STAR Method
Situation. Task. Action. Result. A simple structure for behavioral interview answers.
Describe the situation or task you needed to address. Use a specific event, not a general pattern of what you've done over time. Give enough detail for the interviewer to follow it, and think of it as the problem you were trying to solve.
What goal were you working toward? How did you think about approaching it?
Describe the actions you personally took, with enough detail to be concrete. Keep the focus on you, not the team, use "I" rather than "we." What specific steps did you take, and what was your particular contribution?
Describe the outcome. Don't be shy about taking credit. What happened, how did it end, what did you accomplish or learn? Aim for more than one positive result if you can point to it honestly.
How to Prepare
- Recall recent situations that show favorable behaviors: work experience, leadership, teamwork, initiative, planning.
- Prepare a short description of each situation, ready to add detail if asked.
- Give each story a clear beginning, middle, and end, i.e. the situation, your action, and the result.
- Be honest. Don't embellish or omit parts of the story, it tends to show.
- Be specific to one event rather than generalizing across several.
- Vary your examples, don't pull them all from the same area of your life.
Practice Questions
- Tell me about a time you faced a challenge where the best way forward wasn't clear cut. How did you decide?
- Give an example of something you tried to accomplish and failed at.
- Give an example of a time you showed initiative and took the lead.
- Tell me about a time you motivated others.
- Tell me about a time you delegated a project effectively.
- Give an example of using fact-finding skills to solve a problem.