The STAR Method is one of the most popular ways to answer job interviews. It was developed by Dr. Thomas A. Stewart, a professor at Carnegie-Mellon University who studied how people respond to questions and what they prefer when faced with the same question in different contexts.

He found that people tend to use the same strategies when asked about themselves as they do when asked about others—and those strategies can be used for your own benefit.

What is the star method?

The Star Method is a way to make sure you answer interview questions in an organized and complete manner; it helps ensure that all the significant points are covered.

The STAR acronym stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. This is how it works:

• Situation: What happened? For example: “I was working on my resume at home and then got an email saying I had a job interview.”
• Task: What did you do? For example: “I went into my email inbox and found out I got the job.” Then give details about what exactly happened during this task that led up to getting hired by this company.
• Action: How did this action help solve the problem? “I Googled “how much does it cost” + “how long does it take” + “professional resume writers Toronto, Ontario, Canada,” for example.

When should I use it?

The STAR method is a great way to answer questions that are open-ended, behavioral, and situational. You should use it whenever you’re asked to tell a story or explain something in detail.

• Open-ended questions: These are the kind of questions where there’s not much structure or direction given by the interviewer. For example, if an interviewer asks you, “Tell me about yourself,” and then leaves room for your answer, try using this technique.
• Behavioral questions: These types of questions require you to give specific examples based on past situations that relate directly back to them (i.e., how did this person behave when they were younger?) Examples could include “What was their favorite sport?” or “Tell me about a time when…”

Why is the STAR method important?

The STAR Method is a great way to structure your answers. It helps you stay focused and on topic, so you can use it during interviews or in any situation where you need an answer quickly. You can also use this method before giving a presentation; it’s an easy way to prepare yourself and ensure that everything comes together smoothly when it counts!

Understand the role

It’s important to have a good understanding of what the company does, not just the products they make or services they offer. If you can tell me that your company makes consumer products, I’d like you to be able to explain why those consumer products are so successful.

Good answers include:

The main focus of our business is providing quality goods at affordable prices. We’re known for being able to deliver on this promise because we’ve developed some new technologies in order to do it, such as using only natural ingredients in our food products, which allows us to not only provide higher-quality food but also lower cost per serving than other competitors’ offerings (and thus better margins).

Our goal as a company is always “to provide an exceptional experience for all customers.” That means providing them with exceptional service from start to finish, whether it’s through customer support or product delivery itself—whatever method works best for them!

Prepare answers for common questions

You can’t be prepared for every question that’s asked, but you can practice common questions and use the STAR method to structure your answers.

To prepare for any interview, think about what you’re going to say in advance. If possible, come up with an answer before you get there so that you don’t have to think on the spot—this will help keep your nerves at bay and make it easier for you to focus on answering the question at hand.

When preparing answers based on the STAR method (which stands for Situation-Task-Action), take notes as soon as possible after reading each question so that they’re fresh in your mind when it comes time to speak them out loud in front of someone else!

Use examples to demonstrate your skills

An example of how you used a skill in the past is an excellent way to demonstrate that you have the chops for this job. For example, if your past work experience includes working on a project where you had to do some coding and it went well, then share that story with interviewers so they can see how well-rounded your skillset is.

This can be especially helpful if there are gaps in your resume or other areas where you may need extra proof that shows off just how qualified and capable you are of learning new things (and adapting them) without too much difficulty.

Follow up on open-ended questions

When you get to the end of an open-ended question, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification. If you’re still not sure what the interviewer was trying to say, use your STAR method.

• State your objective.
• Seek relevant information and data.
• analyze and evaluate that information or data.

Conclusion

The STAR Method is an important tool for anyone who wants to land a job. It will help you understand the role, prepare answers to common interview questions, and demonstrate your skills in a way that shows you want the job. If you’re unsure about how to answer specific questions using the STAR Method, consult our guide here!

Your resume is the first thing potential employers will see, so it’s important to create one that highlights your skills and experience. Your resume should highlight your strengths, but you should also be honest about any weaknesses you have.

If you need help, we have a team of experts who can help you create a resume that will get you noticed.