We know that job interviews can be a nerve-wracking experience, but we believe that having the right tools can provide you with the opportunity to feel more confident throughout the process. Whether you are a recent graduate, a mother, or a seasoned professional, mastering the STAR method can give you the confidence you need and improve your interview skills.
What is the STAR Method?
The STAR method allows you to discuss a specific experience in a logical way from situation to task to action to result in a way that will be memorable to an employer and allow you to stand out during the interview process.
Below, we have provided the steps you can follow to successfully use the STAR method to score your dream job:
S – Describe the situation or challenge that you faced while sharing any important or relevant details that may help to explain the circumstance. You should spend a fair amount of time on this part.
T – Briefly describe your responsibility or role in the situation and consider the main points that best illustrate the tasks that you needed to complete.
A – Explain the specific actions that you took to handle the circumstances. Make sure to highlight your personal contributions, especially if the situation involves working in a team, and provide an in-depth description of what you did.
R – Describe the outcome of your actions, what you learned, and how you grew because of the given situation or challenge. Make sure to try and interpret the results by utilizing numbers to ensure credibility and specifics that an employer may be curious about.
Why Should You Use the STAR Method During an Interview?
You may be wondering what makes this method different from just answering an interview question as you usually would, so let us explain. By using the STAR method, you can highlight your own unique skills and qualities that an employer may be looking for. To do this, you can use examples from work, home, or volunteering experiences. It also allows you to be more prepared for follow-up questions that an employer may ask. In addition, it shows that you are able to overcome certain situations and challenges with impressive results.
An Example of the STAR Method
There are many examples of ways that you can use the STAR method during your interviews. It is important to prepare ahead of time by thinking about potential situations and/or challenges that may be relevant to speak about during your conversation. This will also allow you to feel more confident and relaxed throughout the process. Once you have identified these examples, you can break them down by using the STAR method and recognize which details will be the most important to highlight throughout your interview.
To provide you with a clear understanding of the STAR method and set you up for a successful interview, we have provided an example of a potential employer question and response that uses the STAR method.
Employer question: “Tell me about a time that you faced a difficult situation.”
Response utilizing the STAR method:
Situation: “In my previous sales position, I faced a very heavy workload that was much different than the responsibilities from my previous jobs. Because I was unfamiliar with this, I had to find unique solutions that worked for me and allowed me to do my job to the best of my ability.”
Task: “Given the situation, I knew I was responsible for my work and took the time to research solutions that could help me to successfully manage my workload.”
Action: “After taking the time to decide what would work well for me, I decided to focus more on time management strategies, such as time blocking. In addition to this, I made sure to set goals that were both achievable and measurable.”
Result: “After applying these solutions, I was able to manage my workload in a more organized and efficient manner. In addition, my actions led to me being the top salesperson in the month of August as I sold $100,000 of product.”
We know that you will do great in your upcoming career process and our Career Services team is happy to help you throughout the process. To view more interview, resume, and basic career tips, please take time to learn more about our free-of-cost resources.
Sources:
National Careers Service
indeed.com
