Structuring your answers in a specific format can be the interview game changer. Our resident expert Rachel, explains how
Most people have frozen up or stumbled through their answers at one time or another during an interview. It’s an understandable reaction to a high-stress environment. With a bit of practice though, the STARR technique can help you structure your answers to make your responses coherent, focused and effective
STARR is a tool that helps you shape your responses so you may demonstrate your skills and contributions in the clearest and fitting way. It is particularly effective in answering competency-based and situational questions in interviews, such as:
"Tell me about a time you demonstrated leadership skills”
“Tell me about a time you dealt with conflict”
When STARR is combined with role specific examples, it becomes a powerful method for highlighting your job relevant skills to the recruiter and signals that you are not only meticulously prepared, but also ready to add immediate value to the position. STARR is an acronym: Situation, Task, Action, Result, Reflection. Let’s break it down further.
When STARR is combined with role specific examples, it becomes a powerful method for highlighting your job relevant skills to the recruiter and signals that you are not only meticulously prepared, but also ready to add immediate value to the position
Situation
Briefly introduce the circumstances surrounding your example, for example “While working for Acme Inc's HR department…”, “I was volunteering with The Samaritans…” or “I had launched my online security business…”
Task
Introduce the specific task, project, problem or goal in hand
Action
Give a detailed explanation of what you did (demonstrating the skills you’re illustrating, how you tackled problems, and avoiding passive language such as “we worked together” in favour of stronger statements such as “I analysed the data” or “I led the team…”)
Result
Detail what happened as a result, being as specific as possible to explain your achievements, accomplishments, skills and a benefit to your employer
Reflection
You should also reflect on what you learned, either about work or about yourself. Did it help you understand your IT systems better? Did it make you a better leader? You can also consider whether you would do something differently in future
To make your answer most effective, you should spend only a short amount of time setting the scene on the Situation and Task, the majority of your time on explaining your Action, and a brief summary of the impact in the Result/Reflection section
Practice, practice, practice!
Fancy putting this technique into practice? Book a mock interview at Interviewpals and get a tailored experience with industry experts who can help you polish your answers to help win that job opportunity. The app provides a platform simulating real conditions and interview questions in a relaxed environment, allowing you to familiarise yourself with the process, content and context of your interview, reducing your anxiety, and giving you the opportunity to practice in a risk-free setting. After the mock interview, we give you access to the video recording plus the interviewer’s score card which you can use to make any necessary adjustments, from body language to your answers and preparation
Best of luck!
Rachel Garman is the Information and Research Officer at University College London Careers. Her latest blog for UCL can be found here
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