In a job interview, you will have to answer behavioural interview questions. The only way you can answer behavioural interview questions correctly is by using the STAR METHOD. The STAR METHOD is recognised by all hiring managers as the correct way to answer questions such as, tell me about a time you worked on a team. Tell me about a time you disagreed with your boss, and tell me about a time you worked under pressure. This guide gives you the best way to answer STAR Behavioural Interview Questions during a job interview!
Let me explain what the STAR method is and how you can use it to impress the hiring manager when answering behavioural interview questions.
Now, whenever the interviewer asks you a question such as:
- Tell me about a time when you worked on a team;
- Tell me about a time you had to overcome a difficult problem;
- Tell me about a time you delivered excellent customer service.
When preparing for STAR Behavioural Interview Questions, it helps to practise structured answers. The STAR METHOD stands for Situation, Task Action and Result.
SITUATION – You should start your answer by outlining the SITUATION you were faced with.
TASK – Next, you will briefly outline the TASK that needed doing.
ACTION – You will then give in-depth details of the action you took to complete the task.
RESULT – Before finally telling the interviewer the RESULTS following your actions.
And it’s worthwhile noting that you should always ensure that the RESULT is a positive one!
Below you will find examples of strong answers to common STAR Behavioural Interview Questions.
BEHAVIOURAL INTERVIEW QUESTION #1. Tell me about a time you worked on a team.
SITUATION: In my previous role, I was part of a team tasked with identifying ways to reduce company costs and improve efficiency during an economic downturn.
TASK: Our task was to brainstorm solutions that would lead to significant financial savings for our employer.
ACTION: We held an initial team meeting where everyone openly shared ideas. I suggested implementing customer service chatbots on our website, which would substantially cut staffing costs and enhance efficiency.
Other team members proposed sourcing new suppliers to reduce expenditure and secure better contract terms. After a productive meeting where we all contributed, we collectively agreed on the five strongest suggestions to present to our manager.
Our manager was impressed with our suggestions and he gave us the task of implementing all five solutions. We then assigned tasks to team members based on individual strengths, maintained regular communication, and provided ongoing support to one another.
RESULT: Within three months, we successfully implemented all five initiatives, resulting in a notable 15% reduction in operational costs. Specifically, the chatbot integration that I proposed alone saved the company thousands annually and improved customer satisfaction ratings.
BEHAVIOURAL INTERVIEW QUESTION #2. Tell me about a time you had to overcome a challenging problem.
SITUATION: One Friday afternoon, our company website suddenly crashed. This was a major problem because we had an online sale scheduled for the weekend, and any website downtime would significantly impact revenue and customer trust.
TASK: Recognizing the urgency, I volunteered to stay late after work to resolve the issue quickly and ensure the website was operational before the sale started.
ACTION: Initially, I conducted online research to identify possible causes of the website outage but I couldn’t pinpoint the exact issue. Using my initiative, I decided to hire an IT specialist contractor from Upwork.com. After a brief consultation, the contractor quickly identified that our website’s server capacity was inadequate for the anticipated web traffic.
RESULT: Based on the contractor’s recommendation, we immediately upgraded the server, and the website was successfully back online and fully functional in time for the weekend sale. My manager praised my ability to find a quick solution to this challenging problem.
BEHAVIOURAL INTERVIEW QUESTION #3. Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your boss.
SITUATION: In my previous role, our company received a negative and unfair review online from a dissatisfied customer. This review had the potential to significantly impact our company’s reputation.
TASK: My manager initially planned to reply defensively to the negative comment. However, I felt this approach might escalate the situation further and damage our professional image.
ACTION: I respectfully approached my manager and suggested we respond professionally and empathetically instead, acknowledging the customer’s concerns and inviting them to discuss the issue privately to find a resolution. After listening to my suggestion, my manager agreed to respond using a professional and understanding tone.
RESULT: After posting the empathetic reply, the customer reached out via email to explain their issue in detail. We were then able to fully understand and resolve their concerns effectively. The customer appreciated our response to their concern and amended their review to reflect the positive experience.
BEHAVIOURAL INTERVIEW QUESTION #4. Tell me about a time when you worked under pressure.
SITUATION: In my previous role, a co-worker unexpectedly went off sick, and our manager urgently needed someone to cover their workload. I volunteered immediately. Despite knowing my workload would double, I wanted to support my employer and seize the opportunity to develop new skills.
TASK: I needed to quickly learn my co-worker’s responsibilities, which involved understanding new processes and unfamiliar tasks. My task was to handle both workloads effectively without letting quality or deadlines suffer.
ACTION: I created a list of all the tasks I was now responsible for and color-coded them in order of priority. Red tasks were urgent, and green tasks could be left for later. I researched online resources and studied our company’s operating manuals to understand my colleagues’ duties. I blocked out distractions and dedicated additional hours each day to manage the increased workload effectively.
RESULT: By remaining organized, focused, and committed, I successfully managed both workloads. All tasks were completed accurately and on time, and my manager praised my adaptability and initiative.
Final Thoughts on Mastering STAR Behavioural Interview Questions
Mastering the STAR Method is one of the most effective ways to stand out in a competitive job market. By structuring your answers using Situation, Task, Action, and Result, you can clearly demonstrate your skills, experience, and suitability for the role. With preparation and practice, you will walk into your interview feeling confident, articulate, and fully prepared to answer any behavioural interview question the hiring manager asks. If you want to increase your chances of success even further, make sure you practise your STAR responses in advance and continue developing strong examples that showcase your strengths.
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