STAR Interview Technique and How to Ace an Interview
Updated: May 19
The STAR method is an interviewing technique that lets the interviewer analyse in detail if you are well-suited for a job. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Actions and Result, which are the four pillars that interviewers will be searching in your answer.
SITUATION: Mention the company and set context for your story. For example:“ABC Oil Company in Houston had 6 expansion projects requiring $6 billion of CAPEX”
TASK: Mention your position and what was required of you. For example:“As Non Executive Director, oversaw corporate governance to ensure business plans & delivery were robust and efficient.”
ACTIONS: What you actually did. For example: Provided business advice & assurance; engaged stakeholders via board committees; aligned JV partner goals with company objectives; and identified weaknesses in SMS & developed solutions.
RESULT: How well the situation played out. For example:
Successfully improved capital efficiencies by >$500mln and improved profitability.
Use this method to create a number of stories so you are prepared for an interview. Make sure the stories are relevant for the role, substantiate the required skillsets and also demonstrate a measurable outcome.
Lee Woodrow is a CV & LinkedIn Optimisation Specialist and helps contractors, senior job seekers & small business owners to land interviews and opportunities fast. He is an ex-military instructor, has 14 years of corporate experience, understands advanced sales techniques and is an Accredited CV Writer.