Be an interview STAR

The STAR method is a technique to help you answer interview questions in a captivating and
powerful way. It is a method of telling a story that includes the facts about what you did in a
particular situation and this helps interviewers remember more of your answers.

The STAR method

S – stands for Situation

This is the background or setup of your story. What did you need to do, what was the job or what
situation did you find yourself in?

The interviewer will be looking for a recent situation or challenge you found yourself in.

T – stands for Task

This is where you describe what you needed to achieve, what the specific tasks were and your
responsibilities.

The interviewer will be looking to see what you were trying to achieve.

A – stands for Action

This is where you describe what you did. How did you approach the situation, overcome any
problems and apply your skills. How did you make sure the job was done successfully?

The interviewer will be looking for information on what you did, what skills you used and why you did
it that particular way.

R – stands for Results

This is where you share the results. Focus on the benefits, the impact and explain the outcome of
your actions. What were the results for the business or employer?

The interviewer will be looking for how your actions impacted positively on the results

A STAR example

Interviewer question: “What sort of things were you doing when you were working as a
concreter?”

S - I was employed for six months by Big Construction Concrete and Bricklaying as a
tradesman’s assistant
T - My role included mixing cement and mortar, picking up materials in a light rigid truck, setting
out and laying slabs, speaking with customers, taking measurements, carrying bricks and
generally supporting the 4 or 5 qualified tradies on site.
A - I was always punctual, listened to instructions and learned the job quickly and I made sure the
boss always knew which project I was working on and how to reach me …
R - As a result my employer was really happy with me and helped me to get my next job with … and
I had the opportunity to work on some major commercial construction projects.
Building your STAR story

Your story should be around 2 minutes long and delivered with energy and enthusiasm in a friendly
way about a real experience you have had. The experience does not have to be work-related
(although this does help) as long as it describes the relevant skill or behaviour the employer is looking
for.

STAR stories are great when they include action words. Following is a list of action words you can
include in your next STAR story.

SKILL SET ACTION WORDS

Administration skills Administered, Coordinated, Designed, Established, Evaluated, Interpreted,
Interviewed, Managed, Mediated, Negotiated, Organised, Oversaw, Prepared,
Planned, Purchased, Supervised
Helping skills Accompanied, Advocated, Aided, Assisted, Assumed, Clarified,
Coached, Collaborated, Counselled, Demonstrated, Educated, Ensured, Facilitated,
Familiarised, Guided, Helped, Increased, Involved, Maintained, Motivated, Offered,
Participated, Provided, Reduced, Represented, Reviewed, Served, Set up, Shared,
Suggested
Communication skills Addressed, Arranged, Attended, Collaborated, Committed, Demonstrated,
Described, Developed, Discussed, Drafted, Edited, Empathised, Facilitated, Handled,
Influenced, Informed, Interacted, Interpreted, Interviewed, Invited, Listened,
Motivated, Negotiated, Networked, Persuaded, Presented, Promoted,
Time management Administered, Developed, Directed, Generated, Improved, Initiated, Increased,
skills Promoted, Reduced, Consolidated
Financial skills Administered, Allocated, Analysed, Appraised, Assessed, Audited, Balanced,
Budgeted, Calculated, Computed, Developed, Forecasted, Managed, Marketed,
Planned, Prepared, Purchased, Sold
Organisational skills Analysed, Applied, Approved, Arranged, Coordinated, Catalogued, Classified,
Collected, Compiled, Dispatched, Generated, Handled, Inspected, Monitored,
Organised, Planned, Prepared, Processed, Purchased, Recorded, Specified, Validated
Technical skills Adjusted, Altered, Assembled, Built, Calculated, Designed, Developed, Fabricated,
Installed, Maintained, Measured, Negotiated, Obtained, Operated, Produced,
Promoted, Remodelled, Renovated, Repaired, Restored, Rotated, Solved, Upgraded,

Common interview questions

While different industries will often include specific questions, here is a list of the most common
interview questions:

How do you understand the role being offered?

What do you think is required of you in this role?
Why are you interested in the role?
How do your skills and experience match the role?
What achievements and accomplishments are you particularly proud of?
What do you consider to be your strengths and weaknesses?
How do you work as part of a team?
How do you approach problems and challenges?