Using the STAR method when answering questions: Use the STAR method to ensure your responses are clear and structured, and so that the interviewer can better understand your problem-solving abilities. The STAR method stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. 

• Situation: Describe the situation or problem you faced.
• Task: Explain the task or objective that you had to accomplish.
• Action: Describe the specific actions you took to address the situation or task. Be sure to focus on your own contributions and actions (not hypotheticals or someone else's actions).
• Result: Explain the outcome or result of your actions, and how it impacted the situation or task.

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Examples using the STAR method

Question: “What is the professional achievement you’re most proud of?"

Situation: It was my first job out of college working as a software engineer at [Company Name]. My first task was to update one of our mobile applications for one of our products. My manager had very specific requirements for the app, and my team and I were facing several technical challenges to meet those requirements.

Task: My task was to lead the development team and find a solution to meet all of the required updates. 

Action: First, I conducted extensive research to understand all of the requirements and the technical challenges we were facing. I then led the team in brainstorming sessions to come up with innovative solutions that could address those requirements. As a team, we decided to incorporate a new technology that was not widely used in our company. It was actually a new technology that I used previously in my junior year internship, so I conducted several training sessions to help the team understand the new technology and its implementation in the project. I also made sure that the team manager was provided with regular updates and progress on the project. 

Result: As a result of our efforts, we successfully updated the mobile application and met all of the requirements. The app received positive feedback from our manager and end-users, and it was a great success. The innovative approach we took to overcome the technical challenges also helped us gain expertise in the new technology, which the team continued to use in future projects.

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Question: “Can you give an example of a time when you had to overcome a challenge?”

Situation: During my junior year internship at [Company Name], I was tasked to create a marketing plan for a product launch that was struggling with engagement due to increased competition.

Task: To boost visibility and attract new customers, I was assigned to conduct market research and develop a detailed marketing plan.

Action: Due to my team's various commitments and deadlines for other product launches, it was difficult for us to coordinate our schedules to meet. To address this, I took the initiative to ask the team manager the level of priority that this project had which allowed me then to go back to the team I was working with on this to discuss expectations. Since it was the only product launch that was struggling, we had to work together as a team for a quick turnaround on our revised marketing plan.  

Result: Although we faced initial challenges, our team completed the marketing plan within a quick turnaround time. We received positive feedback and our strategies increased customer engagement and sales by over 30%. I learned that in the workplace, things change quickly and you have to learn how to adapt and act fast sometimes. Also, when working as a team, it is best for everyone to be on the same page because everyone has their own individual projects going on so it may take one person to bring everyone in. 

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Question: “Tell me about a time you made a mistake and how you handled the situation"

Situation: When I was an intern at [Company Name], I was working on multiple projects at the same time and had a tight deadline to complete a digital poster for a new product launch. 

Task: I was tasked with creating an impactful and visually appealing poster demonstrating the different aspects of the new product. 

Action: As a result of my workload with other projects, I overlooked the resolution requirements for the digital poster and designed images with low resolutions. I had a deadline and it wasn’t until the day before that I realized my mistake and panicked, but I quickly contacted my manager and explained what had happened. I apologized for my error and accepted full responsibility.

Result: My manager advised me to redo the poster using the correct requirements. I knew I had to stay up late, so I worked hard to submit the revised version before the deadline. It was my mistake that caused a delay and extra effort, but I learned the importance of double-checking requirements and managing my workload efficiently as a result.