Interview Preparation for the Stress Interview

The Stress Interview

Stress interviews are used by employers for roles where the applicants may be subjected to a large amount of stress, usually in fast-paced working environments. As the name implies, a stress interview involves a series of high-pressure questions, and what makes these so difficult for the candidate to answer is that these are typically asked at a very fast pace, so fast in fact that you may not get a chance to properly answer your current question before the interviewer throws the next one at you. This can leave interviewees very flustered, and they can find the experience very stressful, hence where the interview gets its name. An interview such as this is typically conducted in a manner designed to keep you off balance and to leave you feeling awkward and uncomfortable. The types of questions asked in a stress interview are exactly the same questions that would be asked in any other type of interview format (structured, semi-structured, unstructured, behavioural, etc), it is the way these questions are asked that sets the stress interview apart…

In a stress interview, the interviewers are heavily focused on assessing your reactions and on how well you are able to cope and respond with the pressure of having multiple questions fired at you in quick succession. While the interviewers are assessing your answers on their structure and content, remember that at the same time they are also assessing the way you handle these questions and respond to this pressure as well

Stress interviews are most commonly employed where there are multiple interviewers present, usually in a panel format, although they can be employed in other types of interviews too. (Based on the seemingly aggressive/ forward nature of the interviewers in this situation, and because of the stressful reactions it can cause in some interviewees, it is normally only ever employed where there is more than one interviewer present)

The purpose the interviewer has in the stress interview is not only merely to assess you, but to put you under pressure to an extent that you feel uncomfortable and uncertain. To effectuate this goal, they may employ other tactics as well such as asking you ‘strange questions’, these are questions seemingly unrelated to the interview or to the job itself. These can be questions like, ‘how many £1 coins would fit onto a double decker bus’, or, ‘how many 747’s stacked one on top of the other would it take to get into space’. The first thing you need to remember is that these seemingly meaningless questions serve a purpose – because they are designed to throw you off balance and leave you feeling flustered. That’s why the best way you can respond is to humour the interviewer by giving them the best answers you can, and not get flustered or despondent. Try and walk them through the thought-process you’ve taken to reach the conclusion to such meaningless questions – remember the interviewer is assessing your ability to keep your composure and think under pressure as much as they are assessing the answer itself! Depending on the type of job you are interviewing for they may do other things as well, such as assigning you tasks and then not giving you enough time to properly complete them. Again, the main thing in this type of situation is to complete each action to the best of your ability, showing off how calm and composed you can really be, always trying to talk the interviewer through your logic, even if your answer isn’t fully complete. While the quality and competency of the answers you provide is still of utmost importance, remaining composed and collected is also equally important too. Because stress interviews are typified by a series of fast paced questions asked in quick succession, it may feel like you are under a lot of pressure at the time, but remember that it is just an interview, and as such, it’s simply another way for your interviewers to test if you have what it takes to perform in that given role

Below you will find questions and answers to some of the most commonly asked questions in the stress interview. Alternatively, why don’t you look at the link at the bottom of the page for the steps we recommend you take to prepare for your next interview

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR THE STRESS INTERVIEW



1. We would like you to start off by telling us about your past work history

What is this question
The interviewer(s) is looking for you to start the interview off by talking about your previous work history. This question is focused primarily on your job skills, and has a more challenging orientation to it, as opposed to trying to learn more about your personal background first. Opening questions like these are designed to get you to open up and start talking about yourself, while giving the interviewer(s) an insight into your character, education, and employment background. While this gives you the opportunity to set the tone and structure for your answer, the open-ended nature of the question nature can sometimes prove challenging when trying to structure your answer

How to answer this
The best way to answer this question is to structure your answer based around the information on your C.V, (you should be well familiarized with your C.V by the time you go to your interview anyway). Start with your oldest job first, working your way up to your most recent one. Try to include the dates you worked there as well. Delivery is one of the most important things about this answer, and a smoothly delivered synopsis of your C.V, spoken in a confident tone without pause or broken sentences will captivate your interviewer and make for a strong opening answer. Be methodical, try to make a point of mentioning everything you’ve listed on your C.V. (if you don’t your interviewer(s) might pick up on it). Because you have the ability to structure this answer how you want, the key is to only touch on less relevant roles, spending most of your time not only describing the duties and functions of more relevant jobs, but spending extra time and effort relating those duties to the job you are applying for. For previous roles that match the job duties of the position closely, you should even go as far as to give the interviewer an insight into your thinking; taking a brief amount of time to go into such detail as to why you wanted that job, what you gained from it, and how you developed as a result of working in that role

Example
‘As I stated in my application, I only recently finished high school last year. After doing so, I had several ideas for potential career paths and having always been a hard worker whose always had good grades in school, I had several options available to me. I chose to accept an apprenticeship at Warehouse Supplies 123. There I got my first taste of what it is like to work in the industry, gaining valuable skills that I’ll use throughout the rest of my career. I worked there from June to December of last year. There I picked and received goods, assembled orders for dispatch, helped to keep stocks at their required levels, and processed orders for customers. It was the best experience of my life, I deeply enjoyed the environment, I loved the people I worked with, and on top of this, I felt valued by my employer. I am delighted I chose to go there for 2 very specific reasons; not only did I gain important industry skills and experience, but working there convinced me that this is the career for me. Since then, I’ve tried to do everything I can to progress myself in this industry. So far, I’ve managed to get a forklift certification from the RTITB (Regulatory body for workplace transport training), and I’m looking at other training courses that I can do in my spare time so I can enhance my skills even further. In April of this year, I went to work for Nationas Warehousing 456 as a warehouse operative. At the moment I am finding this role even more exciting, and because of the forklift training I’ve obtained I’ve managed to expand on the duties I performed in my previous position. Not only do I load and unload stock from cargo trucks to and from the warehouse, but I am also responsible for completing stock floor paperwork, picking and wrapping goods, as well as utilizing excellent communication skills to liaise with colleagues, assisting them with the moving and loading of items as required. In the time I’ve spent with them I’ve learned that safety, customer satisfaction, and a good bond with the team are of utmost importance. I’ve also found it easy to work well under pressure and to tight deadlines. I am now looking to push my limits even further, and am not merely looking for a new challenge, but rather an opportunity I can turn into a lifelong career’.

2. Why did you apply for this job?

What is this question
There are many types of iteration of this question, such as, ‘what attracted you to apply for a position at this company?’, ‘what made you choose to apply with us?’, and ‘why do you want to work here?’.
The interviewer(s) is essentially asking this question to get a sense of whether or not you have a genuine desire to work in the role/ company. They are also trying to gauge how excited you are about the job and what your underlying motivations for applying are

How to answer this
Answering truthfully is the easiest way to respond here. Start positively by talking about your desire to work in the role, then expand on this momentum by touching on the positive facts you’ve learned about the company through your research of them. Doing so will convey an underlying motivation to want to work in the role. Round off the answer by incorporating positive traits and qualities about yourself, linking them as best you can to the duties required in that role. Doing so will show the interviewer that you are both comfortable and enthusiastic with the duties as they are outlined in the job description – which in turn should convince them that you are a great fit for the role

Example
‘I applied for this job because I wanted to work in a role that combines my passion both for healthcare and finance together. This role would be ideal for me because it does both of these things and more. You’d be a great company to work for, not only because you were one of the very first onsite diagnostic and surgical treatment centers in the region, but what really interested me is that you are actively looking to grow and expand your range of services, and you’ve also consistently made it your mission to provide the best quality healthcare in the industry. I share a genuine passion for this company’s values and believe in its goals, and if hired I would do everything I can to add value to this role.
I have 7 year’s experience working in the area of finance, this includes experience in both accounts payable and receivable, and not only have I performed this role dutifully, but over this time I have also assisted with implementing more efficient financial procedures within my department, these include but are not limited to: establishing a fee for returns policy, and instituting payment protection options for our clients paying on finance.
Not only am I passionate about the level of care our customers receive, but one of the things I am most looking forward to in this role is assisting patients with their financial queries’.

3. How many other jobs have you applied for besides this one?

What is this question
With the opening questions out of the way, the interview will now start to intensify, and from this point onward the interviewer(s) will increasingly start to ask questions that are designed to put you under pressure. They’ll be listening to what you say, but more importantly, they will be watching how you react and respond to the difficultly of unexpectedly awkward questions like this

How to answer this
This is a particularly awkward question – as an interviewee not only might this seem somewhat inappropriate, but furthermore, it can also be very difficult to gauge what to say. If you go with your initial instinct which might be to say that you have only applied for this one job, you might then worry that this makes you seem either insincere, or come across as a candidate who is needy for that position. If you take the opposite tact and tell them that you have applied for lots of jobs, the worry is that it may sound to the interviewer(s) that this particular job is not important to you, and that you have applied for it only because you need a job. While part of the key is to an authentic answer will depend on whether you are in work or out of work, (most interviewers are realists and if you are in the job market, they will expect you to be applying elsewhere – indeed, being accepted for interviews is a good sign in the eyes of another interviewer as it indicates to them that there is something about you that other employers are interested in). Ideally though, you want to give the interviewer the impression that this job is special to you! That’s why you should be looking to convey to the interviewer the importance that this particular role has to you, which you can do simply by iterating what a great role you think this would be for you somewhere in your answer.
What you don’t want to do is make them think that you are applying for multitudes of different positions, as that may create the wrong impression. To this extent, it simply comes down to wording what you say correctly…

Example
‘I’ve applied with a few other companies for similar types of positions as I have a firm belief that this is where my skill set lies. I really want to emphasize however, I think this opportunity is amazing, I’d heard such good things about your company long before I even applied for this current vacancy, and I’ve done a lot of research on your company since then. To work for you would be a dream come true. Even though I’ve still to hear back from a couple of employers I’ve recently interviewed with, I would just like to make it clear that if you offered me the position, I wouldn’t even hesitate to think about it, I would love to work for your company, and I’d accept the offer straight away.’

4. Can you give an example of a time when you didn’t meet an important goal or deadline, did this change or improve you in any way? (Behavioural-based interview question)

What is this question
The interviewer(s) is giving you another challenging question by placing you in a very negative scenario where you have failed to complete a given task or assignment. In this particular iteration of this question, they are looking for you to provide an example focused primarily on how you have improved or positively changed since that experience. They are assessing your underlying mentality on how you deal with challenging and adverse situations. Specifically, they are evaluating your attitude in areas of responsibility, and on the level of ownership you take when things go wrong

(At this stage the questions will start to come quick and fast, and you may not get the chance to properly finish your response to the current question before the next question is asked. Remember not to take this personally and that it is simply part of the interview. Also remember that if you’re in the middle of saying something that you think is important or essential for the interviewer(s) to hear, persist with it until you are able to finish most or all of what you are saying. During this time the interviewer(s) will be pressuring you to respond to the next question, so this may involve a slight bit of jostling between yourself and the interviewer(s), which is fine and will normally work in your favor, as long as you have something meaningful to add and don’t do this on every question)

How to answer this
Normally with a behavioural-based interview question you should be looking to employ the STAR technique in your response. While you can still choose to do so here, the drawback in a stress interview is that the STAR method can take longer than a normal answer to deliver, which can be very unsettling if you are interrupted with more questions midway through your response.
Whether or not you choose to use the STAR response in your answer is up to you.
Remember that the focus with a behavioural-based question should be on your individual qualities and traits. This means the answer itself should focus on the emotional and behavioural qualities you employed to resolve the situation, rather than on a utilization of skills and technical knowledge

If you decide to use the STAR response, in the first part of your answer start by explaining the SITUATION you found yourself in at the time; this sets the scene and provides a context for the rest of your answer. This should be done within the first 3 – 4 sentences.
The next part of your answer should go on to explain your TASK. This defines the challenge or difficulty you were faced with and putting this across well sets you up nicely for the next part of your answer. Ideally, you want to explain the task within 2-3 sentences.
Next, is the ACTION you took in that situation. This part of the answer defines the actions you took and categorizes the experience or individual qualities you used to resolve the challenge you described in your task. The action is the most important part of your answer, so try and incorporate specific details here as it will add depth and lend credibility to what you say. You should take anywhere from 1-2 paragraphs to describe the action you used to resolve the problem you encountered.
Once you’ve described the action, finish up by talking about the RESULT those actions produced. It is very important that the result ends in a positive or constructive way. Try to do this by focusing on what was gained, or what was learned, as a result of your actions. A well delivered closing will provide an authentic and purposeful feel to the entirety of your answer, and as such, it means it’s equally important to have a strong result as it does to have a solid action in any behavioural-based answer you give. Try and keep your result between 4 – 6 sentences long

Remember – practice makes perfect.
A comprehensive and well-structured answer like this requires proper preparation.
S.T.A.R interview examples are best delivered when they are properly rehearsed before an interview. As an interview candidate, you will have no way of knowing specifically what questions will be asked of you. Because of this, people who use S.T.A.R interview examples tend to choose 7 or 8 competency or behavioural based examples to rehearse before the interview that cover as wide a variety of different scenarios as possible. In this way, by rehearsing a range of different situations, they give themselves the best possible chance of matching one they’ve rehearsed to any question the interviewer asks where the S.T.A.R method is required.
Lastly, when reciting any competency or behavioural based example, be sure to personalize your answer to the fullest extent by referring to yourself in the first term ‘I’.

Example (Non-Star structured response)
‘I had to finish an important sales report by the end of the week, and while I had most of it done there was more data to go through than I initially accounted for, and I missed the deadline by 2 days. This was an important report as it was relied upon to see what was driving our sites sales performance, as well as to underline any areas of underperformance, and once submitted this was passed along to individual department heads, and from there cascaded down to each of the respective teams in our building. I’d never missed a deadline before, and while it was deeply disappointing, it was a one-off occurrence that definitely changed me for the better. The most important thing I did was learn a more effective method to improve my time prioritization, and following the feedback from my superior, I made sure I improved the way I managed and prioritized my workload going forward so that this never happened again. I am very methodical and always want my work to be as good as it can. Looking back, it was a very formative experience because I used it to change the way I account for anything unexpected. Since then, I’ve changed the way I work and now whenever I plan in my workload I don’t only give myself enough time to complete any work or tasks that I’m assigned, I always try to plan in more than time than I need before a deadline, and I keep other non-essential work aside as a reserve so that if I complete my required workload on or ahead of schedule, I can use the extra time I’ve set aside to complete the non-essential work too, and I’ve found this has been a great method that’s worked really well for me ever since…’

Example (Star structured response)
For example, see members-only content. Behavioural-based interview examples

ALTERNATIVE ANSWER

5. Can you give us an example of how you set goals and achieve them? (Behavioural-based interview question)

What is this question
The interviewer(s) is looking for evidence of how you plan effective targets for yourself and achieve them. They are evaluating you on your planning, problem solving, and organizational qualities. In particular, they are interested to know how you have worked in this way before. They may ask for a personal or a work-based example of this, or they may not specify, like with this question. In that instance feel free to give either type as an example, although a work-based example is always preferable

(At this stage the questions will start to come quick and fast, and you may not get the chance to properly finish your response to the current question before the next question is asked. Remember not to take this personally and that it is simply part of the interview. Also remember that if you’re in the middle of saying something that you think is important or essential for the interviewer(s) to hear, persist with it until you are able to finish most or all of what you are saying. During this time the interviewer(s) will be pressuring you to respond to the next question, so this may involve a slight bit of jostling between yourself and the interviewer(s), which is fine and will normally work in your favor, as long as you have something meaningful to add and don’t do this on every question)

How to answer this
Normally with a behavioural-based interview question you should be looking to employ the STAR technique in your response. While you can still choose to do so here, the drawback in a stress interview is that the STAR method can take longer than a normal answer to deliver, which can be very unsettling if you are interrupted with more questions midway through your response.
Whether or not you choose to use the STAR response in your answer is up to you.
Remember that the focus with a behavioural-based question should be on your individual qualities and traits. This means the answer itself should focus on the emotional and behavioural qualities you employed to resolve the situation, rather than on a utilization of skills and technical knowledge

If you decide to use the STAR response, in the first part of your answer start by explaining the SITUATION you found yourself in at the time; this sets the scene and provides a context for the rest of your answer. This should be done within the first 3 – 4 sentences.
The next part of your answer should go on to explain your TASK. This defines the challenge or difficulty you were faced with and putting this across well sets you up nicely for the next part of your answer. Ideally, you want to explain the task within 2-3 sentences.
Next, is the ACTION you took in that situation. This part of the answer defines the actions you took and categorizes the experience or individual qualities you used to resolve the challenge you described in your task. The action is the most important part of your answer, so try and incorporate specific details here as it will add depth and lend credibility to what you say. You should take anywhere from 1-2 paragraphs to describe the action you used to resolve the problem you encountered.
Once you’ve described the action, finish up by talking about the RESULT those actions produced. It is very important that the result ends in a positive or constructive way. Try to do this by focusing on what was gained, or what was learned, as a result of your actions. A well delivered closing will provide an authentic and purposeful feel to the entirety of your answer, and as such, it means it’s equally important to have a strong result as it does to have a solid action in any behavioural-based answer you give. Try and keep your result between 4 – 6 sentences long

Remember – practice makes perfect.
A comprehensive and well-structured answer like this requires proper preparation.
S.T.A.R interview examples are best delivered when they are properly rehearsed before an interview. As an interview candidate, you will have no way of knowing specifically what questions will be asked of you. Because of this, people who use S.T.A.R interview examples tend to choose 7 or 8 competency or behavioural based examples to rehearse before the interview that cover as wide a variety of different scenarios as possible. In this way, by rehearsing a range of different situations, they give themselves the best possible chance of matching one they’ve rehearsed to any question the interviewer asks where the S.T.A.R method is required.
Lastly, when reciting any competency or behavioural based example, be sure to personalize your answer to the fullest extent by referring to yourself in the first term ‘I’.

Example (Non-Star structured response)
‘I set goals by clearly defining my objectives first, by assessing the resources and time I have available, and then setting out a plan of action to complete them.
An example I can give you is when I decided to start my own business. I started out by doing research into the field of web design to find out how profitable the market might be, then once I determined it would be a viable prospect, I followed through by assessing my finances and designating a location to start my business from – which I decided to do from home. Once I was satisfied that my idea was feasible, I then laid the groundwork by creating a portfolio of my work to showcase along with the rest of the content needed to get my business up and running. Once I’d finished with that, all that was left for me to do was to register my company domain, at which point my initial objective had been achieved. From that point onward’ –

Interruption by the interviewer. ‘Okay, thank you. Let’s move onto the next question now’.

ALTERNATIVE ANSWER

6. What would you do if you were given an undeserved criticism from a superior? (Behavioural-based interview question)

What is this question
The interviewer(s) is testing you to get a deeper insight into your character. They are assessing your sense of integrity, and more importantly, they are trying to get a feel for how you might perceive and respond to unfair situations and will be looking for you to employ effective communicative skills to successfully resolve the situation

Your initial instinct may be to shy away from saying anything negative in order to avoid making yourself sound confrontational, but the very fact that this question is being asked of you connotates that the interviewer(s) is looking for something more than this from you. With that in mind, be bold in your response, try and show your interviewer(s) the level of strength and depth of character you possess. Emphasize key ways that you would use to go about redressing this situation such as remaining calm, being objective, as well as having an emphatic belief in your standpoint and not second guessing yourself. It is also equally important, in your own words, that you are able explain why you would respond in the manner in which you would

(At this stage the questions will start to come quick and fast, and you may not get the chance to properly finish your response to the current question before the next question is asked. Remember not to take this personally and that it is simply part of the interview. Also remember that if you’re in the middle of saying something that you think is important or essential for the interviewer(s) to hear, persist with it until you are able to finish most or all of what you are saying. During this time the interviewer(s) will be pressuring you to respond to the next question, so this may involve a slight bit of jostling between yourself and the interviewer(s), which is fine and will normally work in your favor, as long as you have something meaningful to add and don’t do this on every question)

How to answer this
Normally with a behavioural-based interview question you should be looking to employ the STAR technique in your response. While you can still choose to do so here, the drawback in a stress interview is that the STAR method can take longer than a normal answer to deliver, which can be very unsettling if you are interrupted with more questions midway through your response.
Whether or not you choose to use the STAR response in your answer is up to you.
Remember that the focus with a behavioural-based question should be on your individual qualities and traits. This means the answer itself should focus on the emotional and behavioural qualities you employed to resolve the situation, rather than on a utilization of skills and technical knowledge

If you decide to use the STAR response, in the first part of your answer start by explaining the SITUATION you found yourself in at the time; this sets the scene and provides a context for the rest of your answer. This should be done within the first 3 – 4 sentences.
The next part of your answer should go on to explain your TASK. This defines the challenge or difficulty you were faced with and putting this across well sets you up nicely for the next part of your answer. Ideally, you want to explain the task within 2-3 sentences.
Next, is the ACTION you took in that situation. This part of the answer defines the actions you took and categorizes the experience or individual qualities you used to resolve the challenge you described in your task. The action is the most important part of your answer, so try and incorporate specific details here as it will add depth and lend credibility to what you say. You should take anywhere from 1-2 paragraphs to describe the action you used to resolve the problem you encountered.
Once you’ve described the action, finish up by talking about the RESULT those actions produced. It is very important that the result ends in a positive or constructive way. Try to do this by focusing on what was gained, or what was learned, as a result of your actions. A well delivered closing will provide an authentic and purposeful feel to the entirety of your answer, and as such, it means it’s equally important to have a strong result as it does to have a solid action in any behavioural-based answer you give. Try and keep your result between 4 – 6 sentences long

Remember – practice makes perfect.
A comprehensive and well-structured answer like this requires proper preparation.
S.T.A.R interview examples are best delivered when they are properly rehearsed before an interview. As an interview candidate, you will have no way of knowing specifically what questions will be asked of you. Because of this, people who use S.T.A.R interview examples tend to choose 7 or 8 competency or behavioural based examples to rehearse before the interview that cover as wide a variety of different scenarios as possible. In this way, by rehearsing a range of different situations, they give themselves the best possible chance of matching one they’ve rehearsed to any question the interviewer asks where the S.T.A.R method is required.
Lastly, when reciting any competency or behavioural based example, be sure to personalize your answer to the fullest extent by referring to yourself in the first term ‘I’.

Example (Non-Star structured response)
‘How I responded would depend on what the circumstance was, as well as in what way and to what severity I was criticized. I would think objectively about what was said, but if I felt the criticism was undeserved or unfair, I believe the most important thing would be to communicate this back to my superior along with a valid rationale so as I could explain to them why I believed the criticism was unfair.’
In situations where you disagree with what someone has said or done, I believe it’s important to talk to that person directly, especially if it is your superior. This way it stops things from –‘

Interruption by the interviewer. ‘Okay, thanks. We now have another question for you’.

‘I just have a little more to add to my answer before I get to your next question if that’s okay…You see, for me, it’s a matter of communication, because if I didn’t address issues like this then not only would I leave myself open to the same thing happening again, but more importantly, as a dutiful employee I believe I have an obligation to communicate respectfully to someone if I see the course of action they have taken is incorrect, even if it’s my superior, because if I didn’t make them aware that something they have done is unfair they wouldn’t ever have the chance to correct their actions. A business is only as good as the people working for it, therefore by communicating this to my supervisor it would ensure that as an organization the company could continue to grow and improve, and on top of this, it would also ensure that none of my other colleagues got that same unfair criticism either…’

7. How would you deal with a company policy you weren’t in agreement with? (Behavioural-based interview question)

What is this question
The interviewer(s) wants an understanding of how you will integrate into the company culture. They are looking for you to exhibit flexibility and a willingness to deal with change in a positive and proactive way. They are also looking for indicators that you are a team player who is amenable to company values

Providing an example of a time where you disagreed with a specific policy but came to terms with it in a constructive way is one of the most effective answers you can give to this question. Emphasize a willingness to be adaptable and flexible. You should start by devoting a significant part of your answer to adequately explaining why you weren’t in agreement with the policy in question. The rationale you give needs to sound insightful and reasonable when it is presented to the interviewer

(At this stage the questions will start to come quick and fast and you may not get the chance to properly finish your response to the current question before the next question is asked. Remember not to take this personally and that it is simply part of the interview. Also remember that if you’re in the middle of saying something that you think is important or essential for the interviewer(s) to hear, persist with it until you are able to finish most or all of what you are saying. During this time the interviewer(s) will be pressuring you to respond to the next question, so this may involve a slight bit of jostling between yourself and the interviewer(s), which is fine and will normally work in your favor, as long as you have something meaningful to add and don’t do this on every question)

How to answer this
Normally with a behavioural-based interview question you should be looking to employ the STAR technique in your response. While you can still choose to do so here, the drawback in a stress interview is that the STAR method can take longer than a normal answer to deliver, which can be very unsettling if you are interrupted with more questions midway through your response.
Whether or not you choose to use the STAR response in your answer is up to you.
Remember that the focus with a behavioural-based question should be on your individual qualities and traits. This means the answer itself should focus on the emotional and behavioural qualities you employed to resolve the situation, rather than on a utilization of skills and technical knowledge

If you decide to use the STAR response, in the first part of your answer start by explaining the SITUATION you found yourself in at the time; this sets the scene and provides a context for the rest of your answer. This should be done within the first 3 – 4 sentences.
The next part of your answer should go on to explain your TASK. This defines the challenge or difficulty you were faced with and putting this across well sets you up nicely for the next part of your answer. Ideally, you want to explain the task within 2-3 sentences.
Next, is the ACTION you took in that situation. This part of the answer defines the actions you took and categorizes the experience or individual qualities you used to resolve the challenge you described in your task. The action is the most important part of your answer, so try and incorporate specific details here as it will add depth and lend credibility to what you say. You should take anywhere from 1-2 paragraphs to describe the action you used to resolve the problem you encountered.
Once you’ve described the action, finish up by talking about the RESULT those actions produced. It is very important that the result ends in a positive or constructive way. Try to do this by focusing on what was gained, or what was learned, as a result of your actions. A well delivered closing will provide an authentic and purposeful feel to the entirety of your answer, and as such, it means it’s equally important to have a strong result as it does to have a solid action in any behavioural-based answer you give. Try and keep your result between 4 – 6 sentences long

Remember – practice makes perfect.
A comprehensive and well-structured answer like this requires proper preparation.
S.T.A.R interview examples are best delivered when they are properly rehearsed before an interview. As an interview candidate, you will have no way of knowing specifically what questions will be asked of you. Because of this, people who use S.T.A.R interview examples tend to choose 7 or 8 competency or behavioural based examples to rehearse before the interview that cover as wide a variety of different scenarios as possible. In this way, by rehearsing a range of different situations, they give themselves the best possible chance of matching one they’ve rehearsed to any question the interviewer asks where the S.T.A.R method is required.
Lastly, when reciting any competency or behavioural based example, be sure to personalize your answer to the fullest extent by referring to yourself in the first term ‘I’.

Example (Non-Star structured response)
‘I would say that it would depend on the policy in question, and on whether or not I felt it would have an impact on my work. If it was just a policy I didn’t like, then I don’t think I would have any real problem coming to terms with it. For instance, in my last job, we had a new policy that came into effect called ‘act on it, don’t think on it’, the whole purpose of which was to report anything we felt was at all unsafe or disruptive straight away to an anonymous company inbox. I felt this policy sounded abit oppressive when I first heard of it, because I don’t believe it’s good working practice to go telling on your co-workers, and I also feel that you should give someone the chance to acknowledge and change their actions first in most instances, rather than reporting it straight away. On top of that, I also felt there were perfectly adequate controls in place anyway and thought that reporting fellow colleagues for seemingly small or insignificant infractions was a backward move for business morale. In this sort of instance, while I disagreed with the policy, I accepted it, and as a loyal employee of the company worked to promote it as best I could. The result was that after a while, even though I didn’t initially agree with it, I soon became used to it and eventually I began to see it wasn’t as bad as it had first seemed and I was able to – ‘

Interruption by the interviewer. ‘Thank you. We have something else we would like to ask you now’.

‘I’m nearly done, I just have a little bit more to add. I was able to adapt to this particular policy. I know from experience that things in the workplace do change over time, that’s why as an employee I understand the need to be flexible and have the ability to change my approach in the workplace whenever necessary. However, if there was ever a time I felt I was having difficulty adapting to a new policy, I feel it would be very important to discuss this with my supervisor and communicate my concerns to them as quickly as possible, because I know from experience that effective communication is the key to managing changes in the workplace.’

8. Why do you think we don’t have faster than light travel on this planet yet?

What is this question
This is a question that has no practical bearing on the role you are applying for. Rather, it is a question designed to get you flustered and keep you off balance. The interviewer is not assessing the answer you give on its merits, but rather on your ability to keep your composure and think clearly when under pressure

How to answer this
Stay calm. This is what is referred to as a ‘strange question’, a type of question that is asked in certain interview types that is seemingly unrelated to the overall interview itself. Remember that even though nonsensical, there is a reason for everything the interviewer(s) asks. If you find yourself stuck or taken aback by it, a good tactic is to repeat the question back out loud to give yourself a moment to catch your bearings

(The way to approach this is to treat it like any other question you are asked, which is to think about it seriously and then answer in the best way you can. You should also try and talk the interviewer(s) through your decision-making process, because by showing them your rationale and problem-solving abilities in action they will get to fully see your composure and ability to think under pressure first-hand)

Example
‘I believe there are two main reasons why we don’t have FTL (faster than light) travel on this planet today. Firstly, while Earth is well on the way to developing such technologies, the level of science found on this planet is not advanced enough to develop this type of travel yet. The second reason is that the average person living on earth is very uneducated when it comes to technology like this. In spite of the fact we live in a technologically advanced society, and have some first-rate representations of this type of travel through film and literature, as well as a very modern and extensive scientific infrastructure, most people still have a tendency to regard this method of travel as ‘make believe’, which, from a societal perspective, damages the chances of getting the correct research programs instituted that will –‘

Interruption by the interviewer. ‘Okay, thanks. If we can move onto the next question now’.

9. How successful do you think you’ve been in this interview so far?

What is the question
By this point in the interview your interviewer(s) will have formed their own opinions of your strengths, areas of improvement, and your overall eligibility for the role. This is not a question simply asked to make you feel awkward, the interviewer is generally interested to know how you think the interview has gone, and depending on what type of conversation you’ve had with them up to that point will be listening to see if you bring up any of the things that they’ve noted during their own observations of the interview

How to answer this
The response you give here should reflect the answers that you have given in the interview so far. Show feeling and emotion and try to explain why you feel the interview has gone well in your own words. Try to pick up on a point in the interview where you feel you gave a particularly strong answer, and where you believe the interviewer has recognized this too – ideally this should be something that exemplifies why you’d make a good fit for the role. While you should generally strive to give a positive answer, conversely, if you have answered particularly poorly on a specific question, and you’re certain the interviewer has picked up on this too, this is also a good chance to bring this back up and play it off by acknowledging your mistake. Doing so will score you important points with the interviewer(s) and probably make up for your earlier mistake, and as such makes this the type of question you can take advantage of – although how you choose to do that is up to you!

Example
‘By speaking with you today I’ve gained a much clearer understanding of the role, and I’m even more excited about the prospect of working for you now than I was when I started the interview. You’ve asked me some challenging questions, and I feel I’ve answered them all to the best of my ability. I also feel you’ve learned more about me during this interview because of how open I’ve been, and hopefully as a result you’ve been able to see why I’d be a great fit for this role.’

10. Do you have any questions for us?

What is this question
This question should always come at the very end of your interview.
The interviewer(s) is extending you the courtesy of asking if you have any questions for them. They are doing this to give you the opportunity to get answers to any queries you might have, or to clarify anything you’re unsure of

How to answer this
You never want to respond by telling the interviewer you have no questions at all. This question is all about having something to say when you are asked. Having something to ask the interviewer shows them that you have been engaged in the topics you’ve covered during the interview, and it also signals to the interviewer that you are interested in the job itself. Not having anything to ask signals the exact opposite. The interviewer is giving you this opportunity to clarify any points, clear up any concerns, and most importantly to ask about things that interest you about the role and the company. That’s why you should always prepare and rehearse 2 or 3 questions to ask them at the end of your interview.
There are a few effective tactics you can employ when composing your questions. To start with, you can base some of your questions around what you learn about the company during STEP 1 of your interview preparation – Research the company. Also, you can choose questions from Interview Professionals Top List of Questions for the Interviewer. Ideally, any questions that you ask should tie in with yourself and reflect well on your motivations and aspirations for the role. Be sure to stay away from asking about salary or benefits, and make sure the questions you ask are open-ended to give your interviewer the chance to respond with long, well thought-out answers

(If you think of another question before the interview starts, or if you pick up on something that is said during the interview that you want to clear up (outwith salary and benefits related questions), don’t be afraid to deviate from the list of rehearsed questions that you’ve prepared. Remember that the interviewer is giving you this opportunity to clarify any points and clear up any concerns that you may have about the role. So while it is fine to take this opportunity to impress upon the interviewer that you are not only interested in the role, but that you are looking to make a name for yourself within the company, don’t neglect to ask questions regarding genuine concerns or issues that you have as well)

Example
‘Yes, thanks for asking, there are a few questions I have for you. Firstly…’

Now that you’ve seen some of the most common questions asked in the stress interview and the most effective ways to answer them, next, why not have a look at the steps we recommend you take to prepare for your next interview in the link at the bottom of the page

INTERVIEW PROFESSIONAL’S – RECOMMENDED PREPARATION STEPS FOR YOUR NEXT INTERVIEW