STAR interviews

STAR is a way to shape an answer. It is not a script you memorise, and it is not a promise that the panel will hire you.

Use it when a tracker item is at interview stage, or when an advert says there will be a practical exercise.

The four parts

1. Situation. Where were you, and what was going on? One or two sentences. Name the place only if you are happy to.
2. Task. What were you responsible for? Keep this separate from what you actually did.
3. Action. What did you do? This is the longest part. Say "I", not only "we", so the panel can see your part.
4. Result. What changed because of what you did? If you do not know the number, do not invent one. "The queue moved faster" is weaker than a real count, and a made-up count is worse than either.

How to prepare

• Pick three true stories from work, a learnership, volunteering, school leadership, or a job you did informally. The experience prompts in the builder are the same facts you can reuse here.
• For each story, write one line under S, T, A, and R. If the result line is empty, the story is not ready. Choose another story or describe the result without a number.
• Read the advert again. Choose the story that matches what they asked for (cash handling, a difficult customer, a deadline, a safety step).
• Time yourself. Two minutes is usually enough. Stop before you tell your whole employment history.

A blank you can copy

Replace every bracket. Delete the line if you cannot fill it from something that happened.

• Situation: At [employer or school], in [month and year], [what was happening].
• Task: I was responsible for [the duty].
• Action: I [the steps you took, in order].
• Result: After that, [what was different]. I know this because [how you know].

In the room

• If you do not understand the question, ask them to repeat it.
• If you have not done the thing they asked about, say so, and offer the closest true example. Do not borrow a story from a classmate.
• A public-service interview may also include a practical test. The advert or the invitation will say so. STAR does not replace that test.

The builder does not score your answer and does not listen to the interview.