How to Use the STAR Interview Technique in Your Next Interview
In your upcoming interview, the SMART Interview Technique will be an invaluable tool. This technique is essential whether you’re preparing for a sales position or a maintenance engineering role. It’s designed to help you give structured, impactful answers that leave a lasting impression. But how do you do this?
In this blog, you’ll learn:
And we’ll share some examples to guide you. But before we go further, let’s explore what the SMART Interview Technique entails!
What is the STAR Interview Technique?
STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. It’s a structure you can follow to answer:
Behavioural Interview Questions
Competency Interview Questions
Really, you can use this to answer any question that requires you to tell a story (you can also use it when writing your CV!) This format helps you cut out the waffle and deliver a concise response that’s relevant to your experience.
Let’s go through this approach a little more.
Situation – Start by providing context (what and when it took place).
Task – Detail the exact issue/task that you undertook.
Action – Explain what happened (you can also link this to a business/personal goal).
Result – Describe what was achieved (this is where you pack in the facts and figures).
How to Prepare Ahead of Your Interview
Interviewers are going to ask you questions about how you’ve demonstrated the skills they want. So, you’re going to want to spend some time reviewing the job advert.
With a fine-tooth comb, assess the advert and pick out:
- The hard and soft skills the company is looking for.
- Key technology/programs/machinery they use.
- Unique responsibilities you’ll need to cover.
Once you’ve got this, think about your experience and start jotting down examples you can use during your interview. We’ve created a document to help you do this – make sure you download it to make your interview preparation easier!
Ready to dive deeper into interview prep? We’ve got you covered! Our Senior Engineering Recruitment Consultant, Matt Morson, has put together everything you need for acing a Maintenance Engineer interview. And if you’re gearing up for a sales interview, our Divisional Manager, Natalie Chapman, has shared her top tips and tricks. Check out these guides today and get set for success!
How to Recognise When to Use the STAR Interview Response
Ok, you’ve done the prep and are now in your interview! But how do you know when to use the STAR interview response?
Luckily, behavioural or competency-based questions have an obvious opening. So it’s easy to know when to bring out your STAR response, here are a few examples:
Tell me about…
What do you do when…
Give me…
How do you…
Describe a…
How to Use the STAR Interview Response Technique
Sometimes it’s helpful to see things in practice. So we’ve put together some common questions, with some STAR Interview responses. We’ll give you a sales and engineering question – as this is what we’re experts in!
STAR Interview Questions and Answers
Describe a situation where you’ve led a team.
Sales Response:
In my role at [company], I was appointed the lead for the launch of a new product line and was responsible for leading [number] of people. I implemented [talk about the processes, strategies, and tools you used]. As a result of this,
.Maintenance Engineer Response:
During my time at [company], I led the installation of [machine]. As part of this, I managed [number] of engineers. This project involved me doing [specific tasks] with the team. We were able to complete the installation within [timeframe] and without issues.
Give me an example of where you’ve used [software] or worked on [machine].
Sales Response:
During my time at [company], they used [software] for [reason]. I noticed that my colleagues were not using it effectively and were missing opportunities and experiencing inefficiencies in our sales process. I took it upon myself to better leverage [software] to [insert goal]. I did [specific actions], which resulted in a wider business impact. By doing this, my conversion rate increased to [percentage], and we achieved other positive results.
Maintenance Engineer Response:
At my current company, they have [machines]. I did [specific tasks] to maintain/fix them. The downtime of the machines was around [amount], which was [amount] lower than expected.
Tell me about a time when you faced a problem at work. How did you handle it?
Sales Response:
Whilst working at [company], I was dealing with a client whose account had been invoiced incorrectly, resulting in them overpaying for an order. I spoke with the customer on the telephone to explain and reassure them that we were sorting it out. I then worked with accounts to resolve the issue. I organised [specific incentive] as compensation, and the client is still working with us.
Maintenance Engineer Response:
Whilst working at [company], we were struggling to identify why [machine] was down. After additional fault-finding, I did [specific action] and was able to solve the fault. This information was shared across the team so that we could respond to any similar breakdowns more quickly.
These are just three questions that you could be asked in your next interview. But we hope that these examples give you a good idea of how to implement the STAR interview technique in your next interview.
Recruiter Tip – You only need a couple of sentences for each stage of STAR. This technique is about keeping things short and impactful.
What to Take Away from This
The SMART Interview Technique is a powerful tool for delivering clear, structured responses that highlight your skills and help you stand out. Preparation is key—review the job, reflect on your experiences, and practice your STAR answers. Even if time is tight, keeping the SMART framework in mind will boost your confidence. Good luck!
Take the next step!
Enhance your interview game with our detailed guides:
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The Experts Behind This Blog
Crafted by both our marketers and recruiters, this blog is designed to bring you the most relevant information.
But who are our recruitment experts? Firstly, we have Matt Morson, our Senior Engineering Recruitment Consultant. He exclusively recruits maintenance engineers in Coventry and Warwickshire; and has worked on other content like our Salary Insights. Next up is Natalie Chapman, our Building Materials Divisional Recruitment Manager. She’s worked in recruitment for over 15 years and has placed hundreds of salespeople. She’s worked on content like Building Materials Trends and Redundancy Advice.