STAR Interview Techniques

Secured an interview? Research the STAR interview method to ace your interview from Warwick Employment Group.

Do you have an interview coming up and are unsure of how to show off your skills without rambling or going off topic? Don’t worry - the STAR method is here to help!  

This article will explore how to use the STAR method to structure effective responses to interview questions, in order to help you keep a clear head in your next interview. 

What is the STAR method? Why is it useful? 

The STAR method is a way to structure your answers in interviews by explaining the Situation, Task, Action and Result of a real-life example to clearly demonstrate your skills and experience.  

To break it down further: 

Situation – Set the scene of your chosen example; what was the context? 

Task – Describe your responsibility or the goal/challenge of the situation 

Action – Explain the actions you took  

Result – What was the outcome of your actions? What did you learn? 

The STAR method is particularly useful for keeping your answers focused and relevant – you can answer the question adequately without talking too much and straying off track.  

It also helps you to go into interviews feeling confident and prepared, knowing you have a strong bank of examples to use that illustrate your different skills.  

Types of questions that STAR works well for 

The STAR technique is particularly useful for answering competency and behavioural type questions, which employers ask to find out whether you have the skills and qualities needed for the job. 

These questions are also used because understanding the way you have dealt with previous situations is often a good indicator of future performance.  

Typical competency or behavioural questions usually start with phrases such as: 

• “Tell us about a time when…” 
• “Give an example of…” 
• “Describe a situation where…” 

Understanding the STAR method 

Now you understand the basics of the STAR method and the types of questions it can be used for; here is how to approach each part of the answer effectively: 

Situation 

Start by briefly describing the context of your example. The trick here is to not go into too much detail – 1-2 sentences should be enough to help the employer understand the background.  

Task 

Explain what you were trying to achieve, or the objective or challenge you had been set, to highlight the scope of your involvement to the employer. It’s important not to confuse this part with the ‘Action’ section of your answer - you simply want to explain what your responsibilities were in order to set you up to talk about your actions. Try to talk about your specific task, and not just the overall team’s.  

Action 

Arguably this is the most important part of your answer.  

Be very clear about the actions you took to resolve the situation, using active language such as ‘I organised’ or I ‘created’ to help keep the focus on you and your individual contribution.  

Result 

Wrap up your example by explaining the outcome and subsequent impact of your actions.  

Mention any feedback you received, skills you developed, and the difference that your efforts made to get to a positive result.   

Even if the outcome wasn’t ideal, you can still explain to the employer what you learned and how you might do it differently next time – this is a great way to demonstrate your self-awareness and commitment to development.  

How to prepare STAR examples 

When you have an interview coming up, start by carefully reviewing the job description and person specification to identify the key skills and qualities the employer is looking for – this will help you to anticipate possible areas of questioning.  

Once you’ve highlighted these, you can begin by thinking about examples from your own experiences that demonstrate each one.  

Common skills might include communication, teamwork, problem solving, time management and attention to detail. 

Even if you have just graduated, you likely have more experience than you think. 

Reflect on things like university projects, part-time jobs, volunteering or extracurricular activities. 

Personal experiences, such as managing responsibilities at home or overcoming a challenge, can also be valuable if they show transferable skills. For each skill ask yourself: ‘When have I demonstrated this and what did I do?’ 

You could use a table or a grid to help organise your ideas.  

Use the skill areas as column headings and note down the relevant examples underneath.  

This approach can help you spot any gaps and also gives you a clear set of STAR stories to draw on for your interview. 

Things to avoid 

When using the STAR method, there are a few common pitfalls to watch out for. 

One of the most frequent is spending too much time describing the situation, rather than focusing on the specific actions you took – the employer wants to know what YOU did.  

It’s also important to avoid examples that are too general or vague, or those where you didn’t play enough of a role, as it will be difficult for the employer to judge how you actually contributed to the task. 

Lastly, many candidates forget to talk about the ‘result’ section of their STAR answer; always make sure that you complete your example by highlighting what you achieved or learned. 

Example STAR answer 

Below you will find an example answer for the question “Tell us about a time you had to communicate something to someone, and you felt that it had gone well. Why do you think it was so successful?” Use it as inspiration to help you structure your own examples: 

Situation 

“During my time volunteering as a Community Adviser with Citizen’s Advice, on one occasion a client came in who spoke quite limited English and was visibly distressed about their financial situation. They were struggling to pay their utility bills and were unsure what help they could receive.” 

Task 

“My task was to help the client understand their options and guide them through the process of applying to financial support, whilst ensuring they felt listened to, supported and informed, despite the language barrier.” 

Action 

“I made sure to communicate with the client clearly, avoiding complex terms, and also remained calm and empathetic to their situation. I managed to find some relevant leaflets in their native language as a visual aid, and used a translation app to make sure they received the crucial information they required. I checked their understanding throughout by asking questions and encouraging them to ask for clarification if they needed. Where necessary, I wrote down key steps and contact information for them to take away.” 

Result 

“After our conversation, the client left visibly more relaxed and they were very thankful to me for taking the time to assist them. They managed to successfully apply for the financial support they needed and my manager complimented me on my handling of the situation. I think my communication was so successful as I adapted my approach to suit the client, and remained patient and empathetic throughout.” 

Final tips 

• Practice – try sounding out your STAR examples in advance with friends or family, or even in front of the mirror 
• Don’t memorise – you don’t want to come across as if you are reading from a script, so it’s best not to completely memorise your answers. Just get comfortable with the structure and your own examples so that you feel confident to answer in a natural way 
• Stay calm – even if you forget something, the STAR method can help you get back on track! 

With a little preparation, the STAR method is a powerful tool to help you make sure you present your experiences clearly and confidently in an interview. 

By using real examples to highlight your skills, you’ll give employers a good sense of what you can bring to the role and make a great impression. Good luck!