STAR Method
S.T.A.R. is a useful acronym and an effective formula for structuring your behavioral interview response.
Formula
- Situation (20%)
- explain the situation so that the interviewer understands the context of the example
- don’t need to explain every detail
- Task (10%)
- talk about the task that you took responsibility for completing or the goal of your efforts
- Action (60%)
- describe the actions that you personally took to complete the task or reach the end goal
- highlight skills or character traits addressed in the question
- Result (10%)
- explain the positive outcomes or results generated by your actions or efforts
- important to highlight quantifiable results
- may emphasize what you learned from the experience or key takeaways
Examples
Example
“tell me about a time when you demonstrated leadership”
- provide context for your interviewer and demonstrate your skills through an engaging example:
- Situation: When I was a junior in high school, there were several students in my math class who were struggling with some of the more difficult concepts.
- Task: With an upcoming national exam, I was asked by my math teacher to start an after school session to assist the other students.
- Action: I stayed after school twice a week to review class materials and homework. I created a comprehensive study guide. I demonstrated the best methods for solving difficult problems, explained strategies that worked for me, and developed new problems to help them practice.
- Result: Our class average for the national exam was the highest it had been in over ten years, and overall the students I helped were able to develop a better understanding and appreciation for math.