How to Master the Interview Process, The STAR Methodology

Congratulations!

So you recently got shortlisted for an interview and are super excited. It’s an amazing feeling and definitely worth celebrating. However, job interviews can be a stressful experience so now is the time to sharpen your knives and prepare to dig deep into the entire hiring process.

Are you prepared to scale through the interview process? What kind of questions are you expecting? Oftentimes, hiring managers just want to assess your ability to describe your skillset and experiences articulately.  Questions like:

• Tell me about a time when you’ve had to overcome a challenge at work? 

• How do you set goals at work? Or how do you handle tight project deadlines?

• What would you do if a co-worker consistently doesn’t follow through on their part of a project?

These questions look simple now until you’re in that room or on that call and everything suddenly seems blurry. You know you’re good at what you do but you are just “Short of Words”. Now we want you to crush that interview so I’m going to teach you how to master the interview process using the S.T.A.R Methodology.

If you take some time out to practice this method, you’ll be giving great answers back to back in all your interviews like a pro!

STAR is an acronym for Situation, Tasks, Action & Results.

Situation: At this point, think about a situation that speaks to the question the interviewer is asking. For example, you’ve been asked to share an example about a time you faced a challenge at work and how you overcame it. First, briefly outline the core of that situation and remember to include the who, what, where, when, and how.

Example: A few months into my role as a PR associate at ——–, I had to work on a campaign plan for a Sports fashion brand. I hate sports and up until that moment, I had never done anything sports-related.

Task: Describe the task you were responsible for in that situation. Keep it specific but concise. Make sure to highlight any specific challenges you faced.

Example: I was tasked with creating a pan-African PR plan for a new sports brand in Kenya to help them gain brand recognition and awareness. I didn’t know who to talk to or how to connect with the big players in the Sports Media industry.

Action: Walk the interviewer through the steps or processes you took to complete the task or project. Don’t forget to be very specific.

Example: So I made a few calls to my other colleagues in the media and fashion industry and they connected with one or two solid media firms to partner with. I also studied the brand I was assigned to manage and took some time to learn about the sports industry in general. I had a colleague who was an ardent sports lover so I requested that he be assigned to support me on this project.

Result: Share the outcome of that situation and how the skills and resources you employed helped you achieve this result. What was the goal? What did you learn? What were the results of your actions?

Example: I leveraged the two sports media companies I had access to and we were able to execute a soft launch in 2 Months using social media, influencers, traditional media, and paid Ads. With my colleague’s support and my general knowledge of PR, we successfully increased social impressions and reach for the Sports Fashion brand at 3 Million Impressions and 2.5 Million reach. Community growth also went up by 20k followers and 5k newsletter subscribers. This ultimately increased the Company’s revenue by 40%. They were beyond satisfied with the results and so they renewed a one-year contract with us.

The STAR Methodology is best used when you’re asked questions that assess your abilities on:

• Teamwork

• Problem Solving/Planning

• Initiative/Leadership

• Interpersonal Skills/Conflict

• Pressure/Stress

It is of utmost importance that you prepare for all your interviews no matter how simple or informal they may appear. It’s never a good idea to wing your interviews especially when you’re nervous. Tell the truth and don’t try to exaggerate your stories or take credit for other people’s work to make you sound ‘AMAAAZING’. 

Quick tips on how to practice the STAR method

True, you’re not a mind reader so you can’t possibly know all the questions an interviewer will ask you. Here are a few ways to prepare ahead so you don’t get caught unawares.

1. Create a list of three to five challenging situations that you encountered and scaled through at your previous place of work. Think about all the times you’ve delivered excellent work on a tight deadline or managed a project when you were understaffed. Outlining these moments will help you easily recall them when you’re asked during an interview.

2. List out five of your strongest skills – both soft skills and hard skills. Consider how these skills have helped you overcome work challenges or get results. 

3. Assess your ability to multitask efficiently. Hiring managers often want to hear a job candidate’s perspective on multitasking and their ability to prioritize important tasks. 

4. Be prepared to answer questions about conflict management and resolution. 

5. Be honest, concise, and quantitive in your approach. Data, dates, and case scenarios are important.

Above all, share authentic and impactful experiences. You really don’t want to sound rehearsed or fake so practice until it becomes second nature. 

All the best!