Recently, I consulted with a job seeker who had completed an interview, and was informed by the company that they were interested in a second interview. The good news: the company was now considering her for a management position rather than the initial technician position. The bad news: she was unsure what to expect during the second interview. She didn’t think she was prepared for an interview that would focus on a different set of skills. However, if you learn the STAR method of interviewing, you’ll realize that most job interviews are pretty much the same…and you can be successful each and every time.

What I will share with you are the five key steps to being a STAR in the interview. These five steps are appropriate for behavioral interviews, group interviews, phone interviews, second interviews – - it doesn’t matter. Most interviewers want to hear the results of your actions. If you understand this, then you’re one step ahead of the rest.

If it’s difficult for you to explain your work-related results and tie them to the reasons why you’re the right person for the job, then the interviewer will mark your candidacy as “not a good fit.” The STAR method of interviewing provides a way to respond to all interview questions and it’s outlined below:

STAR = Situation or Task – Action taken – Results achieved

I recommend an additional step to the STAR method so you can explain how the results you’ve achieved in one company will transfer easily to another company. You want the interviewer to think, “yes, I can see how her management skills will work in our company.”

Here are the five steps to help you achieve STAR status during the job interview:

1) Describe a Situation or Task you had to solve: “One of my customers was unhappy with our XYZ widgets.”

2) Add some detail to describe your direct involvement: “I was responsible for dealing directly with our department’s major clients and so, I was charged with turning the situation around for this unhappy customer.”

3) Explain your key Action steps: “I contacted the customer directly and requested feedback. I authorized a refund or future discounts to this particular customer.”

4) As a Result of your action steps, what happened? “As a result of the refund and discount, the customer increased their orders by 25%.”

5) Then explain how you will be able to achieve similar results within the interviewer’s company: “I understand that your company values customer satisfaction, and I believe that I have the necessary skills to succeed in your company. The situation that I just described provides a good picture of my customer service capabilities.”

The five steps can be switched around, if necessary; however, the key is to be able to list specific results that were gained. Most importantly, the results have to be tied directly to your action steps. If you’re prepared and focused, you’re more likely to be a STAR in the interview…and get the job.

The five steps can be switched around, if necessary; however, the key is to be able to list specific results that were gained. Most importantly, the results have to be tied directly to your action steps. If you’re prepared and focused, you’re more likely to be a STAR in the interview…and get the job.

Pamela Watson is offering a Free Interview Guide to all job seekers at http://www.beaconcareermgmt.com/InterviewSuccess.html. For 20 years, Pamela has provided career and job search advice to numerous professionals and college graduates. She has a Master’s degree in HR Development (Columbia University), and is a member of Coachville, Association of Coaching & Consulting Professionals, and Electronic Recruiting Exchange

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More companies are saving time and effort by doing initial telephone interviews before committing themselves to hours of time assessing and evaluating applicants. They are doing this because, frankly, it’s a good way to save a team’s time from interviewing obviously unqualified people. From your standpoint, this means that you need to develop an additional interview skill.

One of the disadvantages of doing a phone interview is that they can’t see how well you look or what a great suit you’re wearing to the interview or that you own terrific ties. It also means that you can sit in the comfort of your home, rather than trudging to their site. With this opportunity, comes problem. The major problem is that they can’t see how well you look or what great clothes you own. All they can do is listen to your voice and the energy that you convey and listen to the answers to your questions; you, on the other hand, can’t see when you’ve lost their attention or when you’ve bored them. There are no visual cues for either of you.

But with preparation, you can do a fabulous job and get in the door. Here’s a few pointers.

1. For any interview, go to the company’s website and learn about the firm. Also, if you can read a job specification on their site (or elsewhere) do so. After all the spec is the road map to what they are going to assess your abilities for.

2. Take notes to remind yourself of points that you may want to make or about things that you might forget. Sometimes people get nervous, just like they do in person. Have a few notes nearby about your role, responsibilities and accomplishments as helpful reminders. Support your statements with detailed examples of accomplishments when possible. Remember, they can’t see if you have a manual open to something you might be a little rusty in! They can’t see that you have your resume in front of you!

3. Rehearse. Have someone call you and listen to your voice on the phone. Maybe your cordless phone makes your voice sound tinny. Maybe you speak too softly, mumble or speak too quickly to be understood by others. Ask someone you trust to critique you.

4. Pick out a place in your house where the kids won’t interrupt you or the tv won’t make noise in the background. I hate interviewing people who have the stereo playing in the background (it happens more often than you can imagine).

5. Write down their questions so that you can stay on purpose. Too often, people forget the original question and go rambling about something far a field. Stay on target.

6. Your voice is your only sales tool. Don’t allow yourself to sound tired or blasé over the phone. Sounds energetic and excited, even if they’ve asked you the same questions that every other interviewer has for the last six months!

7. At the time of the phone interview, log off your computer (If you can’t definitely get off of instant messengers and other services that chime. These may sabotage your concentration just when you need it most.

8. Rehearse. Rehearse. Rehearse. I can’t emphasize enough that you need to practice phone interviews, just as you have in person one.

9. Don’t use your cell phone if you can avoid it. Cell phones rarely allow your voice to sound as clear as a standard land line. Try to avoid using it for interviews.

10. Be courteous and try not to speak over the interviewer or cut them off. If you do, apologize and let the interviewer continue.

11. Do not hang up until the interviewer has hung up.

Follow these pointers and I’m sure you’ll do better on your interviews.

Jeff Altman The Big Game Hunter
Concepts in Staffing
thebiggamehunter@cisny.com

© 2009 all rights reserved.

Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter, is Managing Director with Concepts in Staffing, a New York search firm, He has successfully assisted many corporations identify management leaders and staff in many disciplines since 1971. He is a retired certified leader of the ManKind Project, a not for profit organization that assists men with life issues, and a practicing psychotherapist.

Jeff is the author of “Get Yourself Hired NOW! The Big Game Hunter’s Guide to Head Hunting Your Next Job and Every Job After That” (in ebook and audio formats),  “Get Your Job Search Organized NOW!” (ebook) and ” No B.S. Job Search Advice.” All three e-books are available at www.GetYourselfHiredNOW.com Register at the site and you will receive free copies of The International Job Board List and Career Hub’s  Insider Guide to Resume Writing.

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