Everyone struggles with answering questions on a job interview at one time or another. You may find your mind going blank, or you may be unsure how to answer a question without sounding arrogant or boastful. The Star Interview Method is used by millions to help them prepare for such a situation.
This article will focus on this method to help ease your mind during a job interview. Make sure to use the best job agency in your area to find your dream job.
What is the Star Interview Method?
If you use the Star Method for answering interview questions it can help you better answer those sometimes stressful interview questions during a job interview. But what is the Star Method, and how do you put it to use?
The Star Method is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. This method is best used when answering questions about your competency. These questions may be phrased as “Please give me an example of a time when you ____” or “describe a situation in which you ______.”
Following is a breakdown of the Star Interview Method:
- Situation: Detail an example of how you handled a challenging situation at your former or current place of employment, volunteer position, or any other relevant situation.
- Task: Detail your specific role and responsibility in that particular event.
- Action: Describe in detail (without going off-topic or giving too much information) how you handled the situation.
- Result: State the outcome of the situation. Include what you gained from the experience.
Tips on How to Prepare for an Interview Using the Star Interview Method
- Take a moment to thoroughly read the job description to ensure that you understand what specific job skills are required for the job in question so that you can tailor your answers to meet these requirements.
- Make a list of your qualifications that will fulfill the job description. This will help you focus on only those skills highlighted in the job description as well as those that will apply to that position.
- Make a list of possible interview questions. These include questions such as the following:
Describe a time you handled a stressful situation.
Give me an example of a time when you had to motivate or inspire your team or coworkers?
Provide an example of a time when you had to make a difficult decision?
Give me a detailed example of how you turned around a negative situation. - Write down your responses to common interview questions.
- Practice your answers out loud so that you will feel more comfortable during the interview process.
Example using the Star Interview Method
Sample Question: Describe a situation in which you had to deal with a teammate that was not pulling their share of the weight on a team project.
Sample Answer: When faced with conflict on a team project, I try to employ leadership skills while remaining calm and professional at all times. For example, co-workers were in a heated argument about their specific role on the team project. I arranged a meeting with myself and those two team members in which we calmly discussed the specific tasks and each member’s specific role in the project. It turned out that they each had more experience in the other’s specific task, so we agreed that they would reverse their roles for this particular task, thus making the result a resounding success!
Should you have further questions regarding the Star Interview Method, do not hesitate to contact Team Global/ MSM. We will assist you every step of the way in your job search. Call us today to schedule an initial appointment.