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Back when I was a bank manager, I interviewed people all the time. Though I don’t do it as much anymore, I recently remembered a wonderful tool we used in the process. It’s called the STAR method and I think it’s worth sharing.
When you’re on the hunt for a new job, the interview process can be overwhelming and intimidating. One of the best things you can do is prepare for it. The STAR method is a perfect tool to help you get ready and you can also use it in the interview to help show off your real world experience.
Most of the time, the person or people interviewing you want to know if you possess the necessary skill and experience to do the job you’re applying for. The best way to show them that you have what they’re looking for is to share specific stories of when you used particular skills in your work experience.
The STAR method breaks this down:
Situation (or Task)
Describe what was happening and what needed to be accomplished. Be specific – don’t generalize by saying “I always…” Pick one particular event.
Action
Describe specifically what you did.
Result
Explain what happened, what was accomplished, what you learned, etc.
Share these three things in each of your answers and you’ll be putting your best foot forward.
For example, most interviewers start off by saying, “Tell me a little about yourself.” This is a great opportunity to use the STAR method. For each quality you list, support it by stating a situation in which you displayed that quality, the action that showed it, and the result.
Answer: I’m a very hard worker. For example, in my current job, we recently went through a merger (SITUATION) and we had to transfer all of our files to a new computer system (TASK). It was very time consuming but business was at a stand-still until it got done. So I worked for 3 weekends in a row to help finish the project (ACTION). We ended up completing it ahead of schedule by 4 days, which saved the company thousands of dollars (RESULT).
You see how effective an answer like that can be? It’s so much more convincing. Most people just blurt out the standard words that they think employers want to hear: goal oriented, team player, driven…they don’t back it up with real world examples.
You can easily prepare for an interview by sitting down and thinking of situations in which you used your skills. If you’re going for a job that will require a lot of technical skill, think of a few situations in which you really demonstrated your abilities. If you are applying for a customer service position, prepare a few stories of times when you performed above and beyond for a client.
Be sure to know the results of your work as well. If you need to, write down specifics. It’s very impressive to be able to pinpoint the exact dollars you saved the company, the precise number of sales you made, or the specific compliment a client paid you. Don’t be afraid to make notes and use them. This shows that you care and that you took some time to think seriously about what you bring to the table.
Here’s another Q & A example.
Prospective Employer: We’re looking for someone who isn’t afraid to step up and voice their opinion, even when it’s not popular. Are you comfortable with that?
Interviewee: Absolutely. In my current position, we recently created a new website. It was a very long and expensive process. However, as a typical user, I found it difficult to navigate and very disorganized. I had to express my opinion because I didn’t want us to put something out there that the clients wouldn’t like. However, I made sure that I approached it with suggestions and a positive spin. The technology team really appreciated it and they were willing to go back and make the adjustments. In the end, everyone was much happier with the site. Today, our traffic has increased by 60%.
You see? That answer was definitely from a STAR candidate!
If you liked that post, then try these...
Change Management by Chrissy on May 12th, 2008
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The Art of Balancing EVERYTHING! by Chrissy on November 6th, 2007
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