Interview tip: The STAR technique

After 4 months… I had my first interview! I am super excited and this is a job that I really like, so fingers crossed, everybody!

In the process of preparing the interview, I discovered the STAR technique. Do you know it? It is a very effective technique that helps you to share a story when the interviewer asks you for a professional experience.

I have been asked several times in interviews questions such as:

• Tell me about a time you overcame an obstacle.
• Tell me how you handled a difficult situation.
• What’s your greatest achievement?

You can apply the STAR method for all of them. You just have to follow this steps and remember the STAR acronym for Situation, Task, Action, and Result.

• Situation: Set the scene and give the necessary details of your example.
• Task: Describe what your responsibility was in that situation.
• Action: Explain exactly what steps you took to address it.
• Result: Share what outcomes your actions achieved.

Before the interview, I usually prepare a few questions and answers and practice. These are two examples that I prepared for explaining difficult situations in my experience as a leader.

Example 1: Difficult Conversation

• Situation: In my job as a coach and evaluator, I had to observe and give scores based on results and performance to educators in my caseload. This year, one of the teachers did not agree with the score and we had a challenging conversation during a meeting.
• Task: My responsibility was to be objective and accountable based on the observation and support the teacher with next steps for her instruction.
• Action: I met with the teacher, reviewed the LEAP framework for best practice in Denver Public Schools. I usually met with the teachers before to plan the instructions, so it was easier to review the lesson and compare with the expectations. I offered my support co-teaching and modeling so she could see how a higher score would look like in her classroom. We agreed on next steps aligned with the same indicators to get a higher score in the next observation.
• Result: The teacher was able to agree on my evaluation and she had clear next steps for the next few weeks. In the next observation, she was able to apply the strategies discussed and her scores increased.

Example 2: Mediation

• Situation: Mediation between two adults (teacher and paraprofessional) with problems in their communication. The toxic relationship was affecting their performance. 
• Task: My responsibility was to make sure that adults in my caseload had a professional relationship and communication, being able to work together to get the company goals.
• Action: Talked to both of them individually, gave a few strategies but they did not work. I set up a meeting with both of them. I clarified expectations, professionalism. Each of them gave their point of view. Finally, they made agreements to avoid this situation in the future and I created next steps (positive comments, Thank You, regular check-in at the end of the day, regular follow-ups and observations from me)
• Result: paraprofessional and teacher were able to have a professional relationship and positive communication at the end of the school year.

I hope this helps! Tell me if you knew the STAR technique and if you think it is useful for your future interviews!