Behavioral interviews: the STAR method

Behavioral questions ("Tell me about a time when...") are predictable and preparable. The STAR structure is how to prepare them.

What STAR means

Situation: one sentence of context. Task: what you specifically needed to achieve. Action: what you did — the longest part. Result: the outcome with a number if possible. Two minutes per story, maximum.

Build your story bank

Prepare six stories covering: a conflict, a failure and recovery, a leadership moment, a deadline under pressure, a process you improved, and a time you learned fast. Almost any behavioral question maps onto one of these. Practice aloud, not in your head — fluent delivery is half the score.

Frequently asked questions