Using The STAR Technique: What Does STAR (R) Stand For?
Using The STAR Technique: What Does STAR (R) Stand For?
Situation
You will first need to describe a situation that you were in at the time of the experience
you are using.
Task
The next stage of using the STAR approach is the task or challenge that you were
presented with in that particular scenario.
Make sure to explain the importance of completing the task itself, as well as the loss that
would occur if the task were not completed.
Action
The most important stage of the STAR structure is the action you have done to change
the situation for the better. This can be as simple or complex as you want, though
remember that your answer will be dependent on the competency you are demonstrating.
It must be an action that you as a person, rather than as part of a team, has done.
Result
The final stage of the STAR technique is the result that was achieved. This requires you
to specifically explain what your actions alone did to solve the problem, as well as any other
benefits that arose from you solving it.
Tell me about a specific time when you used your initiative to handle a difficult
situation
Situation: I was part of a project team of six working as a business analyst. The project was
to help the front office by developing a systems and process upgrade to help with some new
Fixed Income Products being launched.
Task: We had a set deadline with front office which we had to achieve. However, our Project
Manager unfortunately became ill and had to leave meaning the project fell behind schedule
Action: I enjoy taking responsibility and offered to stand in as project manager. By using my
previous technical analysis skills we spotted a few small mistakes populated during the initial
data analysis. These were relatively sporadic errors that slowed us down. I negotiated with our
program manager a small bonus incentive for the team, and budgeted for two pizza evenings,
so we could pull a couple of late night shifts to correct the initial data analysis mistakes and get
the project on track.
Result: The project was seen as a great success as we ran on budget and avoided us missing
the deadline pushed onto us by Front Office. The team where delighted and I have now been
officially promoted to Project Manager as a result.
Describe a situation when you had to complete a piece of work to a high standard while
meeting a strict deadline.
Situation: As part of the final project for my degree, I completed a quantitative research project
to explore whether customer loyalty increased or decreased with businesses who use social
media as opposed to those who don’t. I worked with a creative agency who sponsored my
project to allow me to gather the information I needed.
Task: To provide useful information for the agency, I needed to carry out thorough research
and draft the report within a three-month period.
Action: To ensure the project was delivered on time, I had to become fully conversant with
quantitative research techniques. I therefore studied this extensively, which improved the way I
Result: Even though the workload was significant and I was under a great deal of pressure, I
achieved a pass of 80% for my final project and my work was published in a respected journal.
The agency who sponsored the research also published the findings of their project, and I
secured an internship with them over the summer.
Situation: In the HR business where I interned, a client was experiencing high employee
turnover without an obvious cause.
Task: I was asked by a manager to carry out some data analysis, to identify any trends or
patterns that would reveal the likely causes.
Action: I decided to develop an anonymous staff questionnaire which all employees could
complete online.
Result: A significant proportion of staff completed the questionnaire. A key finding was that
many felt that their training and development wasn’t taken seriously. Furthermore, staff felt
that it was difficult to speak to management about change. These suggestions were passed
onto the management team, who made improvements to training and development,
established more effective channels of communication and began an open-door policy.
Turnover in the next six months showed a marked decrease.