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STAR Stories for Optimum Success
An earlier post explained how to build your STAR stories. When faced with a Behavioural or Competency Based Interview they will serve you well.
What is Behavioural Interviewing?
Behavioural or Competency Based Interviewing is a style of interviewing that more and more organizations are using in their hiring process.
This is based on a belief that the most accurate predictor of future success is past performance in a similar situation.
So this form of interviewing is based on your experiences, the way you behave and your knowledge, skills and abilities.
Traditional interviewing questions ask you general questions such as “Tell me about yourself.”
But behavioural interviewing is much more probing.
How do Employers go about Behavioural or Competency Based Interviews?
Employers find the skills they think are necessary for the job and then ask questions to find if you have those skills.
For example, if leadership is necessary for a role, you may be asked to talk about an experience you have had as a leader and what you think makes a good leader.
In any interview you should always listen carefully to the question.
Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if you don’t understand something. It is better to do this than to jump in uncertain of what is needed.
How can you prepare for a Behavioural or Competency Based Interview?
When going for any interview, you should research the organization carefully. Then look at similar jobs in the same sector. You are trying to find the qualities required. Remember to note at any qualities they mention in the advert or in the information pack.
Then find useful examples from your past and your CV/resume; times when you have demonstrated the behaviours you think the organization may be seeking.
During the interview, your responses need to be specific and detailed. Tell them about a particular situation that relates to the question, not a general one.
Outline the situation, what you did specifically and the positive results that followed. Be certain to show clearly what you contributed.
Remember your STAR stories. Your answer should include the Situation, Task, Action and Result.
The STAR Method
- Situation: give an example of a situation you were involved in that resulted in a positive outcome
- Task: describe the tasks involved in that situation
- Action: talk about the various actions involved in the situation’s task
- Results: what results directly followed because of your actions
Interview Questions
Typically, the interviewer will then ask questions to get to the specific qualities they seek.
Sometimes this is called ”digging a well.”
The interviewer may ask you open-ended questions to allow you to choose which examples you wish to use to illustrate a particular quality. They will then ask you very specific follow-up questions. For example;
- How did you reach that conclusion?
- How did you manage that meeting?
- How did handle that senior manager?
Wherever you can, be specific.
Quantify your results! Numbers illustrate your level of authority and responsibility.
Be ready to explain difficulties and how you handled them. What did you learn when things started to go wrong and how did you bring things back on track.
Good preparation and work on your STAR stores should make you feel much more confident about handling this kind of interview.
But I would welcome comments from others about their experience of these kinds of interviews.
I will be very happy to answer any questions you have.
Image may be NSFW.
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Wendy Mason works as a Coach, Consultant and Writer.
She works with all kinds of people going through many different kinds of personal and career change, particularly those;
- looking for work
- looking for promotion or newly promoted
- moving between Public and Private Sectors
- facing redundancy
- moving into retirement
- wanting to do a mid-life review
You can contact Wendy at wendymason@wisewolfconsulting.com or ring ++44 (0)2084610114
Related articles
-
Building Your Portfolio – STAR Stories Make You a Star!(leavingthepublicsector.net)
- So you have an interview – how will you make your mark? (leavingthepublicsector.net)
- Interview Technique – Dealing with interview nerves and anxiety! (leavingthepublicsector.blogspot.com)
- Be Prepared (jobsearchingblog.com)
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