Ace your job interview with the STAR interview method
We’ve all been there. You’re in an interview, and hear “Tell me about a time when…” and your mind goes blank. It can be tough to think of an example that both answers the question as well as progressing into an easy-to-follow anecdote with a clear takeaway.
Most job interviews have a segment for competency or behavioural questions which are designed to assess an applicant’s experience and qualities.
Successful candidates will provide a story-like response using the STAR interview method – a proven method to answer those dreaded situational questions in a systematic way while providing the all-important details. Read on to learn how you can use this simple technique for your next competency based job interview.
What is the STAR interview method?
The STAR technique helps you structure your answers. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result. Each stage of this acronym acts as a step that you can take to provide comprehensive answers in your interview.
Situation: Describe the situation you were faced with, whether this is from a previous job, volunteer experience, or any relevant event. This will give context to your answer.
Task: Explain the task you were faced with. What was the end goal you were trying to achieve? What was your role in this?
Action: Describe the steps you took to complete this task. What did you contribute to achieving this goal? Focus on the steps you took personally, instead of the team as a whole.
Result: What happened as a result, and what did you learn from this? Is there anything you would do differently next time? Make sure your answer has a positive result.
The answer to these questions will usually be between a minute and three minutes long. When using this technique, make sure to be as specific as possible without rambling. If your example has a negative result, use it to highlight your strengths in the face of adversity.
What are typical STAR method interview questions?
The questions will usually start along the lines of “tell me about a time when you…” This will be followed by a time where you demonstrated competencies that were listed on the job description, so it is important to be familiar with these so that you can prepare. Example STAR interview questions include:
Tell me about a time you were under immense pressure at the workplace. How did you handle it?
Tell me about a difficult decision you made at work. What did you do?
Describe a time when you disagreed with your boss. How did you resolve it?
Tell me about a time you failed. What lessons did you learn?
A lot of the questions will require you to think about past work experiences you’ve had. For those applying for internships, apprenticeships, or their first job after education, you can still talk about extra-curricular activities or school projects you have been involved in. We recommend taking the time to prepare some sample answers so you have some great examples to quote.
How to prepare for a competency based interview
Note down recent situations where you have demonstrated positive behaviour or taken decisive action – especially those that involve work experience, team effort, or service delivery. Create short descriptions for each.
Make sure your story has a beginning, middle, and conclusion using the STAR method detailed above.
Be direct and honest in your answer – although you should give a detailed account of what happened, avoid overexaggerating any part of the story.
Create a list of different examples you can use to avoid repeating the same situation over multiple questions.
For further guidance on interview preparation, take a look at 5 Steps to Delivering Your Best Interview, browse our Careers Guidance page, or get in touch with your Sanctuary consultant.
