STAR is an acronym for a formula which can help you structure your responses. The letters stand forSituation,Task,Action, andResult. Most questions center on your past or current attitudes, and your work, academic, or service experiences. When talking about these subjects, choose specific examples to illustrate your answer. Describe the Situation you were in, the Task you were asked to accomplish, the Action you took and why, and the Results of your actions. This will help the interviewer follow your "story" and see your accomplishments.
Entry Level Candidates
Here's an example of a response that uses this method to address an employer's questions about a student's lackluster GPA:
Situation: Ientered my sophom*ore year with a low GPA. I had always done well in school, but I didn't handle the transition to college well.
Task:I knew that if I wanted to succeed, I had to develop better study habits and manage my time better.
Action: I created a calendar and marked the due dates for all of my assignments and tests. Then I set aside certain hours each day for studying, allowing more for peak times like mid-terms or finals. I made up my mind not to change the plan until after the first semester grades so I could give it a chance to work.
Result:My grades improved immediately; I used this system for the whole year and earned a 3.2 while still having time for other activities. My GPA has been strong ever since.
As you can see from the above example, the STAR method can help you answer tough questions clearly and concisely. Practice using this method as you prepare for your interview so you can shine when it really matters.
Experienced Candidates
Situation:One of my duties in my previous position was the responsibility of managing various events.
Task:I noticed that attendance at these events had dropped by 30% over the past 3 years and wanted to do something to improve these numbers.
Action:I designed a new promotional packet to go out to the local community businesses. I also included a rating sheet to collect feedback on our events and organized internal round table discussions to raise awareness of the issue within our company.
Result:We utilized some of the wonderful ideas we received from the community, made our internal systems more efficient and visible and raised attendance by 18% the first year.
FAQs
What STAR stands for
- situation - the situation you had to deal with.
- task - the task you were given to do.
- action - the action you took.
- result - what happened as a result of your action and what you learned from the experience.
Situation: Set the scene and give the necessary details of your example. Task: Describe what your responsibility was in that situation. Action: Explain exactly what steps you took to address it. Result: Share what outcomes your actions achieved.
What is the STAR formula for interviewing? ›
The STAR method is a structured manner of responding to a behavioral-based interview question by discussing the specific situation, task, action, and result of the situation you are describing.
Can you give me an example of when you have dealt with a challenging situation? ›
Some examples of situations you can discuss include: A time when you dealt with a lot of customer complaints and how you rectified the issue. A time when you had to work long hours to meet a deadline. A time when you had to deal with a difficult colleague when working on a project.
What are the 5 STAR interview questions? ›
The most common questions are:
- Tell me about a time when you were faced with a challenging situation. ...
- Do you usually set goals at work? ...
- Give me an example of a time you made a mistake at work.
- Have you ever faced conflict with a coworker? ...
- Tell me about a time when you handled the pressure well.
Altogether, your STAR interview answer should be around three minutes long. Try to keep the first two sections brief and go into more detail for the 'action' and 'result' sections. Pause very briefly between each section in order to add clarity and structure to your answer.
What is the STAR method to structure your answers? ›
STAR stands for: situation, task, action, result. This method will help you prepare clear and concise responses using real-life examples. Hiring managers ask behavioural interview questions to determine whether a candidate is the right fit for a job.
What is the smart technique for interviewing? ›
SMART interviewing objectives involve a structured and goal-oriented approach using the Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound framework. This ensures well-defined, measurable, realistic, job-relevant goals with a clear time frame for the interview process.
How do you start a STAR answer? ›
The STAR technique is a method of answering questions that is comprised of four steps:
- Situation: Describe the situation and when it took place.
- Task: Explain the task and what was the goal.
- Action: Provide details about the action you took to attain this.
- Result: Conclude with the result of your action.
"In my previous project management role, I had a meeting with team members who had conflicting ideas about project timelines. To ensure I understood each person's perspective, I actively listened to their concerns, repeated their key points back to them, and asked clarifying questions.
The STAR Technique stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result, and is a useful structure for answering application form and interview questions, to highlight examples of your experience.
How do you answer the biggest weakness question in an interview? ›
What are your weaknesses?
- Getting caught up in details.
- Unable to let go of projects.
- Trouble saying “no” to others.
- Managing missed deadlines.
- Little experience in certain areas.
- Lacking confidence at times.
- Difficulty asking for help.
- Working with certain personalities.
To introduce yourself professionally in an interview, start with a polite greeting, state your full name, mention your educational background and relevant work experience, highlight key skills and strengths, briefly share your career objective, and express gratitude for the opportunity.
What is an example of the STAR interview method customer service? ›
Examples of S.T.A.R. interview questions for customer service
- Q: Tell me about a time you had to handle a customer complaint.
- Q: Tell me about a time when you needed to handle a lot of customers at once.
- Q: Describe a time that you provided great customer service.
General Examples
- Working overtime and/or weekends with or without being asked.
- Doing something outside your job description because a responsible party was unavailable.
- Taking responsibility for someone else's error and resolving it in a positive way for everyone involved; your employer particularly.
Relate your greatest strength using the STAR method
Create an impactful response using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) Method. Begin by relating a specific situation where you used your greatest strength. Describe the task you tackled, the actions you took, and the ultimate results.
