Job interviews are an extremely important part of the job search process. Unfortunately, many job seekers can encounter trouble when going for an interview. Tricky questions, lack of research, and overall stress levels all have the potential to derail great candidates during the interview process.
“39% of candidates get rejected due to overall confidence level, voice quality, or lack of smile.” – LegalJobs
Given that 39% of candidates are rejected simply due to a lack of confidence, it is fair to say that interview preparation is extremely important. Simply put, the more that you practice, the more prepared you will be.
When preparing for interviews, the most common type of question that employers may ask are known as “behavioral questions”. These questions ask about a specific instance in your work history and how you deal with various situations. Hiring managers and recruiters are looking to learn more about how you function as an employee. They are looking for you to tell a story, rather than simply answering yes or no.
What if I told you that there was a method that would guarantee your ability to answer behavioral questions with ease?
Well, you’re in luck! The STAR method is the key. Read on to learn more!
The STAR Method Explained
The STAR method is a simple and easy way to answer any type of behavioral question during a job interview. The goal of the method is to provide a recruiter or hiring manager with a quick story that shows how you can solve problems and function in the workplace. Many behavioral questions will ask about how you accomplished certain work tasks, or how you corrected for a mistake that you made. Let’s go through the STAR acronym so you can learn more about how it will help you during the interview process.
The STAR Acronym Explained
Situation: Describe the situation and background for the answer that you will be providing. Talk about the job that you were working at, the people involved, and any other information that will help frame your answer.
Task: After framing your answer, talk a bit about the specific job function that you performed. Think about the specific role that you were assigned, and talk about the specific goal that you had in mind for the task.
Action: Next, it is important to mention exactly what you did to accomplish the task that you are mentioning. Be as specific as possible, and include details to further explain the situation.
Result: Lastly, finish your answer by talking about the results of what happened. Also feel free to mention any impacts that the results had, whether they be on the business or people that you worked with.
Overall, using the STAR method is a lot like crafting a miniature story. Storytelling is key when answering behavioral interview questions. Give yourself time to practice and craft your answers before going for an interview. Practice will make perfect.
Examples Using the STAR Method
After learning about this method, you may have questions on how to actually apply it to your own job search preparations. Here are three examples of great behavioral interview questions and answers that can help you get started out with your own.
STAR Method Examples
1. “Tell me about a time that you performed well while under a lot of pressure?”
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Answer: “While at my last job, I was a salesperson at a large B2C company. Last January, my boss had me supervise the firm’s most important sales pitch. There was immense pressure to deliver the pitch correctly, and I was a bit anxious about it. However, I worked hard to prepare and had daily meetings with the sales team. The pitch went flawlessly and we secured the sale. This later helped me secure a large promotion at the company.
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Why It’s a Great Answer: In this answer, the interviewee starts by explaining his role and task at the company. After this, he talks about exactly how he was able to get his team ready for the big sales pitch, and then follows up by saying that it was a success. This answer shows hiring managers that the candidate has the ability to work well during stressful situations.
2. “Talk about a mistake that you made and how you reacted to it?”
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Answer: “During my most recent job, I was a brand manager for a large creative agency. One of our clients requested that we showcase at least 10 different logos during our next meeting. I was in charge of communicating this request to our graphic designer, but I accidentally requested only 5 logos. After presenting to our client, I realized the mistake and immediately started work with our graphic designer. The very same day, we presented 10 more logos for their consideration. The client was extremely happy with the logo variations and confirmed one for use on the spot.
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Why It’s a Great Answer: This interviewee shows the power of being honest during a job interview. A prospective employer wants to ask how you made a mistake, and it’s important to answer truthfully. No one is perfect, and employers know this. The interviewee then goes on to explain how they fixed the situation almost instantly, and how the client was happy with the solution. The interviewee has shown how they can be trusted to fix mistakes that may come up during a job.
3. “Tell me about a time that you had a conflict with a co-worker.”
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Answer: “At my current job, I worked on an accounting team with 2 other people. I had been working with a specific client, and finished their accounting tasks for the week. However, it turns out that some of the numbers forwarded me to my team member were incorrect. After confronting my co-worker, we got into a small argument about who was at fault. We were good friends, so we met for coffee the next morning before work and talked over the disagreement. We both decided that we could be better communicators in the future. We decided to spend an hour each day for the next month practicing our email organization and communication. Since then, we have worked together flawlessly, and even impressed our immediate supervisor.”
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Why It’s a Great Answer: Some behavioral interview questions are aimed at helping an employer learn more about your personality. With this question, the interviewee has shown the employer that they are willing to go above and beyond to make sure that any disagreements are solved. Problems will always arise, and this answer helps to show that this candidate will be dependable when they do.
Hopefully these questions and answers have helped you learn more about the STAR method. Feel free to print out this blog and practice by making your own answers to the questions. Remember, the more prepared you are for the interview, the more likely you are to succeed!
Want to learn more about the STAR Method? Looking for jobs that will allow you to interview and actually use the STAR Method in a real world situation?
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