You’re in the middle of an interview. It’s going well, and then comes the classic:
Tell me about a time you handled a difficult situation.
This is where many candidates panic or start rambling. Not because they lack experience, but because they’re not sure how to structure their answer.
That’s where BARRR comes in.
It’s a simple framework I use all the time to help people answer scenario-based or behavioural questions without sounding generic or losing the plot halfway through.
BARRR stands for:
- Background
- Actions
- Reasons
- Results
- Reflection
Let me break it down.
Background – Set the scene. What was going on? What was the problem?
Actions – What did you do? (Not your team, not your manager — you.)
Reasons – Why did you take those actions? What was your thought process?
Results – What was the outcome? Use numbers or facts if you have them.
Reflection – What did you learn from it? What would you do differently now?
Here’s an example.
Question: Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult client.
You could say:
Background: We had a client who was unhappy with our delivery speed. I was managing the relationship and could sense their frustration growing.
Actions: I scheduled a call to reset expectations, listened carefully to what really mattered to them, and aligned internally to reprioritise the work based on that.
Reasons: I knew we couldn’t fix everything overnight, but I figured that focusing on the 20% that mattered most would rebuild trust faster than excuses.
Results: Within two weeks, we had delivered the new scope. The client was happy again, and they renewed three months later.
Reflection: I realised I should’ve flagged the risks earlier, but the experience helped me become more proactive in managing expectations.
See how that works? It’s not about being perfect. It’s about showing how you think and how you act in real situations.
Most people just list what they did. BARRR helps you go one step further — by showing your thinking and growth.
A few tips:
- Don’t over-rehearse. Just remember the 5 steps.
- Use real stories, even if they’re messy. Real is better than polished.
- Focus on your role. It’s your interview, not your team’s.
Next time you prep for interviews, grab 2 or 3 stories from your past and run them through BARRR. You’ll be more confident, sound more structured, and stand out from the crowd.
That’s it. No magic, just a smart little tool that makes a big difference.
The French Recruiter 