Ace your interview: the STAR method

Niki Baggs

Interviews can feel like daunting obstacles on the path to landing your dream job, but with the right preparation, they can turn into enjoyable opportunities to showcase your skills. Enter the STAR method — a structured approach to answering behavioural interview questions that stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result.

Situation: Start by setting the scene. Briefly describe the context within which you performed a task or faced a challenge at work.

Task: Next, explain the actual task or issue that was involved. What was your role?

Action: Describe the specific actions you took to address the task or challenge. Focus on what you did, how you did it, and any unique approaches you applied.

Result: Wrap up by sharing the outcomes of your actions. Highlight successes, what you learned, and what you might do differently in hindsight.

This method not only helps you deliver well-organized and complete answers, but it also showcases your problem-solving and critical thinking skills in a way that's sure to impress any interviewer. Why not give it a try in your next interview preparation session? Who knows, it might just be the key to unlocking that "Welcome aboard" email!