Written by WELL SAID’s Registered Speech Language Pathology Contributors : Laura Janzen

Clinically Reviewed by: Melissa James., M.H.Sc., Reg. CASLPO | Speech Language Pathologist

Updated: January 24, 2024

In a job interview, you only have a short period of time to show the person on the other side of the table that you are the right candidate for the position. This situation is stress inducing for anyone and answering questions effectively can feel like a daunting task. 

1. Behaviour-Based Interviewing

2. The STAR Framework

3. Sample STAR Response

4. Conclusion

A typical line of questioning in job interviews is called “behaviour-based interviewing”. This type of questioning is based on the principle that the best indicator of future behaviour is past behaviour. Interviewers will ask you about how you handled past problems and difficult situations, in order to assess how you would likely manage similar challenges in the future. These questions are easy to spot as they contain common openings such as:

• Tell me about a time when…

• Describe a situation in which…

• Have you ever experienced…

• Give me a specific example of…

If you struggle with answering behavioural questions, don’t worry, you’re not alone! This type of question can be very intimidating, which is why it’s helpful to use a framework when structuring your responses. 

The star framework is a 4 step system for responding to behaviour-based interview questions. It guides the story to prevent common mistakes like diving in without giving the background information or not tying the answer back to the original question. The STAR interview framework can be extremely helpful to ensure you touch on the key points without going off on unnecessary tangents. Each letter in the framework stands for one step in your answer:

S - Situation: Offer just enough information to give the interviewer context

When beginning to recount the experience, it is crucial that the interviewer has enough background information to understand the situation you were in and what was at stake. 

Don’t be vague and use a generalized description of a situation from the past. Instead, choose a specific instance and describe the relevant contextual pieces of the story first. Be sure to include how recent the experience was, where the experience took place and your role/position. Additionally, explain any relevant obstacles that you faced in the situation. 

T - Task: The goal or responsibility you had in this scenario

Now that you have explained the context of the story, you can dive into exactly what you were working towards. Lay out the task you had to complete and your role in successfully completing it. Be sure to include any specific goals you were working on. 

A - Action: What did you do and why did you do it?

This is the most critical part of your answer. What exactly did you do to ensure the goal was met or the challenge was overcome? Be sure to give an appropriate amount of detail and keep the focus on you. What steps did you take? What plan did you lay out? When responding use “I statements” rather than “we” statements in order to  highlight your specific role. 

R - Result: What happened and how it relates to the initial question

Finally, you have to wrap up your story by explaining how your actions created a positive end result and tie your answer back to the original question. When you describe the outcome be sure to take credit for your behaviour and how it contributed to this end result. Ensure you touch on points from the original question and how this experience demonstrates the skills you were asked about

Question: Describe a time when you had to make a quick decision at work to solve a problem.

Situation (S): 

“Last fall, I was working for Elections Canada as poll supervisor. My role was to ensure the poll workers at my station were checking identification and logging voter information accurately. About 20 minutes into the first day, I noticed the poll clerk was consistently crossing out the wrong names on her list and her writing was very slow.” 

Task (T): 

“A line was forming and the poll clerk was becoming flustered. I needed to ensure voter information was being properly logged while also having a continuous flow of people. I needed a solution to prevent further delays and get the line moving quickly.” 

Action (A): 

“In order to resolve the situation quickly, I made the decision to switch the poll clerk and the greeter at the door. All poll workers receive the same training and compensation so there would be no issues with switching roles.”

Result (R): 

“The new poll clerk was much quicker and was able to accurately log information. By noticing the problem early, I was able to make an executive decision that allowed voting to continue smoothly and also prevented further mistakes from being made.” 

When preparing for your next interview, be sure to brainstorm some relevant stories you would use to respond to behaviour-based questions. Write them down using the STAR framework to organize your thoughts. Once you are actually in the interview, keep the four steps of this method in mind. Provide just enough detail about the situation you were in so the interviewer will understand the context of the event. Explain what task you had to do or what goal you wanted to achieve. Be sure to then be very clear about the actions you personally took to achieve the goals previously described. Finally, don’t forget to explain the positive end result that came to be because of your behaviour and then tie it all back to the original question. 

If you have difficulty communicating effectively in interviews and want additional coaching, book an initial consultation with a speech-language pathologist today! 

To speak with one of the speech-language pathologists at Well Said: Toronto Speech Therapy, schedule an initial consultation by clicking the link below or calling (647) 795-5277.