STAR interview questions

Rumman Ansari   Software Engineer   2023-05-20   162 Share
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STAR interview questions

STAR interview questions (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) is a type of interview question that is designed to elicit a specific example of how the candidate has handled a specific situation in the past. These questions are designed to help the interviewer understand how the candidate thinks, makes decisions, and handles different types of situations. The STAR method is a structured approach to answering behavioral interview questions.

The STAR method is an acronym that stands for:

  1. Situation: The interviewer will ask the candidate to describe a specific situation that they have encountered in the past.
  2. Task: The interviewer will ask the candidate to describe the task or problem that they needed to solve in that situation.
  3. Action: The interviewer will ask the candidate to describe the steps they took to solve the task or problem.
  4. Result: The interviewer will ask the candidate to describe the outcome of the situation, what they learned from it, and how they would have done things differently if they had the chance to do it again.

Examples of STAR interview questions include:

  1. Can you give an example of a time when you had to work on a project with tight deadlines? (Situation) What was the task or problem you needed to solve? (Task) How did you approach the situation? (Action) What was the outcome? (Result)
  2. Can you tell us about a time when you had to handle a difficult customer? (Situation) What was the task or problem you needed to solve? (Task) How did you approach the situation? (Action) What was the outcome? (Result)
  3. How do you handle conflicts with coworkers or supervisors? (Situation) What was the task or problem you needed to solve? (Task) How did you approach the situation? (Action) What was the outcome? (Result)

When answering STAR interview questions, it's important for candidates to provide specific examples of how they have handled similar situations in the past and to demonstrate their problem-solving skills and decision-making abilities. They should also be able to explain their thought process, the actions they took and the results they achieved.

Preparing for STAR interview questions can be challenging, but it is important for candidates to put in the effort to do so as it can give them a significant

advantage over other candidates. To prepare for STAR interview questions, candidates should review the job description and requirements, think of specific examples from their past experiences, and practice answering these types of questions using the STAR method. This will help them to organize their thoughts and present their experiences in a clear and concise manner. Additionally, candidates should also be prepared to answer follow-up questions that the interviewer may ask to further understand the candidate's experience and thought process.

It's also important to note that STAR interview questions are not limited to behavioral interviews, they can be used in any type of interview such as technical, situational, and motivational interviews. Answering STAR interview questions effectively can help the candidate to make a positive impression and increase their chances of getting the job.