Interviews -
STAR Method
Though not always the case, the first stage of an interview process may often take a more informal approach. Informal interviews allow the employer to understand the candidate’s interest and motivation behind joining the company, so displaying enthusiasm for the role and company you are interviewing for is important.
Additionally, an informal interview often aims to understand how candidates use their experiences to approach problems, tasks and challenges.
The most common way to assess is by asking competency-based questions, so preparing well for the types of questions and what to expect is essential. Using the ‘STAR’ technique is a great way to ensure you cover multiple points in your answer to give the interviewer a well-rounded understanding of your experience and capabilities.
Situation
Set the story's scene by giving context and the background of the situation. For example, if you're asked about teamwork, your response should include the project details, who you collaborated with, when you undertook the project and your location.
Task
Describe your exact role or responsibility in the situation. Ensure the hiring manager knows what you were assigned to do rather than everyone else.
Action
This step is an essential part of the story. You explain how you handled the difficult situation or conquered the problem here. Say whether you did it alone or together as a team. What you're trying to communicate is your assessment of the situation, your response to the problem, and how you got the team involved.
Share as many details as possible so the interviewer can follow you. As you do so, avoid acronyms and company-specific jargon.
Result
Close the story by stating the positive outcome of your actions and what lessons you learned. Then, quantify the results and show the effects of your actions. Examples may include a 10% increase in sales, getting repeat business or saving your team five hours weekly.
Examples of competency-type questions and other common interview questions
Q: Tell me about yourself
The interviewer is saying, “I want to hear you talk”.
A: This is an icebreaker but is a common question, so your response can be standardised. Write a script, and rehearse it so it sounds impromptu. Spend a maximum of four minutes describing your qualifications, career history and your range of skills. Emphasise those skills that are relevant to the job on offer.
Q: What have been your achievements to date?
The interviewer is asking, “Are you an achiever?”.
A: Again, this is a common question, so be prepared. Select an achievement that is experience related and recent. Identify skills you used in the achievement and quantify the benefit
Q: Are you happy with your career to date?
The interviewer asks about your self-esteem, self-confidence, career aspirations, and whether you are happy and positive.
A: The answer must be ‘yes’, but if you have hit a career plateau or are moving too slowly, you must qualify the answer.
Q: Tell me about your most difficult situation and how you tackled it?
The interviewer is trying to determine your definition of ‘difficult’ and whether you can show a logical approach to problem-solving using your initiative.
A: This can be a trap! To avoid it, select a difficult work situation not caused by you, which can be quickly explained in a few sentences. Explain how you defined the problem, the options, why you selected the one you did, and the outcome. Always end on a positive note.
Other common interview questions to consider
- Describe a situation in which you led a team.
- Give an example of a time you handled conflict in the workplace.
- How do you maintain good working relationships with your colleagues?
- Tell me about a big decision you've made recently.
Informal Interviews
There may be occasions where you are encouraged to have an informal coffee chat with a hiring manager before any more formalised interview, to test the ground and see if both parties are happy. This can be via a Teams call or in person, but either way, remember, this is still an interview, albeit more informal! Do dress as you would for any other interview, and when speaking, do not get too comfortable and talk as you would with a good colleague. Remain professional but more relaxed. These chats are great for both sides to get to know what you are both looking for, but it is still an interview on both sides at the end of the day!