STAR Method Interview Questions Answers
STAR Method Interview Questions Answers
Behavioral questions can be challenging to prepare for and answer, as they require
you to recall details of your professional history and deliver stories on command.
With practice, you can master the STAR method, discover new ways to describe your
qualifications, and compel employers to see you as a valuable asset.
When this type of question comes up in an interview, remember to use the four
components of the STAR method to structure your answers.
Situation
Begin your answer by describing a specific workplace situation that is relevant to the
interviewer's question. Include details about when the situation occurred and the
company you were working for at the time.
Task
Describe your role in the situation, including what was expected of you and any tasks
or projects you needed to complete.
Action
Next, describe the actions you took to resolve the situation, complete tasks or
projects, and fulfill your responsibilities.
Result
Finally, describe the result of your actions. Was the situation resolved? What was the
measurable impact on others on your team, the company at large, or customers?
What did you take away from the experience that helped you improve?
Communication
1. Tell us about a time when a miscommunication created an error at work.
What happened and what did you contribute to the solution?
2. Describe a time when you effectively communicated unpleasant news or a
difficult idea.
3. How do you respond to constructive feedback?
Decision making
1. Tell us about a time when you had to make a decision quickly. What
happened?
2. What steps do you take to ensure that your decisions are effective?
3. What was a difficult decision you had to make in the last year? What made it
difficult?
Initiative
1. Tell us about a time when you identified a problem, and how you came up
with the solution.
2. How did you go beyond the expectations or requirements of your previous
role?
3. Did you ever find a better way to complete a task? What did you do?
Personal and interpersonal
1. Tell me about a time when you felt under pressure. How did you cope with
that situation?
2. Has one of your previous roles ever shifted in a significant way? How did you
handle it when your responsibilities changed?
3. Tell me about a time when you disagreed with a manager's decision. How did
you communicate with your supervisor?
Remote work
1. How do you develop and maintain your schedule while working remotely?
2. What communication tools do you rely on to stay in touch with team
members spread across multiple time zones?
3. What’s a time when you didn’t know how to do something? How did you seek
out the proper information to complete your task?
Here are some additional tips to help you develop responses that show off your
strengths, personality, and character.
Don’t rush. You don’t have to jump into an answer as soon as you’ve heard the
question. It’s not only acceptable to pause, but doing so may also signal your
confidence to employers. Take a breath, gather your thoughts, and begin answering.
And if you need more information or context, ask for clarification.
Use the STAR method. The STAR method stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result.
It’s a formula worth memorizing because it can help you structure your responses to
behavioral interview questions.
Possible questions:
Motivational Fit:
Describe a time when you had to make a difficult choice between your personal
and professional life
Give me a specific occasion in which you conformed to a policy with which you did
not agree
Give one example of a time where you had deal with priorities being changed
abruptly
Tell me about an important goal that you set in the past but were not successful in
achieving it
Learning Ability:
Describe a situation in which you were able to positively influence the actions of
others in a desired direction
Describe a time when you had to accomplish something that was beyond
expectations
Give an example of a time when you made mistake because you did not listen well
to what someone had to say
When was the last time that you learned something complex in a short time? How
did you manage?
Tell me about a time when you took the initiative to learn something new.
Customer Focus:
Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult or frustrating individual
Tell me about a time when you have effectively solved a difficult or complex
customer problem
Tell me about the last time you had to negotiate with someone