STAR Method of Interviewing

The STAR method is an effective way to answer behavior-based interview questions. These are questions that start with phrases like: 

“Tell me about a time when…”

“Give me an example of…”

“Describe a situation where you had to…”

To prepare for these types of questions, practice by using the STAR Method, which stands for:

S – Situation (20%)

Start by explaining the situation to your interviewer(s) so they understand the context of the example you are going to provide later in your answer. Though it’s not necessary to explain every detail, this should make up about 20% of your response.

T – Task (10%)

This is where you want to describe the task you were given. This could be a goal you were asked to achieve, a challenge you had to overcome, or a problem you fixed. This part doesn’t require much depth and should only be about 10% of your response.

A – Action (60%)

Next, you want to outline the specific action(s) you took to achieve the goal or complete the task. Be sure to focus on the actions you personally took (even if you worked as part of a team) and highlight specific skills or character traits you demonstrated along the way. This is the most important part of your response, so this should account for 60% of your answer.

R – Results (10%)

You want to end by showing the results or outcomes that were a direct result of your efforts. If you can, include quantifiable results, like numbers that help your interviewer(s) understand the overall impact you provided. The result doesn’t need to be lengthy, so aim for it to be roughly 10% of your reply.