Interview Tips: Using the STAR Method

STAR_method

Situation: Set the scene of the example you are going to provide. Let the interviewer know of any details of the specific event (time, day, who was involved, what was the issue etc). This allows the interviewer to fully understand what the situation is before you get into how you impacted it.



Task: Now that you have set the scene, let the interviewer know what your responsibility was. How were you involved in the situation and what were your specific responsibilities? (Tip: try to not generalize by using terms like "we" "our" or "the team" ; this provides confusion around what your specific role in the scenario was).



Action: Describe the actions you took to make a change, take charge, or complete the task for the example you are providing. This is where you allow the interviewer to see your problem-solving skills and how they translate to actions.



Results: Now that you have walked the interviewer through your example or story, don't forget to let them know how you made an impact. What happened after the actions you took? You can also talk about any "lessons learned" during this time. If you are talking about a time where you made a mistake, what lessons did you learn for the future? Always remember to close it out with your results, accomplishments, or lessons learned.