Efficient and Practical Method
When it comes to preparing for an interview, I can assure you that you have heard of the "STAR Method," which stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. This technique has gained popularity and proven effectiveness, helping you stand out among other applicants when it comes to behavioural questions, if implemented properly.
What are the common types of behavioural questions?
Behavioural questions assess the ability to respond to specific problems in the interviewee's past. They could be related to teamwork, cross-cultural communication, problem-solving, and more. By asking about past experiences, employers believe they can gain insights into how candidates may perform in similar situations in the future.
Behavioural questions can be easily defined as they usually start with:
Tell me about a time when...
What do you do when...
Have you ever...
Give me an example of...
Describe a situation...
Here are a few examples of behavioural questions:
"Tell me about a time when you faced a difficult decision at work and how you resolved it."
"Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult colleague or team member. How did you handle it?"
"Can you share an example of a project you completed successfully? What obstacles did you face, and how did you overcome them?"
"Tell me about a time when you had to manage multiple priorities or deadlines. How did you stay organised and ensure everything was completed on time?"
The STAR Technique
The STAR interview technique provides a systematic framework for answering behavioural questions, allowing you to effectively highlight your abilities and accomplishments. Here's a breakdown of each component:
Situation
Begin by providing context to the interviewer. Describe a specific situation or challenge you faced in a previous role. Be clear and concise, setting the stage for your response.
Task
Define the task or objective you needed to accomplish within that situation. Explain the goal you were striving to achieve or the problem you were trying to solve.
Action
This is the core of your response. Describe the actions you took to address the situation. Focus on YOUR individual contribution, highlighting your skills, expertise, and decision-making abilities.
Result
Conclude your response by sharing the outcome or result of your actions. Highlight the positive impact you made, whether it's a successful project completion, improved metrics, or enhanced team collaboration.
Strengthen your answer by outlining the skills you learned from the incident and highlighting how you can apply those skills to solve similar problems in the future is a powerful way to leave a lasting impression.
Let's practise
Q: Tell me about a time when you faced a difficult decision and how you resolved it.
My sample answer:
Situation: [During my final year at Monash, as a team leader for one of my International Business subjects, I had to make a tough decision regarding the next course of action. I had to determine whether to start writing our research based on the information we had online or generate more information from the library.]
Task: [To solve the problem, I organised a Zoom meeting with my teammates to re-outline the key requirements of the assignment as well as discussed the pros and cons of each approach.]
Action: [After careful consideration, I decided to combine both online and offline methods. I grouped my members into two teams, with each team responsible for a specific research method. I also identified areas where we could strengthen our arguments by comparing the information from both online and offline sources.]
Result: [The result turned out positively as we all received an HD score for that unit and received excellent feedback from the professor. I was also able to streamline the connection between team members through cross cultural and interpersonal communication. Additionally, I learned to be more creative and think outside the box, abilities that make me a good fit for this Digital Marketer position.]
Now, it's your turn to practise this question: "Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult colleague or team member. How did you handle it?". Let me know your answer in the comment below.
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