Re:Tech sector job interviews assess anxiety, not software s...
by ryandrake on Wednesday July 15, 2020 @11:03PM
(#23855283)
STAR is not just for Amazon. It's a great way to answer "behavioral questions" at any company. On the other side of the table, as an interviewer, I can recognize the STAR format instantly and am very appreciative that the candidate has taken the time to structure his or her answer in this easy-to-digest way.
Also, and I don't know if there is a nice acronym for it, but I like the formula where you:
1. Say what you're going to say
2. Say it
3. Say what you said
So if the question is "Tell me about some things you consider when you need to do task ABC," You structure your response like this:
"I'm going to describe the top three things I consider. 1. Foo. [Details here]. 2. Bar. [Details here]. 3. Baz. [Details here]. In summary, Foo, Bar, and Baz are the things I consider in that situation."
Is a much better response than unstructured word salad that contains the same detailed content but jumbles it all together and kind of trails off, leaving the interviewer wondering if the candidate is done talking.
Also, and I don't know if there is a nice acronym for it, but I like the formula where you:
1. Say what you're going to say
2. Say it
3. Say what you said
So if the question is "Tell me about some things you consider when you need to do task ABC," You structure your response like this:
"I'm going to describe the top three things I consider. 1. Foo. [Details here]. 2. Bar. [Details here]. 3. Baz. [Details here]. In summary, Foo, Bar, and Baz are the things I consider in that situation."
Is a much better response than unstructured word salad that contains the same detailed content but jumbles it all together and kind of trails off, leaving the interviewer wondering if the candidate is done talking.