Interview Tip #15
Use the STAR method in answering questions!
Prepare to be asked about times in the past when you used a specific skill and use the STAR method to tell stories with a clear Situation, Task, Action, and Result.
You can use the STAR interview method to prepare for behavioral interviews — a technique that helps you structure your response to behavioral interview questions. Using this method, you create a deliberate story arc that your interviewer can easily follow. Here’s how it works:
✌️✌️✌️ Situation
What is the context of your story?
In setting the situation, you are telling your listener when or where this event took place. For example, “We were working on a six-month contract for a high-value client when our agency merged with another, larger firm…”
✌️✌️✌️ Task
What was your role in this situation?
For example, “It was my role to lead the transition for my group while also communicating with our client to keep the project on track.”
✌️✌️✌️ Action
What did you do?
For example, “I set up weekly check-ins with the client to update them on the progress of the merger. This cemented an important level of trust between us. I also had regular one-on-ones with each person on the team, both to assess how they were handling the change and to make sure we would meet our deadlines.”
✌️✌️✌️ Result
What did your actions lead to?
For example, “We ended up completing the project on time, meeting all of their specifications. It was incredibly rewarding to navigate a lot of change and succeed under pressure.”
