Interview like a STAR

It can be daunting interviewing for a new job.

Different employers have different interview techniques and the one we will touch on here is the STAR method.

This method involves you talking about a Situation you have been in, the Task you performed, the Action you took and the Result (STAR).

To set up your answer you will need to give some context around the situation.

Saying that you enjoy going on bridges or tall buildings and encouraging people to jump may not always come off that well.

When you explain you were a bungee jump instructor the employer’s mind will be at ease as the context has now been set.

You will want to ensure you are clear when setting out the situation and context. Ensure the interviewer will have enough context and background for the story so they know where it will be leading.

The tasks involved will be ensuring people are properly connected into the harnesses. You will also be following all health and safety rules before letting people jump. Your task also involved your communication skills to encourage people who froze to go for it.

The actions you took included going over the list of safety procedures each time a person gets ready. You will have also checked the quality of the equipment for any wear and tear and replaced it when they were getting worn out. You will communicate with them throughout the jump and gauge if they need some calming words or if they need some encouragement.

The result you want to show is no accidents happened when you have been the instructor (ideally). Mentioning the majority of people who froze ended up jumping after you talked to them displays successful communication skills.

In summary, you will essentially go over the job and role you have been performing.

You will mention you worked as a bungee jump instructor. Everyone jumped safely. You offered encouragement to people who had last minute nerves. You did this while following a list of procedures. The result was no injuries, and most people jumped and were thrilled at doing so.

An aim in the STAR method is seeing how clearly people communicate. They are also learning about situations you have been in and how you have handled them. This helps the interviewer gauge how you may perform in the role if employed.

The interviewer will ask a variety of questions around multiple situations which you can reply to in the above format.

They will usually start an interview with an easy question to help you relax. 

Usually they will ask you to talk about yourself.

Use this question to highlight some of the skills you have, as well as things you enjoy that may not be listed on your CV.

Leading off with your name is an easy opener and can ensure they are looking at the correct CV. If they are interviewing multiple people during the day it helps them to remember you also.

You can give a summary of the last place you worked, and some of your achievements there.

Mentioning what you enjoy doing outside of work can also give a glimpse into you as a person. Some employers are looking at more than just the role you will be filling. By knowing more about you it can help create a connection.

Knowing how to open with a short story about yourself will help settle your nerves and relax you in the interview.

By covering off a brief description about yourself, they can ask follow up questions for a more in-depth answer, or move onto the next question.

You will not be able to predict all the questions an interviewer may ask. 

How you resolved some conflict or a situation that didn’t go to plan can crop up as well. They want to see how you handle situations when they are not going right.

Learning how to tell a story using the STAR method will give you a base to use when being interviewed. 

An online search will allow you to find interview questions that are common. Use these questions to help prepare for an interview by practising your responses.

The NZ careers website has a pdf with some examples:

https://www.careers.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/behavioural-interviews.pdf

Job sites also have a more in-depth explanations of the STAR method and questions:

https://www.trademe.co.nz/c/jobs/article/most-common-nz-job-interview-questions-with-answers

https://www.seek.co.nz/career-advice/article/how-to-use-the-star-interview-technique