What is the STAR method when interviewing?

As we’ve shared in our job interview preparation advice, the key steps in the STAR method for interview answers are:
Situation: Describe to your interviewer a relevant situation you have experienced. For example: You were responsible for a colleague who was making a lot of errors processing product orders.
Task: Summarise for your interviewer what you decided to do. For example: You resolved to create a template to further guide your colleague on order processing.
Action: Describe what you did. You walked through the guide with your colleague, for example.
Result: Explain the outcome of your actions. Your colleague reduced his error rate from 2.1 per cent to 0.4 per cent.
STAR method examples – full answers to interview questions
Interview question: Can you give an example of a problem you have helped your organisation resolve?
Interview question: Give an example of how you showed initiative and took the lead?
Interview question: Can you talk about a difficult decision you’ve made in the past year?
STAR method interview questions and answers
The following examples highlight how you can incorporate different aspects of the STAR method to prepare for common job interview questions.
Tell us about a mistake you made at work that you still remember today
With the STAR method, you can also describe what happened after your mistake. Remember to focus on the quantifiable results that ensued. For example, "I completed a short customer service course. Since then, I’ve led our customer service team to respond to customer enquiries 30 per
Describe a time when you experienced conflict in the workplace
Talk me through a situation where you have worked under pressure
What is an unpopular decision you made at work? Why did you make it?
What’s the closest you’ve come to experiencing burnout at work? How did you address that?
Benefits of using the STAR method
- STAR method answers help you demonstrate how you can add value to an organisation;
- Job candidates who use the STAR method often give more specific and explicit interview answers;
- When you master the STAR method, you make a confident impression in interviews. That’s because you know what to say. You know why you are saying it and you know how to say it;
- The STAR method is great for self-discovery. It's a way to ask questions of yourself you haven't before. By asking these questions, you uncover high-value insights about yourself to share with your interviewer;
- You can also showcase strong communication skills with the STAR method. It helps you answer interview questions clearly, which shows your potential employer you can bring valuable communication skills to the organisation.
Practice your STAR method answers
When using the STAR method for answering questions it's common to discover that your written answers sound somewhat unnatural when you initially recite them verbally. Refine your answers through repetition, until they sound natural. Also practice them until you have memorised the main messages.
Use the STAR method in cover letters, resumes and job applications, too
Consider this information a resource to revisit and recycle throughout your job search process. Good luck.
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