Everyone has heard of the STAR Interview Technique, but it’s worth having a go at using it to answer practice interview questions as part of your prep.
Many employers want to hear real life examples of times that you’ve solved a problem, dealt with a difficult situation, worked well in a team, or achieved a successful outcome.
You may have been in the situation before where you know what you want to say, but struggle to explain it clearly. That’s where the STAR interview technique can help.
Using the STAR method gives your answers a clear structure, making it easier for interviewers to understand your experience and see the value you could bring to their business.
Whether you’re interviewing for an engineering, commercial, office-based or management role, the STAR interview technique is one of the most effective ways to answer competency-based interview questions.
What Is the STAR Interview Technique?
The STAR interview technique is a simple framework for answering interview questions using real-life examples.
STAR stands for:
Situation
Start by briefly explaining the background.
Set the scene so the interviewer understands the context.
For example:
A customer reported that one of the passenger lifts in a busy office building was repeatedly shutting down during peak hours.”
Keep this section concise. The interviewer doesn’t need every detail, just enough to understand the scenario.
Task
Next, explain your responsibility.
What were you expected to do?
For example:
“I was responsible for diagnosing the fault, restoring the lift safely and minimising disruption for the client.”
Focus on your role rather than what the whole team was doing.
Action
This is the most important part of your answer. Interviewers want to understand your thought process, decision-making and technical ability.
Explain exactly what you did.
For example:
“I isolated the lift safely, carried out a systematic inspection, identified a faulty door sensor and replaced the component. After completing the repair, I carried out all required safety checks and tested the lift before returning it to service.”
Avoid saying “we” throughout your answer.
Instead, focus on your individual contribution wherever possible.
Result
Finish by explaining what happened because of your actions.
For example:
“The lift was back in service the same day, the customer avoided further disruption and there were no repeat faults following the repair.”
Whenever possible, include measurable outcomes like:
- Reduced downtime
- Improved customer satisfaction
- Increased productivity
- Completed the project ahead of schedule
- Saved money
- Improved safety
Results make your examples far more memorable.
Why Do Employers Ask Situational Interview Questions?
The interviewer wants to gauge your skills, capabilities, and future performance if you were to join their business/team.
The theory is simple:
How you’ve handled situations in the past is often the best indicator of how you’ll perform in the future.
That’s why employers ask competency-based questions like:
- Tell me about a time you solved a difficult problem.
- Describe a situation where you worked under pressure.
- Give an example of when you dealt with conflict.
- Tell me about a mistake you made.
- Describe a time you delivered excellent customer service.
- Tell me about a successful project you worked on.
These questions can be difficult to answer without structure, and the STAR interview technique helps you stay focused and avoid rambling.
STAR Interview Technique Example
Let’s take a common interview question:
“Tell me about a time you solved a difficult technical problem.”
A weak answer might be:
“I’ve dealt with lots of breakdowns. One was quite difficult but I eventually fixed it.”
Now, let’s compare that with a STAR answer… Notice how much more confidence this answer would give the interviewer.
Situation
“A lift in a residential building was repeatedly going out of service, causing disruption for residents.”
Task
“I was responsible for diagnosing the fault, carrying out the repair and ensuring the lift was safe to return to service.”
Action
“I carried out a full inspection, reviewed the fault history and identified an intermittent issue with the door operator. After replacing the faulty component, I completed all required testing and safety checks before handing the lift back over.”
Result
“The lift remained fully operational following the repair, reducing repeat call-outs and restoring confidence for the customer.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even with the STAR interview technique, candidates sometimes make avoidable mistakes.
Spending too long on the Situation
Keep the background brief.
Most of your answer should focus on what you did.
Not explaining your own actions
Interviewers want to know what you contributed.
Avoid saying: “We decided…” Instead say: “I recommended/carried out”
Forgetting the Result
Always finish your story.
Explain the outcome and, if possible, include evidence that your actions made a positive difference.
Vague Examples
Specific examples demonstrate your ability.
When saying you solved a problem, explain explain:
- How you did it
- Why you chose that approach
- What happened afterwards
When Should You Use the STAR Interview Technique?
The STAR interview technique works particularly well when you’re asked questions beginning with:
- Tell me about a time…
- Give me an example of…
- Describe a situation where…
- Have you ever…
- Explain how you…
Whenever an interviewer asks about something you’ve done in the past, STAR is usually the best structure to follow.
Summary of the STAR Interview Technique
The STAR interview technique doesn’t mean just giving rehearsed answers, it’s there to help you communicate your experience in a clear, structured way, demonstrate your skills and leave a stronger impression on potential employers.
By preparing a handful of strong examples before your interview, you’ll find it much easier to answer competency-based questions with confidence.