The STAR technique is the go-to method for ensuring your interview answers are well structured, layered, and content-rich examples of your work that will impress your interviewers and take you one step closer to getting that job offer.

Most people don’t prepare for their interviews, or only prepare in a half-hearted manner by rehearsing a few questions in the mirror. The result is most interview answers are a bumbling word-vomit of wishy washy statements that only half answer the questions.

The STAR technique is the trick to help you tell your entire story! Watch this video of me breaking down the STAR technique or continue reading to learn more.

The STAR technique has four parts:

Situation

The situation is all about setting the scene. This is the introduction to your fantastic story, providing the necessary context for interviewers to understand your brilliant experience. Provide enough context and backstory so that the interviewer doesn’t guess or make incorrect assumptions about your experience.

Situation: what to consider

Where did it happen?
When was it?
Which company? What was your role?
What was the size of your team?

Task

Task is where you dive deeper on the specifics of the task(s) or projects that encompass your example. This should be a direct follow on from the Situation, providing more detail and highlighting what your goals were and why they were important.

Task: what to consider

What were the goals?
What was the initial scope?
What were the main challenges and/or risks?
What would happen if you did nothing?

Action

Action is the meat and potatoes of your story. This is where you outline everything you were personally responsible for. You can refer to what your team did here but the focus must be on your direct contributions. After all, they are not interviewing your team are they? They are interviewing you so talk about yourself!

Action: what to consider

What tools, processes, or systems did you use?
What key decisions, trade-offs, and judgment calls did you make?
What were your obstacles? How did you overcome them?
Were you the key driver or owner of the project?
What was your biggest individual contribution? What unique value did you bring?
Why was it you on this project and not someone else?

Result

If action is the meat and potatoes then the results are the dessert. You must be able to discuss your results with metrics and data and tie it all back to the original setup and goals mentioned in the Situation and Task. Otherwise the story is not complete!

Result: what to consider

What were your results? What data do you have?
How do you know these results were the right results?
Do the results tie back to the goals?
Why focus on these results and not others?
Revenue is always important to consider!

Bonus: Lessons Learned

Even though I call it a bonus every single example you have should have at least one lesson learned. This is the cherry on top, where you demonstrate that you can not only do the job (because your example shows that) but that you learn from your experience.

Lessons learned: what to consider

What did you learn?
What would you do differently next time?
How could you do it better? Cheaper, faster, and more efficiently?

Summary: The STAR technique is your friend

When it comes to progressing your career through new jobs, the STAR technique is your best friend. You can use it when crafting your CV, writing a job application, and especially when preparing for your interviews.

The STAR technique ensures you tell your story properly, providing all the relevant information that a hiring manager and interviewer wants to know.

Do not leave it up to chance or hope the hiring manager will ask follow up questions. Use the STAR technique to tell a well structured and engaging story that shows how you exceed their expectations and have the relevant experience they are looking for.

Use the STAR technique cheat sheet provided to prepare and practice before your interview. This is how you give yourself the best possible chance for securing that job and taking the next step along your dream career path.

Good luck and have fun.

Download the STAR technique PDF and the STAR technique cheat sheet here)