The STAR Technique: Your Key to Landing Your Dream Job

Congratulations! You've taken the first step in finding a new job by tailoring your CV and writing a killer covering letter. But now comes the dreaded interview process.
 
Job interviews can be nerve-wracking, especially when you're trying to showcase your skills and experience to a potential employer. Don't let anxiety and sleepless nights get the best of you! The key to success is preparation, and the job description holds the clues to the competencies and experiences the recruiter is looking for.
 
In this blog, we'll walk you through the STAR technique, a well-known method for structuring your answers to competency-based questions in a clear and concise way.
 
Remember to keep your responses short, avoid jargon, and focus on your individual role and actions. By identifying work experiences and applying the STAR acronym (Situation, Task, Action, Result), you'll be well prepared for any interview form, confident in your ability to showcase your skills and experience and be able to impress the recruiter with specific and quantifiable results.
 
What is the STAR technique?
The STAR technique is a method of answering behavioural interview questions by providing specific examples of how you handled a particular situation in the past. Each letter in the acronym represents a different part of your response:
 
Situation: Describe the situation or problem you faced
Task: Explain the specific task or challenge you were given
Action: Describe the actions you took to address the situation or task
Result: Explain the outcome or results of your actions
The purpose of the STAR technique is to provide structured and detailed answers to interview questions, giving the interviewer a better understanding of your abilities and how you approach challenges.
 
How to use the STAR technique

• Listen carefully to the question and make sure you understand what the interviewer is asking.
• Identify a specific example from your past experience that relates to the question.
• Break down your response into the four parts of the STAR acronym: Situation, Task, Action, and Result.
• Be specific and provide details, but also keep your answer concise and relevant to the question.

 
Let's use an example question to demonstrate how to use the STAR technique
 
Question: "Tell me about a time when you had to handle a difficult customer."
Listen carefully: The interviewer is asking for an example of how you handled a difficult customer in the past.
Identify a specific example: Think of a situation where you had to deal with a customer who was upset or difficult to work with.
 
So, you could respond as follows:-

• Situation: "I worked as a customer service representative for a large retail company."
• Task: "One day, a customer came into the store with a complaint about a defective product that they had purchased."
• Action: "I listened to the customer's complaint and apologized for the inconvenience. I then offered to replace the product or give them a refund. I also made sure to follow up with the customer after the issue was resolved to ensure their satisfaction."
• Result: "The customer was pleased with the resolution and thanked me for my help. They even left a positive review on our company's website."

 
Remember to provide specific details about the situation, your actions, and the results.
 
Here are my 4 tips for using the STAR technique effectively

1. Practice using the technique before the interview. Think of specific examples from your past experience that relate to common interview questions.
2. Use concrete examples and quantify the results whenever possible. For example, if you increased sales in your previous job, mention the exact percentage or dollar amount.
3. Tailor your answers to the job requirements and company culture. Make sure your examples demonstrate the skills and experience that are most relevant to the job you're applying for.
4. Be honest and don't exaggerate or make up stories. Interviewers can usually tell when you're not being truthful, so it's better to stick to real examples from your past experience.

 
In conclusion, the STAR technique is an effective method for answering behavioural interview questions and showcasing your skills and experience to potential employers.
 
By breaking down your responses into four key parts - Situation, Task, Action, and Result - you can provide structured and detailed answers that give interviewers a better understanding of your abilities.
 
Remember to practice using the STAR technique before your interview, tailor your answers to the job requirements and company culture, and be honest and specific in your responses.
 
By following these tips and using the STAR technique effectively, you'll be well on your way to interview success. Good luck with your next interview!