Master the Art of Interviewing with the S.T.A.R. Method

Turn dreaded behavioral-based interview questions into opportunities to shine

In my experience, people can be divided into two categories: those who dread interviews and those who relish the chance to share their accomplishments. This usually boils down to the ability to effectively articulate one's experiences when confronted with those challenging interview questions.

What if I told you there's a secret to tackling any behavioral-based interview question with ease? This technique will elevate your interview skills to new heights. Let me introduce you to the S.T.A.R. method. S.T.A.R. stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result, and this simple framework may even make interviews enjoyable.

Let's delve into the various components:

1. Set the Scene with the Situation
2. This is where you paint a picture for the interviewer, describing the context, your role, and the problem at hand.
3. Describe Your Task
4. The task refers to your specific responsibilities in solving the problem or achieving the goal.
5. Emphasize Your Actions
6. Here, you detail the steps you took to accomplish the goal or reach a resolution.
7. Showcase the Results
8. Finally, you explain the outcome, the lessons learned, and any opportunities that emerged.

You might be thinking, "This sounds great in theory, but how do I actually put it into practice?" Let's compare two examples, one without the S.T.A.R. method and one with it:

Scenario One: Without the S.T.A.R. Method

Interviewer: Tell me about a time you had to work with a team to complete a project.

Candidate: In my software developer boot camp, we worked on many projects.

Interviewer: Can you tell me more about those projects?

Candidate: Yes, one of our projects was to build out a point-of-sale system.

Interviewer: Can you tell me more about that?

Candidate: Well, the project was supposed to last a week. We were able to complete it. It was great, and we learned a lot.

Scenario Two: With the S.T.A.R. Method

Interviewer: Tell me about a time you had to work with a team to complete a project.

Candidate: (Situation) During my software developer boot camp, my team of three was assigned a project to create a point-of-sale system for a local business. (Task) My specific role was to implement the buying functionality using .NET MVC and Entity Framework. (Action) Our team used Trello to manage tasks, breaking down each feature into smaller, workable chunks, and updating the rest of the team on our progress. (Result) As a result, we completed the project ahead of schedule, using the extra time to test the functionality and improve the user interface.

Notice the difference between these two interactions? The first scenario is likely to leave the interviewer feeling exhausted from prying for more information and struggling to understand the candidate's value. In contrast, the second scenario offers the interviewer a wealth of insight into the candidate's abilities and experience.

If you're not convinced yet, let's chat about how to get started with the S.T.A.R. method for your next interview:

1. Reflect on 3-5 scenarios from your experience that involve teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, conflict resolution, and overcoming failure.
2. Research common interview questions for the position you're applying for.
3. Practice framing your scenarios using the S.T.A.R. method and respond to the questions you researched.

Now, during the interview, you'll have a solid framework (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) and a repertoire of examples to draw from. It's time to stop reading, start practicing, and land that dream job!