How to use STAR method to ace your interview

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In an interview, they ask, “Why should we hire you? “or “What will you do if “.These are all very tricky questions and can come in your way of getting a desired job. But if you prepare to answer these behavioral questions, you can go a long way. Here comes the STAR Method technique that will help you answer all these questions in a well-planned and structural manner. Although they are apparent and to the point with real-life examples. By asking these questions, the interviewer wants to know how you would handle such situations in your job.

What is the STAR Method?

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It is a method to answer all behavioral questions structurally. This method also shows that you can tackle situations at your workplace. It has four components:

Situation

Describe the problem and challenge you faced clearly and concisely. Set the stage of your story with every vital detail, but be careful only to mention relevant ones. Stay calm.

Task

This part concerns your role or part of the situation or challenge you describe.

Action

Explain how you handled and overcame the crucial challenge well. Focus and emphasize your efforts in carrying out actions. During an interview, this part of the star methodology will portray your challenge-dealing capacity.

Result

In this part, you will tell about the outcomes of your actions. Even if it’s a team action, emphasize your role to get desired achievements. Try to mention if your action has increased company benefits in data or records. It will be more trustworthy and easy to impress the interviewer.

When to use the STAR Method?

This method is used to answer real-life situation-based questions, which are called behavioural questions. The hiring manager asks these questions to know whether you fit the job. You can impress them by giving well-planned answers using the STAR method and become successful.

How do you Prepare for an Interview Using the Star Method?

While preparing for an interview, you must start with stories explaining your past experiences about how you tackled tough situations on the job or how you overcame challenges benefitting your organization or company. Use all components of the STAR method to plan your answer in parts. Here are the steps you can follow to use STAR Methodology successfully:

View Detailed Job Description

While applying for a job, you should keenly look for what the employer is looking for in a candidate to prepare yourself and get stories from your experience or your understanding of the role required only. You should only portray relevant points without wasting the interviewer’s time, and you can also emphasize that your past matches the role required.

Real-Life Strong and Versatile Stories

To use the STAR Method wisely, you should be ready with a few real-life stories. The stories should have versatility; otherwise, at some time, you’ll feel stuck at a point. Your content should be clear and concise; otherwise, this methodology will not work. We never know what the interviewer will ask, but we can prepare scenes around different topics.

Note Down a Few Key Details.

You can take notes with you during the interview with minimum points if you feel nervous that you’ll need to remember. If you have some data regarding increased sales or any details about benefits you provided to past companies, you must add them.

Practice Narration

STAR method will surely help you with the narration part, boosting your confidence to another level, but practice is most important. Take various situations and practice in front of the mirror. It will make you feel more comfortable and prepared for the interview.

Take a Pause

You are often fully prepared during an interview, but you must pause and gather all important points, presenting the whole scene in your mind. If you stop for a while, take a deep breath, and then start again, there is no harm.

What are the Uses of the STAR Method Questions?

The use of this methodology is to answer behavioral interview questions. These are questions asked to know whether you fit the role or not. The interviewer asks you how you will handle a real-life situation at the workplace or job.

Examples of Behavioral questions

Describe one of your professional achievements.
How do you handle pressure at the workplace?
What would you do if you argued with your colleague regarding a difference of opinion?
What will be your action to meet the deadline during a team crisis?
Describe a time when you motivated your team to achieve results. What was your approach?
Tell me about the time when you failed to achieve the goal. How have you kept yourself motivated?
What was your plan of action when your vital resource left the team in the middle of a project?

Where Can the Star Technique be Used in an Interview?

This technique is used in most organizations, including:

Government
Civil services
Banks
NHS

Example of STAR method question and answer

Question1:describe about the time you failed. How did you handle it?

Answer: The key is to be honest and focus on what you learned from the situation and how you evolved as a better professional. Just follow the methodology steps;

SITUATION

After my promotion to senior manager, I took charge of a previous employee. Shortly after that, a significant client’s project came with a very close deadline compared to what it needed to complete.

TASK

I was very enthusiastic to get my first project at the new post, so I agreed to it, but soon, I realized it would be possible to complete the task in a given time.so I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to deliver the desired result.

ACTION

The next day, I was with a client, apologizing that I could not deliver work by the given deadline. I requested them to increase the deadline, and fortunately, they gave me a few more days.

RESULT

I worked hard to finish the work within the deadline and delivered the project before the extended deadline. However, during this course, I realized I should never overpromise the client regarding the timeline. I got much better at managing time than before.

Question2:Tell me about a time when you handled multiple priorities at work simultaneously.

Answer:

SITUATION

While working as an assistant manager at a tech company, one of my colleagues left the job for a new opportunity. My manager asked me to take over some of his responsibilities until the new joint takes charge.

TASK

Firstly, I reprioritized my projects and clients to make space for upcoming ones. At first, I had to juggle a lot to manage my projects and my colleagues due to many unfamiliarities.

ACTION

I worked on my roles and reprioritized them with the guidance of my manager. To give me more time, I considered my availability and company goals. I also tried to automate a few tasks to get more time for other work.

RESULT

The automation process and reprioritizing worked for me. I was successfully handling various responsibilities till the new employee came. I became vastly more efficient during this juggling process.

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Conclusion

So, when you become an expert in using the STAR method, you will appear more confidently in interviews. Instead of wondering what to say, you will be far more proficient in dealing with situation-based questions. With the STAR method, the most critical decision is to choose the right example that is more relevant and the proper structure that is more concise and clear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.1 What is the complete form of STAR?

Ans. The complete form of STAR :

Situation
Task
Action
Result

Q.2 Who created the STAR technique?

Ans. DDI, a leadership consulting firm, creates the STAR technique. They say it’s the world’s most popular way for fair and accurate evaluation during interviews.

Q.3 Why do interviewers use the STAR method?

Ans. It helps to create a positive environment for candidates, showing that we value your experience. Moreover, it helps the interviewer know whether you are a right fit for the job.

Q.4 What factors make answers great using the STAR method?

Ans. The factors that make the answer great are-

Choice of the right example
Choice of the proper structure.

5. How will you answer “Why did you leave your last job?

Ans.” Why did you leave your last job?” is a crucial yet classic question in an interview that anybody should answer carefully. Your answer can take you both ways, losing or losing, depending on how wise you are while answering.