior.
How the CAR System Works
CAR is an acronym for three words:
- Circumstance
- Actions
- Results
The following examples explain how to make the CAR System work - for you.
- Circumstance. Describe a situation that enables the employer to
place himself/herself in your shoes and understand the importance of the event
you are relating.
Example: As advertising manager for The Statesman, I was confronted with the fact that advertising revenue was significantly decreasing - many advertisers were not renewing contracts.
- Actions. After setting the stage by describing the circumstance,
tell the interviewer the specific actions you took to resolve the problem.
Example: I designed a promotional packet and compared the benefits of advertising in The Statesman with other advertising media in the area. I also set up a special training session for the account executives to discuss competitive selling strategies.
- Results. Your interview goal is to demonstrate a results-oriented
background. Connect your accomplishments to the position you are seeking. Even
if the results did not turn out as you planned, tell the interviewer what you
learned from the experience and what you would do differently next time. In our
example about The Statesman advertising revenue, our closing results
could be similar to the following.
Example: As a result of my efforts in designing a promotional packet and sales staff training, we signed contracts with 20 former advertisers for daily ads and five for special supplements. We increased new advertisers by 20 percent!
* Acknowledgement: Information adapted Interviewing Skills, a publication of the Indiana State University Career Center.