How to Use the STAR Method to Answer Behavioral Interview Questions

Preparation and research are key when interviewing. Becoming familiar with common behavioral interview questions gives you a chance to think of situations and examples in advance of your interview so you can feel more confident sharing them with the interviewer.

Creating and practicing answers to common behavioral questions that align to the role your interviewing for will help demonstrate that you can articulate your responses and provide relevant examples of your experience — which will help the interviewer follow along and better understand your point of view.

How to Use the STAR Method in an Interview?

Here’s an example that demonstrates how you might use the STAR method: Tell me about a time when you improved a process.

Using the STAR method you could respond as follows:

• 'S' Situation: In my current role, generating the sales report required a manual process, and because of the many steps involved, it is very labor intensive and time consuming.


• 'T' Task: I analyzed the business and discovered that the sales reporting requirements incorporate assessing different variables that affect forecasting and sale results.


• 'A' Action: I decided to create an automated report that could be utilized across various reporting objectives, including forecasting that required minimal input.


• 'R' Result: I improved the accuracy of forecasting by X% and reduced reporting time by X hours per week, which resulted in savings of X amount per week.

In this example, using the STAR method allowed the interviewee to articulate their interpretation of the problem, the tangible action they took to solve it and the results.

Why use the STAR Interview Method?

The STAR method is a great way for you to share information about your experiences in a way that is clear, concise and highlights the value you brought — or impact you made — to each situation.

Providing thoughtful answers to behavioral interview questions can help make a great impression on an interviewer. The STAR method helps provide the interviewer with insight into how you might tackle similar situations if you were part of the team, and ultimately helps to answer the question, “Why should we hire you.”

What Other Interview Techniques Should You Consider?

Aside from STAR interview method, there are other techniques that you can use to answer behavioral interview questions. They are called SOAR method and CAR. SOAR stands for situation, obstacles, action and result while CAR means challenge, action and result. Whether you choose to use either STAR, SOAR or CAR method, having a format to help frame your responses in a clear way will assist you in answering behavioral interview questions effectively, and more confidently.

Ready to try using the STAR interview method in your next job interview? Reach out to your local Aston Carter office or browse Aston Carter’s job board to learn more about job openings in your area.

*This article was originally developed by Aston Carter EMEA and adapted for Aston Carter North America.